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SEALINE CROSS-COUNTRY RALLY Al-Attiyah, Casale stay clear as Sunderland, Quintanilla set up motorcycle showdown Nissan’s Adel Hussein Abdullah maintains slender T2 lead over Saudi’s Yasir Seaidan

By Sports Reporter 3. Vladimir Vasilyev (RUS)/Konstantin Doha Zhiltsov (RUS) Mini All4 Racing (3hr 38min 07sec) 4. Ricardo Porém (POR)/Tom Colsoul atar’s Nasser Saleh al-Atti- (BEL) Mini All4 Racing (3hr 44min 50sec) yah, Chile’s Ignacio Casale 5. Yuriy Sazonov (KAZ)/Dmytro Tsyro and a tied Sam Sunderland (UKR) Hummer H3 III (3hr 49min 33sec) and Pablo Quintanilla lead 6. Jutta Kleinschmidt (DEU)/Philipp Beier Qtheir respective car, quad and motor- (DEU) X-raid CBRA (4hr 06min 16sec) cycle categories after the third and Bikes longest selective section of the Sealine Cross-Country Rally yesterday. 1. Pablo Quintanilla (CHI) Husqvarna 450 Al-Attiyah and Quintanilla recorded Rally (4hr 03min 10sec) stage wins in very diff erent circum- 2. Sam Sunderland (GBR) KTM 450 Rally stances. Overnight motorcycle leader (4hr 05min 08sec) Toby Price retired with a back injury 3. Helder Rodrigues (POR) Yamaha before the restart and that enabled WR450 (4hr 14min 15sec) Sunderland and Quintanilla to utilise 4. Adrien Van Beveren (FRA) Yamaha their favourable starting positions to WR450F (4hr 15min 23sec) catch their rivals and edge into a shared 5. Jose Cornejo (CHI) KTM 450 Rally lead, with both riders tied to second. (4hr 18min 04sec) Quintanilla claimed the stage win 6. Juan Carlos Salvatierra (BOL) KTM 450 by 1min 58sec, although the nature of Replica (4hr 27min 26sec) cross-country motorcycle racing dic- Quads tates that he may give some or all of that 1. Ignacio Casale Catracchia (CHI) Yamaha back to his KTM rival today. Raptor 700 SE (4hr 55min 49sec) Al-Attiyah and French navigator Mat- 2. Rafal Sonik (POL) Honda TRX 700 thieu Baumel led from the front of the (5hr 17min 08sec*) car fi eld and progressed in a sensible (*Subject to FIM Jury meeting) manner to win the special by 40 seconds and propel their Toyota Hilux Overdrive to an outright lead of 8min 36sec over Overall positions (Unoff icial) Saudi Arabia’s Yazeed al-Rajhi. Cars The two rivals remain in a class of their 1. Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (QAT)/Matthieu own after three days of competition and Baumel (FRA) Toyota Hilux Overdrive were separated by seconds throughout (8hr 28min 37sec) the entire stage, a minor navigational er- Qatar's Nasser Saleh 2. Yazeed al-Rajhi (SAU)/Timo Gottschalk ror near the end costing the Saudi a po- al-Attiyah clears a (DEU) Mini All4 Racing (8hr 37min 13sec) tential stage win. Third-placed Vladimir dune on his Toyota 3. Vladimir Vasilyev (RUS)/Konstantin Vasilyev is now 53min 29sec adrift of the Hilux Overdrive. Zhiltsov (RUS) Mini All4 Racing Qatari in his Mini All4 Racing. (9hr 22min 06sec) “I lost the way a little, but we had a 4. Ricardo Porém (POR)/Tom Colsoul good run without any problems,” said (BEL) Mini All4 Racing (9hr 42min 30sec) al-Attiyah. “I am quite happy. This is Qatar’s Qatar’s Adel Hussein 5. Yuriy Sazonov (KAZ)/Dmytro Tsyro our plan. We do same speed and we remarkable maintains his T2 lead (UKR) Hummer H3 III (9hr 50min 42sec) keep everyone behind. Just one slow Mohamed in his Nissan Patrol . 6. Jutta Kleinschmidt (DEU)/Philipp Beier puncture for the last 100km, but we al-Harqan (DEU) X-raid CBRA (10hr 07min 09sec) kept on going.” battles on . 7. Marek Dabrowski (POL)/Jacek Czachor Al-Rajhi said: “We do it well until the (POL) Toyota Hilux Overdrive end. Then, at a junction, we went more (10hr 48min 00sec) left and no right and that’s where he lost 8. Yerdan Shagirov (KAZ)/Vitaliy Yev- the time, maybe more than one minute. tyekkhov (RUS) H3 Evo V A lot of cap. If you follow sometimes it (11hr 02min 32sec) is not a good idea. A lot of times the cap 9. Hernan Garces (CHI)/Juan Pablo Lat- is not there. I think we can still drive rach (CHI) Ford Ranger (11hr 19min 20sec) hard tomorrow. We were leading at the 10. Adel Hussein Abdullah (QAT)/Nasser PC before the fi nish.” al-Kuwari (QAT) Nissan Patrol (T2) Motorcycle stage winner Quintanilla 11hr 23min 06sec said: “Today was really diffi cult for me. 11. Yasir Seaidan (SAU)/Sébastien Delau- I damaged the rear wheel on a big jump nay (FRA) Toyota Land Cruiser (T2) near the start and drove like that until 11hr 27min 12sec the refuel. I did not think I could make it. Then, at the refuelling, I stop and the Bikes team changed the wheel. I was lucky to 1. Sam Sunderland (GBR) KTM 450 Rally fi nish the race. I am happy. It was good (10hr 58min 38sec) stage. We have two more days to go. For 1. Pablo Quintanilla (CHI) Husqvarna 450 sure, it is going to be really tough.” Rally (10hr 58min 38sec) “In the end it seemed to be quite pre- 3. Juan Carlos Salvatierra (BOL) KTM 450 dictable. I arrived with Pablo together,” Replica (11hr 19min 36sec) said Sunderland. “We are fi ghting for 4. Helder Rodrigues (POR) Yamaha seconds. It’s becoming tricky with the quad category, although the Pole over Saudi’s Yasir Seaidan in the T2 cate- had passed PC4 at 3pm in 18th overall. the heart of Qatar between Dukhan and WR450 (11hr 24min 54sec) other riders coming in between us. I’m stopped at the scene of a crash involv- gory for Series Production Cross-Coun- French girl Charlotte Berton and Span- Doha. The closing kilometres then ven- 5. Pierre Alexander Renet (FRA) just happy to stay safe. I had six months ing fellow Sonik Team rider Julian Vil- try Vehicles in his Nissan Middle East- iard Cristina Gutierrez were progress- ture through the dunes on the eastern Husqvarna 450 Rally (11hr 30min 18sec) off with my broken femur. I don’t want larrubia near the stage start. That time supported Patrol. He ceded 4min 40sec ing well after massive early delays and side of the country to fi nish close to the 6. Scott Britnell (AUS) Husqvarna FE 450 to take too many risks, especially now should be returned to the recent Abu of that hard-earned lead on the day’s were 21st and 25th overall through PC3. former bivouac at Sealine. (13hr 17min 51sec) that Toby has stopped, Laia is out and Dhabi Desert Challenge winner at the stage and heads into the fi nal two spe- Today is the penultimate day of this 7. Mohamed al-Balooshi (ARE) KTM 450 another rider had a crash this morning evening’s FIM Jury meeting at Losail. cials with an advantage of 4min 06sec year’s event and competitors will face Positions after SS3 (Unoff icial) (13hr 44min 40sec) at a dangerous place. Pablo damaged Behind Vasilyev, Mini colleague Carlo Cinotto pipped Michele Ci- the rigours of a 354.75km selective sec- Quads his rear wheel there. It was marked as Ricardo Porém holds fourth overall, notto to the T3 stage win in his Polaris tion that starts at Al-Shabana (fi rst bike Cars 1. Ignacio Casale Catracchia (CHI) Yamaha danger three in the road book at the top Kazakh Yuriy Sazonov is fi fth and the RZR 1000s and holds the class lead at @ 07.15hrs) and fi nishes close to the 1. Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (QAT)/Matthieu Raptor 700 SE (12hr 32min 32sec) of the crest, but the track dropped away experienced former Dakar winner Jutta the end of the day. former bivouac at Sealine. The stage Baumel (FRA) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 2. Rafal Sonik (POL) Honda TRX 700 by three metres.” Kleinschmidt is driving well in sixth. It was a fraught day for the three fe- initially heads north towards Al-Jam- (3hr 19min 33sec) (13hr 08min 10sec*) Ignacio Casale maintained a com- Local driver Adel Hussein Abdullah male QMMF-supported rookies in their ilaiya, using some of the terrain from 2. Yazeed al-Rajhi (SAU)/Timo Gottschalk (*Subject to FIM Jury meeting) fortable lead over Rafal Sonik in the began the stage with a solid advantage T1 Nissan Patrols. Kiwi Emma Gilmour the fi rst day, and then cuts back across (DEU) Mini All4 Racing (3hr 20min 13sec) Gulf Times 2 Thursday, April 21, 2016 FOOTBALL

AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE OUSTED Champs Evergrande crash out of Asia Lekhwiya climb to AFP in front in the 78th minute. Sydney Koroki ran onto a slick back- heel from Lee but his low shot was brilliantly saved by Sydney efending title-holders goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic to Guangzhou Evergrande ensure the game fi nished 0-0. crashed out of the AFC China’s Shandong Luneng Champions League af- also progressed from Group F af- second with win terD group rivals Sydney FC and ter Diego Tardelli’s 10th-minute Urawa Red Diamonds played out header from a long-range free- Goals from Boudiaf and Muntari help Djamel Belmadi’s boys score a crucial 2-0 away a goalless draw yesterday. kick was enough to eliminate Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Chinese Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-0. win over Bunyodkar and maintain their push for a place in the Round of 16 giants won their fi rst game a day Group F leaders FC Seoul beat earlier but it proved futile as Syd- Thailand’s Buriram United 2-1 to AFC ney and Urawa secured the top confi rm their place in the last 16, Tashkent two spots in Group H with one but Group E will go down to the match to spare. wire in next month’s fi nal round Sydney reach the last 16 for the of pool games. ekhwiya maintained their push fi rst time alongside Urawa, while for a place in the Round of 16 of Chinese domestic champions Results the 2016 AFC Champions League Evergrande are left licking their yesterday when goals from Ka- wounds after their earliest exit Bunyodkor (Uzb) 0 - 2 Lrim Boudiaf and Mohammed Muntari from the competition. Lekhwiya SC (Qat) secured a 2-0 win over Group B rivals Evergrande won their second Zob Ahan (Irn) 3 - 0 Al Nasr Bunyodkor that eliminated the Uzbek Asian title in three seasons last (Sau) side. year and they spent big in the Sydney FC (Aus) 0 – 0 Captain Boudiaf struck in the 65th off -season, buying Atletico Ma- Urawa (Jpn) minute before Muntari sealed the result drid striker Jackson Martinez for FC Tokyo (Jpn) 0 – 3 Jeon- 2 minutes from time and the win moves 42 million euros ($48 million). buk (Kor) Djamal Belmadi’s side on to eight points But they will now have to watch Seoul (Kor) 2 - 1 Buriram with only one match remaining in the as Sven-Goran Eriksson’s Shang- (Tha) group phase. hai SIPG—featuring former Ev- Shandong Luneng (Chn) 1 – Bunyodkor, semi-fi nalists in the AFC ergrande stars Elkeson and Dario 0 Hiroshima (Jpn) Champions League in 2008 and 2012, Conca—lead the Chinese charge in Jiangsu Suning (Chn) 3 – 0 needed to win to have any hope of staying the knock-out stages. Binh Duong (Vie) alive in the competition and the defeat In a tense game of few chanc- Al Nasr (Uae) 1 – 1 Lok. leaves them stranded at the bottom of the es, Tadanari Lee and Christo- Tashkent (Uzb) standings on two points. pher Naumoff both had sight Al-Ittihad FC (Sau) 4 - 0 Lekhwiya had the fi rst chance of the of goal in the fi rst half before Sepahan (Irn) game after just seven minutes when Ali Shinzo Koroki nearly put Urawa Afi f volleyed over the bar from close range, while at the other end goalkeeper Standings Upcoming Fixtures Amine Lecomte pulled off an acrobatic save to deny Otabek Shukurov’s attempt GROUP B May 4 from 30 yards out. Pos. Team MP W D L G Pts Al Nassr vs Zobahan Just before the half hour mark Afi f 1. Zob Ahan 5 3 2 0 9:2 11 9:15pm went close again, but this time Bunyod- 2. Lekhwiya 5 2 2 1 7:2 8 kor goalkeeper Murotjon Zukhorov was 3. Al Nassr 5 1 2 2 5:11 5 Lekhwiya vs Bunyodkar on hand to push his side-footed eff ort to Action during the AFC Champions League Group B match between Qatar’s Lekhwiya and Uzbekistan’s Bunyodkor. 4. Bunyodkor 5 0 2 3 5:11 2 8:15pm safety. Jurica Buljat tried his luck from outside time eff ort beat Zukhorov at the near lowed the goal scorer to fi re off a shot that foot shot under Zukhorov and into the GROUP D the area in the 58th minute, only for the post to put the visitors in front. came back off Zukhorov’s left post. bottom corner. Pos. Team MP W D L G Pts May 3 ball to sail over the cross bar before Le- Four minutes later, Nam almost dou- By the 78th minute, however, Le- There was no way back for Bunyodkor 1. El Jaish 5 3 1 1 6:6 10 Al Ain vs Nasaf 9pm khwiya took the lead seven minutes later. bled his side’s lead, only to shoot across the khwiya had claimed a deserved second and Lekhwiya go into their meeting with 2. Al Ain 5 2 1 2 6:6 7 Nam Tae-hee’s attempted through ball face of goal, while the Korea Republic in- as Yousef Msakni slipped the ball into the Uzbek side in Doha in two weeks’ 3. Al Ahli (KSA) 5 2 0 3 8:7 6 Al Ahli (KSA) vs El Jaish was redirected by the Bunyodkor defence ternational was involved again in the 74th the path of Mohammed Muntari and the time harbour strong hopes of advancing 4. Nasaf 5 1 2 2 4:5 5 8pm into the path of Boudiaf, and his fi rst- minute when his one-two with Boudiaf al- young Qatar international struck his left to the knockout phase once again. Gulf Times Thursday, April 21, 2016 3 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT GOING ABOUT Trophy tour of Qatar Cup 2016 starts with Strikers battle it Aspire Academy out for top honours at 2016 Qatar Cup With each of them being lethal in front of goal, the spotlight will be on the leading Qatar Cup Tour at the Aspire Academy. scorers from the four teams to see who can fire their side to Qatar Cup glory QNA The trophy tour will visit Al Doha Biddaa Tower—the Qatari foot- ball family headquarters—today followed by a visit to Al Jazeera he fi rst promotional tour Cafe in Katara. Also the trophy for the Qatar Cup 2016 will visit some other location was launched yesterday during the coming few days such with a visit to Aspire as Souq Waqif and Aspire Park. TAcademy and Khalifa Interna- The promotional trophy tour tional Stadium. aims at introducing fans to the The promotional tour del- Qatar Cup and encourages fans egation, which consists of the to attend Qatar Cup games. Events Offi cer Abdel Aziz al- Speaking on the event QSL Malki and the Community Rela- Events Offi cer Abdel Aziz al- tions Offi cer Nasser al-Kuwari, Malki said: “The promotional visited Aspire Academy which trophy tours will be great op- represents the future of football portunity to meet and interact in Qatar, where the academy with the spectators and identify students were introduced to the them with the Qatar Cup. We are Qatar Cup trophy and its design happy with these tours during as well as other relevant infor- this year starting with the Aspire mation. Some students joined in Academy.” and took a photo with the famous On the other hand, the QSL Qatar Cup trophy. Community Relations Offi cer Also the delegation visited the assured that the promotional working site of the Khalifa Inter- trophy tours aim at encouraging national Stadium after the Aspire the fans to attend the Qatar Cup Academy within the frame of games as well as answering their huge interaction from all stake- queries regarding the competi- holders. tion.

Top four sides set for Qatar Cup

(L-R) Al Sadd’s Hassan al-Haydous, El Jaish’s Abderrazzak Hamdellah, Lekhwiya’s Yusef Msakni and Al Rayyan’s Rodrigo Tabata.

By Sports Reporter deadly eye for goal. His partnership with one of the goals in the 2-2 draw with Al vantage, they could be turning to home- Doha fellow attackers Sergio Garcia and Sebas- Sadd which confi rmed second place. grown hero Haydoos to supply the goals. tian Soria has blossomed his year, and Jaish boast the enviable record of could be argued as the QSL’s most deadly reaching every Qatar Cup fi nal since its Yusef Msakni Lekhwiya he Qatar Cup is set to kick-off on attacking trio this year. inception three years ago. Sabri Lam- Yusef Msakni has been the main man Sunday evening with the top four Al Rayyan and their passionate fan ouchi will be hoping Hamdallah can up- for Lekhwiya in front of goal during the sides in Qatar looking to battle it base will be willing Tabata to be amongst hold this record when El Jaish take on Al 2015/2016 QSL season. The Tunisian in- out to lift the famous Qatar Cup on the goals, when Al Rayyan face Lekhwiya Sadd on Monday evening. ternational registered 14 goals in 23 QSL theT 29th of April at Al Sadd stadium. QSL in the fi rst semi-fi nal of the Qatar Cup on starts this term. online has decided to look at the four sides Sunday evening at Al Sadd stadium. Hassan Haydoos Al Sadd Msakni’s versatility in playing as a false leading scorers to see if they hold the key to Qatari international captain Hassan nine or on the right wing has helped head fi ring their sides to Qatar Cup Glory. Abderrazak Hamdallah El Jaish Haydoos has enjoyed a fi ne individual coach Djamel Belmadi who has chopped El Jaish spent big money on Abder- season with Al Sadd registering 12 goals and changed his side over the course of Rodrigo Tabata Al Rayyan razak Hamdallah last summer, and the in the QSL season. The mercurial winger the season. Msakni is a player who en- The Qatar Cup 2016 will Match Schedule Al Rayyan’s talismanic captain has en- Moroccan striker hasn’t disappointed in has enjoyed his highest goal return in his joys cutting in and scoring goals, and his kick-off on Sunday the 24th joyed the best season of his professional his debut QSL season. El Jaish’s number eight years with the Wolves. clinical fi nishes aided Lekhwiya to fourth of April at Al Sadd stadium. (All matches will take place career in the 2015/2016 QSL season. The 9 fi nished up as the joint top scorer with Blessed with blistering pace, and spot in the QSL standings. The top four sides in the Qatar at Al Sadd Stadium) attacking midfi elder is the joint top goal 21 goals in 23 QSL games. composure when it matters Haydoos is Djamel Belmadi’s side will be looking Stars League will battle it out scorer in the league, registering 21 goals Hamdallah is no stranger in scoring masterful at taking teams on the break. to retain the Qatar Cup this season. The to lift the coveted Qatar Cup Sunday April 24 in 24 QSL games. goals, and boast impressive stints in Nor- Crucially Haydoos has built up an un- tricky Tunisian may hold the keys to suc- trophy. The first match of Semi-Final Match 1 Tabata at times looked unplayable this way and Chinese side Guangzhou R&F. derstanding with Spanish midfielder cess when Lekhwiya take on Al Rayyan on the tournament will see QSL Al Rayyan v Lekhiwya season, and pushed his Al Rayyan side all He has been the missing piece for Sabri Xavi Hernandez, which could be cru- Sunday the 24th of April when they take champions Al Rayyan take on 8:15pm the way to the QSL title for the fi rst time Lamouchi side, and his goals helped the cial if Sadd are to lift the Qatar Cup this on Al Rayyan in the fi rst Qatar Cup semi- Lekhwiya at Al Sadd stadium. in 21 years. Central to Tabata’s game is solders fi nish in second place in the QSL time around. fi nal. The match will see Al Rayyan Monday, April 25 his high intensity work rate along with a standings. Hamdallah indeed did score With Al Sadd playing at their home ad- Now to see who gets the top honours. who stormed to the QSL Fal- Semi-Final Match 2 con shield with five games to El Jaish v Al Sadd 8:15pm spare take on the former QSL BOTTOMLINE champions in Lekhwiya. The Friday, April 29 second semi-final, which will Final 7:15pm be held on Monday the 25th of April at Al Sadd stadium, will see El Jaish take on Al Sadd. held at Al Sadd stadium. Two El Jaish just pipped Al Sadd of the best sides in Qatar are Ooredoo named telecom partner to second place in the QSL, set to clash, in the traditional with a dramatic 2-2 draw on end of season tournament, the final game of the season. which marks the end of the Sadd endured a torrid time at QSL season. Expect plenty of the start of the QSL season, fireworks on and off the pitch, but have rallied impressively as the Qatar Cup comes to its under new coach Jesaldo thrilling conclusion. Ferierra. The winners of both Tickets are set to be sold via semi-finals will then take on tickets.qsl.com.qa where you each other in the showpiece can use Football Rewards Qatar Cup final on Friday the points to get discounts at a 29th of April and is set to be host of retailers across Qatar.

QSL reveal details for Qatar Cup 2016 competition Hassan al-Kuwari, Director of Events and Acting Director Hassan al-Kuwari, Director of Events and Acting Director Hassan al-Kuwari, Director of Events and Acting Director The Qatar Stars League the to arrive early to enjoy the of Sales for QSL and Fatima Sultan al-Kuwari, Director, of Sales for QSL and Sheikha Sara bint Nasser al-Thani, of Sales for QSL and managing partner of Al Jaber highest professional football atmosphere. From the many Community and Public Relations,Ooredoo. head of PR & Communication at Woqod watches Mohamed Yousef al-Jaber. league in Qatar formally fan activities provided, al-Ali announced the details of the also stressed that security By Sports Reporter the Ooredoo Supernet. of Events and Acting Director Hassan al-Kuwari director of has signed a deal to be the offi - upcoming Qatar Cup competi- personnel will be on hand to Doha Fatima Sultan al-Kuwari, Di- of Sales for QSL, commented: Events at the QSL welcomed cial provider for the man of the tion, at a press conference help with any issues specta- rector, Community and Pub- “Our partnerships with leading Woqod as a sponsor for the Qatar match awards and referees gifts held at Al Sadd club yesterday. tors had. lic Relations of Ooredoo Qatar organisations like Ooredoo help Cup. “Fuel is important in driv- for the Qatar Cup 2016. Hassan Hassan al-Kuwari, director of Hassan al-Kuwari confirmed oredoo yesterday an- said: “We believe Ooredoo can take the Qatar Cup tournament ing any competition and I am al-Kuwari director of Events Events at the QSL was joined that the tickets are now avail- nounced that it will be bring incredible value to foot- to the widest possible audience proud that we have another ma- said: “Firstly I would like to by Ahmed al-Adsani, Director able online via qsl.com.qa, the Offi cial Telecom ball in Qatar and enhance the in Qatar. We want to spread the jor Qatari company as a sponsor, thank Al Jaber for being here and of competitions of the QSL along with tickets being avail- Partner of the Qatar experience for fans through our joy of football to all of Qatar’s our arrangement means we can taking part in this ceremony.” and Mubarak Bilal al-Ali from able daily at the Katara fanzone CupO 2016, organised by Qatar mobile technology. Our Super- diverse people and ultimately now sell tickets across key Wo- Speaking at the signing of the the ministry of the Interior. along with the semi-final tickets Star League (QSL). net enables people to upload build the fan base for the sport qod outlets, reaching more peo- agreement, managing partner Ahmed al-Adsani confirmed being sold at Qatar Sports Club The Qatar Cup, previously videos, download match stats around the country. We thank ple than ever before.” of Al Jaber watches Mohamed that the tournament will kick- ticket off ice at gate 5. referred to as the Heir Apparent and keep up-to-date on the lat- Ooredoo for their support and Sheikha Sara bint Nasser al- Yousef al-Jaber said. “I want to off on Sunday. Al-Kuwari also revealed details Cup, has become one of the most est scores at super speeds across look forward to working with the Thani- head of PR & Communi- thank the QSL for this fantastic Al-Adsani also stressed that of a dedicated fan zone in popular football competitions in the country. In addition, Oore- company.” cation at Woqod said: “Woqod is opportunity to sponsor the Qa- the matches being played on Katara where fans will have the country, pitting the top four doo continues to develop ‘smart proud to be associated with this tar Cup competition. This is the both days, was to increase the the opportunity to take part in teams in the league against each stadium’ solutions that will sup- WOQOD SIGN ON AS QATAR competition, and being a part of fi rst time we have been involved excitement of the Qatar Cup a host of football related ac- other to win the ‘all-star’ fi nal. port Qatar’s sporting ambitions. CUP SPONSOR developing football in Qatar” in such a prestigious football competition and to encourage tivities. The fan zone will have As a Telecom Partner, Oore- We’re happy to be supporting The QSL have confi rmed that competition and look forward to football fans to watch both a distinct emphasis on family doo bring results and highlights the Qatar Cup, as it inspires Woqod have signed an agree- AL JABER WATCHES SIGN ON future endeavours” semi-final matches. fun, and provide the general of the matches to the widest people to join in the spirit of ment as Offi cial Fuel Business FOR THE 2016 QATAR CUP The fi rst match of the 2016 Mubarak Bilal al-Ali of the Min- public to get up close to the possible audience and support football.” partner for the 2016 Qatar Cup. The QSL is delighted to an- Qatar Cup will be played this istry of Interior advised fans famous Qatar Cup trophy. fans with incredible coverage via Hassan al-Kuwari, Director Speaking on the agreement, nounce that Al Jaber Watches Sunday at Al Sadd stadium. Gulf Times 4 Thursday, April 21, 2016 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT LA LIGA Suarez hits four, Barca bounce back Ibrahimovic strike with 8-0 rout fi res PSG into French Cup fi nal

‘We’re in the final for the second year running. That was the objective and we did it. Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (R) celebrates his goal against Deportivo We were not great and neither was the pitch but we did the necessary’ Coruna with team mate Luis Suarez in Coruna yesterday. AFP immediately as Celso Borges shot Barcelona meekly at Claudio Bravo with just the Chilean international to beat. arcelona bounced back Borges then had an even bet- from their worst run of ter opportunity as he rounded La Liga defeats for 13 Bravo, but Bartra got back to years in emphatic fash- block his eff ort from point-blank ionB as Luis Suarez scored four in range before Oriol Riera fi red the an 8-0 thrashing of Deportivo la follow-up over. Coruna yesterday. Suarez gave Barca the cushion Ivan Rakitic, Lionel Messi, they desired when he latched Marc Bartra and Neymar were onto Messi’s sumptuous through also on target as Barca reasserted ball to slot low past Manu. their control on the Spanish title The Uruguayan should have race. had a fi rst-half hat-trick but he Victory moved Barca back failed to turn home Alves’s fi ne three points ahead of Atletico cross from two yards out mo- Madrid and four clear of third- ments later. placed Real Madrid with both Suarez made amends as he sides from the capital in action turned provider for Barca’s third later on Wednesday against Ath- just after the break when his cross letic Bilbao and Villarreal re- to the back post was volleyed spectively. home emphatically by Rakitic. Barca had taken just one point Messi created the fourth with from their last possible 12 in the another defence splitting pass league and been dumped out of and Suarez kept his composure the Champions League amidst a to seal his sixth hat-trick of a run of just one win in six games prolifi c season. that threatened to derail their The relief amongst the Barca season. players was palpable as they However, they remain in con- seemed to click back into the trol of their own fate and few form that had them set for a sec- would bet against them win- ond consecutive treble before ning their last four games and their sudden collapse in the pre- claiming a 24th Liga title after a vious six games. performance as good as any in Suarez was gifted his fourth of the 39-game unbeaten run they the night from Neymar’s unself- enjoyed prior to losing at home ish cross despite Laure blocking to Real Madrid earlier his month. his initial attempt on the line for Suarez settled the visitors’ his 49th goal of the season. nerves after just 11 minutes when The former Liverpool striker he outmuscled Sidnei to vol- then added a second assist to ley home the opener despite the his four-goal haul as Barca again Paris Saint-Germain’s Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (C) celebrates after scoring a goal during the French Cup semi-final football match against Lorient (FCL). hosts’ desperate appeals for a tore the Deportivo defence apart foul. and his cut-back was gratefully AFP from 40 yards out before curling a shot PSG midfi elder Blasie Matuidi defl ect- silver lining on an otherwise woeful Deportivo should have hit back tapped home by Messi. Paris with the outside of his right boot around ed suggestions it had been a close game campaign when they go to second-tier Lorient goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte saying his side had always been comfort- Sochaux in the second semi-final on from the edge of the area. able. Wednesday. latan Ibrahimovic scored a typi- Everyone had been expecting the “We’re in the fi nal for the second year OM slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Monaco Jose Mourinho to manage at Old cally brilliant goal as Paris Saint- Swede to pass but instead he racked up a running, two fi nals for the second year on Sunday night as their winless run in Traff ord... in a charity game Germain beat Lorient 1-0 away in a 43rd goal in all competitions this season. running in fact. That was the objective the league extended to 10 matches. French Cup semi-fi nal on Tuesday. Ligue 1’s 11th placed side Lorient had and we did it. We were not great and nei- Michel has been replaced until the Jose Mourinho will soon get to who guided the Rest of the ZThe Cup holders and Ligue 1 champi- put up little to worry the Parisians un- ther was the pitch but we did the neces- end of the season by his assistant Franck test out life in the manager’s World team to victory in 2014. ons will now face either second tier So- til then but second string keeper Salva- sary,” he told French television. Passi, who will be helped by club legend seat at Manchester United “Sam and I will make a very chaux or arch rivals Marseille in the fi nal. tore Sirigu made a crucial late save when PSG became the fi rst team to bow out Basile Boli, recently working as an am- sooner than many expect. good partnership and it will be The Parisians are bidding for a second called upon. of the Champions League at the quarter- bassador for the club. Mourinho and Leicester a great feeling for Claudio to successive clean sweep of the domestic Both Ibrahimovic and strike partner fi nal stage for four years in a row when Sochaux have picked up some big City’s Claudio Ranieri were finally lose a match. honours in France and face Lille in the Edinson Cavani went close as PSG pep- they were beaten 3-2 on aggregate by scalps this season though in their run to announced Wednesday as “I hope the organizers can League Cup fi nal this weekend. pered the Lorient goal in the fi rst half Manchester City last week. the last four, having seen off Nantes in the managers for Soccer Aid, help me now with an English Ibrahimovic picked up the ball from after coach Laurent Blanc had put out a Marseille, who fired coach Michel the quarter-fi nals and Monaco in the last a match which raises money passport.” a Di Maria pass and ran straight at goal strong side. on Tuesday, have the chance to put a 16. for Unicef to be played at Old Mourinho turned down the Traff ord on June 5. England job in 2007 but could Former Chelsea boss Mour- be a candidate again if Roy SERIE A inho will take charge of the Hodgson flops at Euro 2016. England team while Ranieri Ranieri meanwhile has Leices- will be in charge of the Rest of ter on the cusp of an improb- the World side. able Premier League title. Mourinho has been linked The Foxes started the season with several jobs since being as 5,000-1 shots after escap- sacked from a second stint at ing relegation last season Napoli thump Bologna 6-0 to Chelsea in December. and now top the table by five Speculation is rife that he points with four games left. will replace Louis van Gaal “Soccer Aid is a fantastic at Manchester United, while event, raising money for an UK media reported Tuesday amazing children’s charity in make Juventus wait for title he has been approached by Unicef,” Ranieri said. AFP form outside the box. Lopez had French champions Paris Saint- “For Soccer Aid’s 10th anniver- Naples set up Mertens for his third and Germain. sary, it is a great honor that the Belgian winger returned the But before he starts any new Robbie Williams has asked favour in the fi nal minute. job, he will lead a team of Eng- me to manage the Rest of the ries Mertens scored a Bologna’s former Italy coach lish celebrities and football World XI and I’m looking for- hat-trick and Manolo Roberto Donadoni took the de- legends, with Sunderland boss ward to helping them defend Gabbiadini notched a feat on the chin. Sam Allardyce and singer Rob- their title.” brace as Napoli kept “We played terribly, I’m the bie Williams, co-founder of the Soccer Aid, which is played theirD faint Serie A title hopes fi rst one who’s responsible. I event, as assistants. every two years, has raised 17 alive as Bologna were thrashed apologise to the fans and now “I want to be the first one to million pounds (24 million dol- 6-0 on Tuesday. I want the reaction of men,” he win the Soccer Aid trophy for lars) for Unicef since the first David Lopez rounded off the told Mediaset Premium. both teams,” said Mourinho, match in 2006. scoring a minute form time What was most impressive with a fortuitous goal as his about Napoli’s performance was prod rebounded off Bologna the fact top scorer Gonzalo Hi- Neuer extends Bayern Munich goalkeeper Antonio Mirante, guain was still absent, sitting out hit him in the chest and the the last of his three-game ban. contract until 2021 bounced in. Gabbiadini proved an able un- Bayern Munich has extended and Javi Martinez. Juventus could have won a derstudy for the Argentine with the contract of Germany’s Neuer has played in each fi fth straight title with victory Mertens’s second half showing world-class goalkeeper minute of Bayern’s 30 league over Lazio on Wednesday had particularly eye-catching. Manuel Neuer, binding him games this season and has Napoli lost. The win moved Napoli eight to the Bundesliga giants conceded only 14 goals with That would have given the points clear of third-placed until 2021, the club confirmed the club having lost only twice Old Lady of Turin a 12 point Roma, who host Torino on yesterday. in Germany’s top flight. lead with just four matches left, Wednesday before entertaining Neuer, who has been voted According to German daily and as they have the edge on the Napoli next Monday. world goalkeeper of the year Bild, Neuer is set to earn 15 southerners in head-to-head That match could have a in 2013, 2014 and 2015, is set million euros ($17m) per record, they would have been Napoli’s Dries Mertens celebrates after scoring a goal against Bologna. crucial bearing on which of to see out his career with year to put him on a par with champions. the two joins Juventus in direct Bayern and will be 35 when his Bayern’s top earners like his Instead, Napoli live to fi ght Mertens’s pass after just 10 min- Any chance of a Bologna come- added three more goals in the fi - qualification for the Cham- new deal expires. Germany team-mate Mueller. another day as Gabbiadini utes. back was snuff ed out just before nal 10 minutes. pions League group stages It means the 30-year-old is the “I feel very comfortable at struck twice in the fi rst half, He doubled Napoli’s advan- the hour mark when Marek Ham- Omar El Kaddouri teed up and which team must negoti- fifth Bayern star to commit Bayern and I am glad that the cutting Juve’s lead, for 24 hours tage form the penalty spot 10 sik teed up Mertens to fi re home Mertens for his second and the ate a potentially tricky play- to the Munich club until 2021 deal is done,” said Neuer. at least, to six points. minutes before the break after from the left side of the box. Belgian scored his hat-trick two off, providing Inter Milan or alongside Jerome Boateng, Bayern are hunting a repeat of Gabbiadini fi red home from Kevin Constant had brought Napoli, who after the game minutes from the end with a Fiorentina don’t make a late Thomas Mueller, David Alaba their 2013 treble. the centre of the box from down Jose Callejon. maintained their media boycott, rasping drive into the top corner run for a top three berth. Gulf Times Thursday, April 21, 2016 5 CRICKET

IPL/ MUMBAI INDIANS vs ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE Hong Kong player banned for failing to disclose fi xing Rohit, Pollard set up approach

Reuters Hong Kong

ong Kong all-rounder six-wicket win for MI Irfan Ahmed has been Hbanned for two-and-a- half years for failing to disclose ‘The things we discussed in our meetings, we executed it really well today. The way Buttler approaches made to him to engage in corruption, the Inter- and Pollard played today, they are match-winners for their respective countries, we know national Cricket Council (ICC) said yesterday. exactly what they can do, and credit goes to Rayudu as well, he batted brilliantly in the middle’ The 26-year-old Pakistan- born cricketer was provision- ally suspended in November Next up, young Sarfaraz Khan (28) Agencies with the ICC’s anti-corruption Mumbai and Head held on to guide the team Mumbai Indians batsman to 112/4 after completion of 15 overs. unit (ACU) investigating his role Kieron Pollard blasted an in relation to the activities of The right and left-handed batting unbeaten 19-ball 40 in the another suspected off ender. umbai captain Rohit Shar- duo played sensibly to struck a much- six-wicket win over Royal “Whilst Mr Ahmed was not ma led from the front with needed 50-run partnership for the Challengers Bangalore in a polished 62 to help Mum- fi fth wicket in just 30 balls. Mumbai yesterday. (AFP) charged with any off ence bai to an easy six-wicket Jasprit Bumrah (3-31) and Krunal involving corruption, the ACU Mwin over Royal Challengers Bangalore, Pandya (2-27) were the pick of the established that he had failed in their IPL clash at the Wankhede Sta- bowlers for Mumbai. to disclose to it full details of dium in Mumbai yesterday. Rohit Sharma was adjudged Man- approaches or invitations to After the early fall of Parthiv Patel, of-the-Match for his 44-ball 62 that engage in corrupt conduct Rohit and Ambati Rayudu, who came laid the foundation for Mumbai’s win. that had been made to him fi rst down, played with a calm head “I think this is the kind of game we between January 2012 and on their shoulders to resurrect the wanted to play. Bowlers did an excel- January 2014,” the ICC said in a innings. lent job, to restrict a team like that to statement. The pair stitched a 76-run stand for 170. There wasn’t much in the wicket Ahmed, who had played the second wicket. Rayudu perished there… especially the spinners—Kru- in six one-day internationals trying to up the ante. nal Pandya, getting those wickets, and eight Twenty20 matches Rohit followed soon after. Jos But- even Harbhajan Singh. for Hong Kong, accepted the tler (28) and Kieron Pollard (40 not “The things we discussed in our sanction and waived his right out) then took them home with 12 balls meetings, we executed it really well to- to appeal, the ICC added. to spare. day. If you look at last year’s perform- Cricket has been plagued by Pollard landed crunching blows by ance, there were hardly any batsmen in a number of corruption issues thwacking Richardson for a couple of the top fi ve (run-getters), which show and a 2010 spot-fixing scandal sixes in the 17th over. It was a forget- it was a team eff ort. resulted in bans and jail terms table day for the RCB bowlers as they “The way Buttler and Pollard played for Pakistan fast bowlers were plundered to all corners of the today, they are match-winners for Mohamed Asif and Mohamed ground. their respective countries, we know Amir, and former Test captain The second-wicket stand of 76 in 55 exactly what they can do, and credit Salman Butt. balls laid the groundwork of the chase, goes to Rayudu as well, he batted bril- ACU chairman Ronnie Flana- before Iqbal Abdulla gave Royal Chal- liantly in the middle,” the Mumbai gan said corrupt individuals lengers a new lease of life by dismi- skipper said in his post-match com- sisng Rayudu and Rohit, both to slogs. ments. had increased the targeting Mumbai were at 109 for 3, needing 62 Mumbai seem to have got their of players from ICC Associate off eight overs. But by then, the chase campaign back on track after a disas- Member nations, where cricket was well into the home stretch. trous start to the season—they have is firmly established and organ- Earlier, a rearguard 24-ball 37 by two wins and three losses now. Royal ised, and the game’s stakehold- Travis Head helped Royal Challeng- Challengers need to fi x their bowling, ers needed to stave them off . ers post a competitive total. Put in to and fi x it quickly, if they hope to go the “This penalty (imposed bat, the visitors got off to a fl ying start, distance. on Ahmed) should act as a scoring 49 for the loss of one wicket reminder to all participants of after the completion of the mandatory the need to comply with their six-over powerplay. Scoreboard obligations under the (anti-cor- ruption) code at all times and, Opener KL Rahul took the initia- Royal Challengers Bangalore tive at the start, smashing two fours in particular, the requirement V Kohli c Southee b K Pandya ...... 33 (30b) and two sixes in his 14-ball 23, but to report corrupt approaches KL Rahul c Singh b McClenaghan 23 (14b) the right-handed batsman fell in the to the ACU without any delay,” AB de Villiers st Patel b K Pandya .29 (21b) fourth over off the bowling of Mitch- Flanagan said. S Watson c Patel b Bumrah 5 (10b) ell McClenaghan to give Mumbai their T Head (run out) ...... 37 (24b) “It is pleasing to note that the fi rst breakthrough. S Khan c K Pandya b Bumrah...... 28 (18b) investigation upon which these But the wicket did not stop incom- S Binny c H Pandya b Bumrah ...... 1 (2b) charges were founded origi- ing batsman AB de Villiers (29) and H Patel (not out) ...... 0 (0b) nated from information that had captain Virat Kohli (33) from playing K Richardson (not out) ...... 1 (1b) been disclosed to the ACU. their natural game. Extras (b-1, lb-2, w-10) ...... 13 “This is a clear and welcome The duo, who in the previous season Total (7 wickets, 20 overs) ...... 170 demonstration that partici- smashed an unbeaten 215-run part- Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-91, 3-93, 4-99, pants now more and more fully nership at this venue against the same 5-162, 6-169, 7-169 realise their own responsibili- opposition, made it look simple, piling Bowling: T Southee 4-0-25-0; M Mc- ties in combating this scourge on boundaries and sneaking in with Clenaghan 4-0-46-1; J Bumrah 4-0-31-3; on the game through prompt singles and twos at regular intervals Harbhajan Singh 2-0-20-0; K Pandya 4-0- and diligent reporting as re- to bring up the 50-run partnership for 27-2; H Pandya 2-0-18-0 quired by the Code.” the second wicket in just 35 balls and Ahmed’s ban is backdated help the team reach 89/1 in 10 overs. Mumbai Indians But the 11th over of the Bangalore to when he was provisionally innings saw a big twist in the game as R Sharma c de Villiers b Abdulla....62 (44b) suspended and will expire on off -spinner Krunal Pandya dismissed P Patel c de Villiers b Richardson ..5 (6b) May 4, 2018. the in-form Kohli (caught at long-off ) A Rayudu c Richardson b Abdulla 31 (23b) Hong Kong Cricket Associa- followed by the wicket of de Villiers J Buttler c Watson b Abdulla ...... 28 (14b) tion chairman Mike Walsh said (stumped) to bring Mumbai back into K Pollard (not out) ...... 40 (19b) the body was fully behind the the game. Bangalore, after the two H Pandya (not out) ...... 2 (3b) ICC’s fight against corruption. quick blows, were reduced to 93/3. Extras (w-2, nb-1) ...... 3 “We echo (Flanagan’s) concerns Incoming batsman Shane Watson (5) Total (4 wickets, 18 overs) ...... 171 about the recent attention paid too didn’t last long. Trying to guide an Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-82, 3-109, 4-140 to emerging cricket nations by outside the off -stump delivery to third Bowling: V Aaron 4-0-37-0; K Richard- illegal betting networks,” he man, he eventually got a thin edge son 3-0-26-1; S Watson 4-0-40-0; H Patel said in a statement posted on which was grabbed well by wicket- 2-0-20-0; Iqbal Abdulla 4-0-40-3; S Binny the HKCA website. keeper Parthiv Patel. 1-0-8-0

SPOTLIGHT Reluctant SA wary of pink ball day/night Test AFP Africa’s players had refused to commit evision audiences. Test ranking, so playing a day-night Melbourne to a similar fi xture in Adelaide. Although players from both sides match is a fundamental change to the “Understandably, there is some hailed it a success, they also had reser- itinerary,” De Villiers added. concern from the South African play- vations about the pink ball’s visibility South Africa, currently rated third ricket Australia unveiled plans ers,” Sutherland said, underlining CA’s and movement from twilight into the in the world, will be aiming to replace yesterday for day-night Tests argument that innovation was needed evening. Australia as the top-ranked Test team against South Africa and Pa- to reinvigorate Test cricket. “Day- De Villiers said his team had sought in the series, with the planned day- kistan, but admitted player night Test cricket is all about the fans feedback from Australia before the nighter in Adelaide looming as a po- concernsC about the experimental for- and a day-night match in Adelaide will World Twenty20 and both sides tential decider. mat meant the Proteas’ fi xture was not be a bigger Test match crowd than the walked away from their meeting reluc- The CA schedule also breaks with locked in. South African players will have ever tant to play the Adelaide game. tradition by stripping Brisbane’s Gab- The day-night Tests using a pink experienced.” “At the moment, we are not too keen ba of its customary hosting rights to ball are a central part of Australia’s South African players association on playing in the proposed day-night the fi rst Test of the season. home international schedule for 2016- chief Tony Irish said this week that the Test match due to a few concerns that Instead the fi rst Test against South 17, which also features limited-over Proteas, unlike their Australian rivals, have come from a number of sources Africa will be held in Perth from No- matches against three nations. had no experience with the pink ball involved in the maiden Test played last vember 3-7, with Brisbane hosting the Administrators regard the inaugural and did not want to be disadvantaged year,” De Villiers told South Africa’s In- opening Test against Pakistan from day-night Test against New Zealand in in the Test series. dependent Media. December 15-19. Adelaide last season as an outstanding “The reluctance to play is a sign of “We had a meeting with (captain) Sutherland said holding a day-night success, attracting 123,000 spectators how much importance the South Afri- Steve Smith and some of the Australian Test in Brisbane during the school and an average television audience of can players place on the series against players when they toured here earlier holiday would draw big crowds, while two million. Australia,” he told The Australian this year, and the consensus from our opening the Test season against the However, players from both sides newspaper. The inaugural day-night Test between Australia and New Zealand, at Adelaide talks were that there are just too many Proteas in Perth would attract the complained about the pink ball’s Proteas captain AB De Villiers said in November last year, was touted as a big success, attracting some 123,000 unknowns. city’s large South African community. movement and durability, as well as South Africa’s reluctance is based on spectators and an average television audience of two million. (AFP) “Players from both teams were re- In addition to three-Test series the diffi culty batsmen faced seeing it Australian feedback from their fi rst luctant to go ahead with it. South Af- against South Africa and Pakistan, the under lights. match with the pink ball against New Cricket Australia (CA) are deter- Australia defeated New Zealand in rica and Australia have a great cricket- schedule also includes fi ve one-dayers CA chief executive James Sutherland Zealand, adding that their inexperience mined for the game to go ahead, how- the inaugural day-night Test in No- ing rivalry, and this is a series that we against Pakistan, three against New said Pakistan had agreed to play a day- with the specially developed pink ball ever, and said they were still working vember at Adelaide Oval, a match value. We could well be playing for an Zealand and three Twenty20 interna- night Test in Brisbane, but that South would place them at a disadvantage. to confi rm it with South Africa’s board. which drew huge crowds and big tel- opportunity to regain the number one tionals against Sri Lanka. Gulf Times 6 Thursday, April 21, 2016 SPORT

NBA SPOTLIGHT No concerns aft er Curry ankle scan: Korver breaks out Golden Warriors

AFP Oakland

scan of Stephen Curry’s injured right ankle on of slump to lead Tuesday did not reveal “anything of concern,” the Golden State Warriors said. Curry, who missed the Warriors’ victory over AHouston in Game Two on Monday, is listed as questionable for today’s Game Three against the Rockets. The reigning NBA MVP underwent an MRI scan after tweaking an ankle in Game One last weekend. The Warriors lead the best-of-seven series 2-0. Hawks to victory “The MRI did not reveal anything of concern and Curry is expected to continue treatment in preparation for Thursday’s Game 3 in Houston. He is listed as questionable,” a Warriors ‘Our guards filter them down and they clean it up. They’re good at protecting the rim’ statement said. Coach Steve Kerr said he would have no qualms about rest- ing Curry again if there was any hint his fi tness was in doubt. DPA “We will defi nitely err on the side of caution,” Kerr said af- Los Angeles ter Monday’s 115-106 win over the Rockets. “If he’s not right, then he’s not going to play. It’s not worth risking turning this into a long-term issue. harpshooting Kyle Korver found “We’ll see how he responds the next couple of days, and his stroke and the Atlanta Hawks if he’s not right, obviously being up 2-0 does give us more turned up their defence. Atlanta Hawks guard Kyle Korver (R) attempts cushion if we decide to sit him. But it will be based on his Korver fi red in 12 of his 17 points a three-point basket against Boston Celtics health, not the series score.” Sin the decisive fi rst quarter, and the Hawks guard Marcus Smart in the fi rst quarter of stifl ed the visiting Boston Celtics 89-72 on game two of the fi rst round of the NBA Playoff s Nowitzki doubt for Mavs Tuesday to take a 2-0 lead in their Eastern in Atlanta. PICTURE: USA TODAY SPORTS Dirk Nowitzki faces a battle to be fi t for the Dallas Maver- Conference opening round series. icks when they face the Oklahoma City Thunder today in a Korver bounced back, hitting 6-of-9 on crucial Game Three of their best-of-seven playoff series. fi eld goals and 5-of-7 on 3-pointers after Nowitzki played a key role for the Mavs on Monday when shooting a nightmarish 1-of-10 from the they bounced back from being thrashed in Game One to fl oor and 0-7 from behind the arc in Sat- snatch an 85-84 win to level the series at one apiece. urday’s opener. However, Nowitzki underwent a scan Tuesday which re- “I was probably more focused tonight,” vealed a bruised bone in his right knee, leaving him touch and Korver said. “I didn’t shoot the ball well in go for Thursday’s third game. the fi rst game but we all have pride, right? “Dirk suff ered a bruised right knee on the play very early in I had to shoot better in the second game.” the game when he slid and fell,” coach Rick Carlisle told re- Fourth-seeded Atlanta started the game porters. “This thing with Dirk now, we hope this is not some- knocking down 9-of-13 shots, including thing that’s going to cost him to miss any time.” six three-pointers, with Korver connecting Nowitzki’s absence would be another blow for the Mavs, on four from downtown. who are already facing doubts around point guard J.J. Barea On the defensive end, the Hawks held (groin) and forward David Lee (foot). the Celtics to 1-of-10 shooting and raced to Point guard Deron Williams (hernia) is also “uncertain go- a 24-3 cushion with fi ve and a half minutes ing forward,” according to Carlisle, despite playing in Game left in the opening quarter. Two. Williams, who took pain-killing medicine to help him The Hawks led 24-7 after one, send- play in Game Two, said he is hopeful he can feature on Thurs- ing the Celtics into the NBA playoff record day. “I’ve got three days now to try to get treatment and do books with the lowest scoring fi rst quarter what I can do to get it back ready to go again,” Williams told since the advent of the shot clock in 1954. reporters. “It’s a credit to our players,” Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “Sometimes it’s hard to come out with that focus de- STEPHEN CURRY fensively, that kind of eff ort and maintain that defensive eff ort. The guys were every- where.” Budenholzer said Korver was key in the quick start. “Kyle, obviously with the big fi rst quarter,” he added. “It’s big for us when he gets going.” Al Horford also netted 17 points, Jeff Teague scored 13 and Swiss Thabo Sefo- losha had 12 off the bench for the Hawks, who set a playoff franchise record with 15 blocked shots in the wire-to-wire win against the fi fth seeds. “Our bigs are so fast with their hands,” Hawks Kent Bazemore said. “Our guards fi lter them down and they clean it up. They’re good at protecting the rim.” ished with 12 points. “We should never Grizzlies 68: Australian Patty Mills Allen scored 12 points, while Zach Ran- After the big opening quarter, the Hawks have seven points at the end of a quarter.” scored 16 points off the bench, NBA De- dolph had 11 with 12 rebounds for the sev- stayed comfortably ahead in the fi nal three The Celtics were doomed after the fi rst fensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard enth-seeded Grizzlies, who shot just 32.6 stanzas, never letting the lead dip below quarter. “They completely outplayed us had 13 and the Spurs crushed the injury- per cent from the fl oor in their second con- double fi gures. in every facet of the fi rst quarter,” Celtics depleted Grizzlies to take a 2-0 lead in their secutive lopsided loss. “We’re coming to a “We did it with defence, mostly,” Sefo- coach Brad Stevens said. “They were play- Western Conference opening round series. gunfi ght with spoons,” Grizzlies forward losha said. Isaiah Thomas scored 16 points ing at a speed that we weren’t at.” The second-seeded Spurs turned in an- Matt Barnes said of the mismatch. Added and Amir Johnson had 14 for the Celtics, “We can’t aff ord to get off to starts like other stellar defensive eff ort, holding the teammate Vince Carter: “We’re playing who shot a frigid 32 per cent from the fi eld that. We have to be a lot better out of the Grizzlies to a franchise playoff low point a tough team and nobody is giving us a and 5-of-28 from behind the arc. gate on Friday,” he said. The series shifts to total after allowing just 78 in Saturday’s chance. We’re going to play carefree bas- “They started out great, they did a great Boston for Game 3 on Friday. beat-down. ketball and hopefully we can take care of job defensively and kept the lead the whole Elsewhere: “It’s all about us,” Mills said, “where we business in game three.” The Grizzlies host game,” said Celtics Evan Turner, who fi n- San Antonio Spurs 94, Memphis are now and how we can get better”. Tony Game 3 on Friday.

NHL Blues rally to beat Blackhawks, lead series 3-1

The Sports Xchange Blackhawks allowed St. Louis goal in 17 career playoff games. with the man advantage and are Chicago to increase its lead to 4-2 less 1-for-13 in the series. That in- than four minutes later. Steen Ducks defense comes cluded a power play just before intercepted a pass attempt by good to shutout Preds the midway mark of the second ladimir Tarasenko had van Riemsdyk and raced into the Whether it was a change in period in which Andersen re- two goals and an assist, off ensive zone for a breakaway goalies or just better defense pelled a Shea Weber one-timer and the St. Louis Blues goal. Chicago cut the defi cit to overall, the Anaheim Ducks with his helmet and needed a rallied for a 4-3 win over 4-3 on Keith’s second goal of the came up with the result they moment to clear his head before Vthe Chicago Blackhawks on Tues- game with 5:20 remaining in the needed to produce their fi rst play resumed. day night. third period. win in their Western Conference Pekka Rinne made 18 saves Jaden Schwartz and Alex- St. Louis opened the scor- quarterfi nal with the Nashville for Nashville, which was shoot- ander Steen also scored for the ing on a wrist shot by Tarasenko Predators. ing for its fi rst 3-0 series lead in Blues, who erased a 2-1 defi cit with 5:58 left in the fi rst pe- Frederik Anderson stopped all franchise history. with three consecutive goals. riod. Center Jori Lehtera fl ipped 27 shots he faced for his second Needing something good to St. Louis seized a 3-1 lead in the a pass from behind the net to postseason shutout while Chris happen early in order to quiet a best-of-seven Western Confer- Tarasenko, who beat Crawford Stewart scored a goal and added raucous sellout crowd, Anaheim ence quarter-fi nal. with a rapid release from the an assist Tuesday night in Ana- produced the fi rst goal off a ter- Defenseman Duncan Keith right circle. heim’s 3-0 victory at Bridge- rible turnover by Nashville’s An- scored two goals and Andrew Chicago evened the score at stone Arena. Nashville still thony Bitetto. Shaw had a goal and two assists 1 on a defl ection by Shaw with leads the series 2-1 with Game Given the puck at the right for Chicago, which dropped 10:48 to go in the second period. 4 scheduled for Thursday night, goalpost by Shawn Horcoff , back-to-back games on home Marian Hossa fl ipped a high shot but the Pacifi c Division cham- Jamie McGinn made no mistake ice. St. Louis goaltender Brian from the top of the right circle. pions generated an impressive at 10:05 for his fi rst goal of the Elliott stopped 39 of 42 shots The puck hit Shaw and bounced comeback after eating consecu- series. to earn the victory and Chicago over Elliott’s glove. tive 3-2 losses at home to start The Ducks upped their lead goalie Corey Crawford turned Keith scored a power-play the best-of-seven series. to two at 11:33 of the second pe- aside 16 of 20 shots. goal to give Chicago a 2-1 lead Andersen improved to 15-7 in riod on a pretty defl ection of a The Blues seized a 3-2 lead on with 6:51 remaining in the sec- his postseason career as he re- Sami Vatanen wrister by Richard a power-play goal by Schwartz ond period. After Elliott denied placed John Gibson, who didn’t Rakell, just Anaheim’s second with 18:24 remaining in the third Shaw from point-blank range, play badly in the defeats. But shot of the period. period. Blackhawks defenseman Keith chased down the loose Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau Pressing the attack further, Trevor van Riemsdyk tried to puck and punched it into the net. expressed hope that a switch be- Anaheim made it 3-0 at 17:06 of sweep the puck away from the Tarasenko scored again to even tween the pipes would spark his the second when Stewart back- crease but inadvertently passed the score at 2 with 2:29 remain- team. handed his rebound past Rinne it to Schwartz, who beat Craw- ing in the second period. On the The Predators didn’t lack for for his fi rst goal and second ford stick-side for his second power play, he fi red a wrist shot opportunities as Anaheim again point of the night. Mild booing St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (No 91) celebrates his goal against the Chicago Blackhawks goal in as many games. from the right circle for his third had trouble staying out of the ushered the Predators off the ice during the first period in game four of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoff s at United Center in A defensive turnover by the goal of the series and his 13th penalty box, but went 0-for-5 after 40 minutes. Chicago. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports Gulf Times Thursday, April 21, 2016 7 SPORT

BASEBALL Perez has career-high 5 RBIs in Royals’ win over Tigers ‘We’re going to play hard until the last out. We’re always going to play hard’

By Rustin Dodd in fi ve innings, a promising performance that was The Kansas City Star close to being something more substantial. In two starts, Ventura had allowed three earned The Kansas City Royals’ Salvador runs in 11 innings. Perez connects on a three-run wo days before the Royals’ 8-6 victory On Tuesday, he breezed through the fi rst home run in the fi ft h inning against over the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night, two innings, striking out Cabrera on an 88 mph the Detroit Tigers at Kauff man Salvador Perez sat at his locker in a club- changeup in the top of the fi rst. Then things got Stadium in Kansas City. house in Oakland and bathed in the frus- more interesting. PICTURE: Kansas City Star/TNS Ttration of a rare mistake. On the fi nal day of a sev- Ventura work into a self-imposed jam in the en-game road trip, it was Perez who let a baseball third, with a costly throwing error on a play at slip between his legs, a pivotal moment in a 3-2 second that helped load the bases with one out. loss to the Athletics. But once again, Ventura buckled down under du- On Tuesday night, as the Royals returned home ress. for another homestand, Perez seemed intent on He foiled Cabrera with another changeup, rectifying his error. He roped a two-out, two-run striking him out for a second time, then coaxed a double in the third inning off Detroit starter Shane pop fl y from Victor Martinez. Greene. He clubbed a three-run home run off re- Ventura fi nally gave in during the top of the liever Blaine Hardy in the fi fth. He fi nished with a fi fth, allowing two runs on a double from Cabrera. career-high fi ve RBIs, an output that became cru- But he maneuvered out of another bases-load- cial when the bullpen nearly imploded in the fi nal ed jam in the inning before giving way to reliever innings. Luke Hochevar in the sixth. The Royals led 8-2 after the fi fth inning. They Back at home after a day off on Monday, the nearly collapsed after left-hander Danny Duff y Royals had snatched the lead with a pair of two- allowed a three-run homer in the seventh and out rallies in the second and third innings. a struggling Joakim Soria loaded the bases with Dyson kicked off the fi rst burst with an RBI one out in the eighth. With former Most Valuable single to left fi eld, scoring Kendrys Morales from Player Miguel Cabrera striding to the plate, Royals second base. The play included a rather aggressive manager Ned Yost turned to right-hander Kelvin “send” from third-base coach Mike Jirschele, but Herrera, who survived the jam with an 8-6 lead the Royals caught a break when Detroit catcher intact. Jarrod Saltalamacchia whiff ed on the throw to the “We’re going to play hard until the last out,” plate. explained Perez, who had a two-run double in the Moments later, Alcides Escobar stretched the third inning before his homer in the fi fth. “We’re lead to 3-0 with a bloop single that scored Alex always going to play hard.” Gordon and Dyson, who had wound up at second Herrera struck out Cabrera on three straight on the previous play. sliders, plunked Victor Martinez on another One inning later, Perez delivered the two-out breaking ball, and then ended the inning by get- damage, ripping a two-run double off Detroit ting J.D. Martinez to fl y out to right fi eld. Wade starter Shane Greene. Davis was a little sharper in the ninth, working The inning nearly came and went when Eric his sixth save. The events of Tuesday could put Hosmer grounded into a double play with no- Soria’s status as the de facto eighth inning guy in body out. But Morales extended the inning with further jeopardy. Re-acquired during the off sea- a single and Gordon gave Perez an opportunity by son to bolster the Royals’ bullpen and off set the drawing another walk. Perez came through once. losses of Greg Holland and Ryan Madson, Soria Then came through again in the fi fth. has suff ered from a combination of choppy com- mand and poor luck. RESULTS On Tuesday, he was hit by both - again - and Milwaukee 6 Minnesota 5 Herrera was required to clean up the mess. Cleveland 3 Seattle 2 For a moment, of course, the Royals can focus NY Mets 11 Philadelphia 1 on other things. They improved to 9-4 on the sea- Oakland 3 NY Yankees 2 (11 innings) son, one game off their torrid early pace from a Toronto 4 Baltimore 3 season ago, and 1{ games ahead of Detroit. Cincinnati 4 Colorado 3 They were also whole on Tuesday for the fi rst Atlanta 8 LA Dodgers 1 time, welcoming back Jarrod Dyson after he Tampa Bay 3 Boston 0 (10 innings) missed the season’s fi rst 12 games while recover- Washington 7 Miami 0 ing from a oblique strain. Kansas City 8 Detroit 6 Dyson fi nished 2-for-4 with an RBI while start- Texas 7 Houston 5 ing in right fi eld and batting ninth. White Sox 5 LA Angels 0 The Royals also improved to 3-0 in games Chicago Cubs 2 St. Louis 1 started by Yordano Ventura, who picked up his San Diego 5 Pittsburgh 4 fi rst victory. Ventura allowed two runs and six hits Arizona 3 San Francisco 0

NFL Moving Rams to Southern California was no easy task

By David Wharton through with stacks of boxes. This job required extra atten- Los Angeles Times “Those guys have been around tion if only because the Rams are so much,” Saff old said. “They’ve not scheduled to move into their been in the locker room and seen planned Inglewood stadium un- ost of the trucks had me getting dressed, so I guess til 2019. In the meantime, they already rolled out of we’re friends by now.” will lead a nomadic existence. Rams Park, headed Bernier stopped by on a week- For the next three months, west toward the day morning to look at rows of players will train in Oxnard, Mcoast. dumbbells along the wall. The Calif., at a hotel where the Dal- A steady procession of 30 bigger ones, as heavy as 180 las Cowboys hold their summer tractor-trailers had carted away pounds, would require custom- camp. The Rams subsequently nearly 1 million pounds of equip- made wooden crates. will move to Irvine, Calif., for ment, all the stuff that comes “What kind of person lifts training camp before settling with running an NFL franchise. those?” the executive said. into a longer-term facility at Cal There were crates of shoulder “That’s dangerous.” Lutheran University in Thou- pads and footballs, whirlpool In the scouting department sand Oaks, Calif. baths from the training room upstairs, Taylor Morton stayed Executive offi ces have been and a Super Bowl trophy from at his computer, studying fi lm of leased in Agoura Hills, Calif. the display case in the lobby. college prospects even as work- Everything could end up moving A forklift had scurried across ers carried away everything else again in three years. the practice fi eld in back of the in his offi ce. The player person- “It gets complicated,” Carbo- team’s former headquarters, just nel director was facing a dead- na said. “We have to make sure north of downtown St. Louis, line crunch, trying to fi nish pre- the right trucks go to the right scooping up blocking sleds and draft reports for the coaches. place.” tackling dummies. “I’m down to the bare bones,” At the rear of the building, the “Principles of physics still ap- he said. “But I can still watch equipment staff watched over ply,” said John Bernier, an execu- video.” the fi nal stages of the move. tive with Optim moving com- Not everything at Rams Park Of all the Rams employees, pany. “But we’re hauling some made the move. they might have been least af- weird stuff .” A T-shirt with the logo “St. fected. Numerous times each It took more than six weeks to Louis Rams” lay on a pile of season they transport helmets, relocate the Rams to their new clothes by the back door; team pads and uniforms for away home in Southern California, executives decided to leave be- games. Bernier called them where they are settling in for off - hind anything with the name of “road warriors.” season training and draft prepa- their former city. But they seemed concerned rations. The fl ooring in owner Stan about one particular item. The massive task of shifting Kroenke’s offi ce also was crossed “We have to take Cliff ,” said an NFL franchise 2,000 miles off the list; its tiles were fabri- Jim Lake, the team’s equipment began in mid-January when NFL cated from the same leather used manager. owners voted to let the Rams to make footballs. Cliff is a taxidermied ram come back to Southern Cali- “I guess it costs too much that has adorned the equipment fornia this season. There was to tear it out and haul it 2,000 room the last few years. It got its no time to waste.Team staff got miles,” said Lee Martin, the name because it is mounted on to work snapping an estimated A file picture of ‘Cliff ’ the Ram, a taxidermal mascot in the equipment room at the Rams’ facility in St. Louis, PICTURE: Los Angeles Times/TNS team’s facilities manager. what looks like a rocky ledge. 25,000 to 35,000 photographs As the St. Louis portion of the Lake and his staff watched as of every item at Rams Park for a midfi eld. Desks and fi le cabinets for the stationary bikes and IV Pro football is pretty much a off ensive lineman Rodger Saff old work neared completion, mov- movers prepared the stuff ed ani- web-based inventory. The cav- accounted for much of the clut- stands, the cartons of talcum year-round enterprise, so coach said. ing company supervisor Clint mal to be loaded onto one of the ernous indoor fi eld was trans- ter, along with dozens of large powder and dry-erase boards Jeff Fisher had talked to his team The veteran player continued Carbona checked on the color- last trucks, covering it with lay- formed into a warehouse. video monitors for watching ripped down from the walls, and coaching staff about work- showing up to the weight room coded labels affi xed to every ers of bubble wrap and tape. Soon, boxes and piles of gear game fi lm. It might have looked some still bearing marks from ing through the chaos. until the very end, pausing his item, including a surfboard with “Be careful,” Lake said. “Take stretched from the end zone to like any business move except diagramed plays. “He told us it might be tough,” routine when movers lumbered Fisher’s name on it. care of him.” Gulf Times 8 Thursday, April 21, 2016 OLYMPICS

SPOTLIGHT FOCUS IOC chief Greeks, Brazilians ready says Rio Games will be to light Olympic fl ame ‘excellent’

Donald settles for a fourth runner-up spot; Day finishes eight shots back, in tie for 23rd AFP Ancient Olympia, Greece An actress playing a priestess releases a dove at the ancient stadium of Olympia yesterday during a dress he International Olym- rehearsal for the lighting ceremony of the Olympic pic Committee is confi - flame in ancient Olympia, the sanctuary where the dent that the upcoming Olympic Games were born in 776 BC. (AFP) Rio Olympics will be Tan “excellent games” in spite of concerns about Brazil’s ongoing politial crisis, its chairman Tho- mas Bach said yesterday. “The last stretch is always the most diffi cult one...with the ongo- ing solidarity of the IOC and the national federations we are very confi dent that it will be excellent Games,” Bach told reporters in ancient Olympia, a day ahead of the ceremony to light the sacred fl ame for the Rio Games. “Of course there are challeng- es, but the organising committee has shown in the last year (what) great progress they made,” he said. Preparations in Rio have been overshadowed by a govern- ment crisis, with Brazil Presi- dent Dilma Rousseff facing im- peachment after being accused of juggling government accounts to disguise budget shortfalls during her 2014 reelection. “The Games are now in the operational phase, therefore we can concentrate now together with the organising committee on the delivery,” Bach said. The German also played down pollution concerns voiced by sailors and swimmers about the rubbish and waste of Rio bay. “In the bay, about 60 percent of the surface is clean. Without the Ol- ympic Games it would be zero... we are very confi dent that the competition area will off er safe and fair conditions,” Bach said. “The reason for my confi - dence is two-fold,” Bach added. “Firstly, the Olympic Games enjoy the strong public support AFP name is to be announced tomorrow, Greek organ- Petrounias, Greece’s reigning world champion on of the Brazilian people. Even in Athens isers said. The International Olympic Committee the still rings. these challenging circumstanc- has given the green light for a team of up to 10 refu- Petrounias will pass it on to Brazilian volleyball es we see the power of sport to gees to take part at the Rio Olympics. legend Giovane Gavio, an Olympic gold champion bring people together. reece, beset by economic diffi culties and So far, 43 high-performance athletes, who are at the 1992 Barcelona and 2004 Athens Games who “Secondly, the organisers can a migration crisis, will hold a traditional also refugees, have been identifi ed as possibly be- is now director of volleyball for Rio 2016. Gavio had count on the solidarity of the ceremony today for the Rio Olympics as ing eligible for the Games in Brazil. also carried the torch in Rio de Janeiro during the Olympic family and the sporting Brazil battles its own political woes. Bach said the fi nal number would depend on relay for the Athens 2004 Games. world.” GThe dress rehearsal for the lighting of the Olym- meeting qualifying criteria, adding that the team The Olympic torch will be handed over to Nuz- Biologists said in 2014 that pic fl ame in ancient Olympia went ahead smoothly would compete under the fl ag of the IOC. man in the presence of Pavlopoulos, Bach and rivers leading into Rio’s Guana- yesterday, and the offi cial ceremony today will “We have all been touched by the magnitude Greek Olympic Committee president Spyros bara bay contained superbac- launch a four-month torch relay culminating at of this refugee crisis. By welcoming this team, we Capralos on April 27 in a ceremony at the historic teria that are resistant to anti- Maracana Stadium for the Games opening cer- want to send a message of hope to all the refugees all-marble Olympic stadium in Athens, site of the biotics and can cause urinary, emony on August 5. in the world,” Bach, who visited Eleonas in January, fi rst modern Games in 1896. gastrointestinal and pulmonary The torch harks back to the ancient Olym- said in March. Games ‘on schedule’-Preparations in Rio have infections. pics, when a sacred fl ame burned throughout the While Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos been overshadowed by a government crisis, with The cleaning of its polluted Games. The tradition was revived in 1936 for the will be attending today’s offi cial ceremony, his Rousseff facing impeachment after being accused waters was a key part of Rio’s Berlin Olympics. Brazilian counterpart Dilma Rousseff has cancelled of juggling government accounts to disguise budg- bid pledge to host the Summer The Olympic torch relay will run through part her planned attendance as she is currently fi ght- A priestess carries the Olympic Flame at the site et shortfalls during her 2014 reelection. Games and has long been a goal of Greece before being handed over to Brazilian ing for her political life amid a deep recession, im- of ancient Olympia in Greece. (Reuters) However, Rousseff insisted Tuesday that prepa- of successive local governments. offi cials on April 27 for the start of a 95-day relay peachment proceedings, mass protests and a cor- rations for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Ja- When Rio bid to host the 2016 across the South American country a week later. ruption scandal. ess, will light the fl ame today using the rays of the neiro are ahead of schedule. Olympics, the city said it would A highlight of the Greek leg will be the passing Brazil will be represented at Olympia by the sun refl ected off a concave mirror. “The Games are in a totally adequate situation, cut the amount of raw sewage of the torch on April 26 through the refugee camp president of the Rio 2016 organising committee, After giving thanks to the ancient Greek sun god we’re even a little ahead of schedule and more so fl owing into the bay by 80 per- of Eleonas, where one of the hundreds of refugees Carlos Nuzman, and sports minister Ricardo Ley- Apollo, Lehou will light the Rio Olympic torch held than we had planned for,” Rousseff told a press cent but has since confi rmed it housed there will carry the fl ame. The runner’s ser. Actress Katerina Lehou, playing a high priest- by the fi rst relay runner, artistic gymnast Lefteris conference in Brasilia. will not meet that target.

BOTTOMLINE GYMNASTICS OLYMPIC QUALIFIER Russia announces anti-doping reforms in bid to overturn Rio ban

AFP The identity of the experts has not been Moscow disclosed. The sports ministry pledged that Russian track and fi eld athletes hoping to compete in Rio will “undergo ussia has appointed international a minimum of three independent, experts to assist with anti-doping externally administered anti-doping reforms, the sports ministry said yes- controls before the Olympic Games” terday, as the country strives to clean that will be carried out by the IAAF upR its act in time for the Rio Olympics. “The experts were nominated by WADA track and fi eld athletes hoping to compete in (World Anti-Doping Agency) and will be given Rio will “undergo a minimum of three inde- full and free access to all anti-doping opera- pendent, externally administered anti-doping tions in Russia for as long as necessary,” the controls before the Olympic Games” that will statement said, adding that the experts would be carried out by the IAAF. be based full-time in Moscow starting at the These tests will be carried out in addition end of April. to the existing anti-doping procedures, the “Their role will be to ensure the Russian an- statement said. ti-doping system is free of undue interference Moscow has vowed to revamp its anti-dop- and is fully independent.” ing programme in time for its track and fi eld The identity of the experts has not been dis- athletes to compete in Rio. closed. Russia is fi ghting to overturn a ban im- Speaking yesterday at a joint press confer- posed on its track and fi eld team by the Inter- ence with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, national Association of Athletics Federations Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko said that (IAAF) after a WADA independent commis- the country’s anti-doping system would be re- sion report found evidence of state-sponsored vamped “by the end of the year”. doping and mass corruption in Russian athlet- WADA last week revoked the accreditation ics. The IAAF is expected to make a decision of the Moscow anti-doping laboratory, which on whether to lift the suspension to permit had also been suspended over the WADA re- Susana Kochesok of Russia performs the trampoline routine during the women’s team competition during the Olympic Qualifier in Rio de Russian athletes to participate in Rio at an ex- port that found its director, Grigory Rod- Janeiro, Brazil on Tuesday. Frenchwomen Marine Jurbert and Lea Labrousse secured the women’s honours on a total of 46,000 points, 0.500 in traordinary Council meeting next month. chenkov, had “authorized the disposal of 1,417 front of Russia’s Susana Kochesok and Anna Kornetskaya. (Reuters) The sports ministry pledged that Russian samples”. Gulf Times Thursday, April 21, 2016 9 OLYMPICS

SPOTLIGHT Sprint king Bolt eyes triple ‘threepeat’ and sub-19 200m ‘Just to defend my titles, to do the threepeat. That’s my main goal. That’s my main focus’

Reuters New York

print king Usain Bolt aims to crown his legacy with an unprecedented Olympic threepeat at the Rio Games, and to top that off by running the fi rst ever sub-19 secondsS 200 metres. The long-striding Jamaican suggested he might not stop there, leaving open the chance he could extend his career beyond the 2017 season he has said would be his last. Bolt has already swept the 100 and 200m sprints at the last two Olympics and added gold in the 4x100 relays in both Beijing (2008) and London (2012) with his Jamaican team mates. “Just to defend my titles, to do the threepeat. That’s my main goal. That’s my main focus,” Bolt told Reuters on Tuesday. “My secondary goal is to try and run sub-19,” added Bolt, who set the world 200m record of 19.19 in 2009. “That’s something I really want and I hope that everything goes smoothly and I can get it. That would be a big step for me.” Bolt said he has been gradually rounding into shape after dealing with ankle problems. “I’m feeling OK,” he said. “My coach says my fi tness is not exactly where he wants it to be. “Starting out this season I had a problem with my ankles and it was a setback but not that bad. We’re getting back on track and he’s happy with the progress I’m making.” Bolt said he would ramp up his preparations carefully so he can end his Olympic career with a fl ourish. “I really want to be at my best lead- ing up to the championships. I have two months before (Jamaican) trials and three and a half months before the championships,” he said. “I’ll keep pushing myself and hopefully eve- rything smoothes out and I’ll be at my best when the Olympics comes around.” Bolt said he would run his fi rst race in Cay- man, then in Ostrava and then to his coach’s June meet in Jamaica before the trials and then on to the Diamond League meeting in London. The 29-year-old said his coach, Glen Mills, wanted him to leave the retirement door open. “Coach says I shouldn’t say I want to retire just yet, I should focus on the year and see how I feel after the (2017) world championships (in Lon- don),” said the six-time Olympic gold medallist. “And if I still feel like I want to retire, I should. But he says to give it a chance, because I think my coach is pushing for me to go a few more years. We’ll see what happens,” he added. “Personally, I don’t really want to continue Former Brazilian footballer Pele (Left) and Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt pose during a promotional event in New York on Tuesday. (Reuters) “I met Pele today. For me, it was a dream come true. I’ve always said I want to be for years and years because it’s getting hard. I and joke or be a joke in a season. I’m a winner. As for the legacy he hoped to leave the sport true,” Bolt said. “I’ve always said I want to be the the greatest. I want to be like Pele and have to sacrifi ce more and more. It takes up so I believe in winning. I hate to lose. I will never he has dominated for eight years, Bolt spoke greatest. I want to be like Pele and Ali and all Ali and all those guys. I want to be great. much of your time.” come out and say it is a farewell tour. I will want about another Hublot spokesman, 75-year-old those guys. I want to be great. I want to be re- I want to be remembered as one of the In any event, Bolt said he would not treat 2017 to compete at my best, go to the championships football great Pele. membered as one of the greatest that have ever greatest that have ever done the sport” like a farewell tour. “I’m never going to come out and win again.” “I met Pele today. For me, it was a dream come done the sport.”

FOCUS GOLF Kenya’s London marathon Scott opts out of Olympics hopefuls welcome doping law to focus on PGA Tour Reuters Reuters Los Angeles London ustralian world number he elite Kenyan contingent in Sun- seven Adam Scott has day’s London marathon have wel- confi rmed he will skip the comed the country’s progress on Rio Olympics in August, anti-doping and said yesterday the theA 2013 Masters champion citing Tpublic should believe they and most of their scheduling confl icts as the main compatriots are running clean. reason for opting out of golf’s re- The Kenyan government passed a bill on turn to the Games after a 112-year Tuesday that will allow the setting up of absence. a viable anti-doping operation in the east “My decision has been taken as African country and will make the use of a result of an extremely busy play- performance-enhancing drugs a criminal of- ing schedule around the time of the fence. “Once the President (Uhuru Kenyatta) Olympics and other commitments, gives his assent that gives us the go-ahead,” both personal and professional,” twice London marathon winner Wilson Kip- Scott said in a statement on Tues- sang told a news conference featuring the top day. “I have informed the Austral- four fi nishers from last year, all Kenyan. ian team captain (Ian Baker-Finch) “Nothing was being done before because and relevant authorities, who are there was no policy or structure but now they understanding of my position and I can proceed.” wish the Australian Olympic team Kenyatta has said he would sign the bill to the very best of luck in Rio.” ensure that Kenya was not barred from this Eliud Kipchoge, who won the London marathon last year, has welcomed Kenya’s decision Baker-Finch had hoped Scott year’s Rio Olympics. “There is a wrong per- to conform with WADA anti-doping regulations before the Rio Olympic Games. would put his indiff erence to com- ception that all Kenyan athletes, or all ath- peting at the Games to one side and letes, are cheating. If someone is, let them be London marathon organiser Hugh Brasher Association of Athletics Federations) or na- form a powerful team with world punished, but let the clean athletes run. We said his organisation and fellow major races tional federation testing. number one Jason Day, who is ex- want to create that confi dence that we are were doing all they could to fi ght doping, “So with athlete biological passport test- pected to compete. clean,” added Kipsang. having been caught out before. ing, which is proven to be the most eff ective Marc Leishman is next in line Defending London marathon champion London is part of the World Marathon Ma- method, we are determined to have a clean to take Scott’s spot but the world Eliud Kipchoge also welcomed the new law jors group—along with Tokyo, Boston, Berlin, sport and one I think the public will support.” number 34 said he would consider that fi nally lifted the shadow of a possible Chicago and New York - and they have com- Brasher said his organisation was continu- any potential threat posed by the Olympic ban for the distance powerhouse bined to produce what Brasher described as ing to pursue women’s 2010 winner, Rus- Zika virus to the health of his wife that has been rocked by more than 40 posi- the “biggest privately-funding drugs testing sian Liliya Shobukhova, who has since been Audrey, who has immune system tive tests in recent years. operation” in sport. banned, for her London marathon winnings. issues, before deciding whether to “That’s what WADA (World Anti-Doping “We are doing absolutely everything we “We have taken a court case against her compete. Golf’s return at the Aug. Agency) was waiting for in Kenya, so we are can to have clean racing,” Brasher said. to recover the money she fraudulently won 5-21 Olympics has been met with safe,” he said. “Any male athlete running under two from other athletes from her performances varying degrees of enthusiasm from “We are working very hard in training and hours, 10 minutes and any female under two in London,” Brasher said. its players and Fiji’s Vijay Singh, can assure the public we are clean. It’s the hours, 27 minutes wishing to compete in “She was caught by athlete biological a three-time major winner, an- love of sport that makes us work so hard—I the Marathon Majors must enter the test- passport testing. We are absolutely deter- nounced last week that Zika virus Australian golfer Adam Scott has ruled himself out for invite you guys to come to Kenya to see our ing pool, which sees six out-of-competition mined to stamp it (doping) out and I believe fears would prevent him from going selection for the Rio Olympics in August, citing conflicting sessions.” blood tests in addition to IAAF (International so are all the athletes lined up here.” to Brazil. professional and personal commitments. Gulf Times 10 Thursday, April 21, 2016 SPORT

TENNIS FOCUS Landa takes Trentino lead as Nibali struggles Nadal, Nishikori AFP Anti-doping body calls for Rome systematic motor testing The Movement for Credible Cycling (MPCC) has called for paniard Mikel Landa took the systematic testing of the bi- command of the Giro del cycles of top cyclists to counter Trentino yesterday as he possible technological fraud. won the epic 220km sec- The MPCC, which groups enter third round ondS stage from Arco to Anras in cycling teams from the top two Austria. professional levels of the sport Favourite for overall victory as well as other partners such as Vincenzo Nibali, a twice former national federations and spon- winner of the event, surprisingly sors, also said it was studying struggled on the fi nal ascent the possibility of bringing legal and only managed to fi nish the proceedings against technologi- day 21st, more than 30-seconds cal cheats. of Barcelona Open back. His Astana team-mate Ja- In a statement, the MPCC kob Fuglsang is second overall at said it was studying “all possi- 10sec after fi nishing fi fth on the bilities to pursue the necessary ‘I have been playing very well in Monte Carlo, but this is a new tournament’ stage, 13sec behind Landa. and useful legal avenues needed The Team Sky leader had at- to counter cheats to protect the tacked solo on the fi nal climb to integrity of the sport of cycling”. AFP the fi nish in Anras after the day’s The MPCC also called on the Barcelona breakaway had been reeled in International Cycling Union 15km from the end. (UCI) to “open an immediate in- Landa started to tire in the ternal investigation” into tech- resh from winning the fi nal kilometre but managed to nological fraud. Monte Carlo Masters hold off Russian Serguei Fir- The anti-doping body’s state- Rafael Nadal continued sanov, who fi nished second at ment came as a reaction to a pro- his fi ne form with a 6-3, 4sec. Italian veteran Damiano gramme shown on French tel- 6-2F win over fellow Spaniard Cunego, a three time Trentino evision on Sunday which made Marcel Granollers to reach the winner, was third at 13sec in a unsubstantiated claims that it third round of the Barcelona small group of chasers. had found indications that mo- Open yesterday. Nibali, who like Landa is pre- torised bicycles could have been Nadal is looking to equal Ar- paring for May’s Giro d’Italia, used in a couple of races in Italy gentine legend Guillermo Vi- fi nally lost 32sec as even another last month. las’s record of 49 clay-court team-mate in Michele Scarponi The programme makers ad- tournament wins and capture a fi nished ahead of him. mitted to having no proof but ninth title in the Catalan capital Other potential overall con- showed footage of certain cy- this week after suff ering shock tenders, Romain Bardet and Do- clists that have long been sus- defeats in the past two years. menico Pozzovivo of the AG2R pected of producing perform- The 14-time Grand Slam team, came in seventh and eighth ances that were boosted by illicit champion was rarely troubled respectively to sit fi fth and sixth means. despite losing his serve in the on the overall standings. Thurs- The MPCC called for the UCI opening game as he fought day’s mountainous third stage to employ thermal cameras to back to move into a 4-1 lead and covers 204.5km from Sillian to help detect the use of motors. sealed victory after just over 90 Mezzolombardo but the line The demands came two days minutes on court to improve comes 15km after the fi nal ascent. after international riders’ asso- his head-to-head record over RESULTS ciation (CPA) president Gianni Granollers to 4-0. Stage Bugno called for life bans for “The start was very diffi cult 1. Mikel Landa (ESP) Team Sky 5hr those caught with motorised bi- because it was very windy,” said 18min 12sec, 2. Serguei Firsanov cycles. Nadal. (RUS) at 4secs, 3. Damiano Cune- Bugno also demanded the use “I started with less depth go (ITA) 13, 4. Giulio Ciccone (ITA) of thermal cameras, which the than I wanted, but it was very 14, 5. Jakob Fuglsang (DEN) s.t. Stade 2 programme had used to important to break back straight Selected: 8. Domenico Pozzo- detect what it claimed was sus- away and from that point on it vivo (ITA) s.t., 21. Vincenzo Nibali pect cycles. was more straightforward.” (ITA) 32 However, the UCI responded Nadal will face another Span- Overall with a statement saying: “We iard in Albert Montanes in the 1.Mikel Landa (ESP) Sky 5hr have looked at thermal imaging, last 16 on Thursday. 31min 46, 2. Jakob Fuglsang X-ray and ultrasonic testing but “I have been playing very well (DEN) at 10ses, 3. Serguei by far the most cost eff ective, in Monte Carlo, but this is a new Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates aft er Firsanov (RUS) 15, 4. Michele reliable and accurate method tournament and every day there defeating Spain’s Marcel Granollers Scarponi (ITA) 22, 5. Romain has proved to be magnetic reso- is a diffi cult opponent.” during the ATP Barcelona Open in Bardet (FRA) 24 nance testing using software Defending champion Kei Barcelona. (AFP) Selected: 6. Domenico Pozzo- we have created in partnership Nishikori is likely to be Nadal’s vivo (ITA) s.t., 10. Vincenzo Nibali with a company of specialist biggest threat and the Japanese (ITA) 28. developers.” extended his unbeaten run in Barcelona to 11 matches with a comfortable 6-4, 6-2 win over Goerges and Petkovic get wins; Safarova loses again the Netherlands’ Thiemo de Fury-Klitschko rematch on July 9 Bakker. Nishikori needed just Former champion Julia Goerges and ranked Cornet to 5-0. She squandered an ended a series of three straight first-round over an hour to dispose of the Andrea Petkovic carried over Fed Cup early 3-1 lead but did not allow Cornet on defeats in recent weeks but now faces into Vladimir Klitschko has confirmed his heavyweight title rematch with world number 102 as he broke momentum for first round victories before the scoreboard again from 4-4 en route to Polish top seed Agnieszka Radwanska to- champion Tyson Fury will take place on July 9 in Manchester, the in the fi rst game of each set and Angelique Kerber was to start her title victory on first match point. day. “I have never won against her. But we Ukrainian said yesterday. held serve throughout to win his defence yesterday for the hosts at the “I was very nervous in the beginning,” had some close matches and I am looking Fury’s camp had already announced the date and venue earlier this fi rst match of the season on clay. Porsche Grand Prix. Goerges said. “I had my biggest career forward to tomorrow,” the former top-10 month but Klitschko’s management said a few issues still had to be The world number six, who The 2011 champion Goerges beat Alize success here, therefore it is always special player said. sorted out. also won in the title in 2014, will Cornet 6-4, 6-0 and Petkovic also prevailed to play here.” Caroline Garcia was a third French casualty Everything is now set and a statement said the 21,000 Manchester face French 13th seed Jeremy over a French opponent, 6-2, 6-4 against Goerges next runs into Italian sixth seed on the day, going out 6-2, 6-2 against Arena would be the venue. The first pre-fight press conference will Chardy in the next round. Kristina Mladenovic. Roberta Vinci, as last year’s US Open final- Monica Niculescu who now plays two-time take place in the British city, Fury’s birthplace, next Wednesday. Nadal could face his conquer- Australian Open champion Angelique Ker- ist outlasted Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova Wimbledon champ Petra Kvitova. Fury, 27, stunned long-time champion Klitschko on points in Dus- or from last year’s US Open, ber was to face fellow German Annika Beck 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 6-4 in 2:20 hours. Last year’s French Open finalist Lucie Safa- seldorf last November to win the WBA, IBF and WBO titles. Italian Fabio Fognini, in the in the first second-round game later. The World number 30 Petkovic broke the 28th- rova meanwhile failed yet again to get her Fury then lost the IBF title for failing to fight the body’s mandatory quarter-fi nals after he won just four Germans had won a Fed Cup relega- placed Mladenovic twice to take the first first victory of the year as the eighth seed challenger, Vyacheslav Glazkov. his fourth match of the season tion tie 4-1 in Romania to stay in the World set. The players traded breaks in the first lost a Czech duel against Karolina Pliskova “It wasn’t very important for the fight to be in Manchester, but it was 3-6, 6-0, 6-1 against Russia’s Group, with Kerber winning two singles four games of the second before Petkovic 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 7-5 in 2:30 hours, saving very important that I wasn’t going back to Germany,’’ Fury said. Mikhail Youzhny. rubbers and Petkovic getting the decisive clinched victory on a double fault from six match points but falling on Pliskova’s “I wouldn’t go back. End of [discussion]. I wouldn’t get a decision. It’s German teenage sensation third point. Mladenovic. seventh. in England. Wherever it was [in England], I wasn’t bothered.’’ Alexander Zverev is also into the Goerges, ranked 57th and in the draw via “The Fed Cup was tough mentally but Safarova is 0-5 in 2016 after suff ering from Fellow Briton Anthony Joshua won the IBF title by beating Charles third round after edging past a wildcard, prevailed in 1 hour 16 minutes gave us a big boost,” said Petkovic, whose a bacterial illness last year which also Martin earlier this month. 15th seed Thomaz Bellucci 6-3, to raise her perfect record over the 48th- left thigh was heavily taped. The German forced her to miss the Australian Open. 6-7 (3/7), 7-5.

CYCLING Valverde wins record fourth Fleche Wallonne

AFP “I was feeling more nervous than his next win in 2014, with the veteran Huy, Belgium normal, I didn’t want to miss out. Spaniard following up last year when Spanish’s Alejandro Valverde I worked out the right distance to Alaphilippe also fi lled the runner-up kisses his trophy as he celebrates make my move,” Valverde reported. spot. “My initial feeling when cross- on the podium aft er winning the pain’s Alejandro Valverde He went into the race sharing the ing the line was disappointment at 80th ‘La Fleche Wallonne’ cycling timed his fi nish to perfection record of three wins with four other having come close to winning,” said race in Huy. (AFP) to claim the Fleche Wallonne riders including Belgian great Eddy Alaphilippe. for a record fourth time yes- Merckx. “It’s historic for me. I think “But then I realised it’s my second terday.S it’s important to leave your mark on podium fi nish in two participations. The near 200km midweek Ar- the history of such a race,” added It’s a race I can win in the future.” dennes Classic came down to a dra- Valverde. Despite working together, Alap- matic shoot-out up the 1.3km long “But also to leave your mark on the hilippe and his Etixx team-mate fi nal ascent of the Mur de Huy, with history of cycling. This race is not the Martin could not fi nd a way to defeat Valverde seeing off Frenchman Julian most insignifi cant on the calendar. Valverde. Alaphilippe. I’ll still be here next year.” “We really wanted to win. We “This is really my race!” the Valverde, though, said his main thought that Julian Alaphilippe could 35-year-old Movistar veteran smiled. aim for the season would come at go faster than Valverde close to the Ireland’s Dan Martin, who had led next month’s Giro d’Italia. summit,” said Martin. briefl y up the imposing hill, fi nished “(My aim is) to be on the Giro po- “I had to try with 300m (left) but third with Dutch rider Wout Poels dium while thinking about stage vic- Valverde was just the best. fourth. tories,” he added. “I love this race because it’s so tac- Valverde waited until the last “But I’m aware that I’ll have some tical. I probably did my best race ever 300m before launching his attack. tough competition. here, but struggled in the last 100m.” His compatriot Joaquim Rodrigu- “Before that I’ll go to Liege-Bas- Briton Stephen Cummings had ez had already made an impressive togne-Liege (on Sunday) with genu- sparked a breakaway after 55km and lunge for victory, before he faded and ine hopes of winning, although with- was the last left of that group with was overtaken by Martin. out risking my Giro participation.” 27km to race. But he would also be proven to His love aff air with the Fleche But he lasted only another 10km have jumped the gun as Valverde de- Wallonne began with his fi rst success before Movistar reeled him in, set- livered the coup de grace on the fi nal in 2006. ting up Valverde for his moment of stretch. He then had to wait eight years for glory. Gulf Times Thursday, April 21, 2016 11 SPORT

FOCUS SPOTLIGHT AAB sponsors India’s Advani Overdrive enters pre-quarters racing team at Asian Snooker 'It's good to start with a win in the knockouts... a necessity in tournaments of this level'

Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah with AAB off icials at a press conference.

By Sports Reporter him, as he and Matthieu will try Doha to win the fi rst two desert rounds of this year’s FIA World Cup.” “The Sealine event lacks the bdullah Abdulghani & diffi cult, soft dunes and the very Bros (AAB), Toyota’s high temperatures that we expe- exclusive dealer in rienced at the Abu Dhabi Desert Qatar, and Overdrive Challenge, but the event in Qatar Racing,A a Belgium-based in- is equally as challenging in terms ternational racing logistics and of the navigation and the varied vehicle modifi cation company, terrain our drivers will cross and announced that Toyota was the it is sure to be hot in April. We single-largest entry brand in the are delighted to have Nasser al- FIA Cross Country Rally World Attiyah back in harness in one of Cup. our cars and I am sure that he will Qatar’s esteemed rally driver be looking for the outright win or Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah made a a podium at least.” sensational return to Overdrive AAB chief operating offi cer Racing while driving a Toyota RK Murugan, in a press confer- Hilux for the Belgian team in ence, said, “We at Abdullah Ab- the just-concluded Abu Dhabi dulghani & Bros, Co are happy Desert Challenge and in the on- to support the Overdrive Racing going Sealine Cross-Country Team for their entire logistics re- Rally, which will conclude on quirement in Qatar. We take this April 22, for rounds two and three opportunity to wish the team of the 2016 FIA Cross-Country members all the best and we are Rally World Cup. sure that the Overdrive Racing Al-Attiyah drove for the team Team will come out as the win- in 2012 and won the Sealine ners as last year.” Cross-Country Rally in an Over- The drivers will be racing 3.5-5 drive Toyota, one season after hours and crossing around 500 km taking the fi rst of his two Dakar a day over gravelled roads and sand Rally titles. He will be bidding for dunes, reaching speeds of around a fourth victory in fi ve years in 185kmph. This is like driving at the Sealine event and a third suc- 300kmph on smooth asphalt. cessive win with French naviga- Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros tor Matthieu Baumel. Co W L L Toyota was established “Everyone at Overdrive is de- in 1958 as part of Qatar’s infra- lighted to welcome Nasser back structure development. In 1964, for two of the most demanding Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros. India's Pankaj Advani in action against Iraq's Alijalil Ali yesterday. Advani won 4-1 (78(73)-54, 107(85)-02, 74-09, 29-65, 57-44). rallies in the FIA World Cup cal- was awarded the Toyota dealer- endar,” said Overdrive Racing’s ship. As one of the forerunners By Sports Reporter in the knockout stages as it acts as a con- Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Mohamed Asif 55, 11-62, 72(64)-08, 62-54(52), 86(52)-34) team director Jean-Marc Fortin. of successful businesses in Qatar, Doha fi dence booster, a necessity in tourna- and Mohamed Bilal qualifi ed for the Mohamed Shehab (UAE) beat Ali al- “We have many happy memories the company has established a ments of this level,” Advani commented pre-quarter fi nals but Mohamed Sajjad obaidli (Qatar) 4-3 (49-55, 40-50, 63-50, of working with him in the past name for itself with sound busi- on his day at work. bowed out. 74-19, 62-14, 40-56, 65-52) and look forward to supporting ness practices and ethics. op seed Pankaj Advani of India In the round of 16, Advani will face fel- Moh Keen Hoo (Malaysia) beat Ali Hus- cruised into the pre-quarter- low Indian and 2015 National Sub-Junior RESULTS sein (Iraq) 4-1 (56(52)-17,78-44,77-37,42- fi nals of the 32nd Asian Snooker Snooker winner, 19-year-old Ishpreet Round of 32 65,60-39) Championship, but Qatar’s chal- Singh Chadha, who beat Mohamed al- Pankaj Advani (India) beat Alijalil Ali (Iraq) Omar Alajlani (Saudi Arabia) beat Au Chi Tlenge came to an end yesterday. Joaker of UAE 4-1 (16-87,63-35,87(87)- 4-1 (78(73)-54, 107(85)-02, 74-09,29-65,57- Chung (Hong Kong) 4-0 (75(50)-06,68- Qatar’s Ahmed Saif, Ali al-Obaidli and 00,54-36,134(134)-01) 44) 15,83-26,89(60)-09) A Mohsin al-Abdulrahman all lost their “I look forward to facing promising Ishpreet Chadha (India) beat Mohamed Au Chi Wai (Hong Kong) beat Husain Mah- respective knockouts matches at the talent such as Ishpreet who has been al-Joaker (UAE) 4-1 (16-87,63-35,87(87)- mood (Bahrain) 4-1 (72-44, 35-61, 67-02, Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation making quite an impression on the na- 00,54-36,134(134)-01) 112-13, 62-24) (QBSF) Academy yesterday. tional snooker circuit. I am sure this will Yuttapop Pakpoj (Thailand) beat Moham- Michael Mengorio (Philippines) beat Advani, meanwhile, lost his fi rst frame be a challenging yet exciting encounter,” ed al-shamsi (UAE) 4-0 (81(54)-16,68(58)- Ahmed Aseeri (Saudi Arabia) 4-1 (75-02, of the tournament but otherwise had lit- Advani added. 00,81(54)-01,72-59) 92-25, 62-49, 42-58, 80-00) tle trouble in getting past Alijali Ali of Hosts Qatar had day to forget as its trio Karam Fatima (Syria) beat Manan Chan- Amir Sarkhosh (Iran) beat Ahmed Saif Iraq 4-1 to enter the pre-quarter-fi nals. bowed out of the tournament. The local dra (India) 4-3 (49-63,36-63,55-20,66(52)- (Qatar) 4-3 (68-19, 15-72, 81-22, 62-69, 45- Multiple-time champion Advani has hope rested on Saif, a graduate from 2013 44,10-72(58),70(58)-22,79-43) 58, 79(61)-21, 74(61)-25) amazingly never claimed the Asian title Q-School and Qatar’s only ever profes- Soheil Vahedi (Iran) beat Mohamed Sajjad Arman Dinarvand (Iran) beat Alvin Bar- in his illustrious career, despite being a sional player. But the 33-year-old was (Pakistan) 4-3 (28-74,61-14,42-54,76-53,33- bero (Philippines) 4-3 (16-70(69), 99(72)-11, fi nalist on three occasions. His hopes of beaten by Iran’s Amir Sarkhosh in a nail- 54,79-00,63-32) 27-67, 87-25, 15-69(69), 68-23, 54-38) putting that right are fi rmly on course as biting match. Sarkhosh won 4-3 (68-19, Mohamed Asif (Pakistan) beat Sundeep the 30-year-old from Bengaluru looks in 15-72, 81-22, 62-69, 45-58, 79(61)-21, Gulati (India) 4-2 (66(66)-17, 44-87, 73(57)- Preliminary Round prime form in Doha. 74(61)-25). 16, 47-72, 76(61)-23, 64-32) Alvin Barbero beat A Mohsen al-Abdulrah- Advani pocketed the fi rst three frames Mohamed Shehab of UAE edged past Kritsanut Lertsattayathorn (Thailand) man (Qatar) 4-3 (83-31, 61-31, 40-74, 12-82, 78-54, 107-2, 74-9 with breaks of 73 and Ali al-Obaidli of Qatar in a thrilling beat Fung Kwok Wai (Hong Kong) 4-3 03-67, 70-35, 59-47) 85 in the fi rst two frames. In the fourth Round of 32 encounter 4-3 (49-55, 40- (00-55,86-07,86-04,36-64,70-13,25-76,68- Alijalil Ali beat Chee Keong Chan (Singa- frame, Advani put up a strong fi ght, but 50, 63-50, 74-19, 62-14, 40-56, 65-52) 01) pore) 4-1 (74-22, 58-22, 46-77, 61-32, 68-47) lost the frame 29-65 to Ali. Playing a Qatar’s A Mohsin al-Abdulrahman, Mohamed Bilal (Pakistan) beat Jefrey Jefrey Roda beat Robby Suarly (Indone- best-of-7 frames, the Indian ace won the who was playing in the preliminary Roda (Philippines) 4-1 (61-38,104(104)- sia) 4-1 (46-53, 79-29, 76-62, 73-54, 65-30) UPDATE fi fth frame 57-44 to seal the match in his round, lost to Alvin Barbero of Philip- 00,34-60,70-24,120(97)-00) Soheil Shehzad beat Lim Chun Kiat (Sin- favour. pines 4-3 (83-31, 61-31, 40-74, 12-82, Habib Subah (Bahrain) beat Soheil Sheh- gapore) 4-1 (82-21, 30-68, 90-29, 66-42, “It is good to start on a winning note 03-67, 70-35, 59-47). zad (Pakistan) 4-3 (05-66, 05-68(68), 62- 74-44) FIA approves F1 tyre BOTTOMLINE testing changes

Reuters be an opportunity to test proto- Wolff defends Ecclestone aft er women racer remarks London type 2017 tyres (in 2016 sizes) on 2013 or 2014 cars - these tests on Agencies to encourage more women into motor- team, he replied: “Great. I’d put another older cars only apply in 2016.” London sport. $20 million in to make sure it happened.” ormula One’s governing Pirelli’s motorsport director “For me, actions always speak louder But he predicted a rise in female chief ex- body formally approved Paul Hembery was quoted after than words...Bernie is with us,” she added. ecutives, saying: “Women are more com- rule changes yesterday Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix as ritish racer Susie Wolff has Ecclestone, who has made derogatory petent and they don’t have massive egos.” that will allow sole sup- saying the testing agreement had defended Bernie Ecclestone af- comments in the past about women and Women have enjoyed greater success plierF Pirelli to carry out more to be approved this week. ter he doubted whether women is no stranger to controversy, was inter- at boardroom level, with Claire Williams testing of next year’s wider tyres “We cannot do our job without would physically be able to drive viewed by WPP chief executive Martin notably the current deputy team princi- during the season. this (agreement being approved). aB Formula One car fast and in any case Sorrell at an Advertising Week Europe pal at Williams. Pirelli, who last October were We cannot deliver. We are being would not be taken seriously. conference on Tuesday. In a wide-ranging interview with F1’s awarded a new three-year con- asked to make very signifi cant The comments by the sport’s 85-year- His comment that “I don’t know wheth- non-executive director Sorrell, the out- tract from 2017, had warned that changes, by changing the drive- old commercial supremo caused a storm er a woman would be able physically to spoken Ecclestone also said that Russian they might otherwise have to ability of the tyres,” he had told on social media, with women racers quick drive a Formula One car quickly, and even if President Vladimir Putin “should be run- leave the sport. the motorsport.com website. to condemn him, but Wolff felt they need they could they are never going to be taken ning Europe”. The International Automobile Formula One is preparing for to be put into perspective. seriously” was widely reported. He said that comments he had made in Federation (FIA) said the World major rule changes next sea- “After hearing Bernie’s comments in A full recording of the interview, post- praise of Adolf Hitler’s leadership meth- Motor Sport Council, its su- son aimed at making cars faster, context and speaking to him today, it’s ed later on the conference website (ad- ods in a 2009 interview were taken out preme body, had passed a meas- harder to drive and with more clear we both have the goal of getting in 22 years to take part in a Formula One vertisingweek.eu) showed, however, that of context, but reiterated that the Nazi ure agreed earlier in the week by downforce. That will mean tyres a female driver to F1,” the Scot, wife of Grand Prix weekend when she drove in Fri- Ecclestone had also made some more leader “got the job done”. the Formula One commission being subjected to heavier load- Mercedes motorsport head Toto Wolff , day practice at Silverstone for Williams. supportive comments that went largely He also declared that he was “100 that includes all the teams. ing and faster cornering speeds. said on Twitter. No woman has raced in Formula One unreported. percent” in favour of Britain leaving the “The changes will allow 25 car Teams are currently subject to “Through my years in motorsport, he since 1976. “Today I would love and I would help to European Union ahead of the June 23 ref- days of testing with current cars, strict limits on track testing be- was supportive of my mission to make it Wolff , now retired from racing, said get a lady in a Formula One car,” he said. erendum on the matter and said that im- fi tted with 2017 tyre sizes, in 2016, fore and during the season but onto the starting grid in F1,” added Wolff , Ecclestone had agreed last week to sup- Asked what he would say to a spon- migrants had not made a contribution to 2017 and 2018,” the FIA said in a the regulations had allowed for who in 2014 became the fi rst woman driver port her ‘Dare to be Diff erent’ initiative sor putting up backing for an all-female British life. statement. “In addition, there will 12 days of tyre testing.

Thursday, April 21, 2016 GULF TIMES SPORT

HORSE RACING Qatar National Arabian Horse Show for Local Rassan’s smashing Bred Horses run wins feature Jassim Ghazali and his son Mohamed finish day with five winners between them

By Sports Reporter Doha

hampion trainer Jassim Ghaza- li’s charge Rassan smashed the opposition to lift the Al Zubara Cup, a local Purebred Arabian conditionsC event, which was the feature Nasser Mohamed al-Hajri-owned Gazwan Al Nasser won gold race at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian in the Senior Championship for the Stallions in the Qatar Club’s dirt track yesterday. National Arabian Horse Show for Local Bred Horses on Tuesday. The eight-race card was a successful PICTURES: Juhaim one for the Ghazalis, who fi nished the day with fi ve winners, including two for Jas- sim’s son, Mohamed. Jassim bin Ali al-Attiyah-owned Rassan, ridden by Richard Mullen, bounced back from an underwhelming 10th place fi nish on his last outing, the Staff Major General Saad bin Jassim al-Khulaifi, director general of Public Security with Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) Qatar Silver Trophy two weeks ago, for a chairman Sheikh Mohamed bin Faleh al-Thani, QREC general manager Nasser Sherida al-Kaabi and other off icials. PICTURES: Juhaim seven-length win over Umm Qarn’s Rae- dah in yesterday’s race. (Alberto Sanna). Won by: Hd, 2. Time: Alberto Sanna rode Al Marboush, In- 1:19.64. Owner: Saad Rabiah Saad al-Kaabi. jaaz Stud’s horse also trained by Jassim Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki. like the winner, to the third place. Race 2: 1. Dygham (Stephan Ladjadj), 2. Earlier in the day, another one of Jas- Saif Brooq (Evert Pheiff er), 3. Al Jalila (Ce- sim’s charge, Injaaz Stud’s Polaris, also dric Segeon). Won by: ¾, Hd. Time: 1:19.71. brushed aside any challenge from a Owner: Abdullah Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber. 13-horse fi eld, to win the Thoroughbred Trainer: Abdullah al-Jaber. Handicap event over six furlongs. Race 3: 1. Al Jamaaheer (Alberto Sanna), Polaris, in a league of his own under 2. Al Wasmiya (Pier Convertino), 3. Al Naif Sanna, fi nished nine lengths ahead of Never Mind (Marvin Suerland). Won by: second-placed Pipe Bomb, ridden by 3, 3 ½. Time: 1:26.04. Owner: Injaaz Stud. Marvin Suerland for Zuhair Mohsen, Trainer: Jassim Ghazali. while Succeed and Excel was third under Race 4: 1. Al Qatari (Cedric Segeon), 2. Nasser Abdulla al-Mansouri’s Hoyam Al Waab emerged as the Marco Monteriso. Chandon Du Soleil (Pier Convertino), 3. Al champion among the mares. Sanna also rode Injaaz Stud’s Al Jamaa- Sahm (Richard Mullen). Won by: Shd, ½. heer to his second victory this season, when Time: 2:12.89. Owner: Hassan Ali Abdulma- the gelding, schooled by Ghazali Senior, lik. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki. won the Local Thoroughbred Handicap Race 5: 1. Spongy (Tadgh O’Shea), 2. event for horses rated 70 and below. Bnedel (Marvin Suerland), 3. Power Play Al Jamaaheer came up with a fi ne run (Richard Mullen). Won by: 2 ½, ¾. Time: as he won the seven-furlong run three 1:59.50. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al- lengths ahead of Al Wasmiya, ridden by Richard Mullen rides Jassim bin Ali al-Attiyah-owned Rassan to victory in Al Zubara Cup. Kuwari. Trainer: Mohamed Jassim Ghazali. Pier Convertino, while Al Naif Never Race 6: 1. Polaris (Alberto Sanna), 2. Pipe Mind rounded up the top three. al-Thani’s colt Power Play, also trained by did enough to edge out Osama Omar al- Bomb (Marvin Suerland), 3. Succeed and Both of Mohamed’s winners were the younger Ghazali, fi nished third. Dhafea’s Chanson Du Soleil by a short head Excel (Marco Monteriso). Won by: 9, ½. owned by Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari Mohamed second winner of the day to his third straight second-place fi nish. Time: 1:10.25. Owner: Injaaz Stud. Trainer: and beat his father’s charges for a victory. was Lina Al Mels, ridden by JP Guillam- Julian Smart-trained Al Sahm, ridden by Jassim Ghazali. In the Thoroughbred Graduation Plate, bert. Lina Al Mels fi nished one and a half Mullen in the colours of HH Sheikh Mo- Race 7: 1. Lina Al Mels (JP Guillambert), 2. when Spongy beat Al Shaqab Racing’s lengths ahead of Fawwaz, while Umm hamed bin Khalifa al-Thani, was third. Fawwaz (Tadgh O’Shea), 3. Damas (Gaetan Bnedel for a win. Qarn’s Damas was third. In the fi rst races of the day, two runs of Faucon). Won by: 1 ½, 1 ¼. Time: 2:20.41. After a few disappointing runs in Doha Two weeks after Cedric Segeon guided the Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate event, Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. this season, Spongy fi nally came into his Hassan Ali Abdulmalik-owned Al Qatari al-Malki’s Abeah and Abdullah al-Jaber’s Trainer: Mohamed Jassim Ghazali. own under Tadgh O’Shea, crossing the to a win in a handicap race, seven-year- Dygham shed their maiden status. Race 8: 1. Rassan (Richard Mullen), 2. post in the Class 5 1900m event two and old son of Amer picked up his third ca- Raedah (Gaetan Faucon), 3. Al Marboush a half lengths ahead of Marvin Suerland’s reer win by topping the Purebred Arabian RESULTS (Alberto Sanna). Won by: 7, 1 ½. Time: ride Bnedel. Graduation Plate event. Race 1: 1. Abeah (Yanis Aouabed), 2. AJS Al 2:11.46. Owner: Jassim bin Ali al-Attiyah. Ijmail Stud’s Bahi Al Shaqab won the Championships for colts. Sheikha Ayisha bint Mishal bin Hamad Ibrahim al-Malki-schooled Al Qatari Maanagieh (Darren Williams), 3. Al Doctor Trainer: Jassim Ghazali.

FOCUS Al Shaqab’s Qemah wins Prix de la Grotte

Agencies was sat in sixth or seventh position She has now confirmed her Clas- Paris by Grégory Benoist. In the straight, as sic potential and Jean-Claude Rouget Antonoé (First Defense) and Kenriya confided: “She is a very good filly, (Kendargent) began to battle for victory, who could have finished closer in ith a spectacular win in Qemah was still blocked in and had not the Boussac if she had had a better the Prix de la Grotte (Gr3), been asked to go. As soon as she had a run. She is not very demonstrative Qemah (Danehill Dancer) gap, she kicked and left her rivals stand- in the mornings, so I was waiting to is now one of the favour- ing. In the end she fi nished in front of see what she could do. I liked the way Wites for the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches Kenriya by two and a half lengths. she accelerated at the end a lot. She (Gr1). Qemah was making her seasonal will go to the Poule d’Essai, then the Owned by Al Shaqab Racing, she had comeback after she fi nished last year Coronation Stakes. She will be run- the race won in two strides, thanks to with a third place in the Total Prix ning for the first time on the straight the kind of acceleration that separates Marcel Boussac (Gr1) when she com- at Deauville, but so will many of the the good horses from the champions. peted with the best of the French run- others. We wouldn’t want too much A bit keen in the early stages, Qemah ners. rain.” (Scoopdyga)

ASIAN RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION III Qatar, Lebanon prepare for a cracker of a game

By Sports Reporter captain of the Lebanese outfi t, Ray Fi- Doha MOST TRIES nan. 2: Huw Kinsella (Qatar), Sadegh “So there’s plenty at stake for this Pakdaman (Iran) game. We are playing to win and to ven before the Asian Rugby prove we are the best side in the Divi- Championship Division III MOST PENALTIES sion. Qatar wants to win because they West Central began, there was 1: Ben Abood (Lebanon), Paul Beard have to win in front of their support- anticipation that Qatar and (Qatar), Karim Jammal (Lebanon) ers.” LebanonE will face off in the title-de- Commenting on whether the home cider. MOST CONVERSIONS team is feeling the pinch, Qatar cap- Two matches later, that’s exactly 4: Karim Jammal (Lebanon) tain Tom Featherstone said, “Of course what will happen. there’s pressure. We are playing in front Lebanon’s 34-12 win over Iran on TOP PLAYERS (TOP THREE) our supporter base. We have the QOC, Tuesday evening ensured that the win- 1. K Jammal (Lebanon) 11 points the (Qatar Rugby) Federation and all ner of Friday’s match between the hosts (1 penalty, 4 conversions) of Qatar watching and expecting us to and Lebanon will have bragging rights 2. H Kinsella (Qatar) 10 (2 tries) win. That amounts to a lot of pressure.” in the region. The decider will get un- 2. S Pakdaman (Iran) 10 (2 tries) He added: “When we went into this derway at 6.15pm at the Aspire Warm championship, our focus was to always Up and purpose built rugby track. take it one game at a time rather than Lebanon’s win on Tuesday against and Lebanon, who have won the Divi- winning both. But now that we have Iran was courtesy three converted sion III title for three straight years, won the fi rst match we are thinking penalty tries (21 points). They led 13-7 both are on fi ve points. about the trophy. We will use all that at the break and in the end proved too “We feel confi dent after beating Iran. pressure as a source of energy and ap- strong an outfi t, exactly like the label of We have been waiting to play Qatar for ply on the pitch.” favourites that they had going into the a long time now. Up until now, we both Speaking about the Lebanese side, game. have been dodging each other. But the he said, “They’re a strong side, they are As far as the points table is con- truth of the matter is we will meet on the defending champions so I expect cerned, Qatar, who also beat Iran 35-12 Friday and I believe the Lebanese team them to come out at us as hard as they in the tournament opener on Saturday, has what it takes to win,” said the vice- can. It’s going to be a cracker of a game.” Action from Tuesday’s match between Lebanon (in green and white) and Iran. Lebanon won 34-12.