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Monday, July 24, 2017 SWIMMING Dhul-Qa’da 1, 1438 AH Sun downs Horton GULF TIMES in grudge contest, Ledecky triumphs SPORT Page 4 FOOTBALL Mission accomplished as Qatar qualify for AFC U-23

‘I am very happy for my team. They worked hard during the tournament. Tonight we were good in the SPOTLIGHT first half, but they came back strongly in the second. I want to congratulate the Syrian team too...’

By Sahan Bidappa India fi nish Doha off with 3-1 atar sealed their spot in the 2018 AFC U-23 championship after a 1-1draw against Syria in their fi nal qualifying win over match yesterday. The hosts needed justQ a point to progress to the next year’s event in China as the Group C toppers, and they achieved Turkmens it after a gruelling battle against Syrians at the Al Sadd stadium. AFC Sultan al-Breik gave Qatar the lead in the 37th Doha minute with a sublime free kick, before Mohamed Muhtadi gave the Syrian dugout a sigh of relief by scoring through a header in the 61st minute. ndia fi nished off their Group Around 300 Syrians who cheered for their side C campaign in the AFC U-23 at the Al Sadd were also delirious in the end as Championship qualifi ers with an Syria too qualifi ed for the main event as one of Iimpressive 3-1 victory over Turk- the fi ve best runners-up across all groups. A loss menistan at the Al Sadd Club yester- would have been disaster for Syria but they man- day, aged to hung in right till the end. India, with three points, fi nished While Qatar were clearly a superior side, the third in the group, behind hosts Qatar physical nature of the game played by Syrians and Syria who were to fi ght for the top left the hosts exhausted. The game was inter- spot in the group’s fi nal match later rupted many a time with Syrian players lunging yesterday. Turkmenistan fi nished last at the Qataris and couple of them had to be sub- in the four-team group. stituted after picking injuries. The fi rst casualty Manvir Singh, Alen Deory and Jerry was Qatar captain Ahmed Moein, who had to be Lalrinzuala (penalty) scored the goals stretchered off the fi eld in the 20th minute with a for India yesterday. shoulder injury. Earlier, Turkmenistan took the lead Qatar had more possession and threatened the in the 13th minute, through Hojovov Syrian defence on a number of occasions. They Hoshgeldi. The defender blasted in a had their fi rst real chance in the 28th minute, but Qatar players react after scoring against Syria in their deciding AFC U-23 Championship qualifier against Syria yesterday. PICTURE: Jayan Orma free-kick from outside the area, giving Akram Afi f’s shot sailed well above the post. no chance to India goalkeeper Vishal The breakthrough for Qatar came in the 37th to equalise. Substitute Mohamed Srour played a Tameem al-Muhaza to head the ball into the net. team. They worked hard during the tournament. Kaith. minute after Almoez Ali was brought down just perfect through ball to Al Rahman Barakat, who The Syrians, knowing well that a draw would Tonight we were good in the fi rst half, but they India had more possession and outside the box. Qatar had been poor in set-piec- only had to beat the goalkeeper. But the mid- be enough to confi rm their ticket to China, were came back strongly in the second. I want to con- threatened the Turkmenistan defence es so far in the tournament, but Sultan al-Breik fi elder while attempting to control the ball han- overjoyed as they joined their supporters in cel- gratulate the Syrian team too for their qualifi ca- on a number of occasions, but they produced an immaculate free kick to the right of dled the ball, which was spotted by the lines- ebration. Understandably, both the teams tight- tion,” he said. could not deliver the end product. the top post, with Syrian goalkeeper Mohamed man. ened their defence thereafter and were happy to The Spanish coach said the next year’s AFC But they got a lucky break in the Yazan Ourabi’s outstretched hands failing to After the break, Syria started to press more in play out a draw. Championship will be a golden opportunity for 40th minute when Manvir Singh, who even come close to the ball. search of an equaliser and their wait to came to Syria, however, still had a chance to snatch the the Qatar under-23 players to learn and graduate was retreating to midfi eld after a failed Syria responded with some quick counter-at- an end in the 61st minute. Moumen Naji wreaked game from Qatar. In the 79th minute, Barakat to the next well. “My players are fortunate to play attack, got a defl ected pass and was tack, but Qatar defender Tarek Salman, who was havoc on the left, catching the Qatari defenders made a delightful pass to Najii, but the forward in these kinds of tournaments. It will only make played onside by Turkmenistan de- outstanding on the night, cleared the danger on unawares. And one such moment came when Naji failed to react quickly as the ball went out of play. them better players. Most of them are born after fender Mirsultanov Dovletgeldi, who two occasions in the 42nd minute. lobbed into the box, where Mohamed Muhta- Qatar coach Felix Sanchez was pleased with 1995, so they are still young and they have a lot to then missed an opportunity to clear In the very next minute, Syria had a chance di leapt between Qatar defenders Salman and his team’s qualifi cation. “I am very happy for my learn by playing at this level,” Sanchez said. the ball.

CRICKET Shrubsole stars as England lift World Cup AFP SCORECARD on 65 off spinner Laura Marsh. London Another chance went begging when Veda Krishnamurthy (10) was dropped England M. Raj run out (Sciver/Taylor) ...... 17 by England captain Heather Knight nya Shrubsole bowled Eng- L. Winfield b Gayakwad ...... 24 H. Kaur c Beaumont b Hartley ...... 51 at extra cover off pace bowler Jenny land to a dramatic nine-run T. Beaumont c Goswami b Yadav ...... 23 V. Krishnamurthy c Sciver b Shrubsole Gunn. win over India in the Wom- S. Taylor c Verma b Goswami ...... 45 ...... 35 India’s target was now under a run Aen’s World Cup fi nal at Lord’s H. Knight lbw b Yadav ...... 1 S. Verma b Hartley ...... 0 a ball and Veda Krishnamurthy raised yesterday. N. Sciver lbw b Goswami ...... 51 D. Sharma c Sciver b Shrubsole ...... 14 a fi fty stand with Raut off just 54 balls India, set 229 to win, were well F. Wilson lbw b Goswami ...... 0 J. Goswami b Shrubsole ...... 0 when she cut Shrubsole over point and on course for victory at 191 for three K. Brunt run out (Sharma) ...... 34 S. Pandey run out (Shrubsole/Taylor) 4 drove her over mid-off for two fours in in front of a full house of more than J. Gunn not out ...... 25 P. Yadav not out ...... 1 as many balls. 26,000. L. Marsh not out ...... 14 R. Gayakwad b Shrubsole ...... 0 Raut’s fi ne innings ended when she But the dismissal of opener Punam Extras (lb3, w7, nb1) ...... 11 Extras (lb3, w7, nb1) ...... 11 was lbw to Shrubsole, having faced 115 Raut, who made a fi ne 86, lbw to Total (7 wkts, 50 overs) ...... 228 Total (all out, 48.4 overs) ...... 219 balls including four fours and a six. Shrubsole, sparked a stunning col- Did not bat: A Shrubsole, A Hartley Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Mandhana), It was the start of a cascade of wick- lapse. Fall of wickets: 1-47 (Winfield), 2-60 2-43 (Raj), 3-138 (Kaur), 4-191 (Raut), ets as panic set in. Shrubsole took fi ve wickets for 11 (Beaumont), 3-63 (Knight), 4-146 5-196 (Verma), 6-200 (Krishnamurthy), Krishnamurthy made a fi ne 35 be- runs in 19 deliveries as India, bid- (Taylor), 5-146 (Wilson), 6-164 (Sciver), 7-201 (Goswami), 8-218 (Pandey), 9-218 fore she holed out off Shrubsole before ding for a fi rst World Cup title on the 7-196 (Brunt) (Sharma), 10-219 (Gayakwad) Goswami was yorked by Shrubsole for ground where their men’s side won an Bowling: Goswami 10-3-23-3 (3w); Bowling: Brunt 6-0-22-0; Shrubsole a duck. inaugural World Cup crown in 1983, Pandey 7-0-53-0 (1nb, 1w); Gayakwad 9.4-0-46-6 (4w); Sciver 5-1-26-0; Gunn Shika Pandey was run out before slumped to 219 all out. England captain Heather Knight (L) poses for a selfie with the trophy after 10-1-49-1 (1w); Sharma 9-0-39-0 (1w); 7-2-17-0 (1w); Marsh 10-1-40-0 (1w); Shrusbole, after Jenny Gunn had Pace bowler Shrubsole fi nished with winning the ICC Women’s World Cup cricket final against India at Lord’s cricket Yadav 10-0-36-2; Kaur 4-0-25-0 (1w) Hartley 10-0-58-2 (1w); Knight 1-0-7-0 dropped a simple catch, ended the stunning fi gures of six for 46 in 9.4 ground in London yesterday. Result: England won by nine runs match by bowling Rajeshwari Gayak- overs as England won a fourth World India Toss: England wad for a duck as England won yet an- Cup title and third on home soil, by Meanwhile India captain Mithali 171 not out had set up India’s semi- P. Raut lbw b Shrubsole ...... 86 Umpires: Shaun George (RSA), other close game this World Cup. gaining revenge for their opening Raj, in what was, together with fellow fi nal win over reigning champions S. Mandhana b Shrubsole ...... 0 Gregory Brathwaite (WIS) Earlier pace bowler Goswami took group stage loss to India. 34-year-old Jhulan Goswami, likely to Australia. Kaur lofted and swept left- three for 23 in 10 overs as India held Opener Smriti Mandhana — who be her last chance to win a World Cup arm spinner Alex Hartley for two huge England to 228 for seven. made 90 in that match — was bowled after being on the losing side in 2005, sixes. Goswami’s haul, which saw her take for a duck by Shrubsole. ran herself out for just 17. Raut went to fi fty in 78 balls and Kaur swept Harley straight to Tammy Sarah Taylor, arguably the best two wickets in two balls, included the But fellow opener Raut hit Shrubsole Her exit brought in the big-hitting Kaur got there in 80 balls. Beaumont at deep backward square to wicket-keeper in the women’s game, dismissals of star batsman Taylor (45) back over her head for six. Harmanpreet Kaur, whose stunning But the duo were separated when end a stand of 95. then missed a chance to stump Raut, and top-scorer Nat Sciver (51). Gulf Times 2 Monday, July 24, 2017 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT FIRM De Gea ‘guaranteed’ to stay at United, Neymar dazzles as insists Mourinho

AFP million) signing of Romelu Lu- Santa Clara, United States kaku, United had been keen to do business with Real after pursuing now Chelsea frontman Alvaro ose Mourinho has given a Morata. Barcelona down “guarantee” that David De Gea will stay at Manches- BALE NO-GO ter United this season, de- But Mourinho has confi rmed spiteJ the long-running saga over that Real’s ex-Tottenham winger a potential move to Real Madrid. Gareth Bale was never a realistic Transfer speculation over De target. Gea returning to hometown club He said: “You have contacts, Real has stretched on for the last you have feelings, you under- Juventus 2-1 two years, ever since the goal- stand things. It was clear that keeper was a whisker away from Bale likes Madrid, likes the situ- heading to the Bernabeu in the ation and is in a club with a very There was little to suggest that the charismatic striker is overwhelmed by the transfer summer of 2015. good situation now. But ahead of United’s Interna- “I never felt the desire for him saga as he produced a bewitching performance in front of a sell-out 82,104 crowd tional Champions Cup pre-sea- to leave so why use time and en- son encounter against Real, on ergy on that?” Sunday, Mourinho has delivered Mourinho still hopes to add a an unequivocal message about further two players to his squad the 26-year-old’s future. before the end of the summer Mourinho implied that there transfer window, despite describ- were negotiations with Real ing the market as “very diffi cult.” which fell through last summer, But while Mourinho is content yet he believes the prospect of with the make-up of his current returning to La Liga has now options, he faces going into the become less appealing for the new season without the injured Spanish international. trio of Luke Shaw, Ashley Young “I can guarantee that he’s not and Marcos Rojo. going this season. My feeling is The three have been recu- that it will be very diffi cult for perating with United’s squad in him to go,” said Mourinho. California, yet Shaw is ruled out “He’s a very honest boy, very until September, Young until Oc- straight. He was contacted for a tober and Rojo until December. long time. The club was closed “No chance [that any are fi t] [for negotiations]. for the beginning of the Premier “Then we opened [it] because League,” said Mourinho. I always have this feeling that “But it’s good to have them, when a player has the desire to good for them to be with us and go, I don’t like to stop them. In recover with the group.” the end, you don’t get from them Their absence does open the what you expect. door for the young hopefuls at “So we opened it and then they United. decided to close. The likes of Timothy Fosu- “I don’t think the feeling from Mensah, Andreas Pereira and him [towards Real] is very good. I Axel Tuanzebe are all due to fea- see him really happy, focused and ture against Real, in Santa Clara, working better than ever. For me, with Mourinho keen to rest sev- 100 per cent he stays with us.” eral key fi gures after Thursday’s Prior to the £75million ($97.4 win over Manchester City.

GOLD CUP Dempsey milestone as US down Costa Rica to reach fi nal

Barcelona’s Neymar takes a shot as Juventus defenders try and block him during the International Champions Cup 2017 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

AFP the transfer saga as he produced a be- drilling his fi nish past Gianluigi Buff on. The changes immediately gave Juve a East Rutherford, United States witching performance in front of a sell- Nine minutes later and Neymar sharper attacking edge and Dybala was out 82,104 crowd at the MetLife Stadium grabbed his second, picking his way quick to test Adria Ortola with a rasp- in New Jersey. through a static Juventus defence before ing shot on 62 minutes that was turned eymar gave Barcelona fans a The Brazilian broke clear after only burying a low shot beyond Buff on once around for a corner. dazzling reminder of what they four minutes but saw a tame shot from more. From the ensuing setpiece, Giorgio could be about to lose on Satur- near the edge of the area drift away from Neymar might have had a hat-trick Chiellini nodded home Dybala’s cross to day, scoring twice as the Span- the goal. three minutes from half-time, when make it 2-1. Nish giants defeated Juventus 2-1 in a pre- Barcelona, with Lionel Messi starting, Messi fl oated a delightful pass in behind However it was Barcelona who fi nished season friendly. looked by far the more threatening of the the Juve defence for the Brazilian. the stronger of the two sides, with Luis The 25-year-old Brazilian superstar two teams with Aleix Vidal and Messi Buff on on this occasion was equal to Suarez repeatedly threatening to extend is at the centre of frenzied speculation both drawing early blocks from the Ju- the challenge however and blocked safely. the Spanish side’s lead. linking him to a gargantuan, world record ventus defence. Barcelona rang the changes at half- Man of the moment Neymar departed 222-million-euro ($256.8 million) trans- At the other end Mario Mandzukic time, withdrawing all but two of their the stadium without addressing report- fer to Paris Saint-Germain. might have given Juve the lead on 14 starting line-up, Neymar exiting for ers, while Barcelona coach Ernesto Val- USA’s Clint Dempsey in action against Costa Rica. Neymar had kept the guessing game minutes but his header from a Stefano Sergi Roberto and Arda Turan replacing verde could only repeat his desire to keep about his future bubbling away after Sturaro cross went wide. Messi. the Brazilian. AFP Cups and fi ve Gold Cups. posting a picture of himself looking pen- The Italians were made to rue Mandzu- Juventus also made a raft of substi- “We want Neymar to be with us,” Val- Los Angeles After overcoming a battling sive on Instagram on Friday. kic’s profl igacy a minute later when Ney- tutions which led to the introduction verde said. “We know his value on the display from El Salvador in the But there was little to suggest that the mar fi red the Catalans into the lead, play- of Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Higuain and pitch and what he brings to the locker quarter-fi nals, the US team charismatic striker is overwhelmed by ing a clever one-two with Paco Alcacer and Douglas Costa amongst others. room.” lint Dempsey’s mile- produced their best game of the stone goal sealed the tournament against Costa Rica. United States’ 2-0 vic- Veteran goalkeeper Tim BOTTOMLINE tory over Costa Rica on Howard, Dempsey, Michael Bra- SaturdayC in the semi-fi nals of dley and Darlington Nagbe were the CONCACAF Gold Cup in all brought in for the knockout Dallas, Texas. stage by coach Bruce Arena, who In Wednesday’s fi nal, the had experimented with an un- United States will face either tried squad in the group stage. defending champions Mexico or Howard made a key save on Coutinho bid a waste of time, Jamaica — who face off on Sun- Marco Urena’s attempt against day in Pasadena, California. the run of play in the 37th Costa Rica stymied the fi ve- minute, and produced another time champion United States big save on Urena in the 71st to until Jozy Altidore broke through keep the contest scoreless. Klopp sends message to Barca in the 72nd minute, capitalizing The tension was rising, how- AFP he had received assurances from fi nal. on good work from Dempsey. ever, with the match set to go Hong Kong the board that Coutinho would “There is no story for me,” he Dempsey came on for Paul Ar- straight to a penalty shoot-out not be next. added. “Whatever happens from riola in the 66th minute and soon without extra time if the sides “I can say 20 times, he is not their side, I say he is not for sale. made his presence felt, working were drawn after 90 minutes. iverpool manager Jur- for sale,” said Klopp, who has You can say whatever you want. his way through the defense and But Dempsey — who returned gen Klopp has told Bar- been frustrated so far in his at- The answer is ‘not for sale’.” threading a pass to Altidore, who to international duty in March af- celona they are wasting tempts to sign Leipzig midfi eld- Klopp confi rmed he had spo- beat Costa Rican keeper Patrick ter a heart problem saw him side- their time trying to sign er Naby Keita and Southampton ken to Coutinho in private at the Pemberton with a left-footed lined for six months — provided LBrazilian playmaker Philippe defender Virgil van Dijk during team’s hotel in Hong Kong be- shot. the needed spark off the bench. Coutinho — no matter the off er. the transfer window. fore Saturday’s game but refused Ten minutes later, 34-year- “We were pretty close to get- Klopp has already rejected a “If you ask the other question to reveal what was said. old Dempsey curled a perfectly ting it right in the fi rst half,” said $93 million bid for Coutinho, the other way and I say, ‘there The German did, however, ex- struck free kick under the wall US coach Bruce Arena. “I think who scored a superb winner in has been no assurance’, you make plain the reason for his fi rst-half and past Pemberton inside the as the game wore on and our op- Liverpool’s 2-1 Premier League the story the other way. rant at referee Bobby Madley near post for his 57th interna- ponent got tired, the goals came.” Asia Trophy victory over Leices- “With Suarez I was far away,” following some heavy challenges tional goal, tying Landon Dono- The US avenged their hum- ter City in Hong Kong on Satur- added the former Borussia Dort- on Coutinho. van’s mark for most in the his- bling 4-0 loss to Costa Rica in a day. mund coach, who joined Liver- “I was not too happy about tory of the US men’s team. World Cup qualifi er in November Barca are set to test Liver- pool in 2015. two decisions around Phil,” said Dempsey matched the record — the fi nal match before Jurgen pool’s resolve with an improved “When the club sold Sterling Klopp. “He (Madley) told me in his 136th appearance for the Klinsmann was sacked as coach. off er but Klopp has told the Cat- I was maybe the last to know if I behave like I behaved today senior team — 17 games faster With Arena back at the helm, alan giants not to bother. about it. Those situations have (in the Premier League) then I than it took Donovan to score his the USA are unbeaten in 12 “If I say he is not for selling, nothing to do with this one. would have to go in the stands. 57 international goals. matches and now have a shot at he is not for selling,” the German “We are approaching a very “I said: ‘If I behave like today His fi rst goal for the United a sixth Gold Cup title and their told British media. File picture of Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp gesturing. important moment and we want then I go in the stand, no prob- States came in 2005 when the fi rst since 2013. “There is nothing else to say. to get better. For this we have lem. But you have to change how former Fulham player scored in a They failed to make the fi nal It’s a club decision, it’s my deci- Liverpool sold Luis Suarez to Manchester City in recent years to keep our key players,” said you whistle’. For me, it was a friendly defeat to England. in 2015, when Mexico won their sion. That’s how it is.” Barca and Raheem Sterling to but Klopp bristled when asked if Klopp, insisting his word was clear foul, it’s dangerous.” He has scored in three World seventh crown. Gulf Times Monday, July 24, 2017 3 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT QATAR STARS LEAGUE

Defender al-Qahtani from Persian Gulf Pro League heads to Al Khor side Esteghlal Khuzestan. The experienced centre-back is QSL side Al Khor has an- the club’s first professional nounced the signing of player signed in this summer’s Al Duhail defender Talal transfer window. Qatar’s focus on al-Qahtani as the Knights The Kings have been busy in bid to strengthen their local the transfer market as they contingent ahead of the new look to make a splash on their QSL season. return to the QSL. They have Al-Qahtani signed a one- already signed a number of season deal in the presence local players including Fahad of Al Khor club off icials. The Khalfan and former Al Arabi 29-year-old defender is vastly defender Ali Jassimi. youth can help experienced in the QSL and Qatar SC is set to travel to will be seen as a key addition Slovenia for their preseason for the side. The signing of camp in August, under the the former Al Rayyan player guidance of new coach Gabriel means that Al Khor have now Calderón. signed a total of seven play- ers in the summer transfer Iraqi Natiq set for Al window. Arabi move India: Constantine These include professional players Luciano Castán and QSL side Al Arabi are set to ‘QFA’s policies led to Qatar winning an Asian U19 title and Aspire have been leaders in Soroosh Rafiei whilst four local sign Iraqi player Saad Natiq, players have been signed in as the Dream Team look to talent scouting in the Middle East and Africa’ the form of former Umm Salal strengthen their side ahead of trio players Omar Ibrahim, the start of the QSL season. By Sports Reporter Hilal Mohammed and Salem Al Arabi off icials greeted Doha Khalifah and Al Shahania Natiq at the airport ahead youngster Mohammed Sayyar. of his medical with a view of In other news, Al Khor has signing on with the club. The atar’s commitment to youth continued training as they Iraqi defender was previously development can help India prepare for the upcoming linked with Al Markhiya. The develop its own generation of QSL campaign. The squad, 22-year-old defender can play talented players, according to which included new signing in defence and midfield, and theQ national team coach. al-Qahtani trained under the has already represented his Stephen Constantine, who has been watchful eye of Khor boss Lau- national team on a number of overseeing the nation’s U23 side in Qatar rent Banide. The Knights are occasions. during qualifying matches for the 2018 set to train in Qatar till the 4th In other news, two Arabi first AFC U23 Championship, is full of praise for of August before heading to team players have renewed the 2022 FIFA World Cup host nation. their preseason training camp their contracts while two India coach Stephen Constantine in Holland. young prospects have also praises QFA and Aspire and calls for In- been added to the team. The dian expats in Qatar to get involved Mendes joins Al Duhail contracts of Ahmed Khalfan The 54-year-old Englishman told and Ahmed al-Nhaowi have www.sc.qa that the expertise of the Qa- QSL side Al Duhail have secured been renewed for an ad- tar Football Association (QFA) and Aspire the signature of defender Lucas ditional season. Whilst two Academy could help the All India Foot- Mendes on a two-year deal. youth team players Mohamed ball Federation (AIFF) as it continues to The Brazilian player was signed Mustafa and Zaid Saad have prioritise youth development. from El Jaish and has joined the signed on with the first team He said: “QFA’s policies led to Qatar team in their preseason training for the new season. winning an Asian U19 title and Aspire camp. have been leaders in talent scouting in The 27-year-old centre-back Al Rayyan confi rm the Middle East and Africa. will be a welcome addition to al-Khater loan “Their recent tie-up with Indian Super the Al Duhail back four as he League club Delhi Dynamos is a step in is set to replace Chico Flores, QSL side Al Rayyan have success- the right direction. Should it work well, whose contract ended with the fully completed a season long the next step could be for the QFA and team at the end of the season. loan deal for Al Duhail goalkeeper AIFF to broaden the scope of the part- Mendes was at the heart of the Saud al-Khater. The Qatari player nership.” El Jaish defence and helped recently joined Al Duhail from He continued: “Indian football will them to a fourth place finish El Jaish and was subsequently welcome any external support from last season in the QSL. loaned out to Al Rayyan. transparent institutions with proven ex- In other news, Al Duhail have Al-Khater signed a five-year pertise in talent development – the QFA also signed goalkeeper Khalifa contract with Al Duhail before and Aspire will have valuable knowledge Ababacar from El Jaish. The agreeing to a loan move to Al to share in the fi elds of scouting, coach File picture of Indian football coach Stephen Constantine. keeper is now expected to join Rayyan. The young goalkeeper education, youth academy, nutrition and his new team-mates at their will be a solid addition to the sports medicine. young expatriates in Qatar could make Talented Indian youngsters are en- opment is not the only thing that’s im- preseason training camp in Al Rayyan goal keeping ranks “The icing on the cake is that they are their mark in the national team squads. couraged to upload a video of themselves pressed Constantine during his visit. Austria as they prepare for the as the former QSL champions part of the larger Asian football family.” He said the AIFF may consider organ- playing football to www.scouting.the- He believes Qatar’s football culture has new season. look to replace Sauod al-Hajiri, Indian football has concentrated on ising trials for young players in Doha. aiff .com. Provided enough players from rubbed off on Indian expatriates. who moved to Al Sadd. youth development in recent years. Con- India have risen from 173rd to 96th in Qatar submit videos, trials will be held. “We were received by a decent contin- Qatar SC announce So far this summer Michael sequently, the Blue Tigers have risen the FIFA rankings since Constantine took Constantine, who has recently helped gent of Indian fans at the airport. I was Tayebi capture Laudrup’s side have signed from 173rd to 96th in the FIFA rankings the reins for a second time in 2015 reduce the average age of national team impressed the local football enthusiasts Mohammed Juma, Ahmed since Constantine took the reins for a “Talented Indian youngsters living in players from 30 to 24, added: “We con- came out to support the youngsters from Newly promoted QSL side Maqsoud and Moroccan at- second time in 2015. Doha could well be integrated into the of- ducted a trial in Dubai for about 300 their homeland, most of whom do not Qatar SC have signed Iranian tacker Abderrazak Hamdallah. In addition to managing the current crop fi cial Indian football structure thanks to youngsters and a couple of them ended have senior caps. It is a recognition for defender Mohammed Tayebi The 26-year-old stopper will of Indian talent, Constantine – who is a the AIFF’s overseas talent scouting pro- up training in Germany with the national the rapid progress made recently by In- on a season long deal. The now join the team at their member of FIFA’s elite coaching panel and gramme, which was launched with an eye U17 team. A future member of the senior dian football. club confirmed in a press con- training camp in Holland as was praised by President Gianni Infantino to identify talent for the FIFA U17 World Indian team could well be hidden some- “I’ve also heard about the enormous ference on Saturday evening the Lions prepare for the new in the foreword of his upcoming autobi- Cup we will be hosting in October,” he where in Doha.” local support received by Bengaluru FC the capture of the 30-year-old season. ography – is also keen to fi nd out whether continued. Qatar’s commitment to youth devel- in last year’s AFC Cup fi nal.”

BOTTOMLINE WOMEN: EURO 2017 France held by Austria, Spurs open pre-season with 4-2 Swiss edge Iceland friendly win over PSG AFP their exhibition game fi nished fully fi red over with just Trapp to Orlando 1-1 after 90 minutes. beat before Ben Davies also went That match saw Dani Alves, close thanks to some lovely build the Brazilian defender, make his up play involving Vincent Jans- arry Kane’s late pen- Paris debut following his trans- sen. alty helped Tottenham fer from Juventus and he was Pastore, however, wasn’t Hotspur start their started again here by Emery in about to waste any opportuni- pre-season prepara- a line-up which also included ties and his close range strike on Htions in emphatic fashion as Thiago Motta and Uruguayan 36 minutes brought the enter- French champions Paris St Ger- forward Edinson Cavani. taining tussle level once more main imploded in Orlando. Pochettino, whose side travel only for Motta to head against PSG were reduced to 10 men to New York on Sunday ahead his own post fi ve minutes before just moments into the second of Tuesday’s match with Roma the interval. France’s midfielder Amandine Henry scores during the Women’s half when German goalkeeper at Red Bull Arena, kept star men Trapp’s disastrous evening Euro 2017 football tournament between France and Austria. Kevin Trapp, who had endured Kane and Dele Alli on the bench, plummeted to new depths just an awful fi rst 45 minutes, was although Dier began in midfi eld 20 seconds into the second half. AFP by Elise Bussaglia on 51 minutes. sent off for handballing outside alongside Mousa Dembele. The German handled the ball Doetinchem, Netherlands “I’m frustrated. We deserved of the box. On six minutes, Cavani pow- outside of the box and was im- to win. I thought Austria didn’t And although Unai Emery’s ered the French side ahead. mediately shown the red card. really play, preferring instead to side were diffi cult to break Youngster Cameron Carter mandine Henry’s sec- sit back and wait,” said French down, late strikes from Belgian Vickers was caught out by Adr- ‘A LOT OF POSITIVES’ ond-half header rescued coach Olivier Echouafni. defender Toby Alderweireld and ien Rabiot who raced clear and Kane and Alli, brought on by a 1-1 draw for title con- “Austria waited and we gave Kane, both on as substitutes, squared for the Uruguayan Pochettino during a raft of eight tenders France against them the chance to score.” sealed a 4-2 triumph in front frontman. half-time changes, now had the women’sA European Champion- Austrian coach Dominik Thal- of 33,332 fans at the Camping Tottenham looked culpable chance to make the Parisians pay ship newcomers Austria in the hammer did not object, saying World Stadium. defensively, yet just fi ve minutes for their sloppiness and it was Netherlands on Saturday. his team had settled for a “de- It’s very early days in this pre- later, Christian Eriksen pulled the England striker who sealed Captain Lara Dickenmann fensive performance.” season yet there was certainly the Premier League side level. the triumph after Blaise Matuidi and Ramona Bachmann scored “France are a world-class team enough on show from the Lon- Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring on a The Danish international un- handled in the box six minutes as Switzerland recovered from a but we managed to put them un- don team to suggest a strong penalty kick during the International Champions Cup 2017. leashed an unstoppable, curling after Alderweireld’s fantastic goal down to beat Iceland 2-1 in der pressure for 15 minutes of the campaign in the Premier League eff ort from 30 yards which fl ew 20-yard strike left replacement the earlier game. fi rst half and at the end of the beckons. Emery was giving nothing once again forced to contest past Kevin Trapp into the top keeper Alphonse Areola with no France and Austria top Group second, too.” Both teams arrived at the away when asked about the po- claims that Eric Dier, their ver- corner. chance. C with four points, one ahead of Earlier in Doetinchem, Ice- Camping World stadium with tential transfers. satile England international, While Eriksen’s equaliser was “There are lot of positives to Switzerland, while Iceland will land took the lead on 33 minutes tremendous uncertainty sur- “We are always looking for was the subject of a $50 million world class, Dier’s 18th minute take,” Pochettino said. “Our fi rst bow out after the group phase. through Fanndis Fridriksdottir. rounding their transfer dealings players who can help the team,” bid from Manchester United. goal was pure luck. game, it’s good to feel the com- France dominated almost the Ten minutes later, Dicken- this summer. he said. There is certain to be move- Trapp’s poor clearance was hit petition. It’s a friendly but play- entire game in Utrecht, but it mann fi red home a cutback from The French champions are “Now for us the most impor- ment involving both teams as straight at the Spurs player who ing this kind of team it’s always was Austria’s Lisa Makas who Bachmann. reportedly poised to land Ney- tant thing is to concentrate on their respective domestic sea- gleefully saw the ball rebound good to compete. scored fi rst in the 27th minute, Bachmann then scored the mar from Barcelona in a world the matches we have coming sons draw closer, yet this was the over the line. “The result isn’t important. drilling home from just inside winner on 52 minutes after an record 222-million euro ($256.8 up,” added the coach, who on fi rst time Mauricio Pochettino’s The English Premier League We just need to recover and ar- the area the French failed to clear excellent exchange in midfi eld, million) deal, and also remain the evidence of Saturday’s game side had played this pre-season. side should have extended their rive at the start of the Premier a throw-in. with Noelle Maritz providing the confi dent of landing Arsenal’s could use the infusion of talent. PSG beat Roma on penalties lead even further soon after, but League season in good condi- Henry then slammed in a fi nal cross for the Chelsea striker Alexis Sanchez. Tottenham, meanwhile, were in Detroit last Wednesday after Georges-Kevin Nkoudou waste- tion.” header from a corner delivered to head home. Gulf Times 4 Monday, July 24, 2017 SPORT

SWIMMING England’s Beaumont named player of ICC West Indies in Bristol and 15 in the semi-final against South Women’s World Cup Africa in Bristol. London: Tamsin Beaumont Beaumont was selected as the was named player of the ICC Player of the Tournament by Women’s World Cup after a five-person selection panel England won its fourth title at that comprised Geoff Allardice Sun downs Horton Lord’s yesterday. (ICC General Manager – The opener, who was playing Cricket, and Chairman Event in her maiden world cup, Technical Committee), former scored 23 in the final as England captain Charlotte England scored 228 for seven. Edwards, former Australia India, in its turn at the wicket, all-rounder Lisa Sthalekar, was dismissed for 219. former West Indies fast bowler The 26-year-old from Dover Ian Bishop and former India in grudge contest, finished the tournament as player turned journalist Sne- the most successful batter hal Pradhan. with 410 runs in nine matches at an average of 45.55. Beaumont started slowly in the tournament when she managed only 40 runs in the first three matches, but Ledecky triumphs turned things around against South Africa in Bristol when Upon touching up Sun turned in Horton’s direction to celebrate, splashing the water, and she scored a magnificent 148 from 145 balls with 22 fours went to collect a Chinese flag from supporters rather than leaving the poolside and a six. Her other knocks included 14 against India in the tourna- ment opener in Derby, 14 against Pakistan in Leices- ter, 12 against Sri Lanka in Taunton, 49 against Australia in Bristol, 93 against New Zea- land in Derby, 42 against the

SPOTLIGHT Cyprus Sports Organisation appoints ICSS INSIGHT as sport integrity advisers he Cyprus Sports Or- ganisation (KOA), the lead authority for sport Tin Cyprus, has an- nounced the appointment of ICSS INSIGHT as strategic ad- visers in the fi eld of good govern- ance and sport integrity. As part of the overall mission of the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) to help bring together and share exper- tise to help safeguard sport, the agreement will see international experts from the newly-renamed ICSS INSIGHT support and pro- vide strategic advice to the KOA to ensure good governance prin- China’s Sun Yang competes in the men’s 400m freestyle final during the swimming competition at the 2017 FINA World Championships in Budapest yesterday. ciples are incorporated within the new national sports law be- DPA 3:58.34 minutes, a championship record, to his rival. “I wasn’t as fast as I can be. ing introduced within Cyprus. Budapest to take gold ahead of compatriot Leah “I tried to be stronger in the front end, Speaking of the agreement, the agreement with KOA marks Smith. China’s Li Bingjie was third. but I was just too soft, I think. I need to Kleanthis Georgiades, the Chair- an important milestone for the The women’s 4x100m later gave be harder on myself.” man of the Cyprus Sport Organi- newly renamed ICSS INSIGHT. un Yang of China claimed the Ledecky a second gold on the opening Throughout the week, the 20-year- sation said: Speaking of the agreement, fi rst pool gold in a grudge contest day of pool events. Trailing after legs old Ledecky is hoping to raise her tally “Good governance is of para- Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, at the swimming world champi- from Mallory Comerford and Kelsi Wor- to six freestyle golds as she aims to re- mount importance for the Cy- CEO of The ICSS INSIGHT, said: onships in Budapest yesterday rell, Ledecky closed in on the leading tain the 200m, 800m and 1,500m titles, prus Sports Organisation and for “As the lead body for sport in whileS American star Katie Ledecky dou- Swedes and anchor Simone Manuel took and the 4x200m relay won in Kazan two sport in Cyprus. As a result, we Cyprus, KOA plays a vital role in bled in what she hopes will be a dream victory in 3:31.72 minutes ahead of Aus- years ago. “For me, the 400m freestyle are currently developing a new setting the agenda and leading week. tralia and the Netherlands. is my favourite event, and I am satisfi ed strategy that will encourage the the way for sport in the coun- Sun produced a devastating perform- Sweden had led largely thanks to their USA’s Katie Ledecky. with the second place as I had not ever sport organisations in Cyprus try. ICSS INSIGHT is delighted ance to retain his 400-metre freestyle own star, Sarah Sjostrom, setting a 100m swum together with Katie Ledecky in an to operate within such a frame- to share our expertise to ensure title from 2015 in 3 minutes 41.38 sec- freestyle world record of 51.71 seconds in Sun by clear water as the 300m mark individual event at the world champion- work. that the principles of good gov- onds, a decisive 2.47 seconds ahead of the fi rst leg, shattering Australian Cate approached. The gap never looked like ships,” Smith said. “To gain support and advice ernance and sport integrity are Australian Olympic champion Horton. Campbell’s 52.06 seconds from last year. reducing and Sun easily held on for his “It was a new experience.” for this new strategic direction, incorporated within this impor- Italy’s Gabriele Detti was third, a further The men’s 4x100m also went to the eighth world title along with three Ol- In semi-fi nal action, home hopeful we have teamed up with ICSS tant piece of national legislation. 8 hundredths adrift. Americans in 3:10.06 minutes as anchor ympic golds. Katinka Hosszu topped the women’s INSIGHT. As an international, “The agreement with the KOA Upon touching up Sun turned in Hor- Nathan Adrian held off a furious chal- He will also compete in the 200m, 200m individual medley for the loud- not-for-profi t organisation with also marks a milestone for us as ton’s direction to celebrate, splashing lenge from Brazil after Caeleb Dressel, 800m and 1,500m throughout the meet. est cheers of the session — until she was a global mission to promote and we sign now under the banner the water, and went to collect a Chinese Townley Haas and Blake Pieroni built a “I trained a lot and I must admit I am usurped by the relay medal. The strong protect the integrity and secu- of our new name - ICSS IN- fl ag from supporters rather than leaving lead. getting older, and suff er some injuries,” favourite Sjostrom topped the women’s rity of sport, ICSS INSIGHT is SIGHT. This new name refl ects poolside with his competitors. The Aus- Hungary took bronze to the delight Sun said. “We will see during the week 100m butterfl y while Dressel paced the the partner we were looking to our commitment to serve and sie had labelled Sun a drugs cheat be- of their raucous home fans. Sun started how it works and I will concentrate on men’s 50m fl y. support and advise us in this en- benefi t sport, not just in Europe, fore the 2016 Olympics, in reference to slowly as Briton James Guy and 2008 one race after the other.” And British Olympic champion Adam deavour.” but worldwide. On behalf of a three-month doping ban the Chinese Olympic champion Park Tae Hwan of Despite the apparent bad blood be- Peaty was largely unchallenged in top- Building on its portfolio and our team of experts at ICSS IN- served in 2014. South Korea held the early lead. But tween the two men, Horton applauded ping the men’s 100m breaststroke in mission to strengthen sport in- SIGHT, I look forward to working Ledecky was dominant in the women’s by 150m he had moved to the front and Sun during the medal presentation and a championship record 57.75 seconds. tegrity policy and champion with the KOA in the future and 400m freestyle, retaining her title by slowly but surely ground down the op- congratulated him with a handshake and South Africa’s Cameron van der Burgh, good governance, while working supporting even more organisa- some 3.2 seconds. The multiple Olym- position. Horton, who had lacked the a brief clap on the back. Olympic champion in 2012, was a late alongside leading international tions across sport to strengthen pic champion did not threaten her own form of his victorious Olympic year, also “The biggest disappointment was the scratch to apparently focus on the short- organisations, governments and their integrity and governance world record but clocked a comfortable moved up through the pack but trailed time,” said Horton, playing down losing er 50m race. key stakeholders across sport, eff orts.”

ATHLETICS Bolt on the right path to world 100m defence

AFP there is still a lot of work to do,” he said after “And my plan after this season? I’m not sure.” Monaco running a time that now moves him up to joint Bolt said he was touched by the eff orts meet seventh on a 2017 world list headed by Christian organisers had gone to to make his farewell ap- Coleman of the United States with 9.82. pearances special. amaican sprinting legend Usain Bolt in- “Running sub-10 is always good. It was an ex- Monaco’s Prince Albert II presented the Ja- sists he is on the right path as he targets citing race, there was lots of energy.” maican with a giant golden fi gure of Hercules the defence of his 100m crown at next As in Ostrava, Bolt suff ered a sluggish start after video clips of his medal-winning career month’s world championships in Lon- before opening up and easing through the line were shown on the stadium’s big screens fol- don.J ahead of American Isiah Young by 0.03sec. lowing his victory. In his swansong season, the 30-year-old has Bolt, winner of eight Olympic and 11 world That came after Bolt had delighted hordes struggled to light up the track. gold medals, will bring down the curtain on his of screaming fans by joining in a synchronised In his outings over the blue riband event so glittering career at August’s world champion- cheerleading dance, which ended with his far this season, Bolt had clocked 10.03sec in ships in London. And he acknowledged that his trademark pose.One of Bolt’s main rivals for the Kingston and 10.06 in Ostrava against relatively fi nal season on the track was an emotional one. 100m crown in London will likely be Canada’s weak opposition before fi nally dipping under “I am always here for the fans, and of course I Andre de Grasse. the 10sec barrier at Friday’s Diamond League will miss the vibe around the track,” he said. But De Grasse only raced the 4x100m relay meet in Monaco. “There are mixed emotions always — happy in Monaco — his Canadian team failing to com- A season’s best of 9.95 seconds to win at a for my career, sad that it is ending.” plete the lap — and was moved to play down packed out 17,000-capacity Stade Louis II was When asked what his plans were after the ideas that Bolt had asked organisers that he not just the tonic, the towering Jamaican said of his world championships, Bolt was unwilling to race the 100m. second appearance in Europe in his farewell sea- disclose too many details. “I can state that stories about me competing son. Jamaica’s Usain Bolt (C) dances with pom-pom girls as he celebrates winning the men’s 100m event “I’m planning to chill with my family after here in the 100m are just rumours. It was never “I’m going in the right direction, although at the IAAF Diamond League athletics meeting in Monaco on July 21. London,” he said. in our plans,” De Grasse insisted. Gulf Times Monday, July 24, 2017 5 SPORT

BASEBALL NHL Goaltending should be strength for M’s edge Yankees on Red Wings, but questions remain

By Helene St. James (making a trade via Vegas) had Detroit Free Press enough interest. Cruz’s walkoff hit Coreau, 25, appeared in 14 games (all starts) for the Wings, ‘We had some opportunities to score that were missed today and to me that was the diff erence’ oaltending should be with a .887 save percentage an area of strength for and 3.46 goals-against aver- By Ryan Divish the Detroit Red Wings age. Coreau had two shutouts The Seattle Times in the coming season. in Detroit, and he backstopped GThe Wings have Jimmy the Griffi ns to the AHL cham- Howard coming off a career pionship. There is a risk of los- he kid that was deemed year, what should be a moti- ing Coreau on waivers, but if he expendable by the New vated Petr Mrazek, and Jared clears and starts the season in York Yankees led off Coreau coming off winning the Grand Rapids, the Wings like with the double and Calder Cup with Grand Rapids. the position they are in. Tthe designated hitter that’s still More and more, NHL teams “We’re very comfortable essentially playing on one leg need three goaltenders to get with Jared as a third,” goal- drove him home. through a season: In 2016-17, tending coach Jeff Salajko told Ben Gamel, who had already only fi ve teams got by on the the Free Press during develop- homered against his former old standard of two goaltend- ment camp in Traverse City in team earlier in Saturday’s game, ers. Thirteen teams, one of early July. led off the bottom of the 10th them the Wings, needed three “I have no problem with him with a double to center. Follow- goalies. Another 10 used four being the backup goalie, either. ing an intentional walk to Robin- goaltenders, and two teams re- If we can keep Jimmy Howard son Cano, Nelson Cruz stroked quired fi ve goaltenders. healthy to play 50-55 games, I a single into left fi eld, allowing The Wings are poised to en- was comfortable with Jared in a Gamel to race home to give the ter the season with Howard and role like that. But we obviously Mariners a 6-5 walkoff win over Mrazek competing for starts in have Petr back - Vegas didn’t the New York Yankees before a net. Howard, 33, fi nished last have interest in him, so I’m season-high crowd of 46,197. season with a .927 save per- hoping he comes in with a chip The mood of the sold-out centage and 2.10 goals-against on his shoulder and something crowd at Safeco Field was dire, average in 26 games. to prove.” well except for a noticeably vocal A knee injury in mid-De- Mrazek is supposed to be the contingent of Yankee fans, when cember sidelined him for two- Wings’ goalie of the present Edwin Diaz squandered Cano’s plus months, but he was stellar and future, but his fi rst full go-ahead homer in the eighth again when he returned, and year as starter disappointed. by giving the run right back in carried that through to play- The Wings declared him their the bottom of the ninth with two ing for Team USA at the IIHF No. 1 goalie last summer, and outs and up 1-2 on Ronald Tor- World Championships in May. promoted Salajko to the Detroit reyes, who singled home Jacoby Mrazek, 25, fi nished with a job because he was Mrazek’s Ellsbury with the tying run. .901 save percentage and 3.04 goalie coach in the minors. But Gamel, who never really fi t goals-against average in 50 Hope within the Wings is into the Yankees outfi eld future games. He lost the starting job Mrazek shows up this season and was acquired in a minor- to Howard and, briefl y, Coreau. motivated by the experiences league trade last August, contin- Mrazek was mediocre enough of the past year - mediocrity ued to show he’s going to be an at the World Championships in Detroit and at Worlds, rejec- everyday player for the Mariners that the Czechs started anoth- tion during expansion - and, going forward. er goalie in the quarter-fi nals. combined with being in a con- “I can’t think this organisa- Mrazek was then exposed in tract year, works hard to rees- tion enough for giving me an the expansion draft, and nei- tablish himself as a high-end opportunity,” said Gamel. “It’s ther Vegas nor another team goaltender. been kind of an up-and-down career so far... Love it over here.” Seattle did most of its damage in the third inning against Yan- kees starter Masahiro Tanaka. The veteran right-hander came in to the game having allowed 24 homers on the season- third most in the majors. Seattle put him in the lead for most given up when the inning came to an end. With Seattle down 1-0, Mike Zunino started the scoring, Seattle Mariners designated hitter Nelson Cruz (second left) celebrates with shortstop Jean Segura, centre fielder Guillermo Heredia and shortstop launching a solo homer into the Taylor Motter following his walk-off RBI-single against the New York Yankees at Safeco Field. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports Mariners bullpen to tie the score at 1-1. It was Zunino’s 14th hom- strikeouts. After giving up a run in right-handed hitters to end best set-up man Nick Vincent, today and to me that was the dif- er in 71 games this season. the second and then being given a the frame. Making his Mari- who hadn’t allowed a run at ference.” Two batters later, Gamel pro- lead, he allowed a run in the sixth. ners debut against his former home. Vincent gave up a dou- RESULTS duced the same result, launch- With his command meander- team, right-hander David Phelps ble to Clint Frazier on his fi rst Dodgers 6 Braves 2 ing a solo blast into right fi eld ing and Miranda fortunate to looked sharp pitching a score- pitch and Judge was intention- Indians 2 Blue Jays 1 (10 inns) to give Seattle a 2-1 lead against have allowed more runs-aided less seventh inning and getting ally walked to load the bases. Mets 6 Athletics 5 his former team. It was the sixth by Kyle Seager’s stellar defensive the fi rst out of the eighth. With The Yankees tied the score on Mariners 6 Yankees 5 (10 inns) homer of the year for Gamel. The play at third base-manager Scott lefty Brett Gardner coming to the Matt Holliday’s sac fl y to right Cubs 3 Cardinals 2 Mariners picked up two more Servais went to his bullpen with plate, Servais went to his left- fi eld. Seattle escaped the inning Angels 7 Red Sox 3 runs with two outs. Danny Va- one out in the sixth with Aaron handed specialist Marc Rzepc- tied when Mitch Haniger made Brewers 9 Phillies 8 lencia and Mitch Haniger de- Judge and a run of right-handed zynski. Gardner came in hitting a nice running catch on Gary Nationals 4 Diamondbacks 3 livered back-to-back singles to hitters coming to the plate. just .175 against left-handers Sanchez’s low line drive to right Astros 8 Orioles 4 push the lead to 4-1. The move only partially with a .311 slugging percentage, fi eld. Rockies 7 Pirates 3 Ariel Miranda gave the Mari- worked. Judge crushed a mis- but his one hopper to short was “Some of them have been us Rangers 4 Rays 3 ners a decent if not lengthy per- placed sinker on a 2-2 count, just slow enough for him to be coming back and getting close,” Twins 6 Tigers 5 formance. He worked 51/3 in- launching a solo homer to right- able to beat out the throw to fi rst Yankees manager Joe Girardi Royals 7 White Sox 2 Detroit Red Wings goalie Petr Mrazek makes a save against the nings, giving up two runs on center to shave the lead to 4-3. for an infi eld single. said. “We had some opportuni- Marlins 5 Reds 4 Toronto Maple Leafs during second period action on January. 25, fi ve hits with a walk and four Steve Cishek got the next two Servais then turned to his ties to score that were missed Giants 5 Padres 4 (12) 2017 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Mich. (Detroit Free Press/TNS)

NBA Wade to be honoured with ‘Human Spirit’ award

By Ira Winderman contributions totalled over $15 mil- from a candidate pool that repre- Sun Sentinel lion. This year’s other recipients are sents every level of basketball and high school coaching legend and is reviewed annually by a Selection four-time national-championship Committee appointed by the Hall wyane Wade has been coach Bob Hurley and women’s bas- and Jackson. named one of three 2017 ketball pioneer and current Sacra- In making the announcement, recipients of the Mannie mento Kings assistant coach Nancy the Hall noted of Wade, who left the Jackson Basketball’s Hu- Lieberman. Miami Heat after his fi rst 13 NBA manD Spirit Award from the Naismith The recipients will be recognised seasons last July to join the Chicago Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Sept 7 at the Reunion Dinner dur- Bulls: The award, according to the Hall, ing the Hall of Fame’s Enshrinement “Understanding that his life is “honors individuals who have found Weekend in Springfi eld, Mass. bigger than basketball, 12-time NBA the game of basketball to be a con- Among previous winners of the All-Star Dwyane Wade and his fam- tributing aspect of their personal award, which was instituted in 2007, ily established the Wade’s World growth and accomplishment, a place are former Heat center and current Foundation in 2003, a nonprofi t to develop an understanding of oth- Heat executive Alonzo Mourning charity organization dedicated to ers and an avenue that has helped (2009) and former Heat guard and giving back to at-risk communi- shape his or her growth into a rec- current broadcaster Steve Smith ties of Chicago, Milwaukee, and the ognized visionary leader. Winners (2015). South Florida region. The founda- must refl ect the values of Mannie “The Mannie Jackson Award is tion is dedicated to providing oppor- Jackson’s life-long mission to over- an esteemed honor awarded only to tunities that enable children to over- come obstacles and challenge the those with the highest level of dedi- come challenges, excel academically status quo, while taking responsibil- cation to making a positive impact in and reach their maximum potential ity for his or her actions and seeking the lives of others,” said John L. Dol- while focusing on the initiatives of the highest standard of excellence.” eva, President and CEO of the Nai- literacy, health and fatherhood. With Jackson, a former star for the Har- smith Memorial Basketball Hall of a personal goal to give every child a lem Globetrotters, served as a senior Fame. “The Basketball Hall of Fame shot at life, Dwyane and WWF sup- executive for Honeywell Inc. during is proud to recognize Bob Hurley, port a variety of programs including the 1980s and early ‘90s, and saved Nancy Lieberman and Dwyane Wade literacy initiatives, youth basket- the Globetrotters from near extinc- as three exceptional humanitarians ball clinics, court refurbishments tion in 1993, when he purchased the who have used basketball as a plat- and holiday giving. Wade and his team. In doing so, he became the fi rst form to improve the world around foundation have received numerous African-American owner of a major them, while creating opportunities awards over the past 14 years includ- international sports and entertain- for the next generation of leaders.” ing the NBA Cares season-long Kia ment organisation. Under Jackson’s According to the Hall, Hurley, Community Assist Award in 2013 watch, the Globetrotters charitable Lieberman and Wade were selected and the BET Humanitarian Award.” Gulf Times 6 Monday, July 24, 2017 SPORT

TENNIS SPOTLIGHT Roddick refl ects on career spent in Ferrer ends near vacuum of Big Four

Reuters to guard Jordan, I went the distance with Ali, I pitched to Babe Ruth. I feel like I know nternational Tennis Hall what it must have been like to of Fame inductee Andy watch Picasso. I saw it all.” 2-year wait for title Roddick said on Saturday Roddick won his sole grand he was honoured to have slam title at the 2003 US Open, ‘I’m moved. It’s been two years that I haven’t won a tournament, so I’m really happy for this win’ Iplayed in the era of the Big while he was a losing fi nalist Four, but also acknowledged four times — all against Feder- AFP title came at Atlanta in 2015, that they caused him no end of er, three times at Wimbledon Bastad, Sweden made his fi rst fi nal since last No- frustration during his career. and once at the US Open. vember’s Paris Masters, where Speaking in Newport, Perhaps the most memo- he lost to Britain’s top-ranked Rhode Island, where he was rable of those fi nals was the paniard David Ferrer Andy Murray. inducted with Belgian Kim Cl- 2009 Wimbledon classic that claimed his fi rst ATP The lanky 32-year-old cred- ijsters and Dutch Paralympic Federer won 16-14 in the fi fth Tour title in almost two its work on being more aggres- champion Monique Kalkman- set. Clijsters was inducted af- years by seeing off Alex- sive on his return game for faster van den Bosch, Roddick spoke ter capturing four grand slam Sandr Dolgopolov to win the clay- fi nishes than his trademark hard about what it was like to com- titles during her career, three court tournament in Bastad for serves typically produce. pete with Roger Federer, Rafa of which she claimed after the third time yesterday. “There’s no other way I should Nadal, Novak Djokovic and coming out of retirement in The 35-year-old Ferrer came have to play. I should be aggres- Andy Murray. 2009 following the birth of her through 6-4, 6-4 to seal the 27th sive. It’s easier said than done,” “I can’t believe the level of daughter. title of his career, but fi rst since Isner said. tennis that I got to see in my “This is really special not October 2015 when he won in He likes the extra rest as well, career,” said the American just for me but for all of my Vienna. noting the benefi ts to such stal- former world number one. family,” she said as her hus- The former French Open fi - warts as world number one Andy “The shots hit, the records band and three children nalist, now ranked 46th in the Murray of Britain and Serbia’s that were broken, and the looked on. Kalkman-van den world, was cruising to victory fourth-ranked Novak Djokovic. records that continue to be Bosch earned her place in the with a 5-1 lead in the second set, “I feel good,” Isner said. “To broken. Thanks to Murray, Hall of Fame by winning three but needed seven match points be like Murray and Djokovic and Novak, Roger and Rafa for Paralympic gold medals and to eventually get over the line. win these matches 2 and 2, it’s playing the game at a higher four world championships in “I’m moved. It’s been two great.” level than it’s ever been played. wheelchair tennis. years that I haven’t won a tour- Isner, ranked 21st, broke at “It sucked being in your Before switching sports in nament, so I’m really happy for love to close the fi rst set in 34 vacuum a lot of times. I still 1986, she was a table tennis this win. “It has been a tough minutes and the match ended consider myself lucky. I got Paralympic champion. period without victories.” said after 72 minutes when 142nd- Ferrer. “I was a little nervous up ranked Fratangelo swatted a 5-1 and Alexandr played without forehand long, lifting Isner’s ca- pressure. I tried to be focused on reer mark at Newport to 18-5. every point, but when I had all Isner has won both prior those match points I was think- matches against Ebden without ing too much. dropping a set, in the forth round Ferrer’s victory means that at Indian Wells in 2012 and in the eight of the last 13 title of the second round at Wimbledon in event have been won by Spanish 2015. players, with Rafael Nadal, Tom- “It’s going to be a tough my Robredo, Nicolas Almagro match,” Isner said of facing and last year’s champion Albert Ebden. “He’s feeling very good Ramos-Vinolas all successful about his game and I think it’s since 2005. his best surface.” Ukrainian Dolgopolov had to Ebden, only 3-3 in ATP main settle for his fi rst runner-up ef- draw matches this year until this fort in three years, although he week, has won six matches in as did beat Kei Nishikori to win in many days. He broke Gojowczyk Argentina in February. fi ve times and sealed victory on He fi red three aces and saved his second match point when four of fi ve break points faced, the German smacked a back- turning in a vintage Ferrer per- hand wide. A left knee injury led (L-R) Monique Kalkman van den Bosch of the Netherlands Kim formance predicated on great to a long 2016 layoff for Ebden Clijsters of Belgium journalist Steve Flink of the US and Andy agility and depth off his fore- that revitalised his game once Roddick of the US pose after ceremonies in Newport, Rhode hand. healthy. Island, US. (Reuters) It was Ferrer’s 27th ATP World “That helped me turn a corner Tour title, the most in the Open mentally and just enjoy myself,” Era without winning a Grand Ebden said. Slam, and fi rst since emerg- Radwanska ties knot in Poland ing victorious in Vienna in 2015. Bertens bags title World No. 10 Agnieszka Radwanska tied the knot long-time The former World No. 3, who boyfriend and hitting partner Dawid Celt in Poland on Satur- has since fallen to No. 46 in the day, surrounded by family and friends and her WTA peers. Emirates ATP Rankings, will en- David Ferrer of Spain poses with the trophy after winning the final against Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine In addition to being her long-time boyfriend, Celt has been joy a bump of 13 spots with the at the Swedish Open in Bastad, Sweden, yesterday. (Reuters) involved in Radwanska’s tennis career as her hitting partner. title. With Roger Federer, Feli- In attendance from Radwanska’s WTA family were Angelique ciano Lopez and Victor Estrella 35 years old.” Saturday, booking an ATP Hall downed Germany’s 131st-ranked Kerber, Caroline Wozniacki, former Polish No.1 Marta Doma- Burgos also winning titles this In addition, Ferrer joins of Fame Open fi nal against Aus- Peter Gojowczyk 6-3, 6-3 in the chowska and also former ATP Wimbledon semifinalist Jerzy year, it marked just the second Swedes Magnus Gustafsson (4), tralian qualifi er Matthew Ebden. other semi-fi nal. Janowicz. time in the Open Era that at least Mats Wilander (3) and Bjorn Isner has not faced a break The 29-year-old South Af- Wozniacki dished on Radwanska’s upcoming nuptials last four diff erent players aged 35 & Borg (3) as the only players to point in three matches this week rican-born former Common- year at the US Open, where she discussed how the trio of over have claimed ATP World win the Bastad title on three or on the grass at Newport, Rhode wealth Games bronze medallist, World No.35 Kiki Bertens of herself, Radwanska and Kerber have managed to remain close Tour crowns in a single season. more occasions in the Open Era. Island, as he goes for his 11th ca- appearing in his maiden ATP the Netherlands won the Gstaad throughout their years on tour. Paolo Lorenzi, 35. He previously defeated Nicolas reer title and third Hall of Fame semi-fi nal, needed just 62 min- WTA tournament yesterday “Aga is getting married, so then all of a sudden we’re like, ‘We “I am going week by week, Almagro for the 2007 crown and crown after 2011 and 2012. utes to advance. with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 victory in just want a girls trip, but it’s tough when everyone has their match by match and I still have again downed his countryman “I’ve played three matches “This is pretty cool,” Ebden the fi nal over Estonia’s Anett own thing,’” Wozniacki said. the motivation. I know it will for the 2012 title. and six sets and I haven’t played said. “I can’t believe it. I’m ob- Kontaveit. Beaten here on the “So it’s not like we are separated, but it’s like sometimes like very diffi cult to get back to the a tie-breaker — I can’t remem- viously very happy. Defi nitely claycourts with their dramatic we have diff erent priorities or there is just a little bit more Top 10, but if I stay competitive Isner in final ber the last time I did that,” Isner couldn’t be happier, not only Swiss mountain backdrop back busy now - but, yeah, I think still we hang out and we have cof- like this week, I will play next Top seed John Isner blasted said. winning but getting lots of in 2016, it was a fourth career fees and sit and talk and have a good time.” year for sure. I still enjoy playing 15 aces to defeat fellow Ameri- Ebden, the lowest-ranked matches.” tournament win for the 25-year- tennis, but it’s diff erent as I am can Bjorn Fratangelo 6-2, 6-4 ATP fi nalist of the year at 249th, Isner, whose most recent ATP old right-hander.

RUGBY NZ teams win ugly to storm into Super semis

Reuters ing coach Dave Rennie, whose their opponents nor the travel. tory counts for bugger-all. In the Melbourne departure will be delayed un- “To play the Lions in a packed end, we’re going to have to front til at least next week’s semi- Ellis Park, I think we’d be pretty up front. If we do that, then we fi nal against the Crusaders in stimulated by that,” coach Chris can get our game going and f the Super Rugby quarter- Christchurch. Johannesburg’s Boyd told New Zealand media. hopefully nullify theirs.” fi nals had a collective face, Lions make up the fi nal four, hav- The Chiefs, back-to-back The Brumbies’ loss was the it would be one only a New ing survived a huge scare in beat- champions in 2012-13, may face fi nal nail in a dreadful season for Zealand mother could love. ing the Sharks 23-21 at home. a bigger test against the New the Australian conference which IThree of the rugby power’s They will play the Hurricanes Zealand conference-winning fi nished with a 0-26 record teams are through to the semi- at home next week in a repeat of Crusaders, who are desperate to against New Zealand opponents. fi nals, showing their ability to last year’s title-decider. seal an eighth title and fi rst since Australian rugby has been win tough and ugly, whether in Bizarrely, it will be the South 2008. mired in gloom over the com- biblical weather conditions or in Africans’ fi rst match against While the driving rain at mitment, as yet undelivered, to hostile territory many timezones a New Zealand opponent this Rugby League Park played to cull either the Melbourne Rebels away. The reigning champion season due to the competition’s the Crusaders’ strengths, their or the Western Force from the Wellington Hurricanes led off quirky scheduling. ability to completely shut down competition next year when with Friday’s grinding 35-16 win The Lions topped the stand- the Highlanders’ game will give it contracts to 15 teams. But a over the ACT Brumbies, a team ings at the end of the regular the Chiefs’ staff plenty to think crowd of less than 10,000 turned that controversially enjoyed season with a 14-1 record but about during the week. up to watch the quarter-fi nal in home advantage despite winning belied their top seeding in the Under Rennie, the Chiefs Canberra and support a local six fewer games than their oppo- playoff s with an error-strewn have matched up well against team with a guaranteed future. nents during the regular season. display against the Sharks. the Crusaders and won their last It was a disappointing turn- The Canterbury Crusaders It took a 55-metre penalty kick three clashes in Christchurch. out for a match which doubled followed up by slowly chok- from winger Ruan Combrinck in The travel could ultimately prove as a farewell to coach and club ing the Otago Highlanders to the fi nal two minutes for the Li- decisive against a confi dent and stalwart Stephen Larkham and death in atrocious conditions in ons to fall over the line. Had the relatively fresh opponent, how- a celebration of former Wallaby Christchurch, winning 17-0 by ball landed two metres short- ever. Christian Lealiifano’s return af- the brute force of their forwards. er, the Hurricanes might have “I thought (the Crusaders’) ter his diagnosis with leukaemia The Waikato Chiefs then avoided the long-haul trip to El- pack was incredibly dominant less than a year ago. made it a perfect three-out-of- lis Park and hosted the Sharks at and that’s going to be a challenge “If that’s not the most damn- three for New Zealand by wear- home. But the Hurricanes, who for us,” said Rennie. ing evidence of just how far the ing down the Stormers 17-11 in thrashed the Lions 20-3 in the “But we’ve got a pretty good game has fallen then I don’t a dour two-try battle in Cape home fi nal last year after belt- pack. We’ll make sure we’ve got know what is,” a writer in the lo- Town later on Saturday. ing them in Johannesburg 50-17 clarity and we’ll go down there cal Canberra Times newspaper Wes Goosen of the Wellington Hurricanes runs to score a try during their Super Rugby quarter-final “It wasn’t pretty,” said outgo- earlier in the season, fear neither and give it a real crack. “His- lamented. against ACT Brumbies on Friday. (Reuters) Gulf Times Monday, July 24, 2017 7 SPORT

CYCLING FOCUS Qatar’s Sarah Masoud Froome wins fourth claims silver in Para Athletics Worlds

Agencies mahan Boudjadar while Anthi Liagkou London of Greece settled in the third place. Tour, ‘honoured’ to The Qatari delegation, participating in the Para-athletics Championships in atar’s Sarah Masoud claimed London, is led by Dr Hassan al-Ansari, silver in women’s Shot Put secretary general of the Qatar Paral- (F33) event at the 2017 World ympic Committee. Qatar players in the Para Athletics Champion- championships are Abdulrahman Ab- shipsQ in London. dulqader, Nasser al-Sahoti, Mohamed be with greats Masoud fi nished second with an ef- al-Kubaisi, Khaled al-Hajri, Mohamed fort of 5.39 metres behind Algeria’s As- Khallas and Sarah Masoud. ‘It is a privilege to even be in the position to be going for that kind of record’

Qatar’s Tijan and Cesar go down in Agadir beach volleyball fi nal

Team Sky rider Chris Froome of Britain celebrates his win in the Tour de France with his son Kellan on the podium in Paris yesterday. (Reuters)

AFP ‘PERFECT’ Paris “This is an amazing place for the sprinters. To win on the Champs- Elysees makes it a perfect day,” said riton Chris Froome secured Dutchman Groenewegen of the Lotto his fourth Tour de France ti- NL Jumbo team. tle at the end of the 21st and “This is my fi rst stage win at the fi nal stage won by Dylan Tour. When I was young, I was looking GroenewegenB yesterday and said it at the Champs-Elysees stage on TV. was a huge honour to be amongst cy- Now I’m the winner here, it’s wonder- cling’s greats. ful.” Sky’s Froome had previously won It was the biggest victory of the 2013, 2015 and 2016 editions and Groenewegen’s young career but the sits fi fth overall in the all-time list of day undoubtedly belonged to Froome. Tour victors behind fi ve-time winners “It feels amazing. The Champs Eddy Merckx, Jacques Anquetil, Ber- Elysees never disappoints, it’s some- nard Hinault and Miguel Indurain. thing magical,” said Froome. “It’s a huge honour to be talked “When you’ve spent three weeks about in the same sentence as those thinking about being here in this mo- guys with their place in the history ment, it is so rewarding every time.” of the Tour de France,” 32-year-old Alongside the yellow jersey winner, Froome, who will aim to match them Australia’s Michael Matthews won the next year, told ITV4. sprinters’ green points jersey, France’s “It is just a privilege to even be in Chris Froome (right) crosses the finish line with his teammate Michal Kwiatkowski Warren Barguil triumphed in the the position to be going for that kind to win the Tour de France in Paris, yesterday. (AFP) polkadot king of the mountains com- of record. petition and Simon Yates of Britain “Each time I’ve won the Tour it’s so blue stripe replaced by a yellow one. tive jerseys the chance to celebrate succeeded twin brother Adam as the unique and so diff erent and it is such a It was Froome’s closest Tour strug- with glasses of champagne as they best young rider in the white jersey. diff erent battle to get to this moment. gle yet as his fi nal winning margin was rode out of the town and towards the Froome’s Sky fi nished as the best “So they’re all special in their own less than a minute for the fi rst time, French capital. team having claimed the yellow hel- ways and this year I think will be re- Colombia’s Rigoberto Uran fi nishing By the time they got there the tempo mets on the fi rst stage in Dusseldorf Qatar beach volleyball team, comprising Ahmed Tijan and Julio Cesar, membered for being the closest and second at 54sec with Romain Bardet of had risen to the opposite scale of the three weeks ago and never relin- finished runners-up in the 2017 Beach Volleyball World Tour event in Agadir, most hard-fought battle between the France, the runner-up last year, third spectrum and it was a full pelt bunch quished their lead in the competition, Morocco, yesterday. Tijan-Cesar lost to the French duo of Youssef Krou and GC rivals.” at 2min 20sec. that rode to the fi nish, where 24-year- which they won for the fi rst time de- Quincy Aye 2-0 (21-18, 21-14) in the final yesterday. For their spot in yester- At the end of three weeks, 21 stages The 103km fi nal stage began with old Groenewegen struck out for home spite claiming the yellow jersey in fi ve day’s final, the Qataris had defeated Iran’s Bahman Salemiinjehboroun and and more than 3,500km, Froome rolled a nod to history in Montgeron, where from a long way out and held off the of the last six years. Rahman Raoufi 2-1 (21-13, 17-21, 15-11). The Qatari duo reached the last-four over the line on the Champs Elysees in the very fi rst stage of the inaugural hard-charging Andre Greipel, winner The last remaining prize went to stage after they defeated Switzerland’s Mirco Gerson and Michiel Zandber- Paris with a broad grin alongside his Tour in 1903 also began, at a leisurely on the Champs Elysees in the previous Barguil, a winner of two stages, who gen 2-1. Sky team-mates, who wore a special pace giving Froome, his team-mates two years, with Edvald Boasson Hagen was named the most combative rider kit for the occasion with their usual and the winners of the other distinc- third. of the Tour. Qatar basketball team lose to US in Atlas Basketball Challenge STAGE 21 RESULTS (TOP 10) OVERALL CLASSIFICATION (TOP 10) 2017 ROLL OF HONOUR 1. Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNL) 2:25:39” 1. Chris Froome (Sky) 86:20:55” Yellow jersey: Chris Froome (Sky) Qatar national basketball team lost 54-62 to US in the final match of the 3rd 2. Andre Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) ST 2. Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale) +54” Green points jersey: Michael Matthews Atlas Basketball Challenge in Suzhou, in the suburbs of Shanghai, China, 3. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) 3. Romain Bardet (AG2R) +2:20” (Sunweb) yesterday. Qatari player Abdulrahman Saad grabbed the tournament’s rising 4. Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) 4. Mikel Landa (Sky) +2:21” Polkadot mountains jersey: Warren Barguil star title. The 14-member Qatari team’s participation in the tournament was 5. Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) 5. Fabio Aru (Astana) +3:05” (Sunweb) part of Qatar’s preparation for the Asian Cup which will be held in Beirut 6. Borut Bozic (Merida) 6. Daniel Martin (Quick-Step) +4:42” White young rider’s jersey: Simon Yates (Orica- from August 8 to 20, with the participation of 16 teams. Qatar was drawn in 7. Davide Cimolai (FDJ) 7. Simon Yates (Orica) +6:14” Bike Exchange) group B of the tournament along with Iraq, Chine and the Philippines. Group 8. Pierre-Luc Perichon (Fortuneo) 8. Louis Meintjes (Emirates) +8:20” Yellow team helmets: Team Sky A includes Syria, Jordan, Iran and India, while the group C has Lebanon, New 9. Ruediger Selig (BORA) 9. Alberto Contador (Trek) +8:49” Super-combativity award: Warren Barguil (Sun- Zealand, South Korea and Kazakhstan. The last group D includes Australia, 10. Daniele Bennati (Movistar) 10. Warren Barguil (Sunweb) +9:25” web) Japan Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Froome’s winnings still behind the high rollers of world sport

Reuters shares the spoils of his fourth Tour American Jordan Speith, who won commanding a millionaire’s salary. for each of the 86 hours he spent in Stage wins were worth 11,000 euros Paris triumph in five years with his Team the British Open yesterday, earned His prize money for a gruelling 21-day the saddle plus an extra 500 euros for and the smaller teams, desperate for Sky colleagues, and not just the rid- $1.84mn for his four rounds of golf at slog around France is low by com- each day he wore the yellow jersey. publicity and extra revenue, sent rid- ers but the mechanics, the chef, the Royal Birkdale. parison with other sporting winners, There are myriad other ways for the ers out in daily breakaways aiming to hris Froome picked up 500,000 soigneurs and even the drivers of the Soccer salaries in Britain are regularly though, especially when you consider riders to earn a few extra euros in the hoover up prize money. euros ($582,900) yesterday as team buses. in excess of 150,000 pounds per week what he put himself through to win Tour — again all shared with the team. Intermediate sprint wins were worth Chis prize for winning the Tour Last weekend Roger Federer earned with Manchester United’s French mid- one of the closest Tours for years. Points jersey winner Michael Mat- 1,500 euros while riders first to crest de France — a tidy sum but a relative 2.2mn pounds ($2.86mn) when he fielder Paul Pogba earning a reported The 32-year-old cycled 3,540 kilome- thews earned 25,000 euros for his the climbs were also rewarded, pittance compared to the huge sums claimed an eighth Wimbledon tennis 290,000 pounds each week. tres over 21 days, gasping up cruel Sunweb team who also shared the although 800 euros for making it first banked by the top names in other title — having spent a total of 11 hours Froome is the highest-paid rider in the climbs, battling wicked crosswinds and same sum for Warren Barguil’s polka to the top of a monster such as the sports. and 37 minutes on court. Put another peleton and extremely well remuner- searing heat and surviving one big dot jersey for being king of the moun- 2,360-metre Col d’Izoard in the Alps By tradition, the Briton must also way that is 3,156 pounds per minute. ated as Team Sky’s boss on the roads, crash. He earned roughly 5,800 euros tains. hardly seems particularly generous.

Monday, July 24, 2017 GULF TIMES SPORT

FIA WORLD CUP FOR CROSS-COUNTRY RALLIES Al-Attiyah’s sensational fi nal stage seals Spain win ‘This was another remarkable stage performance by Nasser and Matthieu to seal another memorable win’

Agencies Teruel, Spain Abdulla claims T2 runner-up spot Agencies atar’s Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah Teruel, Spain and Matthieu Baumel deliv- ered a sensational fi nal stage to seal a dramatic victory in efending FIA World Cup T2 Spain’sQ Baja Aragón, round seven of the champion Adel Abdulla FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Ral- Dreturned to the event where lies, in Teruel yesterday. he recorded a famous victory last Trailing overnight leader Mikko season to finish in an excellent Hirvonen at the start of the stage by 11 second place in the T2 category at seconds, al-Attiyah threw caution to Spain’s Baja Aragón, round seven of the wind to win the fi nal stage by 2min this year’s FIA World Cup for Cross- 25sec and seal a second successive vic- Country Rallies. tory for Overdrive Racing and Toyota Running with support from Saleh on Europe’s leading Baja event. The re- Al-Hamad Al-Mana Co (Nissan Qatar), sult also strengthened the Qatari’s grip Ooredoo and the Qatar Motor and delighted with the second quickest on the FIA World Cup in a virtual car- Motorcycle Federation (QMMF), time. Cesar Rickler was third. bon copy repeat of the stage perform- the Qatari reached the finish in the The second stage of the day ran for ance he put in last year to win the event baking heat of the town of Teruel 133.78km in the punishing heat of an for a second time. in a time of 8hrs 17min 54sec. That Aragón summer afternoon between Spain’s Joan ‘Nani’ Roma has won was just 1min 50sec behind the T2 Celadas and Teruel. Adel Abdulla this event fi ve times in the past on four section winner Juan Font of Spain, was in excellent form once again and wheels, and he and co-driver Alex Haro but it gave the QX Rally Team Nissan the Qatari claimed the fastest time brought the Monster Energy-backed driver a useful haul of points and of 2hrs 02min 12sec to climb within Overdrive Toyota Hilux to the fi nish in more than made up for some recent 6min 23sec of Font at the top of the a solid fourth overall. disappointments. T2 standings. South African Leeroy Poulter and “We gave it a real push on the last The competitive action concluded Germany’s Dirk von Zitzewitz tackled stage today, claimed the stage win and yesterday with a stage of 184.05km the event for the fi rst time together in almost managed to win T2,” said Adel between Barrachina and Caude. Adel a Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa Abdulla. “I dedicate this result to His Abdulla pushed hard and set the car. Poulter delivered an impressive Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad fastest time in the T2 category and performance to reach Teruel in fi fth al-Thani and thank my sponsors, the almost managed to catch Font to position after overhauling al-Attiyah’s Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federa- claim the T2 win, but had to settle for closest title rival Jakub Przygonski on tion, Nissan Qatar’s Saleh Al-Hamad an impressive second position in his the fi nal stage. Al-Mana Co, Ooredoo and the Govern- Nissan Patrol Y62. A harsh time penalty ruined Aron ment of Qatar for their support.” Domzala’s chance of fi nishing inside Qatari driver Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (right) and French co-driver Matthieu Baumel celebrate their win in Baja Aragon, round Adel started strongly on the 9.6km OVERALL T2 POSITIONS the top six but the Pole and navigator seven of the FIA World Cup of Cross-Country Rallies, yesterday. (Twitter/BajaAragon) super special stage that was held 1. Juan Font (ESP)/Jesus Arriezu (ESP) Maciej Marton recovered strongly to near Teruel on Friday evening. The Toyota Land Cruiser 8hrs 16min reach the fi nish in 12th position, Aron would have been right up there without The second stage of the day ran for 184.05km between Barrachina and Qatari set the fourth quickest time 04sec climbing eight places on the fi nal selec- the time penalty for the tyre issue.” 133.78km in the punishing heat of an Caude before the ceremonial fi nish in behind Alessandro Trivini, Josep Solé 2. Adel Abdulla (QAT)/Nasser al- tive section. The Overdrive Racing quartet be- Aragón summer afternoon between Teruel. Hirvonen carded the target time and Andrea Schiumarini, but moved Kuwari (QAT) Nissan Patrol 8hrs Spanish privateer Luis Recuenco gan strongly on the 9.3km Prologue Celadas and Teruel. Mikko Hirvonen of 2hrs 14min 34sec, but he was beaten up to third when Trivini was awarded 17min 54sec teamed up with navigator Manuel Nav- stage that took place on the outskirts of beat al-Attiyah by just fi ve seconds to by 52 seconds by Terranova who moved a 10-minute time penalty. Arch-rival 3. Cesar Rickler (ITA)/Massimiliano arro to drive a Toyota Hilux supplied by Teruel on Friday evening. Roma pipped claim the quickest time and moved into 31 seconds in front of the Finn in the and series leader Yasir Saeidan was Catar (ITA) Ford Raptor 8hrs 38min Overdrive Racing. He held 22nd overall al-Attiyah to the quickest time by just an overnight lead of just 10.2 seconds overall standings. not able to start the event. 57sec after the second stage, 18th after SS3 0.3 seconds, as Poulter and Domzala over the Qatari, with Terranova a fur- All eyes were on al-Attiyah’s stage The first of the selective sections ran 4. Andrea Schiumarini (ITA)/Massimo but failed to reach the fi nish in Teruel settled into fourth and ninth positions. ther 10.1 seconds behind in third and time and the Qatari didn’t disappoint. He for 216.92km between Teruel and Salvatore (ITA) Mitsubishi Pajero after hitting a rock and losing a wheel The meat of the action began on Sat- Roma a distant fourth. Poulter held crossed the fi nish line in 2hrs 11min 17sec Perales Alfambra on Saturday morn- 9hrs 13min 03sec on the last stage. urday morning with a selective sec- sixth position, but Domzala’s fourth to storm to the top of the leader board ing. Juan Font claimed the quickest 5. Alessandro Trivini (ITA)/Paolo Tri- Overdrive Racing’s CEO Jean-Marc tion of 216.8km. Roma opted to follow fastest time also came with a time pen- and claim a second successive victory in time of 3hrs 17min 46sec in the T2 vini Bell (ITA) Mitsubishi Pajero 9hrs Fortin said: “This was another remark- al-Attiyah into the stage, with Dom- alty of 31 minutes that pushed the Pole Spain for Overdrive Racing and Toyota. category, but Adel Abdulla was 32min 06sec able stage performance by Nasser and zala third and Poulter in eighth on the down to 20th overall. Roma was fourth quickest to consol- Matthieu to seal another memorable road. Argentina’s Orlando Terranova “It was a very harsh penalty,” insisted idate fourth place and Poulter set the win for Overdrive Racing against a very snatched the overall lead with the fast- Jean-Marc Fortin. “I am devastated by it. third fastest time to fi nish his fi rst Baja OVERALL CLASSIFICATION (TOP 5) (DEU) Mini All4 Racing 6hrs 43min strong fi eld. The result strengthens our est stage time of 2hrs 42min 08.1sec, Aron had a punctured tyre and the rubber in Spain in fi fth overall after he passed 1. Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (QAT)/Mat- 26sec championship challenge as well and is a as al-Attiyah and Roma were third and was on fi re. He couldn’t put out the fi re, Jakub Przygonski on the fi nal timed thieu Baumel (FRA) Toyota Hilux Over- 4. Joan Roma (ESP)/Alex Haro (ESP) second success for Toyota now on this fourth quickest and held similar posi- so he left the wheel there. Then, due to section. Domzala fi nished the last stage drive 6hrs 40min 20sec Toyota Hilux Overdrive 6hrs 48min rally. tions in the overall standings. The Qa- a missing spare wheel, he was given this just three seconds behind Hirvonen, 2. Orlando Terranova (ARG)/Paulo Fiuza 43sec “The rest of the team also deliv- tari was a mere 22.6 seconds adrift of extremely unfair penalty.” but the time penalty had done the dam- (PRT) Mini All4 Racing 6hrs 42min 5. Leeroy Poulter (ZAF)/Dirk von Zitze- ered superb performances. ‘Nani’ and the leader. Domzala and Poulter were The fourth and fi nal section took age for the Pole on Saturday evening. 55sec witz (DEU) Toyota GAZOO Racing Hilux Leeroy were fourth and fi fth and Aron sixth and seventh overall. place yesterday morning and ran for 3. Mikko Hirvonen (FIN)/Andreas Schulz 6hrs 52min 05sec

GOLF Spieth emerges from epic duel to win British Open

Reuters battle and describing him as a great champion Southport, England and class act. “I took about 20 minutes to play a shot today. Matt took it in his stride with a smile. He sets a ordan Spieth survived a roller-coaster great example for all of us,” Spieth said of his ri- fi nal round at the British Open to claim val, who had been given underdog backing from his third major title after beating fellow the Birkdale crowd. American Matt Kuchar by three strokes China’s Li Haotong fi nished third on six-un- inJ a thrilling duel at Royal Birkdale yesterday. der-par after a superb last-round 63 left him on Spieth carded a one-under-par fi nal round of the range hoping, in vain, that a few more bogeys 69 to fi nish on 12-under for the tournament but, from the leading pair might give him a shot at a after three days of consistent golf by the Ameri- playoff . can, it was a remarkable day of highs and lows Irishman Rory McIlroy produced his best for the 23-year-old. round of the week with a 67 to leave him on fi ve The Texan, who won the US Masters and US under for the tournament and tied in fourth Open in 2015, joined Jack Nicklaus to become place with Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello who one of only two players to win three legs of shot 68. the career grand slam before turning 24. Tiger Woods was 24 when he won his third diff erent LEADING ROUND IV SCORES major. -12 Jordan Spieth (USA) 65-69-65-69 Spieth began the day with a three-stroke lead -9 Matt Kuchar (USA) 65-71-66-69 but saw that evaporate on the front nine, where -6 Li Haotong (CHN) 69-73-69-63 he made four bogeys and a birdie to enter the -5 Rory McIlroy (GBR) 71-68-69-67, Rafael turn sharing the lead with Kuchar on eight- Cabrera-Bello (ESP) 67-73-67-68 under, before he steadied himself and surged to -4 Marc Leishman (AUS) 69-76-66-65, Matthew victory. Southgate (GBR) 72-72-67-65, Brooks Koepka Clutching the Claret Jug awarded to the win- (USA) 65-72-68-71, Branden Grace (RSA) 70-74- ner, Spieth, the youngest American to win the 62-70, Alexander Noren (SWE) 68-72-69-67 British Open and the youngest from any coun- -3 Henrik Stenson (SWE) 69-73-65-70, Chan Kim try since a 22-year-old Seve Ballesteros in 1979, (USA) 72-68-67-70, Paul Casey (GBR) 66-77-67-67 said his victory was “a dream come true”. -2 Austin Connelly (CAN) 67-72-66-73, Zach “I drank some wine from the Claret Jug when Johnson (USA) 75-66-71-66, Chris Wood (GBR) Zach Johnson won it two years ago and people 71-72-68-67, Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) 68-72-66- said that was bad luck. I started to believe them 72, Jason Dufner (USA) 73-71-66-68, Ian Poulter too after nine holes today,” he added. (GBR) 67-70-71-70 “I’m going to take this back to America which may upset a few of you all but I’ll return it. Thank LAST 10 WINNERS you very much, what an incredible honour.” 2017 - Jordan Spieth (USA) at Royal Birkdale 2016 - Henrik Stenson (SWE) at Royal Troon REAL DRAMA 2015 - Zach Johnson (USA) at St Andrews After his struggles on the front nine, the real US golfer Jordan Spieth poses for pictures with the Claret Jug, the trophy for the winner of the British Open, at Royal Birkdale golf course near Southport 2014 - Rory McIlroy (NIR) at Hoylake drama began when Spieth drove wildly into the in north west England yesterday. (AFP) 2013 - Phil Mickelson (USA) at Muirfield dunes on the 13th hole. 2012 - Ernie Els (RSA) at Royal Lytham He was forced to take a penalty stroke after Spieth scrambled to make a creditable bogey However, the sight of his rival alone at the top gle the par-fi ve 15th and followed that with bird- 2011 - Darren Clarke (NIR) at Royal St George’s deeming the ball ‘unplayable’ and after some out of the par-four hole but that still handed the of the leaderboard appeared to click a switch in ies on the 16th and 17th to banish any thought of 2010 - Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) at St Andrews confusion and a lengthy series of deliberations, lead to 39-year-old Kuchar, who was playing Spieth who responded with a birdie on the par- a repeat of his US Masters meltdown last year. 2009 - Stewart Cink (USA) at Turnberry he played his second shot from the edge of the the more solid golf as the wind rose and tem- three 14th, where he was close to a hole-in-one. As he received the trophy Spieth paid tribute 2008 - Padraig Harrington (IRL) at Royal Birk- practice range next to the television trucks. perature fell. He then brilliantly sank a 45-yard putt to ea- to compatriot Kuchar, saying he had enjoyed the dale