FFOCUSOCUS | Page 6 Semenya fi ghts gender rule in top sports court

Tuesday, February 19, 2019 FOOTBALL Jumada II 14, 1440 AH Nothing personal GULF TIMES in beating Bayern, says Klopp SPORT Page 2 MOTORSPORT Wenger meets SC chief al-Thawadi Qatar’s Adel switches to T3 Can-Am ‘I wanted to do something diff erent this year and I chose the Can-Am and the T3 category with FN Speed’

Former Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger (L) recently visited the SC Legacy Pavilion to learn about the preparations for Qatar World Cup 2022. During the visit, he met SC Secretary-General Hassan al-Thawadi.

File photo of Qatar’s Adel Abdulla.

By Sports Reporter arations company, and will be part- “I am happy that the Qatar event Doha nered in the new Can-Am by Spanish is taking place now. The weather is navigator Marc Serra for the fi rst time fantastic at this time of year. We have in place of Frenchman Jean-Michel some rain and it is not too hot com- ormer FIA T2 World Cup Polato, who has prior commitments pared to the older date at the end of champion Adel Abdulla has for the opening round. April. It is a good time for this race.” announced plans to tackle Adel said: “This year the cham- The Qatar event has attracted an Fthe 2019 FIA World Cup for pionship for cross-country and impressive entry of 13 T3 Can-Am, Cross-Country Rallies, but the Qa- the Bajas have been separated by Polaris and Yamaha derivatives and tari driver will not be taking part in the FIA. I wanted to do something Adel Abdulla knows that it will not the T2 category for series produc- different this year and I chose the be easy to win the category across tion cross-country vehicles this Can-Am and the T3 category with the challenging desert trails in the season. FN Speed. I think this is a good State of Qatar. Reinaldo Varela tops Instead, the rallying all-rounder choice for me in 2019. This is the the category in his Can-Am, the ex- intends to challenge for honours in future of cross-country and I am perienced Brazilian having already the T3 category for Modifi ed Cross- happy to face more challenges and won the Side-by-Side (SxS) or T3 Country vehicles this season and more competitors than even in T1. equivalent category at the Dakar will take part in this week’s opening The entry list is strong. Rally in 2018. Other T3 entrants in- round in Qatar with a Can-Am Mav- “I am getting support from the clude the likes of Italy’s Michele Ci- erick T3. QMMF. My team selected Marc Serra notto and Camelia Liparoti, Oman’s The fi ve-day Manateq Qatar to be my co- driver. He comes from Abdullah al-Zubair and fellow Qatari Cross-Country Rally is being organ- a motorbike background and knows drivers Ahmed al-Kuwari, Mohamed ised by the Qatar Motor and Motor- a lot about the road book and how to al-Attiyah, Khalid al-Mohannadi, cycle Federation (QMMF) and marks work with the GPS. This is impor- Mubarak al-Khelaifi and Rashed al- the opening round of the revised FIA tant. I know him personally as well. Mohannadi, who are running with World Cup for the fi rst time. It will He is from Spain and my team is also their own support from the QMMF. precede further races in Abu Dhabi, Spanish. Jean-Michel has some pri- The Manateq Qatar Cross-Coun- Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Mo- vate commitments for this race, but try Rally gets underway with a cer- rocco. will continue with me during the emonial start on The Pearl-Qatar on Adel has teamed up with FN Speed season. We will do our best to get a February 21 and fi nishes on February Team, the leading Spanish SxS prep- strong result in my country. 26. Australia’s major sports bodies pledge to close gender-pay gap

Sydney: Australia’s major sporting organisations opportunities from grassroots level up and long-term yesterday threw their weight behind a drive to close plans to make it happen. the pay gap between top male and female athletes, All the signatories have agreed to self-assess against drawing on a landmark cricket deal in the push for 16 measures each year and report on their perform- more equality. ance to ensure progress is made over the next five The chief executives of cricket, golf, rugby union, ten- years. Tennis legend Billie Jean King is a high-profile nis and swimming were among those to sign up to the supporter of the initiative. “It is very heartening to see “Pathway to Pay Equality” report by the Male Champi- CEOs across major sports come together to achieve ons of Change Institute, led by former Australian Sex gender equality and pay equality in sport,” she said. Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick. “The idea of activating the entire sports eco-system to The study outlines some of the inequities faced by hasten change is an approach that could be consid- women, including lower salaries and poorer facilities, ered and replicated throughout the world.” and steps necessary to achieve more equality. It in- Cricket and tennis have spearheaded eff orts to volves a shift in mindset away from male sport being spread their revenues more evenly between men and valued more than women’s, providing greater equal women. Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, February 19, 2019 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT Ribery to join Bayern squad, Coman likely fi t for Liverpool match

Reuters ing an ankle injury from Friday’s win over “Liverpool are having a very strong sea- Liverpool, England Augsburg in the Bundesliga. The speedy son,” said winger Serge Gnabry. “So it’s in 22-year-old scored twice in that game be- order that they are favourites. We have our fore his late injury and the Bavarians des- strengths, we’re FC Bayern and anything is ayern Munich winger Franck Ribery perately need his recent good scoring form possible.” will join the team for their Cham- against the Premier League club at Anfi eld. However, veteran Dutch winger Arjen pions League last 16 fi rst leg at Liv- “It is getting better by the hour,” Kovac said. Robben, who misses the match with a thigh erpool yesterday but it is unclear “He must be absolute pain-free to play and injury, has seen enough to know what lies in whetherB he will be fi t to play, coach Niko we are confi dent that our medical team can store for Bayern. “Everybody knows the at- Kovac said yesterday. The French winger get it done for tomorrow.” Bayern are second mosphere at Anfi eld is probably one of the became a father overnight and did not travel in the Bundesliga behind Borussia Dort- best you can imagine in Europe, so that’s with Bayern earlier yesterday to Liverpool. mund at the moment but they progressed to something you have to be aware of,” former Instead he will arrive later in the day, Kovac the knockout stage top of their Champions Chelsea player Robben told the Daily Mail. told reporters. “He practically did not sleep League group and unbeaten. “Liverpool are “But I think we’re used to it, playing in so we will have to see,” the coach said. a top side, but so are we,” Kovac said. “They big stadiums like that... In these top games Bayern are already without defender Jer- will also have respect for us. The aim is of there are not a lot of secrets. It’s about little ome Boateng but Kingsley Coman could course to progress. If Liverpool give 140%, details and about just who has the best form Bayern Munich’s Niklas Sule (from left), Thiago Alcantara, James Rodriguez, Javi Martinez and Robert get the green light to play after overcom- then we need 150%. It will be a real battle.” that day.” Lewandowski with teammates during training at Anfield, Liverpool yesterday. (Reuters)

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOCUS City match-ups give Lyon inspiration ‘Nothing personal’ ahead of Barca clash

AFP spells. “Even in Paris we man- Lyon aged to raise our game against a Champions League side,” Gen- esio pointed out. “We need to yon coach Bruno Genesio have confi dence and belief as in beating Bayern says his team’s perform- well, but I think Barcelona will ances against Manches- raise their game compared to re- ter City in the group stage cent matches.” Lprove they can compete with Lyon’s biggest problem is that Barcelona in today’s Champions captain Nabil Fekir will miss the League last 16, fi rst leg. fi rst leg. The World Cup winner The French club are in the scored the goal that gave them knockout phase of the compe- a 1-1 draw at Shakhtar Donetsk Munich for Klopp tition for the fi rst time in seven in their last group game to take years after emerging from their them through, but a booking a group unbeaten. They beat Pep few minutes later means he is Firmino also missed training due to a virus making the Brazilian forward a doubt Guardiola’s City side 2-1 away suspended here. “Nabil is our before a 2-2 home draw with the captain and our leader from a AFP Premier League leaders. technical viewpoint, so obvi- Liverpool “They are two teams who have ously it is diffi cult,” Genesio said. the same way of playing — they “He is capable of being decisive like to have possession of the ball, and often performs very well in urgen Klopp has buried the hatchet and they like to attack,” Gen- these games, but being a team is of his old Bundesliga rivalry with esio said at a press conference at also about coping with absences Bayern Munich but wants Liver- Lyon’s Groupama Stadium yes- and having players who can take pool to show they are Champions terday. “The experience can help his place. We will do what we can LeagueJ contenders by beating the Ger- us — we played really well in the in the absence of Nabil.” man giants when the sides meet in the two games against City, and if we Genesio also admitted that fi rst leg of their last 16 tie today. were capable of doing it against there are doubts surrounding the Bayern have won the Bundesliga for the them, we can do it again.” fi tness of both Jason Denayer and past six years since Klopp’s Dortmund An inconsistent Lyon side are Tanguy Ndombele. Belgian de- claimed back-to-back titles in 2011 and often their own worst enemy, fender Denayer suff ered an ad- 2012. Dortmund also lost the Champions and they are a huge 16 points ductor injury in Friday’s 2-1 win League fi nal to Bayern in 2013 and the ri- behind Ligue 1 leaders Paris over Guingamp in Ligue 1, while valry between the two was intensifi ed as Saint-Germain in third place, French international Ndombele Bayern picked off some of Klopp’s best having played two games more. — a vital presence in midfi eld — players in Mario Goetze, Mats Hummels However, they are the only team has been struggling with an an- and Robert Lewandowski. in the league to have beaten PSG kle problem and did not play at “It’s nothing, not a little bit personal,” this season, winning 2-1 at home the weekend. said Klopp. “There were never any nega- earlier this month. “In my head my starting line- tive things with Bayern but when we That was after they lost 5-0 up is clear, but what the doctors played them or when they bought our in Paris back in October despite tell me might make me change players how could I be happy and say being the better team for long my mind,” the coach added. ‘Great, good idea I’ll bring him in my car.’ That was not nice for us at Dortmund but it’s part of the business. In these mo- ments I was not happy, but it is long ago.” Despite reaching four semi-fi nals and a quarter-fi nal since 2013, Bayern have not added to their fi ve European Cup wins since Arjen Robben’s late winner at Wembley six years ago. Liverpool also came close to adding to their fi ve Euro- Liverpool’s German manager Jurgen Klopp (second left) attends a team training session at Melwood in Liverpool, north west Eng- pean crowns last season when losing out land yesterday, on the eve of their Champions League round of 16, first leg match against Bayern Munich. (AFP) to Real Madrid in the fi nal, but Klopp be- lieves the fact his side are even considered Virgil van Dijk is suspended, Joe Gomez now about the atmosphere at Anfi eld. “If you look at what Liverpool did in contenders for the title now is a sure sign is sidelined with a lower leg fracture and There was a lot of talk that we are maybe the Champions League last season and of progress since he was hired in 2015. Dejan Lovren faces a race against time to the most emotional club in world foot- the Premier League this season, it is the “The best thing of all the things we did recover from a hamstring injury, so Joel ball,” added Klopp. “Emotion in my opin- most diffi cult draw we could get,” said so far since we are together is that we are Matip and Fabinho are expected to form a ion is a very positive thing, so let’s show Kovac. “It is not about me tomorrow. It is a real competitor again. That is of course make-shift centre-back pairing. that tomorrow night.” about the club and the team.” not enough, but it is a big step,” added Roberto Firmino also missed training Bayern’s slow start to the Bundesliga Bayern could also be without some Klopp. “Being not only part of the com- yesterday due to a virus making the Bra- season put coach Niko Kovac immediate- key players as Franck Ribery and Jerome petition but people thinking we can beat zilian forward a doubt. However, Klopp ly under pressure in his fi rst campaign in Boateng did not travel with the rest of the Bayern, that’s a big thing. The story so far is hoping the power of Anfi eld’s famous charge. But the Croatian refused to coun- squad. Ribery will join up with his team- is a nice one but not fi nished yet.” atmosphere on a European night will give tenance whether he faces the sack should mates after attending the birth of his Liverpool have had 10 days to prepare his side the extra helping hand they need Bayern fail to make the last eight for the daughter, while Boateng is suff ering from for Bayern’s visit, but despite the lay-off to take a lead to Germany in three weeks’ fi rst time since 2012 despite being handed gastroenteritis but could still travel if his Lyon’s players take part in a training session at the Parc Olympique Klopp still has a team selection headache. time. “In Germany a lot of people talk a devilishly diffi cult draw. condition improves. Lyonnais stadium in Decines-Charpieu, France. (AFP)

BOTTOMLINE Women’s World Cup referees complete screening programme at Aspetar ffi cial referees at the FIFA referee, Pierluigi Collina, Chairman of the upcoming tournament. The facili- great in helping us prepare for the Women’s World Cup France the Referees’ Committee at FIFA, ac- ties here are extremely comprehensive. Women’s World Cup. We are here to 2019 have successfully com- companied the referees during their The medical staff here are incredibly check our health, fi tness levels and pleted a comprehensive stay at Aspetar. professional and knowledgeable – I’ve everything that goes along with sport: four-hourO medical screening session While testing was tailored to each never had this type of screening before. muscles, heart and respiratory system. at Aspetar, the orthopaedic and sports person, a number of components are “Referees are considered athletes as The staff at Aspetar are very helpful and medicine hospital. standard across the board, such as: we run and play just as the footballers, understanding. This medical screening The referees travelled to Doha to take Cardiac screening (including an ECG, so it is extremely important that we is crucial for us as we have to undergo part in a series of FIFA seminars held in and often further investigations such understand our injuries and our bod- a fi tness test, which is very hard, and is preparation for the upcoming Women’s as an ECHO or a cardiac MRI), Detailed ies. What I have seen so far in Qatar is a good to know where we stand especially World Cup which is scheduled to take medical and injury questionnaire, Lab- beautiful country with heart-welcom- in aspects related to our health.” place at stadiums across France from 7 oratory tests, Dental assessment, Bio- ing people and I’m looking forward to Assistant referee, Julia Magnusson June – 7 July. Seventy-fi ve people took dex muscle assessment, Physiotherapy discovering more.” from Sweden, said: “Everyone here at part, including 27 referees and 48 as- functional assessment, Spirometry, Sian Massey, an assistant referee Aspetar is so professional. I work at a sistant referees. The medical assess- Visual acuity assessment, and General from England, said: “We are having our hospital back home and in comparison, ments were specifi cally tailored to meet medical and musculoskeletal exami- medical here to make sure that every- Aspetar is very state-of-the-art, we the needs of each referee, who came nations, undertaken by an experienced thing is okay with us ahead of the world can see that the hospital here really puts from USA, Canada, Mexico, France, sports medicine physician. A summary cup. Aspetar has a professional ambi- the athlete fi rst. The screenings are es- Germany, Ukraine, China, Japan, Ko- report was provided at the end of the ance with state-of-the-art facilities, sential as it helps to prevent injuries rea, Australia, New Zealand, Ethiopia, assessment with recommendations for and the medical staff were highly atten- and improve performance. I’m thrilled Kenya, and Rwanda. any ongoing actions. tive as they thoroughly explained the to witness good service and good qual- The selection process of the referees, Speaking about the medical screen- upcoming tests. I think it’s important to ity here in Qatar.” who will offi ciate in the FIFA Women’s ings at Aspetar, a FIFA referee from know that we are in the best condition Last February 2018, Aspetar screened World Cup France 2019, was based Australia, Kate Jacewicz, said: “I’m we can be to perform our best in the up- candidate referees who took part in the on the referee’s fi tness level, techni- proud to say I’ve been selected to go to coming tournament. The facilities here 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Hosting cal ability, and football understanding, the FIFA Women’s World Cup France are fantastic and we have everything we medical screenings stems from Asp- therefore the medical screenings at As- 2019 FIFA is hosting the pre-World need to be in the best possible shape.” etar’s mission to assist athletes achieve FIFA Women’s World Cup France referees with Aspetar staff . petar were essential. Cup seminar in Qatar and organised for Assistant referee from Mauritius, their maximum performance and po- Internationally renowned former us this screening before competing in Victoire Queency, said: “Doha’s been tential. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 19, 2019 3 FOOTBALL

LIGUE 1 ‘Special’ Mbappe fi res PSG 12 points clear in France Mbappe has now scored 45 goals for PSG since signing from Monaco at the start of last season

AFP also mentally,” added Tuchel. “It was Paris necessary to control the game, to play focused.” PSG fashioned their fi rst clear-cut ylian Mbappe’s excellent vol- chance in the 18th minute, as Julian ley secured Paris Saint-Ger- Draxler turned and fi red over the cross- main a hardfought 1-0 win bar after a fi ne exchange of passes with at Saint-Etienne on Sunday Dani Alves. Mbappe saw a shot well Knight as the runaway Ligue 1 leaders saved by home goalkeeper Stephane moved 12 points clear at the summit. Ruffi er in an underwhelming rst fi half. The 20-year-old Mbappe fi red home The visitors always appeared in con- his league-leading 19th goal of the trol of the game, but Draxler wasted campaign with 17 minutes remaining. another golden chance to put them “He (Mbappe) shows his quality ahead shortly after the restart when he every day in training, he has this hunger was denied by a sprawling Ruffi er stop. to score, score, score,” said PSG coach Angel Di Maria, who starred with two Tuchel. “It’s his quality. He is a special assists on his return to Old Traff ord player.” in midweek, dragged an eff ort wide as Mbappe has now scored 45 goals PSG continued to plug away in search for PSG since signing from Monaco at of an opening goal. the start of last season. “We lost to a It arrived in the 73rd minute, as Alves goal from nowhere... A 20-year-old picked out the run of Mbappe, and the who will soon be the best player in the Frenchman caught out Ruffi er with world,” said Saint-Etienne coach Jean- a fi ne fi rst-time volley on the turn. Louis Gasset. Saint-Etienne started to show more With a second straight French title ambition with time running out, but all but secured, Tuchel’s men, who also the best they could muster was Kevin have two games in hand on second- Monnet-Paquet’s long-range strike placed Lille, now have their eyes on which fl ew harmlessly over, with the breaking their own record tally of 96 winger injuring himself in the process. points set in 2015-16. A late set-piece came to nothing for Tuchel rested midfi elder Marco Ver- Les Verts, as PSG sealed a 20th win ratti after his excursions in the mid- from only 23 Ligue 1 games this term. week Champions League victory at Earlier on Sunday, Lille were held to Manchester United, with Leandro a goalless draw by Montpellier, while Paredes handed his fi rst league start Reims boosted their hopes of European for the club. “Everyone was tired after qualifi cation with a 2-0 victory over Manchester United — physically, but Rennes. Paris Saint-Germain’s French forward Kylian Mbappe scores during the Ligue 1 match against Saint-Etienne on Sunday night. (AFP)

SPOTLIGHT Italian side kicked out of Serie C aft er 20-0 defeat Torino frustrate Napoli as Milan: Italian third-tier side Pro Piacenza could not initially start having forgotten his unacceptable behaviour” which it said were yesterday excluded from Serie C after identity papers, and came on after an hour. was also dangerous for players who had fielding a team of just seven players in a One of the two players born in 2000 was not been adequately prepared from the 20-0 defeat by league rivals Cuneo, govern- named on the match sheet as the coach, competitive point of view. Nainggolan seals Inter win ing body Lega Pro announced. Financially with a team physiotherapist even taking to Team physio Alessio Picciarelli, who troubled Pro Piacenza, a side from northern the pitch at one point to substitute a player came onto the pitch to replace a player, AFP ninth — three points off the Eu- fourth-placed AC Milan in the Italy, have been unable to pay their play- who was suff ering from cramps. was disqualified until December 31, 2019. Milan ropa League places. “I saw a great race for Champions League qual- ers and staff , who have been on strike for Italian Football Federation president Pro Piacenza will also have to pay a fine of Napoli, made up of players of ifi cation. Milan Badelj had given several weeks. Gabriele Gravina had slammed the match 20,000 euros ($22,615). The Italian third the highest level,” said Mazzarri. injury-depleted Lazio a lift be- Before Sunday’s game at Cuneo in Pied- as “an insult to sport” and vowed it would division, which is made up of 20 teams, apoli’s title hopes “Taking a point against this team fore the break after their Europa mont, northern Italy, bottom club Pro Pia- be “the last farce”. is professional in Italy, but many of the took a further blow on means we were good.” League defeat by Sevilla in mid- cenza had already forfeited three matches Lega Pro sports judge Pasquale Marino clubs have financial problems. Last week Sunday as Carlo An- Earlier on Sunday, Radja week. But Genoa punished the and a fourth would have seen them kicked on Monday ruled that Pro Piacenza would Matera were kicked out of the league after celotti’s side settled Nainggolan scored the winner Romans late in the second half out of Serie C. So they took to the pitch be excluded from Serie C, with the “farcial forfeiting a fourth match with their players Nfor a goalless draw for the third for Inter Milan to consolidate with Antonio Sanabria scoring with seven players, all teenagers born match” assigned as a 3-0 defeat. In a state- on strike since December, having not been time in four league matches third position with a 2-1 win over on 75 minutes and Criscito seal- between 2000 and 2002. An eighth player ment Lega Pro slammed “Pro Piacenza’s paid since September. against Torino on Sunday night Sampdoria at the San Siro, while ing victory with a stunning half- to trail Serie A leaders Juventus Lazio’s Champions League hopes volley from distance three min- by 13 points. Napoli had drawn took a knock with defeat by utes into additional time. Europa at home against AC Milan two Genoa. Nainggolan rifl ed in low League hopefuls Fiorentina were FOCUS ROUND-UP weeks ago and at Fiorentina last from the edge of the box on 78 saved by VAR amid controversy time out and will face a top-of- minutes after Danilo D’Ambrosio after the referee disallowed rivals the-table clash against Juventus had opened the scoring fi ve min- SPAL a goal and instead awarded Paraguay name on March 3 with their Serie A bid utes earlier, with Manolo Gab- a penalty which the Tuscans Henry can prosper despite already all but over. biadini equalising for Sampdoria converted before winning 4-1. Argentinian Champions Juventus are fi rm- in between. It was the Belgian’s Mattia Valoti’s defl ected 75th- ly on track for an eighth consecu- third goal this season and gave minute strike had been greeted Monaco fl op: Wenger Berizzo as coach tive title after Cristiano Ronaldo Inter a third straight win after a with delight by the home crowd scored in a 3-0 win over lowly recent slump as Luciano Spal- as it appeared to have given rel- AFP ormer Sevilla and Ath- Frosinone on Friday. letti’s side sit seven points adrift egation-threatened SPAL a 2-1 Monaco letic Bilbao boss Eduardo “We played with focus, mo- of Napoli in third. advantage. Berizzo has been named tivation, determination, but it’s Argentine forward Mauro But the referee immediately as the new Paraguay unacceptable to have 18 scoring Icardi watched from the stands, ordered a video review which hierry Henry has the qualities to be a headF coach, the country’s opportunities over two games along with his wife Wanda Nara, confi rmed Felipe had fouled Fe- successful manager despite his disap- football federation announced and not score any of them,” An- who is also his agent, after being derico Chiesa in the build-up pointing short spell at Ligue 1 strug- yesterday. The 49-year-old last celotti said. “We’ve only our- stripped of the captaincy amid to the goal which he disallowed glers Monaco, his former Arsenal boss coached Bilbao, but was sacked selves to blame. When you de- protracted contract negotia- and instead awarded Fiorentina TArsene Wenger said on Sunday. in December after just one win serve a victory you just have to go tions. “I very much appreciated a penalty. Jordan Veretout slot- The 69-year-old Frenchman said Henry in 14 league matches. and do it. The only thing missing that he was in the stadium,” said ted in with the decision proving could not have taken the Monaco job at a worse He takes over from Colombi- was the goal. “But we’re still well Spalletti of Icardi who missed the to be a killer blow for SPAL, who time in October when they were already on a an Juan Carlos Osorio, who quit positioned in the standings.” last two games with a reported sit just three points above the poor run and by the time January came around the job last week after only one Polish forward Arkadiusz Mi- knee injury. “I would have liked relegation zone. the alarm bells were ringing. Henry, who was game in charge — a 1-1 friendly lik missed a string of chances even more if he had come into Giovanni Simeone added a one of the stars of the Gunners side that en- draw with South Africa. Para- to break the deadlock at the San the dressing room afterwards to third goal minutes later, and Bra- joyed huge success under Wenger including the guay have been drawn in Group Paolo Stadium with Lorenzo celebrate with us, as it was a very zilian Gerson a fourth as Fioren- ‘Invincibles’ side of 2003/04 when they went B for the 2019 Copa America Insigne rattling the post in the important victory.” tina moved up to eighth, three through the league season unbeaten, guided in Brazil, which starts on June 74th minute. On-loan Chel- Earlier, Genoa captain Do- points off the European places. Monaco to just two league wins in 15 matches. 14, alongside Berizzo’s native sea defender Ola Aina threat- menico Criscito scored deep into “They robbed us,” complained The 41-year-old was then sacked last month. Argentina, Colombia and 2022 ened for Torino late on but was injury time to grab a 2-1 win over SPAL president Walter Mattioli. “In our job, it’s one thing when you start the World Cup hosts Qatar. Berizzo chased down by Brazilian Allan Lazio which left the capital club “If you have to cancel a goal for a season, even if it doesn’t go well, you have six led Sevilla in their successful as Walter Mazzarri’s side stayed in seventh, four points adrift of foul like that, it makes me laugh.” months,” said Wenger. “If you arrive in Octo- 2017-18 Champions League ber and the team is in a very bad position, you group-stage campaign, but was have three months. Because in January, eve- sacked just a month after being rybody starts to become nervous, and things diagnosed with prostate cancer could go very badly. So you have less time when following a poor run of form. you arrive in the middle of the season, that’s what happened to Thierry. So how he bounces PORTUGAL FORWARD NANI back will be very important, I believe he has the JOINS ORLANDO CITY quality and the desire to make a career, and the Sporting’s Portugal forward career is judged on a longer period.” Nani has joined Major League Wenger, who was speaking at a Laureus Sport Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger Soccer team Orlando City SC on for Good presentation, said luck played a large poses as he arrives at the Laureus World Sports a three-year deal, the MLS club part in whether or not a manager succeeds and Awards in Monaco yesterday. (Reuters) announced. The 32-year-old he said Henry, and another of his former stars Nani, who won four Premier at Arsenal, Patrick Vieira, who is in charge of sey. The 28-year-old is to join Serie A outfi t League titles with Manchester Ligue 1 side Nice, will need that. Juventus in July, ending 11 years at the Premier United, has joined on a free “I started my job at 33 years of age and I had League club where he was signed as a teenager transfer after his contract with plenty of very promising people around me,” by Wenger. “It will be a loss for Arsenal,” said Sporting was terminated by said Wenger. “Many of them disappeared and Wenger. “I must say it will be an interesting mutual agreement. some survived. Why? We need luck and we move for Ramsey. He is a player who is great go- Nani made his Premier need to work hard but it’s always very diffi cult ing forward. His main quality is he can keep the League debut as a substitute for to predict the career of a manager because we fi nal ball and he makes interesting runs from Wayne Rooney on Aug. 12, 2007 depend a lot on the quality of the players, the deep. You don’t fi nd many players today who and remained with United until quality of the clubs and the quality of the confi - can make midfi eld runs off the ball. It will be an 2014, making 230 appearances dence we get. Both (Henry and Vieira) have the interesting addition for Juventus.” in all competitions, scoring 41 qualities and I wish both make a great career.” Laureus — whose two days get together in goals. In 2014, Nani returned to Wenger also bemoaned the impending de- Monaco climaxes with their awards last night — Sporting on loan and has since Napoli’s goalkeeper David Ospina (centre) throws the ball during the Serie A match against Torino at the parture from Arsenal of another of his long- is a global movement that aims to use the power played for Fenerbahce, Valencia Stadio San Paolo in Naples, Italy, on Sunday night. (Reuters) serving players, Welsh midfi elder Aaron Ram- of sport to tackle social challenges in the world. and Lazio. Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, February 19, 2019 SPORT

LAUREUS AWARDS SPOTLIGHT Petr stays up all night watching Nelly complete ‘Korda Aussie Slam’

Reuters “He lost 6-3 in the fi nal set but New York that’s a great result.” The Korda children were blessed with great athletic genes roud father Petr Ko- — mother Regina was an Olym- rda stayed up all night pic tennis player — which the at home in Florida on daughters have parlayed into Saturday watching success at the highest level. Pdaughter Nelly complete the Sebastian seemingly is also ‘Korda Aussie Slam’ by winning destined for big things in tennis. the ISPS Handa Women’s Aus- Jessica, 25, has won fi ve tralian Open golf championship times on the LPGA Tour, while in Adelaide. 20-year-old Nelly has two victo- A Down Under family success ries on the circuit. story that started in 1988 when Czech-born Petr said he and Petr won the Australian Open Regina had never pushed their tennis title was completed when children to join the tennis ranks. Nelly triumphed by two strokes “We taught them multiple at Grange Golf Club on Sunday. sports and Jessica picked golf Petr’s other daughter Jessica and for Nelly it was easier to fol- won golf’s Australian Open seven low her footsteps. years ago, while son Sebastian “I think they have a great ri- captured the nation’s 2018 boys’ valry. They push each other on singles tennis title. the one hand but on the other “We have something we will hand if one is struggling the oth- be cherishing for the rest of our er is always there.” Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic (R) poses on the red carpet with his wife Jelena prior to the 2019 Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony at the Sporting lives,” Petr said in a telephone in- Petr now spends more time Monte-Carlo complex in Monaco yesterday. terview with Reuters. with Sebastian, at 18 the young- “Nelly wanted to win, I don’t est of the three children, often as want to say badly, but it means his hitting partner. quite a bit to her to complete the “When you have a little bird, TENNIS Aussie Slam. you’re trying to help it fl y from “She wanted to be in it, and I the nest,” he said. think it’s great for the family, the “I like to help Sebastian trans- grand slam. It’s four acts and we form from junior tennis to men’s were missing the last one. It’s tennis. He will need, not my at- very unique, and like blackjack it tention, but time together.” took 21 years.” Petr said all three children had Petr had a chance for a quick a temper, though nothing out of phone chat with Nelly, before the ordinary. Despite his sport- Wozniacki pulls turning his attention to Sebas- ing pedigree as a grand slam tian. champion, he tries not to push “In the last 48 hours I’ve slept too much unsolicited advice on probably two hours,” he said. “I them. watched Nelly till the end and “Regina and I are here for any then our son was also playing in question they need,” he said. “At Turkey (in a futures tour tourna- end of day, I call it a family rec- out, Qatar winner ment). ipe.” Mertens beaten ‘It sucks. I’ve gotten ready to play these two weeks (Doha and Dubai) where I usually play well’

AFP the third round of this year’s tournament week’s victory. Lin, who’s best Grand “I’m trying to send a message that it’s Dubai and is yet to return to the court. Slam performance came in losing at the not impossible. You have to work hard. I “It sucks. I’ve gotten ready to play third round of last year’s US Open plays want to see a lot of players from Tunisia these two weeks (Doha and Dubai) where world number 23 Lesia Tsurenko next. to be here one day,” he added. ormer world number one Caro- I usually play well,” the Dane said. World number 56 in Tunisia’s Ons Osaka was given a bye to the second line Wozniacki withdrew from “If I can’t even play at a reasonable lev- Jabeur beat Croatian Donna Vekic 6-4, round where she will face France’s Kristi- the Dubai Championships yester- el, there’s no reason for me to go out there 7-6 (11/9) to claim a second round spot na Mladenovic who won here fi rst match day due to a viral illness before her and just play one set — I want to go out where she’ll face the winner of the of the season in the opening round. fiF rst round match against Switzerland’s there and I want to win,” she added. last two editions of the competition in Three US entrants secured their places Stefanie Voegele. Wozniacki has been replaced by losing Ukrainian Elina Svitolina. in the round of 32 as Alison Riske upset Wozniacki, who won the 2011 title Slovenian qualifi er Polona Hercog. With world number one and tourna- 13th seed Julia Georges 6-4, 7-4. Sofi a in Dubai, also missed last week’s Qatar Doha champion Elise Mertens was ment top seed Naomi Osaka currently Kenin crushed Mihaela Buzarnescu 6-3, Open because of the issue which she fi rst eliminated after a three-hour struggle, putting Asian women’s tennis back on the 6-0 and Jennifer Brady stunned former Nelly Korda of the US poses with the winner’s trophy following her felt around the Christmas period and the losing to China’s 107th-ranked Zhu Lin map, Jabeur dreams of doing the same for Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostap- victory on the final day of the women’s LPGA Tour-sanctioned problem lingered with her through the 5-7, 6-4, 7-5. her own continent. enko 6-4, 6-0. Australian Open golf championship at the Grange Golf Club in Australian Open. The Belgian received treatment at the “I’m now the Naomi Osaka of Africa,” “I was pleased with the way I was able Adelaide on February 17. She failed to retain her Melbourne two and a half hour mark for hip and leg she joked. “It’s inspiring to see how play- to fi nish strong regardless of how I started crown after losing to Maria Sharapova in problems as she felt the eff ects of last ers can inspire a country or a continent. the match,” world number 117 Brady said. Opelka hits 43 aces, edges GOLF Schnur for ATP New York title New York: American Reilly 45 from Halle in 2015 for the sec- Holmes rallies to edge Thomas in Genesis Open Opelka blasted 43 aces past ond consecutive match, having Canadian qualifier Brayden also smashed 43 in beating US AFP the fi nal round for a 14-under total of 270 signed for a four-over 75 for 271. fi rst seven holes of the fi nal round — in- Schnur on the way to capturing top seed John Isner in the semi- Los Angeles and his fi fth US PGA Tour title — his fi rst South Korean Kim Si-woo closed with cluding holing out from a bunker at the his first ATP Tour title at the New finals. In all, Opelka hit nine aces since the 2015 Houston Open. a fi ve-under par 66 for third place on 272, par-three 16th — before fading down York Open on Sunday. Opelka in the first set and 17 in both the The 13th hole was the turning point, one stroke in front of Australian Marc the stretch as the changeable weather outlasted Schnur 6-1, 6-7 (7/9), second and third sets, the last of B Holmes erased a four-shot defi cit Holmes going ahead for good with a 12- Leishman (68) and Northern Ireland’s brought a brief burst of rain and then 7-6 (9/7) one minute beyond them on the deciding point. He to emerge from an endurance test foot par putt while Thomas needed four Rory McIlroy (69). cold, gusty winds. two hours in the first ATP suff ered only two double faults at Riviera Country Club on Sunday putts to close out a double-bogey. Tournament host Tiger Woods, who “I got tired. I don’t know if I’m the only championship match for either and never faced a break point. Jwith a one-stroke victory over Justin Holmes was still one ahead when he made the cut with one shot to spare, one, but I defi nitely felt it today — wind, competitor. Opelka made 74 % of his first Thomas in the Genesis Open. drained an 11-footer at 16, part of his vaulted into the top 15 with a third-round cold,” admitted Woods, who had four Opelka, ranked 89th, finished serves, winning 61-of-69 first- On a day that saw the leaders play march home with seven straight pars. 65 that included two eagles — one on Sat- bogeys in a six-hole stretch that ended two aces shy of Ivo Karlovic’s serve points and 14-of-24 off his 33-plus holes in the weather-disrupted Thomas had a long birdie look at 18, urday night and one on Sunday. with a three-putt at the fi fth — where he ATP best-of-three-set record of second serve. event, Holmes fi red a one-under par 70 in but couldn’t get the 20-footer to drop and He was rolling with three birdies in his missed from inside three feet.

BOTTOMLINE Trans sportswomen hit back at Navratilova’s ‘cheating’ comments

Reuters ing a debate over whether trans women treating us as men just pretending to be Navratilova expressed support London have unfair physical advantages in sport. real women,” McKinnon told the Thom- for Caster Semenya, the two-time Under rules brought in by Interna- son Reuters Foundation. 800-metre Olympic women’s cham- tional Olympic Committee (IOC) in Scientifi c research into trans people pion, in her case against the Interna- rans sportswomen hit back at 2016, athletes transitioning from female in sport is rare. A 2015 study of eight tional Association of Athletics Fed- Martina Navratilova, after to male can now participate without re- male to female trans runners found their erations (IAAF), which is being heard the tennis champion said “its strictions. race times slowed down to an extent that at the Court of Arbitration for Sport insane and it’s cheating” for Male to female competitors must they retained no advantage over non- this week. The IAAF introduced a rule transgenderT women to be allowed to have kept their levels of testosterone, a trans women. in April 2018 that would have forced compete in women’s sport. hormone that increases muscle mass, Jen Wagner-Assali, who fi nished women with naturally-high testoster- “A man can decide to be female, strength and haemoglobin, which af- third to McKinnon in the 35-44 year- one levels to take hormone therapy to take hormones if required by whatever fects endurance, below a certain level for old category world championship race, lower them to compete in track events sporting organisation is concerned, win at least 12 months. argued the Canadian’s victory was not from 400 metres to one mile, had it not everything in sight and perhaps earn a Wimbledon champion Navratilova, fair. McKinnon said her rival had previ- been challenged by her and Athletics small fortune, and then reverse his deci- who has campaigned for gay rights and ously beaten her in 10 of 12 events. South Africa. Semenya, who was forced sion and go back to making babies if he suff ered abuse when she came out in the “This idea that men will transition or to take a gender test when she won the so desires,” 18-times Grand Slam win- 1980s, argued trans women have unfair pretend to transition to enter women’s world championship at the age of 18 in ner Navratilova wrote in The Sunday physical advantages. sport is off ensive,” Natalie Washing- 2009, has hyperandrogenism, a condi- Times. “A man builds up muscle and bone ton, a trans activist who plays amateur tion characterised by higher than usual Navratilova’s comments are “disturb- density, as well as a greater number of women’s football in Britain, told the testosterone levels. ing, upsetting, and deeply transphobic,” oxygen-carrying red blood cells, from Thomson Reuters Foundation. “Leaving out sprints and longer dis- said Rachel McKinnon, who in 2018 childhood,” she said. “It misrepresents the huge struggle tances seems to me to be a clear case of became the fi rst transgender woman to Navratilova “trades on age-old stere- that the vast majority of trans people discrimination by targeting Semenya,” win a world track cycling title, reignit- otypes and stigma against trans women, have to go through.” Navratilova said. Gulf Times Tuesday, February 19, 2019 5 SPORT

NBA/ALL-STAR GAME FOCUS Angels’ Ohtani making progress Durant claims MVP, aft er surgery

AFP “Maybe once I start throw- Los Angeles ing, maybe I’ll start having some issues. But as of now, everything has been going os Angeles Angels well.” Team LeBron tops pitching and batting Ohtani, who was the fi rst threat Shohei Ohtani regular batter to handle pitch- said Sunday he is mak- ing duties in the major leagues Ling progress in recovering from since Babe Ruth a century arm surgery and hopeful of a ago, said he is uncertain when May return to Major League he might resume a throwing Baseball. program to start the long road The 24-year-old right- back to his mound return. Team Giannis handed pitcher underwent Ohtani said he has been tendon replacement surgery on watching teammates take bat- ‘It’s cool to be out there with some of the best players to ever play the game, and to October 1 and will be limited to ting practice to help with his a batting role in the upcoming own timing, but isn’t ready to win an MVP here in front of my family and friends is pretty sweet’ major league campaign. get to the plate just yet. Ohtani, last year’s Ameri- “Probably by the end of Reuters can League Rookie of the Year, spring training, I’ll start pick- Charlotte has only been able to practice ing up a ball, but for now, I’m swings since the operation but focused on the hitting side,” said he hopes to begin hitting Ohtani said. evin Durant scored 31 points and off a tee in the next week. “I don’t feel rushed or any- won MVP honours after outdu- “So far things are going as thing, but as a baseball player, I elling Giannis Antetokounmpo planned. No problems at all,” would like to make it on open- to lift Team LeBron to a 178-164 Ohtani said through a transla- ing day (next month). That’s Kwin Sunday night in the 2019 NBA All- tor according to a posting on the thought. But I’m not trying Star Game. the major league website. to rush myself.” In the “First in Flight” city, players showed up Sunday ready to launch. Team LeBron attempted 90 3-pointers (hitting 35), and the teams combined for 168 tries from deep. Durant helped put the game away for Team LeBron with a 3-pointer with two minutes left for a 171-160 lead. Kyrie Irv- ing made a leaning fl oater and Durant hit 15-footer from the wing to seal it. “It’s cool to be out there with some of the best players to ever play the game, and to win an MVP here in front of my family and friends is pretty sweet,” said Durant, who also took home All-Star Game MVP honours in 2012. Just before Durant’s closing stretch, James shook off 76ers forward Joel Em- biid for a corner 3, and on the next trip, pounded home a one-handed slam on a lob from Irving that extended Team LeB- ron’s lead to 168-158. Trading long-distance daggers and mixing the occasional lob off the glass, Durant connected on a pair of 3-pointers from the right side to give Team LeBron on 161-153 lead at the fi ve-minute mark in Los Angeles Angels pitcher Shohei Ohtani looks on during a the fourth as shots started to fall short and spring training workout at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Tempe, handles were less certain. Arizona. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports Curry brought the Spectrum Center to its feet at the fi nal buzzer, catching the ball off a hard bounce from himself and throwing in a reverse jam. He did the same Tebow says picking baseball with a four-point play early in the fourth over AAF was easy – knocking down a 3 from the right wing as Warriors teammate Klay Thompson New York Mets minor league outfielder Tim Tebow said Saturday of Team LeBron pushed him to the fl oor he has turned down several requests from his former college – and DeAngelo Russell added a 3 of his football coach about joining the Alliance of American Football. own, staking Team Giannis to a 148-145 Tebow, 31, won the 2007 Heisman Trophy and helped the Florida lead with 8:35 left in the game. Gators to two national championships before joining the NFL, 76ers guard Ben Simmons gave Team but he turned to baseball following the end of his football career. LeBron the lead 132-131 with 36 seconds Orlando Apollos head coach Steve Spurrier, who coached Tebow left in the quarter, closing what had been Kevin Durant of the Golden State Warriors and Team LeBron celebrates with the MVP trophy after their 178-164 win over Team Giannis at Florida, revealed earlier this week that Tebow turned down a 95-82 defi cit at halftime. Team Giannis during the NBA All-Star game as part of the 2019 NBA All-Star Weekend at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. (AFP) an invitation to join the Alliance of American Football, choosing led by 20 in the third. instead to keep pursuing his baseball dreams. Tebow says he Damian Lillard’s 25-footers on con- 3-Point Contest. The fi rst half consisted on the board with 5:32 left in the fi rst half 9-minute mark in the second quarter and rebuff ed his former coach more than once, but that his deci- secutive possessions pulled Team LeBron of 81 3-point attempts – 29 successful and was 2 of 7 at halftime. scored nine points on 3-of-3 shooting in sion wasn’t hard. “It wasn’t hard at all ... and they’ve called a lot,” even at 127-all, but Russell Westbrook put – between the teams. Team Giannis led 3:58 in the opening half. Tebow said at a Mets press conference on Saturday. “Coach Spur- Bradley Beal on skates two straight trips 95-82 at halftime. Antetokounmpo led all EXTRA CREDIT “Thank you to the commissioner and to rier keeps calling, and I love Coach Spurrier.” for easy layups at the rim. scorers with 20 in the fi rst half, en route Honorary All-Stars Dirk Nowitzki and the NBA for allowing us to be on this stage “It was easy, even though it was an awesome off er and it’s great Thompson drained a 3 from the cor- to a game-high 38. He was on a dunk- Dwyane Wade checked into the game with once again,” Nowitzki said on the court and humbling ... I’m all in on baseball.” ner in front of the Team Giannis bench to a-minute pace to start the game. In the 58 seconds left in the fi rst quarter. Nowit- between the third and fourth quarters, as Tebow was a first-round pick of the Denver Broncos in 2010, but trim what was a 20-point lead in the third opening seven minutes, he had 16 points zki splashed a 3-pointer from the right every player from both rosters surrounded he started just 16 games over three NFL seasons with the Broncos to fi ve, 120-115, and Beal followed with a to fuel Team Giannis to a 36-22 edge, wing on his fi rst off ensive possession, the veterans. (2010-11) and New York Jets (2012). A left-handed-hitting outfield- 3-pointer of his own off a turnover to cut while assisting on 3-pointers by Bucks and drained another from the left wing on Wade said, “We want to thank each and er and designated hitter, Tebow batted .273 with six home runs the advantage to 120-118. teammate Khris Middleton on three con- the subsequent possession, giving Team every last one of these players. The game and 36 RBIs in 84 games at Double-A Binghamton last season. He Played above the rim in spurts, the secutive possessions. Curry, the de facto Giannis a 53-37 advantage entering the is in great hands.... Thank you guys for was one of 13 Mets farmhands invited to spring training. game threatened to become a full-fl edged player host because of his local roots, got second quarter. He added a third at the this opportunity.”

NHL Henrique, Silfverberg score twice each as Ducks beat Caps Vladimir Tarasenko extended his point Reuters RESULTS Anaheim streak to a career-best 12 games with a goal Pittsburgh 6-5 Rangers and two assists to stake Binnington, who made 31 saves to win his franchise-rookie- dam Henrique and Jakob Silfver- St. Louis 4-0 Minnesota record eighth straight start. Binnington berg each scored two goals, and New Jersey 4-1 Buff alo highlighted the performance by denying Ryan Miller had 23 saves to become Philadelphia 3-1 Detroit Wild defenseman Ryan Suter from point- the all-time winningest US-born blank range late in the second period, and Florida 6-3 Montreal goalie,A as the Anaheim Ducks dominated notched his fourth shutout and improve to play to earn a 5-2 victory Sunday night over victories by a US-born goalie with 375. The 12-1-1 on the season. the visiting Washington Capitals. night did not start out so promising when Ryan O’Reilly and Brayden Schenn each Corey Perry added his fi rst goal of the sea- Ovechkin scored 4:58 into the game when his scored and set up a goal, and defenseman son as the Ducks won for the second time in blast from outside of the left circle hit Miller Vince Dunn also tallied for the Blues, who three games since Bob Murray took over as on his right side and squirted under his right defeated Minnesota for the fi rst time in three interim head coach for Randy Carlyle, who arm. It was Ovechkin’s 12th power-play goal, tries this season. was fi red. Alex Ovechkin scored a goal for the tying him for fi fth most in the league. Alex Stalock turned aside 26 shots for the Capitals, giving him his 10th 40-goal season. After Henrique and Silfverberg scored in Wild, who have dropped fi ve in a row at home The Ducks went on four power plays, de- the second period for a 2-1 Ducks lead, John (0-3-2) and eight of nine overall (1-5-3). livering on two of them in the third period. Carlson scored an unassisted goal to tie the St. Louis opened the scoring with a pow- Henrique scored his second goal of the game, score at 2-all just three minutes before the er-play tally. O’Reilly gained possession of and 12th of the season, 37 seconds into the fi - second intermission. The Ducks dominat- the puck along the right-wing boards before nal period on the man advantage, giving the ed play in the third period, fi nishing off the sending a cross-slot pass to Tarasenko, who Ducks a 3-2 lead. Three minutes later, Perry scoring with just over fi ve minutes remain- made no mistake from the left circle for his also on the power play for a 4-2 lead. It was ing when Silfverberg scored his 15th goal of team-leading 26th goal at 5:08 of the fi rst just his eighth game of the season after re- the season. Henrique and Perry each added period. Tarasenko returned the favor with covering from a knee injury last season that an assist, while Ryan Getzlaf had two assists. 30 seconds remaining in the period, wiring required surgery. The Ducks, who entered with an NHL-worst a cross-seam pass to O’Reilly in the right Cam Fowler earned the assist on Perry’s 125 goals, scored 11 goals in two games against circle. O’Reilly wristed a shot over the right goal, moving him past Scott Niedermayer for the Capitals this season. shoulder of Stalock, giving St. Louis a 2-0 most assists by a Ducks defenseman all-time lead and netting Tarasenko his 400th career with 205. The Ducks retired Niedermayer’s BLUES TROUNCE WILD point – with 22 (11 goals, 11 assists) coming No. 27 in a pre-game ceremony, making him Rookie Jordan Binnington recorded his sec- during his last 12 games. Tarasenko received the third Anaheim player with a number in ond straight shutout and the third consecu- a scare just 40 seconds into second period, as the rafters, along with Paul Kariya and Teemu tive for the St Louis Blues, who breezed to a he lost his balance and fell feet fi rst into the Selanne. Miller, who was playing in his fi rst franchise-high-tying 10th straight win with boards while fending off Minnesota defense- game since Dec. 9 because of a sprained knee, Sunday’s 4-0 victory over the Minnesota man Jared Spurgeon. Tarasenko returned to Evgeny Kuznetsov of the Washington Capitals (centre) and Adam Henrique (left) of the Anaheim Ducks fight moved past John Vanbiesbrouck for most Wild in Saint Paul, Minn. the ice a few minutes later. for control of the puck during the second period at Honda Center in Anaheim, California. (Getty Images/AFP) Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, February 19, 2019 SPORT

FOCUS RUGBY Squire latest All Black to exit NZ, Semenya fi ghts agrees Japan move

Reuters Squire’s Highlanders team Wellington mate Ben Smith (Pau) as well as Wellington Hurricanes winger Nehe Milner-Skud- iam Squire is the lat- der (Toulon) and Canterbury gender rule in top est All Blacks player Crusaders prop Owen Franks to confi rm he is leav- (Northampton) have already ing New Zealand after confi rmed they will leave New ‘What’s at stake here is far Lthis year’s Rugby World Cup, Zealand after the Sept. 20- with the loose forward saying Nov. 2 World Cup in Japan. more than the right to yesterday he has agreed to join All Blacks captain Kieran Japanese club NTT Docomo Read has also said he would be participate in a sport’ Red Hurricanes. leaving New Zealand but has sports court The 27-year-old, who has not confi rmed his destination, signed a two-year contract, while Jordan Taufua (Leices- had been expected to sign with ter), Matt Proctor (Northamp- a Japanese club after battling a ton) and Jeff Toomaga-Allen series of niggling injuries that (Wasps) are also heading off - curtailed his appearances for shore. Coach Hansen has also the All Blacks and Otago High- said he is stepping down after landers. the World Cup. When fi t, Squire has been Meanwhile New Zealand the All Blacks fi rst-choice media railed at Julian Savea’s blindside fl anker since 2017, “disgraceful” treatment by getting the nod ahead of two- Toulon president Mourad time World Cup winner Jer- Boudjellal Monday, as the out- ome Kaino. of-form ex-All Black vowed to “It seems like the right time stay at the French club. to go,” Squire said in a High- Boudjellal told French radio landers’ statement yesterday. Savea “was no longer wel- “I have really loved my time come” at his club, adding: in New Zealand ... and in par- “I’m going to ask for a DNA ticular down here with the test, this isn’t the Savea that Highlanders, it’s a club that we signed. They must have gave me a chance and I appre- changed him on the plane.” ciate the support I have had.” The outburst raised eye- Squire was surprise selec- brows in New Zealand, where tion for the All Blacks in 2016 Savea is warmly regarded but but quickly developed into has long been seen as well past a world-class loose forward the blockbusting form that with his bruising defence, ball helped the All Blacks lift the handling and speed. 2015 World Cup. “Liam has grown into an “That man hasn’t been outstanding Rugby player sighted since, as anyone with since coming into the All just a passing interest in Su- Blacks in 2016 and we again per Rugby would know,” Radio look forward to seeing how New Zealand’s Hamish Bidwell he goes this year,” All Blacks wrote. coach Steve Hansen said. He said Boudjellal was ex- “His physicality, pace and periencing “buyer’s remorse” skills are a real point of dif- after failing to carry out due ference and he’s a really well- diligence on a 28-year-old rounded player.” winger whose “freakish ath- Injuries to his knees, hands leticism” had waned. and shoulders, however, have Savea, who scored 46 tries denied him a consistent run in in 54 Tests for New Zealand the All Blacks number six jer- but has managed only two sey and he appeared only eight since joining Toulon in August South Africa’s Caster Semenya (right) arrives at Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) with her lawyers in Lausanne, Switzerland, yesterday. (Reuters) times in 2018. last year, said he would con- He has played in 26 tests tinue to train as normal with AFP The controversial measures evidence will be evaluated and such a performance advantage IAAF’s rules are “discrimina- since his 2016 debut. the Top 14 side. Lausanne would force so-called “hyper- assessed at the end of the proc- over women. tory”. androgenic” athletes or those ess this week. so today this is the “Therefore, to preserve fair “What’s at stake here is far with “diff erences of sexual de- start,” Arendse told reporters. competition in the female cat- more than the right to partici- lympic 800 metres velopment” (DSD) to take drugs egory, it is necessary to require pate in a sport. Women’s bod- Six in for Scotland as Russell to be champion Caster Se- to lower their testosterone lev- ‘INCREASES IN STRENGTH’ DSD athletes to reduce their tes- ies, their wellbeing, their ability monitored ahead of France menya of South Africa els below a prescribed amount if The issue is highly emotive. tosterone down to female levels to earn a livelihood, their very went to the Court of they wish to continue competing. When British newspaper The before they compete at interna- identity, their privacy and sense Scotland coach Gregor Townsend has included six new players in ArbitrationO for Sport yesterday The rules were to have been Times reported last week that tional level.” of safety and belonging in the his squad for the Six Nations clash against France in Paris on Sat- to challenge proposed rules that introduced last November but the IAAF would argue that Se- Semenya is not the only ath- world, are being questioned,” urday, with flyhalf Finn Russell to be assessed through the week. could force her to lower her tes- have been put on hold pending menya should be classifi ed as a lete potentially aff ected – the Xasa said on Friday. Russell was forced off with a head injury before halftime playing tosterone levels. this week’s hearings. A judge- biological male – a claim later silver and bronze medallists in On Sunday, tennis great for Racing 92 on Sunday and will be monitored for symptoms of Semenya made no comment ment is expected by the end of denied by the IAAF – she hit the Rio Olympics 800m, Fran- Martina Navratilova threw her concussion. as she arrived at the court in March. back, saying she was “unques- cine Niyonsaba of Burundi and weight behind Semenya, say- Scotland have already lost experienced fullback Stuart Hogg Lausanne for the start of a week- As he arrived at the court, tionably a woman”. Kenya’s Margaret Wambui, have ing it was signifi cant that the (shoulder) for the contest. long hearing that is likely to de- IAAF President Sebastian Coe In response to the report, the also faced questions about their rules would only apply to female The additions to the squad are Worcester Warriors flyhalf Duncan fi ne the rest of the 28-year-old’s said: “Today is a very, very im- IAAF – stressing it was referring testosterone levels. athletes competing in distances Weir, the Edinburgh trio of Magnus Bradbury (back-row), Dougie career. portant day. in general terms, not to Semenya But it is Semenya, who also from 400m to a mile. Fife (wing) and James Johnstone (centre), and Glasgow War- The International Association “The regulations that we are in particular – denied it intended won Olympic gold in 2012 and “Leaving out sprints and riors front-row forwards Zander Fagerson (tighthead prop) and of Athletics Federations (IAAF) introducing are there to protect to classify any DSD athlete as has three world titles to her longer distances seems to me to George Turner (hooker). says it is introducing the rules to the sanctity of fair and open male. But in a statement, it added: name, who has brought the court be a clear case of discrimination They replace injured George Horne (shoulder) and Staff ord create a “level playing fi eld” for competition.” “If a DSD athlete has testes and challenge. Matthieu Reeb, the by targeting Semenya,” Navra- McDowall (ankle), while front-row forwards David Cherry, Murray other female athletes. Athletics South Africa has male levels of testosterone, they secretary general of the court, tilova wrote in Britain’s Sunday McCallum and Jake Kerr have been released. The South African govern- strongly backed Semenya. Its get the same increases in bone said: “It is unusual and unprec- Times newspaper. “And can it Scotland will hope to return to winning ways following their 22-13 ment says the rules specifi cally chief advocate Norman Arendse and muscle size and strength and edented because we never had a be right to order athletes to take home defeat to defending champions Ireland last time out. target Semenya and has called said she would give evidence. increases in haemoglobin that a such a case at CAS.” medication? What if the long- Townsend’s side opened their campaign with a 33-20 victory them a “gross violation” of her “The whole week is going to male gets when they go through South Africa’s Sports Minis- term eff ects proved harmful?... I over Italy at Murrayfield. human rights. be important. Obviously the puberty, which is what gives men ter Tokozile Xasa argues that the hope she wins.”

BOXING Britain’s Fury signs bumper broadcast deal with ESPN London Reuters Santa Cruz keeps featherweight title by unanimous decision Mexico’s Leo Santa Cruz original challenger Miguel ritish heavyweight Ty- defended his World Boxing Flores suff ered an ankle son Fury has signed a Association featherweight injury last month. Santa Cruz broadcast deal under title on Saturday, dominating worked on Rivera’s body from which his fi ghts will be compatriot Rafael Rivera to the opening round, delivering shownB exclusively on ESPN plat- win by unanimous 12-round punishment at a fast pace forms in the United States. decision. in the early rounds while No fi nancial details were dis- All three judges gave Santa defending well to masterfully closed, but British newspaper Cruz the victory by scores of frustrate the challenger. the Daily Mail reported yester- 119-109 as the champion im- Rivera tagged Santa Cruz day that the deal was worth 80 proved to 36-1-1, marking the with a right to the head to end million pounds ($103 million), third defence in his second the 11th round, drawing only while the BBC reported that it reign in the division. a smile from the champion, covered Fury’s next fi ve fi ghts. “I tried to give my best. I did who stayed in control through Fury and promoter Frank what I could,” Santa Cruz said. a furious exchange in the clos- Warren signed the deal with Bob “I’d like to give a lot better but ing seconds. Santa Cruz seeks Arum’s Top Rank Promotions, Rafael is pretty good. It was a a unification bout against which has a multi-year contract tough fight.” American Gary Russell Jr., with ESPN, and the agreement rematch with WBC heavyweight tions over the rematch. Santa Cruz took inspiration the World Boxing Council calls for Fury to fi ght a minimum champion Deontay Wilder. Fury, however, said his deal from his father and trainer champion, or a third career of two bouts per year in the Unit- The American has been in ne- with ESPN would make the Jose Santa Cruz, who is bat- matchup against Britain’s Carl ed States. gotiations with Fury’s camp over Wilder fi ght easier to set up. tling bone marrow cancer. Frampton. British broadcaster BT Sport a rematch of their December 1 “As far as I’m concerned, the “It means the world to me (to Santa Cruz suff ered his only will continue to hold the rights draw at the Staples Center in fi ght is more make-able now have my father in my corner),” career loss in 2016 to the for Fury’s fi ghts in the UK. Los Angeles, but Wilder has a than ever, because we have the Santa Cruz said. “When I Northern Ireland fighter “I’m delighted,” Fury said. long-term relationship with ri- biggest boys in the game behind climb in the ring, I don’t want but avenged the defeat in “With ESPN and BT Sport be- val US television network Show- us,” he told BT Sport yesterday. to let my dad down. I want to early 2017 to reclaim the WBA hind me, the biggest sports time. “I’m only a fi ghter, I can only inspire him to keep fighting crown. platforms in the world are now Their bout in December was fi ght who they put in front of me. the cancer.” “I want to unify the belts,” linked up with the best heavy- aired on Showtime in the United I want the biggest fi ghts – the Rivera, who fell to 26-3 with Santa Cruz said. “I want to weight in the world.” States, and the two fi ghters’ re- (Anthony) Joshua’s, the Wilder’s two drawn, was a late fill-in for fight three times this year, The deal with ESPN could have lationships with the rival net- of the world and everybody else his first world title bout after hopefully by June or July.” an impact on the 30-year-old’s works could complicate negotia- out there too.” Gulf Times Tuesday, February 19, 2019 7 CRICKET

PREVIEW SELECTION Three uncapped players named in England face buoyant Sri Lanka ODI squad

AFP et,” the ICC said in a statement Colombo on its website. The 25-year-old’s remod- elled action was assessed in ri Lanka yesterday the Indian city of Chennai on West Indies with one brought in three un- February 2 and the amount of capped players to a elbow extension for his deliv- 17-member squad for the eries was found to be within fiS ve-match one-day internation- the ICC’s permitted 15 degree al series against South Africa. level of tolerance. Debutant right-hand bats- “Match offi cials are still at man Oshada Fernando was liberty to report Dananjaya among those named for the if they believe he is display- eye on World Cup series, which starts on March 3. ing a suspect action and not The other two newcom- reproducing the legal action John Campbell looks set for ODI debut, opening the batting with Chris Gayle ers include bowler Kamindu from the assessment,” the ICC Mendis, 20, and all-rounder added. AFP Priyamal Perera, 23. Dananjaya has taken 27 Bridgetown, Barbados Lanka spinner Akila Danan- wickets in fi ve tests for Sri jaya has been allowed to resume Lanka since making his debut bowling in international crick- against Bangladesh in Febru- ngland enter the home et after remedial work and a ary, as well as 46 wickets in 30 stretch of World Cup reassessment of his action, the one-day internationals and 14 preparation with a International Cricket Council wickets in 16 Twenty20 inter- fi ve-match one-day (ICC) said yesterday. nationals. internationalE series beginning Dananjaya was reported for a tomorrow at the Kensington suspect bowling action follow- SRI LANKA SQUAD: Lasith Oval against a West Indies team ing Sri Lanka’s fi rst test against Malinga (captain), Niroshan seeking to feed off the success of England in Galle in November Dikwella (vice captain, Avishka their Test side. and suspended the following Fernando, Upul Tharanga, Fresh from a surprising 2-1 month after an independent Kusal Janith Perera, Kusal triumph in the Wisden Trophy committee found it to be illegal. Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, duel, Jason Holder leads a Car- “Following remedial work Thisara Perera, Akila Danan- ibbean team which continues to and reassessment, the bowling jaya, Angelo Perera, Oshada struggle in the 50-over format action of Sri Lanka spinner Ak- Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, and is hampered by the absence ila Dananjaya has been found Priyamal Perera, Isuru Udana, of key players for a variety of to be legal and he can resume Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Ra- reasons. bowling in international crick- jitha and Lakshan Sandakan. In contrast, Eoin Morgan’s England settled squad have powered to the top of the world rankings and a comfortable 171- run victory in their lone warm- up fi xture on Sunday suggests that they will not be hamstrung by the challenges encountered by the Test team against surpris- ingly competitive and fi ercely motivated opponents. Opening batsman Jason Roy and Test skipper Joe Root both stroked fl uent hundreds in a to- tal of 371 for seven, while all the bowlers used enjoyed a measure of success against the West In- dies Vice-Chancellor’s XI with opening bowlers Mark Wood and Chris Woakes, together with leg-spinner Adil Rashid, taking two wickets each. Sri Lanka spinner Akila Dananjaya has been included in the ODI squad. While the memory of a 381- run thrashing in the fi rst match of the three-Test series less than a month ago is painfully fresh, India are the best at home, feels England’s last ODI at Kensing- Australia skipper Finch ton Oval two years ago was a 186-run rout which completed Australia’s limited overs captain Aaron Finch feels India are the a 3-0 sweep of a home outfi t in best in their own conditions and they have to be at their best complete disarray. Ben Stokes (left) and Jos Buttler of England celebrate the dismissal of Shannon Gabriel of West Indies on the day four of the 3rd and final Test to beat them in the limited overs games, starting with two T20 West Indies results have not at Darren Sammy Cricket Ground, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, on February 12, 2019. (AFP) internationals from February 24. improved signifi cantly since “I don’t think you need anything to put a pep in your step when that humbling, with the former Keemo Paul. “Yes I’m looking to draw the contend with the unavailability TEAMS you’re going on an Aussie tour, particularly to India. If you’re champions missing out on the John Campbell, who made a line after the World Cup,” said of Shannon Gabriel until the fi - West Indies (probable): Jason slightly off the mark you’re going to get hurt,” Finch was quoted 2017 Champions Trophy and bright start to his Test career in the big-hitting left-hander and nal match after the fast bowler Holder (captain), Chris Gayle, as saying by cricket.com.au. scraping through last year’s the three matches against the former captain. was slapped with a four-match John Campbell, Darren Bravo, “They’re the best side in one-day cricket in their own conditions, I qualifying tournament in Zim- English, looks set for an ODI “I’ll let the youngsters have ban after admitting to uttering Shai Hope (wicketkeeper), think. So you’ve got to go there full of confidence and have a real babwe to advance to the World debut opening the batting with some fun and I can sit back in a homophobic slur at Root dur- Shimron Hetmyer, Carlos clear game plan,” he added. Cup in England and Wales, Chris Gayle. the party stand and watch them ing the third and fi nal Test in St Brathwaite, Ashley Nurse, Kemar Finch and Company lost the three-match One-Day International which starts on May 30. On Sunday, the 39-year-old have some fun. Winning the Lucia a week ago. Roach, Sheldon Cottrell, Oshane (ODI) series to India at home and will have revenge on their Already without mystery veteran of four World Cups re- World Cup would be a fairytale England are spared such chal- Thomas minds when the two teams clash, this time in India. spinner Sunil Narine and all- vealed that the 2019 event will fi nish.” lenges but will be acutely aware There will be two T20 Internationals and five one dayers. rounder Andre Russell, West In- be his farewell to the format, T20 captain Carlos Brathwaite of the embarrassing revers- England: Eoin Morgan (captain), India under Kohli won their first-ever Test and bilateral ODI series dies have been forced to amend although he entertains hopes of and left-arm pacer Sheldon als suff ered by their Test team Jason Roy, Alex Hales, Jonny against Australia Down Under. their original squad for the fi rst representing the region at the Cottrell are the recent inclu- against opposition which was Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Joe Before the ICC World Cup, which begins on May 30 in England, two ODIs with injuries ruling out end of 2020 when the West In- sions in the West Indies squad lightly-regarded before the fi rst Root, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, this will be India’s last 50-over engagement while Australia will opening batsman Evin Lewis and dies will be defending the World along with Campbell, while the ball was bowled on this tour at Chris Woakes, Liam Plunkett, host Pakistan for five ODIs before the mega event. all-rounders Rovman Powell and T20 title in Australia. regional selectors also have to Kensington Oval last month. Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.

SPOTLIGHT West Indies need better batting, says Bishop Reuters second test, though it could have been 81 in the fi rst test but then fell away. Bridgetown, Barbados a far diff erent story had Jason Holder not won the toss and sent England in WORKLOAD MANAGED on a green wicket. West Indies openers Hetmyer’s problems may stem from a ormer West Indies bowler Ian John Campbell and Kraigg Brathwaite heavy schedule, with the 22-year-old Bishop took pride in his former got the team off to decent starts with still due to play in the IPL and Bishop team’s recent Test series win over partnerships in excess of 50 in all but said his workload needed to be managed England, and thinks the current one innings, but the rest of the top order over the next year. cropF is “fi lled with possibilities” enough proved brittle and inconsistent. “Particularly for next six to eight to climb up the rankings and put a smile Shai Hope was out cheaply three months, his cricket must be managed,” back on the face of Caribbean fans. times in fi ve innings and his back-to- Bishop said. “He’s an integral part of the Despite the unexpected 2-1 win in back centuries at Leeds in 2017 are a test match team, growing quickly as a the three-Test series, West Indies re- distant memory, although Bishop said batsmen. main eighth in the International Cricket he was a “phenomenal talent”. “Problem is that for such a young kid Council (ICC) rankings, bottom of the “During the (recent) series, and even he is good in all formats of the game. In sport’s traditional powers. last year, batting on seamer-friendly order to keep fresh, he has to be man- The series against England showed pitches, he is getting beaten on the out- aged. It could mean time off . If he were that West Indies has depth in fast bowl- side of the bat and inside of the bat,” to play every game, that’s a lot of crick- ing, but Bishop identifi ed two glaring said Bishop, now a respected television et.” defi ciencies that need to be rectifi ed for commentator in the Caribbean. Bishop thinks West Indies could rise the team to have further success. “He has to decide how best he can in the test rankings, particularly with “They are looking for a spinner to be position himself at the crease and allow Holder at the helm, but the days of the developed and want more consistency the ball to come to him, because he is team that dominated the 1970s and ear- for the top-order batting,” the Trinida- reaching for the ball. He will overcome ly 1980s are over. dian said in a telephone interview with it. He just needs reps. I think he’s an in- “Jason Holder is very important to Reuters ahead of the fi ve-game one-day vestment.” the team as a player and a leader,” Bish- international series that starts tomorrow. Stylish left-hander Darren Bravo, op said. “He has a leadership aura about “From speaking with one or two of back in the team after a two-year ab- him that I don’t know everyone sees. the people involved with the team, they sence following a dispute with admin- “No team can go from number eight are very aware of certain areas of the istrators, also failed in four of his fi ve to number one or two in a year or two, game that need to be rectifi ed.” innings but with a batting average of but that is certainly the route that they West Indies played the Tests against more than 38, Bishop said he only needs should aim to travel. England without a specialist spinner, time to “integrate himself” back into “When I look at the batting of all the though allrounder Roston Chase took test cricket. teams in world cricket, India and New eight wickets in the fi rst test, which Chase also had three failures, bal- Zealand are probably the two strongest West Indies won by 381 runs. They fol- anced by an unbeaten century in the batting units. Roston Chase of West Indies celebrates his century on day four of the 3rd and final Test against England at Darren Sammy lowed up with a 10-wicket win in the fi nal test, while Shimron Hetmyer made “All other teams are susceptible.” Cricket Ground, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, on February 12, 2019. (AFP)

Tuesday, February 19, 2019 GULF TIMES SPORT

MANATEQ QATAR CROSS-COUNTRY RALLY ‘Cross-Country Rally ceremonial start at Pearl will attract fans’ Al-Mannai said the QMMF will also host three rounds of the Manateq Qatar National Baja Championship, which will concurrently run with Qatar Cross-Country Rally, which starts from Thursday

By Sports Reporter very hard to organise this rally. I Doha want to specially thank our main sponsor Manateq and also UDC Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation president for allowing us to use this amaz- Abdulrahman al-Mannai (centre) and other QMMF atar Motor and Mo- ing location right in the centre of off icials address a press conference yesterday. torcycle Federation Pearl, where people go there in the (QMMF) president Ab- weekends to dine, walk around dulrahman al-Mannai and shop. I think we will get good saidQ the ceremonial start of the coverage having the opening Manateq Qatar Cross-Country ceremony of the rally there,” al- Rally this Thursday at the Medi- Mannai said. na Centrale, the Pearl-Qatar, will After the rally is fl agged down bring people closer to the event. at the Pearl-Qatar, the Manateq In the past, QMMF has held Qatar Cross-Country Rally will the opening ceremony of the rally come into life with a 102km stage events at various popular tourist on Friday and that will defi ne the locations like Katara and Souq starting order for the fi rst of four Waqif, which drew crowd in large further desert selective sections. numbers. And the QMMF hopes The subsequent two timed the event at Pearl-Qatar will also sections run for 313km and 338km receive tremendous response and the fourth is planned for from the locals. Al-Mannai said 350km, with a short road liaison prior to the ceremonial start, of 56km built into the day’s time- QMMF has organised a motor- table. The fi fth and fi nal stage cycle show, with 60 local bikers takes place next Tuesday and participating in the event, with runs for 270km before the cer- prizes to be won. The motorcy- emonial fi nish at The Pearl-Qa- cle show will start at 4:30pm. tar. In a route of 2,059km, teams “We are very excited to hold the will tackle motorcycle show before the cer- around Baja-style events in Russia, Du- because of the location we are in. the championships,” al-Mannai up with new German co-driver emonial start. We have received 1,367km bai, Italy, Spain, Hungary, Po- In Europe around this time it’s said. Timo Gottschalk this season. His a good response, with 60 bikes against the land, Jordan and Portugal consti- cold but in Qatar we have fantas- The Manateq Qatar Cross- former navigator Tom Colsoul confi rming their participation,” clock. tute a new FIA Baja series. tic weather in February. We are Country Rally has attracted a has switched to the Toyota team al-Mannai said yesterday. “In terms The QMMF president said the planning to continue to hold this quality international fi eld of the and will sit alongside Dutchman “For the past year and a half, of the com- pleasant weather at this time of event as the opening round,” he world’s leading drivers for the Bernhard Ten Brinke. QMMF has been trying to bring petition the year in Qatar has contributed said. fi rst round of the prestigious FIA The competition at the head the rallies closer to the people. this year we to QMMF hosting the opening Al-Mannai said the QMMF off -road series for the fi rst time. of the fi eld in likely to be frenetic We are trying to organise these have some event. “One major change this will also host three rounds of Drivers and co-drivers from 19 with Russian driver Vladimir events alongside with ceremo- changes. year is the Manateq Qatar Cross- the Manateq Qatar National Baja countries feature on an impres- Vasilyev and his navigator Kon- nial starts. This is to bring people The rally Country Rally is the opening Championship, which will con- sive entry list. stantin Zhiltsov hoping to over- closer to the rally and competi- will cover round of the new championship. currently run with Cross-Coun- Dakar winner Qatar’s Nasser come the event’s notoriously dif- tors. And we have chosen these close to That is why the dates changed. try Rally. “The Qatar National Saleh al-Attiyah starts as the fi cult navigation and fend off the places because it is a main attrac- 1,400km; it We have co-ordinated with FIA Baja will also be held simultane- favourite to win the event for a challenge from the likes of the tion in Doha. We are expecting a will pass through North, South has been split into two diff er- for this event. Despite the even ously with Qatar Cross-Country sixth time in his trusty Toyota Saudi Arabian duo of Yasir Seaid- big crowd to come and witness and Western areas of Qatar. We ent championships by offi cials being held close proximity to Rally. We will have three rounds Hilux. Poland’s Jakub Przy- an and Yazeed al-Rajhi, Czech the ceremonial start,” he added. have received 28 entries in total at the sport’s governing body Dakar, we are actually happy with on February 22nd, 24th and 26th gonski won the FIA World Cup driver Miroslav Zapletal and the The QMMF president thanked for T1, T2 and T3 categories out and fi ve long distance fi ve or six- response we have got and are with the remaining three rounds last season and the MINI John returning Qatari Mohamed Abu the main sponsor Manateq and of which 12 are Qatari partici- day events in Qatar, Abu Dhabi, hoping this championship will to be held later in the year. We are Cooper Works Rally driver tops Issa in an SMG Buggy. The likes venue partner UDC (United De- pants. This event is a champion- Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and grow further in future,” he said expecting around 8 or 9 entries the fi eld and returns to try and of Abdullah al-Rabban, Khaled velopment Co) for their sup- ship in itself,” al-Mannai said Morocco will count for the FIA “In Qatar, we usually have the for Baja. So in total, we will have repeat the outright Qatar win he al-Feraihi and Eugenio Amos port to the rally. “We are working This year’s FIA off -road scene World Cup, while eight shorter opening or closing round that is 36 participants in action in both secured last year. The Pole teams bolster the T1 section.

SPOTLIGHT FOCUS Rayyan, Gharafa aim for place in DCMF holds seminar on role of AFC Champions League group stage media in tackling phenomenon By Sports Reporter Doha of sports fanaticism

QNA atar’s Al Rayyan and the Iran’s Doha Saipa will square off in the 2019 AFC Champions League Play-off round at Jassim bin Hamad Sta- he Doha Center for Me- diumQ today eager to seal a place in the group dia Freedom (DCMF) or- stage. Qatar’s Al Duhail and Al Sadd directly ganised a seminar on the qualifi ed for the group stage by virtue of role of media in tackling having fi nished as winners and runners- Tthe phenomenon of sports fanat- up of 2017-18 season QNB Stars League. Al icism, in co-operation with the Rayyan and Al Gharafa, who fi nished third Supreme Committee for Delivery and fourth in the standings, went into play- & Legacy. off and if they win today, they will book a The seminar was attended by a berth in the group stage. number of media professionals, Al Rayyan have made eight appearances in sports analysts and some Qatari the competition but have yet to make it be- football team’s players to discuss yond the group stage and suff ered a familiar the phenomenon of sports fanat- fate in 2018 despite being unbeaten and in a icism and its manifestations and strong position after their fi rst four games. the factors behind its escalation Domestically they sit third in the Qatar along the proposed solutions Qatar defender Abdelkarim Hassan (centre) says the team was Stars League after a 3-1 victory over Al Arabi that limit their eff ects on society. determined to win Asian Cup after receiving abuse on social media. on Thursday, but they remain some distance In a speech during the semi- behind the front two of Al Sadd and Al Du- nar, Abdulrahman bin Nasser sation, aimed at aff ecting Qatar’s of some Gulf countries had a sig- hail. New recruit and Venezuelan striker al-Obaidan, member of the Ex- participation in the tournament, nifi cant role in fuelling and esca- Gelmin Rivas carries much of Rayyan’s ecutive Committee and Director exploiting it to settle political ac- lating, through serious practices hopes as he made his debut in Qatar memo- General of the DCMF, said that counts and infl uencing the mo- that do not belong to the media rable by scoring two goals and setting up the the phenomenon of sports fa- rale of the players. profession, and do not refl ect the other against Al Arabi. naticism represents a real threat “The recent Asian champion- Gulf or Arab values,” she said. Al Rayyan will be bolstered by the pres- to individuals and countries and ship promoted Qatari national Qatari national team player ence of captain Rodrigo Tabata, who has constitutes a violation of soci- team’s interest in football, with- Abdelkarim Hassan highlighted been suspended for two QNB Stars League etal principles that embody the out being dragged into other some of the pressures that the matches as a result of the decision against values of tolerance and fraternity political or media agendas, but Qatari team faced during the him by the Qatar Football Association’s and aff ect the spirit of sports- it also revealed to the world the Asian Cup. “We saw some of the Disciplinary Committee for his action dur- manship. extent of irresponsible practices abuse on social media outlets, ing the match against Al Kharaitiyat in the He said: “The mass media re- shown by the other party repre- but that did not stop us from QSL Cup. Tabata had missed their Al Arabi Al Rayyan coach Bulent Uygun (left) and captain Rodrigo Tabata pose after a press mains one of the most infl uential sented in its media and public, winning the tournament. The match and will also miss their Qatar Clasico conference yesterday, ahead of their match against Iran’s Saipa. players in the fi eld of sport and a mainly due to politicisation of Qatari team played the tourna- against Al Sadd on 23rd February. major driver of their feelings and the tournament,” he said. ment with no pressure, however Rayyan, under Turkish coach Bulent Uy- be without injured Dutchman Wesley Snei- Gharafa are expected to fi eld a full squad, attitudes. With the spread of so- Content Manager at DCMF, the abuse made the team more gun, also have the likes of Lucca Borges, jder for the clash. with the return of Vladimir Weiss and Diogo cial media, the media is closer to Hanan al-Yafi e spoke about the determined to win the tourna- Gonzalo Viera, Koh Myong-Jin and Sebas- The Doha team have qualifi ed for the Amado from injury. They will also be served people and more capable of infl u- ongoing violations since the ment,” the defender said. tian Soria. Saipa, meanwhile, have only competition eight times, with a quarter- by goalkeeper Yousef Hassan, Tamim al- encing their emotions and feel- imposition of the blockade on Hassan’s teammate Bassam al- once qualifi ed for the Continental compe- fi nal appearance in 2010 their best perform- Muhaysa, Abdulaziz Hatem, Fahd al-Sham- ings. Thus, negative phenomena Qatar, and serious escalations Rawi criticised the abuse some of tition, back in 2008 when they reached the ance, while they also reached the last 16 mari, Yousef Muftah, Mehdi Taremi, Oth- have emerged that have nothing witnessed during this period in the players received from few of quarter-fi nals before defeat to a Bunyodkor in 2013. Last year they were unlucky to be man al-Yahri and Ahmed Alaaeldin. to do with the sport world, such term of hate speech, incitement the sports media outlets, while side that featured Brazilian FIFA World Cup eliminated at the group stage by virtue of Zobahan fi nished the 2017-18 Iranian Pro as politicisation, emotional in- and abuse. These violations were the MVP of the Asian Cup Al- winner Rivaldo. After overcoming India’s an inferior head-to-head record against the League season as runners-up but are endur- citement, antagonism and defa- monitored and documented by moez Ali talked about the tour- Minerva Punjab 4-0 in Preliminary Stage 2, United Arab Emirates’ Al Jazira. ing a miserable campaign this time round mation.” the Doha Center and reported to nament and its various challeng- Ali Daei’s team – who have not won in the Al Gharafa, coached by Frenchman Chris- and are sitting dangerously near the relega- Journalist Khalid al-Jasim local and international rights and es which did not discourage the Iranian Pro League since September – are tian Gourcuff , will look to put behind the tion zone having not won a game since Au- talked about the phenomenon of media institutions, she added. determination to achieve victory now just one match away from lining up disappointment of losing to Umm Salal at gust. They needed extra time to overcome sports fanaticism and the role of “Most of the international and give Qatar and its fans the alongside the Continent’s elite once more. the QNB Stars League last week. The Chee- Kuwait SC 1-0 in Preliminary Stage 2. the media and social network- media followed the stages of the title. “The Qatari team today Meanwhile, Al Gharafa will welcome Ira- tahs, who slipped one place to eight in the The Isfahan side’s best performance on ing sites in facing it, saying that Asian Cup hosted by the UAE, has the experience to qualify for nian side Zobahan to Thani bin Jassim Sta- standings with 18 points, indeed have the the Continent was when they fi nished as the Asian championship which and the diffi cult playing condi- major tournaments and deserves dium. After fi nishing fourth in the Qatar potential to beat Zob Ahan, the runners-up runners-up to Korea Republic’s Seongnam was won by Qatar team exposed tions and challenges that Qatar to compete with all the strength Stars League last year, Al Gharafa currently in the Iranian league. If Al Gharafa win, they Ilhwa Chunma in 2010, while they have also a series of non-sporting prac- national team faced as well as the and high morale, and it is not im- languish in the bottom half of the table after will join teams such as Al Wasl of the UAE reached the knockout rounds in two of the tices and ethics because of the offi cial and public pressure on portant to pay attention to things defeat to Umm Salal last week, and they will and Al Zawraa of Iraq in Group A. past three seasons. systematic processes of politici- them, which the media discourse other than sport,” Ali said.