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THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2016 SPORTS Party over for Hamilton as new season dawns MELBOURNE: Lewis Hamilton spent the says his competitive drive remains as flawless pre-season testing, however, deny the Mercedes’ drivers a sweep of Indonesia’s first F1 driver Rio off-season crisscrossing the globe to sharp as ever and his feet will be firmly and team mate Nico Rosberg may again race wins last year and the new SF16-H Haryanto will also add a novelty factor party with A-list celebrities but Formula on the ground once he enters the pad- loom as Hamilton’s stiffest competition car showed impressive speed during when he debuts for Manor Racing. He is One’s reigning champion is adamant dock. “I know there’s still more to come in Melbourne. testing. With only 11 cars finishing last among three rookies set to make their there will be no hangover when he from me-I think I’ve shown that in the While Hamilton has been living life year’s season-opener in Melbourne, race debuts, along with German team returns to work at this week’s season- past two years,” Hamilton, winner in like there is no tomorrow, there is also a however, reliability will be paramount mate Pascal Wehrlein and Britain’s Jolyon opening Australian Grand Prix. The clear Australia last year and in 2008, said this sense that time is running out for his and that quality alone may be enough to Palmer at Renault. Along with the new bookmakers’ favorite to win a third suc- week. “There certainly needs to be some German rival, whose Mercedes contract score points. F1 bosses will hope drivers, F1’s governing body will feel cessive title with Mercedes, Hamilton extra in my tank, as the competition will expires at the end of the season. After Melbourne can lift the off-season gloom some butterflies with the debut of a new will arrive in Melbourne after a whirl- be stronger than ever this year.” Hamilton wrapped up his third title in that has hung over a series which drivers qualifying format which sees drivers pro- wind trip to New Zealand where he took Many invested in motor sport’s pin- Texas last year, Rosberg closed out the have criticized for being over-complicat- gressively eliminated during the three to the skies in a helicopter yesterday nacle series will hope Hamilton is right season with three successive wins, and ed by rule changes and which commer- phases rather than knocked out at the above the mountain resort of about the level of competition he at Albert Park he will hope to prove the cial supremo Bernie Ecclestone said he end of each of them. Introduced to Queenstown. expects to face this season. Another win late flourish owed more to his racing would not even bother taking his family make F1 more exciting but approved Hamilton’s frequent flying and party in Melbourne from pole position for the than a dip in his team mate’s motivation. to see. A positive start by Haas, the first less than two weeks ago, the new format lifestyle prompted some pundits to Briton could add more voices to the US-owned outfit in 30 years, would help, has been slammed by drivers. “I’m per- voice concerns about his focus and ener- growing weariness of the Silver Arrows’ Rule changes and the new team will look to upstage sonally not a fan ... and I think, speaking gy levels in the leadup to Sunday’s race dominance. The constructors champions Ferrari, fired by four-time champion more seasoned rivals like Sauber, who on behalf of all the drivers, no driver is,” at Albert Park. However, the 31-year-old are bullish about their car after near- Sebastian Vettel, were the only team to have the same Ferrari engine. Vettel told Sky Sport.—Reuters Badminton boom in India sparked by Nehwal success BIRMINGHAM: Biopics are big business in to three hours in the gym long before her Bollywood. The commercial success in recent teenage years. years of Indian movies on sports stars such as She came to be noticed by SM Arif, who runner Milkha Singh and boxer Mary Kom trained anyone who was better than good, have spawned a strong desire for more. including Pullela Gopichand. When Coming soon to the silver screen will be the Gopichand won the All England title in 2001, lives of past and present India cricket captains he inspired Nehwal, who had practiced on Mohammad Azharuddin and Mahendra Singh courts beside him. He proved an Indian could Dhoni, and wrestling coach Mahavir Singh beat the world’s best, and break China’s grip Phogat. Next year will feature Saina Nehwal. on badminton’s biggest titles. Within three It’s to be the story of her rise to become India’s years, she was training under Gopichand in her first winner of an Olympic badminton medal, a Hyderabad hometown. Wishing future players bronze in London four years ago. It won’t be a would have the infrastructure he never had, life story, she was 22 at the time. Gopichand raised the millions he needed by Indians consume these biopics, not just 2008 to complete his academy, which includes because the films are well made, but because 10 courts, accommodation, gym, pool and they’re inspirational, and Indian sport hasn’t cafetaria. He had only 50 kids then, and was produced a lot of world-beaters. “It’s a good still taking anyone who walked in in 2010. thing,” Nehwal said. “Youngsters get to see But since then, he’s opened up a nine-court their favorite player’s life.” There’s always a plot annex nearby, satellite academies in four other twist or conflict to overcome in these movies. cities, and still can’t meet demand. Call it the For Milkha Singh, the “Flying Sikh,” it was find- Saina Effect. Her enduring success, commercial ing redemption after blowing the 1960 attractiveness, and role-model appeal has Olympic 400-meter final, and for Kom, it was a sparked the badminton boom in India, espe- comeback after having twin boys. Perhaps cially since her London Olympic medal. Nehwal’s biopic will reveal her struggle, Badminton is second only to cricket in active because her career seems to be one long suc- participation in India, and the fourth most fol- cess story. lowed sport after cricket, tennis and football. Badminton is in her genes. The daughter of Racket sales have risen 20 percent annually. players - her scientist father Harvir was a uni- The national association cashed in by organiz- versity champ and her mother Usha a state ing a badminton league with the third highest champ - started in the sport at 9, was India TV following after the cricket and field hockey senior champion at 17, junior world champion leagues. In the inaugural league, Nehwal was SAN ANTONIO: San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills (8) drives around Los Angeles Clippers guard Austin Rivers during the first half of an NBA at 18, and winner of her first World Superseries the second highest paid player after top- basketball game on Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in San Antonio. — AP event the following year. Since then, she’s ranked Lee Chong Wei. been a fixture in the top four of the world rank- Last year, meeting Nehwal was the one of ings, reaching the summit last year. the prizes in a new junior championships Nehwal was strong for her age, and pushed sponsored by insurance company PNB MetLife Pacers finish strong, to eat right, play right, and focus right by Usha, and organized by Sara Foundation, which whom she credits for her attitude and work scouts for sports talent. Regional competitions ethic. Nehwal came to respect and fear her for under-9s, -11s, -13s and -15s brought the mother, and want to do right by her. Harvir top two in each to playoffs. It was such a hit, thump Celtics 103-98 was the carrot to Usha’s stick; always encour- more cities were entered, an under-17s class aging, emptying the family bank account to added, more academy scholarships offered to pay for Nehwal’s improvement, and getting winners and under-privileged kids, and there her up at 4 a.m. and carrying her on a scooter were more than 3,800 entries for the second Spurs depth on display in win vs Clippers 25 kilometers to training. She would spend up tournament which ends this month.—AP INDIANAPOLIS: Paul George had 25 points as Noel, Ish Smith and Nik Stauskas each had 18. a four-game season sweep of the Los Angeles the Indiana Pacers finished with a strong fourth Bogdanovic’s previous career high was 28 points Lakers with a 106-98 victory. The Lakers, who quarter to beat the Boston Celtics 103-98 against Orlando last April 15. His total was the trailed by as many as 23, got as close as 97-91 on Tuesday night. Monta Ellis added 16 points with most for a Nets player since Deron Williams a pair of free throws by Julius Randle that six assists, and Jordan Hill scored 15 for Indiana. scored 57 on March 4, 2012. The team moved to capped a 15-5 run with 3:14 to play. Rudy Gay Isaiah Thomas had 21 points, eight assists and Brooklyn the following season. Philadelphia has clinched it for the Kings by scoring seven of his six rebounds for Boston. The score was tied at 77 lost 15 of 16 games. The only victory during that 20 points in the final 2:57.