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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015 SPORTS Marin, the accidental shuttler, takes on China’s might DUBAI: Carolina Marin, the accidental extraordinary achievements, given that can win all the games.” In attempting back home, causing Nehwal to attempt strong favourite in his defence of the player who became her sport’s greatest so few people play the game in her this she could have an opportunity to toughening changes to her mind-set. title he won here last year. The field con- sensation, believes her toughest oppo- native Spain, and that she has been out- avenge herself on Wang Shixian, the for- She receives less censorious Indian expa- tains Jan Jorgensen, the world number nent will be herself rather than those performing a team of highly-trained mer number one who beat her in the triate support here in Dubai, which she two from Denmark, Kento Momota, the from China, the world’s most powerful Chinese athletes supported by consider- China Open last month, and to over- has described as “not like a home away Thomas Cup hero from Japan, and badminton nation, as she seeks another able resources. Marin only began bad- come the other leading Chinese, Wang from home - it is home.” Kidambi Srikanth, the Indian number major title in the Super Series finals minton after unwittingly strolling past a Yihan, a former world champion. Her strengths are consistency, tenaci- one who narrowly qualified at the last starting today. court where a friend happened to be hit- Neither of these famous players has ty, and perception, and she plays fast- moment. This will present a slightly different ting a shuttlecock. however landed in Marin’s group. paced rallies better than she did whilst It is though without Lin Dan, the challenge for the 22-year-old world Yet she talks as if it were all far from Instead the Spaniard first faces Tai Tzu admitting that Marin has “better wrist Olympic champion from China, and Lee number one from Spain, who is compet- extraordinary. “My expectation is to get Ying, the titleholder from Taiwan, fol- work.” Chong Wei, the former world number ing for the first time in the tour’s season- the title and win the tournament,” she lowed by Nozomi Okuhara, the Japanese By contrast the Madrid-domiciled one from Malaysia who won the last end flagship event because last year’s said. “To do that I must first enjoy all the player who this year has climbed 16 left-hander from Huelva creates steep three Super Series tournaments without regulations did not permit world cham- matches and make sure I do my best.” To places to a career-high number nine, trajectories and surprising angles, which, acquiring enough ranking points to pions to qualify automatically. do that she must cope with unfamiliar and, most notably, Saina Nehwal, the when allied to a fiery fighting spirit, qualify. Now they do, and Marin has since conditions in the large Hamdan stadium Indian whom Marin succeeded as world make her one of the most the startling won a second world title as well as which can create unexpected wind drift, number one during 2015. champions of all. Other challengers for Women’s singles draw becoming world number one. This and a group format in which - to reach She also beat Nehwal in the world the women’s singles title will be Group A.- Carolina Marin (Spain), Saina required a surge from last year’s 15th Sunday’s final - she will face top ten final in Jakarta in August. Despite this Ratchanok Intanon, the 20-year-old Thai Nehwal (India), Nozomi Okuhara (Japan), ranking, made possible by winning the opponents for five successive days. Nehwal has made incremental improve- who won the world title while still a Tai Tzu Yng (Taiwan). World Championships and the All- Marin nevertheless feels her biggest ment each year, getting within touching teenager, and Sung Ji-hyun, the world Group B.- Wang Shixian (China), Wang England Open, as well as other Super obstacle lies elsewhere. “The toughest distance of big titles which have only number four from South Korea. The Yihan (China), Ratchanok Intanon Series titles in France, Hong Kong, opponent is going to be myself,” she narrowly eluded her. This has some- men’s singles event sees China’s Chen (Thailand), Sung Ji-hyun (South Malaysia and Australia. These are claims. “But if I control myself I know I times been insufficient for harsh critics Long, the world champion, start as Korea).—AFP Nowitzki hold off Porzingis comeback as Mavs beat Knicks NEW YORK: Dirk Nowitzki scored 25 points as the Dallas Mavericks put rookie Kristaps Porzingis and the New York Knicks in their place with a 104-97 victory at Madison Square Garden on Monday. Latvian rookie Porzingis- who idolized German star Nowitzki as a schoolboy-top scored with 28 points in a furi- ous late onslaught for New York but it was not enough to overhaul Dallas. The towering 7ft 3in Porzingis, one of the standout rookies of the season so far, helped slash a 98-81 deficit SUKABUMI: This photo taken yesterday shows the Brazil (L) and New Zealand (R) with 5:52 left in the fourth quarter to just 101- teams competing during men’s open event during the World Rafting Championship 97 with 43 seconds on the clock. But just as on the Citarik River in Sukabumi in western Java island. Around 700 competitors memorable comeback was on the cards, the have descended on the Indonesian island of Java for this year’s World Rafting Mavericks reasserted themselves through Championship, showcasing the best of the extreme sport in a region where its popu- Nowitzki and Deron Williams to hold on for larity is on the rise. — AFP the win. Nowitzki had six rebounds along with his 25-point haul while Williams finished with 20 points and seven assists. Porzingis sank 13 of 19 shots from the floor and also World’s best rafters contributed two blocks. Team-mate Carmelo Anthony added 17 points with eight assists paddle into Asia and six rebounds. SUKABUMI: Around 700 competitors have “We like to go to unusual, exotic loca- SPURS 119, 76ERS 68 descended on the Indonesian island of Java tions because it always makes the event LaMarcus Aldridge scored a season-high 26 for this year’s World Rafting Championship, interesting for the competitors,” said Jones. points as the San Antonio Spurs embarrassed showcasing the best of the extreme sport the woeful Philadelphia 76ers 119-68. The in a region where its popularity is on the NOT ALWAYS EASY Spurs rested Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, rise. It is not always easy for the non-profes- while Kawhi Leonard did not play because of Teams of rafters, almost all non-profes- sional sportsmen and -women who want to illness. San Antonio shot a season-high 61.8 sional, slammed their paddles into fast- participate, however. “We’ve been fundrais- percent from the floor and recorded 32 assists flowing rapids to battle through the Citarik ing for the last six months or so, just to get on a season-high-tying 46 field goals. The River, surging past jungle-clad mountains. the money to come over here,” said Mariam Spurs’ point total was also a season high, and Spectators stood on the shore amid Audin, 41, a competitor from New Zealand. they limited the Sixers to their season low. palm trees, cheering as the six-person “It’s not easy for everyone to fly over to teams raced through furious white water, Indonesia and pay for their uniforms, pay HORNETS 104, PISTONS 84 navigating skillfully past rocks and through for their paddles, pay for our gear.” Cody Zeller led a balanced attack with 20 slalom polls. There are four disciplines in the champi- points, and the Charlotte Hornets cruised to a It is the first time the championship, onship, which this year ran from November 104-84 victory over the Detroit Pistons. The which has been running in one form or 29 to December 8, with male and female Hornets (12-8) won for the seventh time in their another for over 25 years, has been held in divisions competing across four different Asia. “Definitely rafting is becoming more age categories. last nine games and raised their record at home popular in Asia,” said Joe Willie Jones, presi- The “sprint” is a short, fast dash; the to 9-3. dent of the International Rafting “head-to-head” pits two teams against one Federation (IRF), which organised the event another in a race; the “slalom” sees com- RAPTORS 102, LAKERS 93 with the Indonesian federation. petitors steer their rafts through poles in Raptors guard Kyle Lowry compiled 27 “Compared to a lot of the world, it’s a powerful rapids; and the “downriver” is a points, seven rebounds and six assists as relatively new activity.” While rafting is little race that takes close to an hour. Toronto Raptors defeated the Los Angeles NEW YORK: Kevin Seraphin #1 of the New York Knicks grabs the ball as JaVale McGee #11 of known in Asia compared to other parts of There is no single overall winner of the Lakers 102-93. the Dallas Mavericks defends at Madison Square Garden on Monday in New York City. — AFP the world, it is the Japanese men who are championships, but different countries are Terrence Ross added 22 points-including the only full-time, professional team. The named winners in the different categories nine in the fourth quarter-for the Raptors, Brazilian men also receive strong financial and divisions. who had lost their previous two games.