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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19، 2018

Georges Groves defends WBA England win battle, but Munro Japan’s Nao Kodaira wins 13super-middleweight title 14 ensures N Zealand win the war 15 gold in women’s 500 metres

PYEONGCHANG: (L-R) Norway’s silver medallist , Austria’s gold medallist and ’s bronze medallist Alexis Pinturault pose on the podium during the medal ceremony for the men’s at the Pyeongchang Medals Plaza during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang. — AFP Nerveless Hirscher grabs Olympic double

Event’s most successful skier so far

PYEONGCHANG: Marcel Hirscher mastered the jit- Norway also won the 4x10km men’s cross country first and second runs, but the years of experience Saturday’s super-G, also said she was “hurt” by ters that have afflicted Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey relay to reach nine gold medals and draw level with helped me,” the 28-year-old Hirscher said. accusations online that she was anti-American, fol- Vonn when he powered to his second Pyeongchang Germany at the top of medals table. His coach Michael Pircher said simply: “Right now lowing her criticism of US President Donald Trump. Winter Olympics title yesterday, becoming the It has been a long wait for Games gold for he’s the best.” While Hirscher savoured his second “That’s so far from the truth. I’m the most event’s most successful skier so far. Hirscher, who is the dominant figure of World Cup victory, Shiffrin was processing her defeat in the American person you will ever find,” said Vonn, who While America’s Shiffrin and Vonn look to racing but whose best previous Olympic result was women’s slalom, her pet event, after vomiting with was fastest in official training for Wednesday’s recover from defeats, Hirscher hit his groove in slalom silver in 2014. However, the Austrian has flour- nerves at the start gate. women’s downhill. A torrid Games for Russia, banned the men’s giant slalom, winning by an impressive ished in South Korea. He said his years of success on “It’s not necessarily the medallists who get the over doping but with 168 athletes competing as neu- 1.27sec-five days after his debut Olympic victory the World Cup circuit proved vital as he beat most out of the Olympics,” the American wrote in a trals, improved as they won their third Pyeongchang in the combined. Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen and France’s Alexis soul-searching statement posted on social media. silver, in the cross-country relay. Norway’s Oystein Braaten proved untouchable in Pinturault into second and third place. “It’s those who are willing to strip down to nothing They were denied gold by the masterful the men’s freestyle skiing slopestyle as the 16-day “After the first run I thought to myself that the and bare their soul for their love of the game. That is Norwegian skiers, who seized the lead through Games hit the halfway point, with medals in biathlon, confidence is here and speed is here and I can win so much greater than Gold, Silver, or Bronze.” Simen Hegstad Krueger in the third leg before aerials and speed skating still to come on Sunday. the race. There’s always a mind game between the Vonn, who finished a disappointing sixth in Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo sealed victory. — AFP

their seats. However, they livened up after Atletico keep the restart, and in particular after Gameiro this year and won both-the other was sent on for Koke just before the hour Federer wins being January’s Australian Open. He is mark. It was Atletico’s French connection three years older than American up Barcelona that led to the opening goal midway Andre Agassi was when previously through the second half, with Antoine Rotterdam holding the record for oldest No.1 chase Griezmann setting up Gameiro, who took back in 2003. a touch before firing low past Kepa for 97th title This was his third title in Rotterdam Arrizabalaga and into the far corner for following successes in 2005 and 2012 MADRID: Kevin Gameiro came off the his fifth league goal of the season. ROTTERDAM: Roger Federer cele- and he now stands 12-0 for the season. bench to score one goal and make anoth- Gameiro then turned provider with a brated his return to the top of the The iconic Swiss star needed just 55 er for Diego Costa as Atletico Madrid fine through ball for Costa, who fired home world rankings by winning the minutes to dispatch Dimitrov who beat Athletic Bilbao 2-0 in La Liga yes- to secure the points with 10 minutes Rotterdam Open yesterday, his 97th looked to be under-cooked in the terday. It was another clinical perform- remaining, the goal his second in La Liga career title. The 36-year-old, the old- quickfire final. ance from Diego Simeone’s side, who since returning to Spain. “We are not stop- est No.1 in history, thrashed Bulgarian Federer now stands a perfect 7-0 have now recorded four consecutive ping, we are playing well at the moment, Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-2 in a one- over the Bulgarian in their head-to- league victories, all without their mean and we are enjoying ourselves,” said sided final. head series. Two breaks per set were Gameiro when asked about his team’s pur- defence conceding a goal. In the Open era, only American enough for Federer to advance to the suit of Barcelona at the top of the table. They remain second, seven points Jimmy Connors has won more titles trophy. Federer will now decide within behind unbeaten league leaders Atletico, who have conceded a paltry a few days whether or not to travel to nine goals in 24 La Liga games this sea- with 109. “What a fantastic week,” the Barcelona, who won 2-0 at Eibar on top seed said. “The goal at start of Dubai for the ATP event starting a Saturday ahead of their Champions son, will hope to stay within striking dis- week from today. tance of Barcelona before going to the week was to make it to the semi-finals. League last 16, first leg away to Chelsea. Federer has a home and training Camp Nou in a fortnight. Simeone’s side This is absolutely amazing, I’m really Former Chelsea striker Costa returned for base in the UAE and has won the hard- are also nine points clear of third-placed pleased.” Federer, the record 20-time Atletico at the Wanda Metropolitano after court tournament seven times. His Valencia, who came from behind to win 2- MADRID: Atletico Madrid’s Spanish forward Grand Slam winner, will reclaim the injury prevented him from taking part in effort in Rotterdam appeared to take 1 at bottom club Malaga on Saturday. Real Diego Costa shoots to score a goal during the number one ranking he last held in their 4-1 Europa League win over FC little out of him physically, with his Madrid, in fourth, are at Betis. Earlier yes- Spanish league football match between Club October 2012 when the new ATP rank- Copenhagen in Denmark on Thursday. only loss of a set coming in the quar- Atletico created little in the first half to terday, Real Sociedad beat struggling Atletico de Madrid vs Athletic Club Bilbao at the ings will be published today. ter-final against Robin Haase. — AFP get the crowd of just over 60,000 out of Levante 3-0 at Anoeta. — AFP Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid. — AFP He has played two tournaments