20 Saturday, November 25, 2017 SPORTS SPORTS Saturday, November 25, 2017 21 UFC targets Asia with Shanghai Michael Owen ‘delighted’ Ashwin, Sharma fight card Shanghai ighters and fans in Asia are relishing the prospect of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s first Fvisit to mainland China, with a 12-fight card showcasing a lot of local talent set for a sell-out in make India shine Shanghai on Saturday. The UFC continues its global expansion with a card featuring an unprecedented eight Chinese fighters, as well as the debut of Indian featherweight withichael Owen, the Prince, Owen jockeymade his that was a long way (out) and debut Bharat Kandare, and for Chinese fans it’s a chance Mformer England striker, move rounding the home I got very tired in the last to show the world what they have to offer. finished second on his debut turn and briefly hit the front, furlong. “I want to see whether China can replicate the in the saddle in a charity race but ultimately had to make “It was such good fun and Nagpuragainst Sri Lanka atmosphere we see over in the U.S.,” 38-year-old at Ascot. do with the runner-up spot I’m really pleased with the avichandran Ashwin and business manager and MMA fan Kim Li told Owen, 37, who also starred behind Golden Wedding, in whole outcome. My horse Ishant Sharma led a powerful Reuters. for Liverpool, Real Madrid, the hands of Tom Chatfield- ran a cracking race and I’m bowlingR display by India to skittle “It’s really full-on over in the U.S., and I want to Newcastle and Manchester Roberts. delighted to be second. out Sri Lanka for 205 on the see if they can replicate that in China too.” United in his playing days, Owen, who was presented “I’d like to think plenty of opening day of the second Test. Kim is one of thousands of fans with a ticket for was one of 10 amateur riders with a memento after the good will come out of it, lots The hosts were 11 for one at the event, which takes place at the Mercedes-Benz to take part in the seven- race by Prince Charles and of money raised for charity. the close, trailing by 194 runs, Arena. furlong contest in aid of the the Duchess of Cornwall, said: We’re all home in one piece after opener Lokesh Rahul fell “For around 10 years, I’ve been watching it (the Prince’s Countryside Trust. “The horse was great and I’m and I had the time of my life.” for seven, bowled by Sri Lankan UFC) on TV and I’ve never had a chance to go to Partnering the Tom really pleased with how it’s Since hanging up his paceman Lahiru Gamage. the U.S. where most of the fights take place,” he Dascombe-trained Calder gone. I can’t keep the smile off football boots in 2013, Owen Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar said. “It’s really exciting for them to come over to my face, I loved it. has devoted most of his time Pujara, both on two, were give us a chance to take a look for the first time.” It was such good “They seemed to go really to his Manor House Stables batting at the close in Nagpur. Based in Las Vegas, the UFC has transformed fun and I’m really quick, it was the fastest I’ve in Cheshire and it was a horse The Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles meet The day belonged to India’s itself from an outlier running a brutal, bloody sport ever been on a horse, but trained there that Michael Owen at Ascot on Friday bowlers however. Ashwin took to a global brand on the back of star fighters such pleased with the the horse slowed into the gave him his four wickets and fellow spinner as Irish lightweight champ Conor McGregor and whole outcome. back and whipped up on the first taste of Ravindra Jadeja and Sharma former women’s bantamweight title-holder Ronda inside and all of a sudden race-riding. previously won four of his 27 for David Simcock. (Gorman). three each. Rousey. My horse ran a I was in front - I Calder starts. Owen has previously “Closer to the race the likes “I think me and Ashwin were The promotion has held a number of events cracking race and was thinking Prince, a Owen cut a confident figure enjoyed success at Ascot as an of Hayley Turner came and trying to bowl in good areas. outside its traditional strongholds of North I’m delighted to be ‘come on four-year- for much of the way, but was owner-breeder with Brown rode out and gave me a lesson Trying to restrict them by not America and Brazil in 2017, visting cities from now’. old gelding unable to quite keep tabs on Panther at the Royal meeting and so did Richard Kingscote. giving easy boundaries,” Jadeja, Swedish capital Stockholm to Saitama in Japan second. But rated 88, had the Eve Johnson Houghton- in 2011. I’ve had messages from the who took 3-56, told reporters. India’s Virat Kohli and R Ashwin appeal against Sri Lanka BRIEF SCORE and giving local prospects prominence on the card - Michael Owen trained Golden Wedding, who Owen admitted the process likes of Frankie (Dettori), “We were just providing on the opening day at Nagpur India 11 for 1 trail Sri Lanka 205 where possible. pulled comfortably had been far from easy, but is Tony McCoy, Barry Geraghty a supporting role to the fast (Chandimal 57, Karunaratne 51, The 16-hour time difference between Shanghai clear in the final perhaps not going to hang up and Ruby Walsh. Everyone bowlers who bowled well in the his 122-ball knock, was given not Wicketkeeper Niroshan Ashwin 4-67, Ishant 3-37, Jadeja and Las Vegas means that the card will start at furlong. his riding boots just yet. was wishing me well. first session.” out by the on-field umpire but Dickwella also tried to resist 3-56) by 194 runs 4 a.m. in Nevada, a concession to the Asian TV Leading owner He added: “I’ve been “It was almost like playing Skipper Dinesh Chandimal skipper Virat Kohli called for before falling to Jadeja’s left-arm audience that the UFC is looking to attract. Sheikh Fahad coached brilliantly at home. in the World Cup quarter- top-scored for Sri Lanka with a review which went in India’s spin. Africa’s Dean Elgar the only other The main event sees British former middleweight finished third I’ve had so many people final against Brazil when your 57 while opener Dimuth favour. Sri Lanka lost Sadeera opener to achieve the feat in 2017. champion Michael Bisping step back into the aboard Ghalib help me out. Tom Dascombe phone goes mental for a day Karunaratne made 51 on a green “Ashwin is an intelligent bowler Samarawickrama early after the The batting duo were solid in octagon just three weeks after losing his belt has been brilliant, as has his or two with hundreds of texts. pitch that helped India’s fast with some subtle variations. He is opener edged a seaming delivery defence before Ashwin bowled to Canada’s Georges St-Pierre. Bisping, whose assistant I think my phone is cooling bowlers. going to be a handful on any from Sharma to Cheteshwar Thirimanne after his 58-ball nine. brawling style has made him a global favourite, will Colin down somewhere. Sharma, who got Karunaratne wicket he is going to play,” Sri Pujara at first slip for 13. “I think India bowled very face American Kevin Gastelum in a five-round, “The not eating bit was after lunch, made the most of the Lanka coach Nic Pothas said. Left-handers Karunaratne and well. I don’t think that there were non-title fight. hard. I’ve lost 20lb in the last favourable conditions to claim his Lahiru Thirimanne then tried to many free balls going around that Asked what he found most appealing about the three weeks and that was a three wickets for just 37 runs. ‘No demons in the wicket’ resist a persistent Indian attack we missed out on,” Pothas said. sport, Kim echoed the answer of fight fans all over killer. I’m going to stop at The spinners then took centre Chandimal and Karunaratne, during a 24-run second wicket “Certainly a disappointing day, the world. every service station on the stage once the sun came out. who registered his 14th Test fifty, stand that lasted 121 balls. there are no demons in the wicket “It’s gladiatorial, (like) back in the Roman days way home and eat everything Ashwin trapped Chandimal lbw put on a crucial 62-run stand Karunaratne, who got reprieves and we probably haven’t batted as when they had big fights in coliseums. You get that again. to put the visitors in trouble. for the fourth wicket before the on 17 and 21, passed 1,000 Test we should have. This wicket has atmosphere in the U.S., it’s very primal,” he said. “I enjoyed it enough to say Chandimal, who hit a six in Indian bowlers struck back. runs for the year, with South done nothing. (AFP) (Reuters) I would do it again. It would be a shame to stop riding after that. However, I’ve got four kids and I don’t want to hurt myself. I absolutely loved Stonewall Smith drags Australia back from brink it and I wouldn’t put Brisbane still,” Australia spinner Nathan Lyon it past me.” (The aptain Steve Smith frustrated told reporters. Telegraph) England with a fighting half- ”There are two unbelievable batters BRIEF SCORE centuryC and pushed Australia to 165 at the crease. Australia 165 - 4 (62.0 overs) for four at the close of a see-sawing “Hopefully we can put (England) England 302 all out (116.4 overs) day two, rescuing the hosts after a top under pressure in the second innings order collapse in the series-opening but there’s a lot of cricket in this problems against spin in the Ashes test in Brisbane on Friday. game.” subcontinent followed him home as With his team in peril at 76 for After day one saw only four wickets he was trapped lbw for 11 by Moeen four, Smith’s unbeaten 64 in an fall, 10 tumbled on day two as the Ali. 89-run stand with number six Shaun Gabba pitch recovered some of its The alarm bells began ringing when Marsh gave Australia hope of reeling customary bounce and pace. opener David Warner holed out for in England’s first innings 302 at the England lost their last six wickets in 26, pulling paceman Jake Ball straight Michael Owen pushes Gabba. a hurry to be out for 302 at lunch and to Dawid Malan at short mid-wicket Calder Prince to the line Lefthander Marsh, under pressure Australia seemed to be back in control to give the Ashes debutant his first Australia’s Mitchell Starc watches a shot by Stuart Broad to perform after winning his eighth at their Brisbane fortress. wicket in Australia. off a short delivery Michael Owen recall to the test team, played a fine But the pendulum swung again as And Australia were left reeling at 76 support role to be 44 not out at England’s bowlers scythed through the squad, opener Cameron Bancroft’s ball from Stuart Broad and was caught for four when Peter Handscomb was stumps. the hosts’ top order. first bat in his Ashes test debut lasted behind for five. trapped lbw for 14 by James Anderson “I think the game’s in the balance After replacing Matt Renshaw in 19 balls after he nibbled at a teasing Number three Usman Khawaja’s in the first over after tea. (Reuters)