THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 2014 SPORTS

HH the Amir Shooting tournament Photo of the day By Abdellatif Sharaa Ahmad Olympic Shooting Complex. Members of Kuwait National shooting team, National KUWAIT: Kuwait shooting sports season will come to its Guard, Interior Ministry, Military Sports Federation climax this weekend as HH the Amir Shooting Sports shooters as well as shooters from the Qatari Shooting Tournament will be launched today at Sheikh Sabah Al- Federation are participating in the local season finale. Kuwait shooters who are keen on winning the tour- nament are ready to compete in the Skeet, Trap, Double Trap, 10 meter Air Pistol and Rifle, three position 50M Rifle, 50 meter free pistol, 25 Meter Pistol and 25 M cen- tral pistol in addition to Olympic archery. President of Kuwait and Arab Shooting Federations, member of Asian and ISSF Executive Committees Eng. Duaij Khalaf Al-Otaibi, on behalf of Kuwait Shooting community thanked HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for his major support of Kuwait Shooting Sport. Al-Otaibi said the organizing committee completed all preparations for the event as well as the closing cere- mony which will be attended by Information Minister and State Minister for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah as he will repre- sent HH the Amir. The closing ceremony will also be attended by Chairman of the Board and Managing Information Minister and State Minister for Youth Director of the Public Authority for Youth and Sports Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Sheikh Ahmad Mansour Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Al-Sabah and Eng. Duaij Khalaf Al-Otaibi and Heads of military sports associations. Park resumes quest for first win of 2014 Mohammad Al Attar performs during a photoshoot in Kuwait City, Kuwait. KAPOLEI: South Korea’s Park In-Bee experienced a lot of things. A lot of her first four starts. But she finished — www.redbull.com hopes to celebrate a year atop the things going well for me in my career. I 36th in her title defense at the Kraft women’s golf world rankings with her feel like I’m probably a lot more Nabisco Championship, the first major first victory of 2014 in the LPGA Lotte mature player than I was last year, and of the year, two weeks ago. Championship this week. I feel more comfortable out here, and Park heads a field of 144 players in the $1.7 million tournament. Knicks get past Nets “Obviously the time has gone really being in the number one spot feels a fast,” Park said. “This was the week I little more comfortable now.” Defending champion Suzann took over the number one spot last Park won six titles in 2013, includ- Pettersen of Norway, ranked second in year, and a lot of things happened ing the first three major champi- the world, will miss her third succes- NEW YORK: Tim Hardaway Jr. scored since this week last year. onships of the year. She’s off to a solid sive event with a back injury. However, 16 points as the New York Knicks, NBA results/standings “I’ve had a lot of wins, and I’ve start this season, with four top-10s in there’s plenty of star power remaining. playing without the injured Carmelo Hawaii native Michelle Wie, coming Anthony, beat the Brooklyn Nets NY Knicks 109, Brooklyn 98; LA Clippers 117, Denver 105. off a runner-up finish to fellow 109-98 on Tuesday to win the sea- Eastern Conference Western Conference American Lexi Thompson at the Kraft son series between city rivals. The Atlantic Division Northwest Division Nabisco, will be looking for a strong Knicks prevented the Nets from W L PCT GB Oklahoma City 58 23 .716 - performance in her return home. clinching the No. 5 seed in the Toronto 48 33 .593 - World number four Lydia Ko of New Portland 53 28 .654 5 Eastern Conference playoffs and Brooklyn 44 37 .543 4 Minnesota 40 41 .494 18 Zealand will make her second appear- won their third straight in their too- NY Knicks 36 45 .444 12 Denver 36 45 .444 22 ance in the tournament, trying to little, too-late strong finish. Amare Boston 25 56 .309 23 improve on her equal ninth finish from Stoudemire and J.R. Smith each Philadelphia 18 63 .222 30 Utah 24 57 .296 34 last year. American Lizette Salas added 14 points. Central Division Pacific Division returns to Hawaii eager to improve on Anthony had an MRI exam Indiana 55 26 .679 - LA Clippers 57 24 .704 - her career-best second-place finish at Chicago 48 33 .593 7 Golden State 50 31 .617 7 Ko Olina last season. Salas posted a Tuesday that revealed a torn labrum in his right shoulder. He won’t play Cleveland 32 49 .395 23 Phoenix 47 34 .580 10 stunning 29 on her final nine holes of Detroit 29 52 .358 26 regulation on Sunday, her fourth- late yesterday against Toronto, the Sacramento 28 53 .346 29 Milwaukee 15 66 .185 40 round 62 forcing a playoff with final game of the first season in his LA Lakers 26 55 .321 31 Southeast Division Pettersen. Although she didn’t lift the 11-year career that won’t end with a Southwest Division Miami 54 27 .667 - trophy, Salas said she’d taken plenty of playoff berth - and potentially his Washington 43 38 .531 11 San Antonio 62 19 .765 - positives from that week. “I could have last as a member of the Knicks. He Charlotte 42 39 .519 12 Houston 54 27 .667 8 been really down,” Salas said. “I did cry has said he will become a free agent Atlanta 37 44 .457 17 Dallas 49 32 .605 13 about it, but I could have had a pity in July. Orlando 23 58 .284 31 Memphis 49 32 .605 13 party for a long time. But I reversed it. Marcus Thornton scored 24 It was definitely a motivating thing points for the Nets, who weren’t and I think was a reason I had such a sharp despite playing starters Paul Park In-Bee great year.” — AFP Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Deron Williams and Joe Johnson. The other starter, Shaun Livingston, remained Pistorius trial: Defense sidelined with a sprained right big toe. The Nets still have a magic num- ber of one for finishing fifth. But they tries to build case could fall to No. 6 if they lose Wednesday in Cleveland and PRETORIA: Oscar Pistorius’ lawyers at his and rebuild his case after the Olympic ath- door were similar and could be confused. Washington beats Boston. murder trial yesterday tried to roll back the lete’s shaky testimony. The difference is important because sever- prosecution’s momentum, but the prose- He said it was his opinion that al neighbors have testified that they heard CLIPPERS 117, NUGGETS 105 cutor sharply questioned the credentials Steenkamp was hit in the hip and the arm Steenkamp scream before shots on and findings of a forensic expert for the in quick succession by the first two of four Valentine’s Day last year, backing the pros- Blake Griffin scored 24 points defense. Following the tough cross-exami- shots while she was standing close to the ecution’s case that there was a fight before while picking up his 16th technical nation of Pistorius that lasted five days, his door, and indicated he believed she may Pistorius shot his girlfriend with his 9 mm as Los Angeles led all the way to defense attempted to re-assert his story have had her right arm extended and pistol. beat Denver for its club-record 57th that his killed his girlfriend by mistake, but maybe her hand on the door handle, as if Pistorius’ defense says the witnesses are victory of the season. Chris Paul had the prosecutor strongly challenged the she was about to open the door through mistaking the sequence and they heard 21 points and 10 assists, and JJ expert witness. which she was shot. The defense was Pistorius screaming in a high-pitched voice Redick added 18 points in the Roger Dixon, a forensic geologist at the using Dixon’s testimony to try to cast for help before breaking the door open Clippers’ finale at home, where they University of Pretoria and a former police- doubt on the prosecution’s version that with the bat to get to Steenkamp. In a cut- went 34-7 for another franchise man, contradicted parts of the evidence Steenkamp fled to the bathroom and was ting statement on Dixon’s finding regard- mark. DeAndre Jordan had 13 points given by a police ballistics expert and the hiding in the toilet during a fight with ing Steenkamp’s wounds, Nel said to and 16 rebounds. state pathologist who examined the body Pistorius in the pre-dawn hours of Feb. 14, Dixon: “I use the word ‘finding’ very loosely.” The win kept the Clippers in the of Reeva Steenkamp, fatally shot last year 2013. Nel has said that the double- Nel also questioned Dixon’s role in the hunt for the No. 2 seed in the by Pistorius. But Dixon acknowledged that amputee athlete shot Steenkamp through audio test involving the sounds of gun- Western Conference playoffs. They he did not have expertise in some of the the door as she faced him and while they shots and a bat that was played by would need to win at Portland and areas in which he was testifying, including were arguing. Pistorius, 27, is charged with defense lawyers during Dixon’s testimony. Oklahoma City would need to lose sound, light and ballistics. premeditated murder for Steenkamp’s “Your expertise (in the audio test) was to Detroit late yesterday for the Prosecutor Gerrie Nel was sometimes shooting death and faces 25 years to life in wielding the cricket bat?” Nel asked Dixon Clippers to claim the second spot. sarcastic while questioning Dixon, subject- prison if convicted on the charge. He sarcastically. Dixon replied: “My part of that Otherwise, they will remain the third ing him to the same grueling scrutiny with claims he shot the 29-year-old model by test was to wield the cricket bat to pro- seed. Los Angeles will have to get by which he challenged Pistorius, who often mistake thinking she was a dangerous duce the sound.” On questioning by Nel, fumbled for answers while in the witness intruder in the toilet about to come out Dixon conceded the tests had to be done without Griffin on the road since his box. Dixon offered a different version for and attack him. Dixon also said he took a second time because of problems with 16th tech triggered a league-man- NEW YORK: Mason Plumlee No. 1 of the Brooklyn Nets sinks a first half bas- the order of the shots that killed part in audio tests conducted by experts the first test, and they were recorded by a dated one-game suspension. — AP ket against the New York Knicks at the Barclays Center. — AFP Steenkamp in an attempt to back up for the defense that showed the sounds of music producer who had no experience in Pistorius’ version of a mistaken shooting gunshots and of a cricket bat hitting a recording gunshots. —AP Aussie ace relishing first Wigan St Helens derby

LEEDS: full-back Matt can’t wait for Friday - I can see what all coach’s dismay. Bowen has experienced almost every- the fuss is about,” said the 32-year-old. “I feel for both those boys (Wood thing in his glittering 13-year career — “They have started the season well, and Grix) as they’ve both had long but a Good Friday local derby against winning eight from eight, and we extensive rehabilitation and they’ve St Helens is breaking new ground for need to improve. It is going to be come up with fresh injuries,” he said. the full-back. tough. It has been a slow start for us “We had a few bumps and bruises Having joined the defending Super and obviously a busy start of the year. going into the game and we’ve got League champions ahead of this sea- “Travelling to Sydney (for the World some big matches, a number of son from the North Queensland Club Challenge) slowed us up a bit but matches coming up within day of each Cowboys, Bowen is the first to admit we have been hitting some form now other so we need to take care of our that he has taken a while to settle. and it is going to be a good test this people.” Elsewhere Salford face Indeed Shaun Wane’s side are only weekend. Huddersfield Giants and after claiming now beginning to hit their stride, last “We are starting to get the combi- his first win as the Red Devils new weekend’s win over the London nations going and getting come confi- head coach last weekend, Iestyn Harris Broncos taking them into the top four dence. The next couple of days are is desperate for more of the same for the first time this season. going to be tough, with the Friday against the current holders of the Bitter local rivals Saints meanwhile game and back up on Monday.” League Leaders Shield. have been unbeatable, with eight wins As is customary in “There’s a lot of areas we need to from eight, which sees them sit proud- over Easter weekend all 14 sides are improve in as we go on but there were ly on top of the table and has given playing again on Monday, and with some half-decent signs and we need their fans the bragging rights at the that in mind Warrington head coach to make sure we work on them to outset of the new campaign. Bowen Tony Smith has a fair few fitness move forward,” said the Welshman. said he is itching to sample one of the headaches to solve. “We’ve adjusted some things already most famous clashes has The Wolves host Widnes on Friday but there is no magic wand in rugby to offer. “Obviously there has been a and have , Simon Grix league - it’s about getting into good LAHORE: Pakistani cricketer Umar Akmal (left) speaks with his bride Noor Amna during their wedding reception in lot of talk about it and the rivalry and Paul Wood on the treatment table habits consistently, both defensively Lahore yesterday. Akmal’s wedding has attracted big headlines in Pakistani media over his hairstyle and expen- between Wigan and St Helens and I at the moment, much to the head and offensively.”— Reuters sive sherwani’ the groom’s traditional long coat. — AFP