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Wednesday, June 21, 2017 TENNIS Ramadan 26, 1438 AH Murray stunned as GULF TIMES Thompson downs Queen’s champion SPORT Page 3 SPOTLIGHT Pakistan captain Sarfraz gets hero’s welcome Men, women and children packed Karachi airport as Sarfraz returned from England, where Pakistan thrashed arch-rivals India to be crowned surprise winners

Supporters gather around the vehicle carrying Pakistan’s cricket captain Sarfaraz Ahmed upon his arrival from London in Karachi. (AFP)

Pakistan’s Sarfraz Ahmed gestures to cricket fans as he celebrates winning the ICC Champions Trophy upon his arrival at his house in Karachi, Pakistan. (Reuters)

AFP songs nearby. Senior local offi cials also turned up to Pakistani public,” he told reporters. Karachi “(We won) thanks to Allah and the greet the captain before he was whisked The Pakistan team enjoyed a remark- prayers of the whole nation,” Ahmed away under escort by police commandos able turnaround after widespread criti- said in brief comments as he jostled his along with teammate Rumman Raees. cism followed a 124-run drubbing by undreds of fans gave Paki- way through the crowd of well-wishers. The celebrations did not end once he India in the opening group match. Pakistani cricketer Fakhar Zaman (R) greets a supporter upon his arrival from stan captain Sarfraz Ahmed Pakistan’s victory by 180 runs on reached his residential block in central Pakistan went on to outplay hosts London outside the Bacha Khan International airport in Peshawar. (AFP) a hero’s welcome as he ar- Sunday has sparked widespread cel- Karachi, adorned with colourful lights and trophy favourites England in an Hrived home carrying the ebrations in the country, where cricket and Pakistan fl ags, where fans climbed eight-wicket semi-fi nal win before earthing new talent such as explosive Shadab Khan, Fahim Ashraf — all new Champions Trophy early yesterday. is the number one sport. on rooftops and balconies to watch him their epic fi nal triumph against the In- opener Fakhar Zaman and man of the boys and it is very good sign for Paki- Men, women and children packed The win has been a long overdue return. dians. tournament Hasan Ali. stan cricket the way Hasan Ali played,” Karachi airport as Sarfraz returned boost after a several years of poor re- Sarfraz came out on the balcony with “All the boys worked very hard, after “This was a young team,” Sarfraz he continued. “This was the whole from England, where Pakistan thrashed sults, particularly in the limited-overs the trophy and showed it off to fans, losing that fi rst match, the way the boys said. “Nine boys were playing an ICC team’s eff ort.” arch-rivals India to be crowned sur- formats. waving and making the victory sign made the comeback is remarkable,” event for the fi rst time and four to fi ve Then he sang a victory jingle about prise winners. Sarfraz was showered with bouquets with two fi ngers as the crowds outside said Sarfraz. boys were in the team for the fi rst time, Pakistan’s breathtaking win and Sarfraz held up the trophy to loud and given a traditional skull cap and an threw rose petals. Pundits have credited the Pakistan so I think it is a very good sign for the prompted the crowd with chants of cheers and chants of “Long live Sar- ‘ajrak’ shawl, which is usually present- “First of all I would like to thank God, Super League — the country’s Twen- youngsters. “Long live Pakistan” before fi nally re- fraz!” as a police band played patriotic ed as a mark of honour. I think this is a big victory for the whole ty20 franchise tournament, for un- “Fakhar Zaman, Rumman Raees, tiring back inside.

BOTTOMLINE Kumble steps down as India cricket coach Reuters dulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Lax- wishes him all the best in his future en- “While the Cricket Advisory Mumbai man, who chose Kumble for the job. deavour.” Committee (CAC) had endorsed The source confi rmed the 46-year-old In the last one year, the former leg- an extension to his tenure Kumble, who was put in charge last June, spinner, also India’s most successful as head coach, Anil Kumble nil Kumble has stepped down decided to step down after the break- bowler, led the country to 12 victories has decided not to continue as India coach after falling out down of his relationship with Kohli. in 17 tests with just one loss. as the coach,” the BCCI said in with skipper Virat Kohli, a top Local media has reported that Kohli He also guided India to one-day in- a statement. Asource in the country’s crick- found Kumble’s brand of coaching a bit ternational series wins over New Zea- et board told Reuters yesterday. too assertive and their relationship was land and England with losses coming Caribbean starting on June 23. Kumble’s original contract expired beyond repair. only in a Twenty20 series against the “The BCCI will continue to seek with the team’s Champions Trophy cam- The BCCI invited applications for West Indies and in last week’s Cham- the assistance of the Cricket Advisory paign, but the former captain was tipped the role last month and Kumble had re- pions Trophy fi nal, where they lost to Committee in its search for a new head to get an extension after enjoying a suc- applied for the same. Pakistan. coach for the senior India men’s cricket cessful run during his year in charge. “We wish to place on record our sin- Kumble is also the chairman of the team,” the board added. “While the Cricket Advisory Com- cere appreciation for the immense con- International Cricket Council’s cricket “In the interim, the BCCI has de- mittee (CAC) had endorsed an extension tribution by Anil Kumble to the team committee and has stayed back in Lon- puted MV Sridhar, General Manager to his tenure as head coach, Anil Kumble which enabled India to attain the No.1 don for the world governing body’s - Cricket Operations to supervise the has decided not to continue as the coach,” Test position,” acting BCCI secretary meeting this week. team management for the West Indies the Board of Control for Cricket in India Amitabh Choudhary said in a state- He decided not to travel with the In- tour.” (BCCI) said in a statement. ment. dian side for a limited-overs tour to the Batting coach Sanjay Bangar and Last year the BCCI formed the CAC, “Indian cricket needs his continued West Indies, where they will play a fi ve- fi elding coach R Sridhar will continue comprising former players Sachin Ten- File picture of India coach Anil Kumble during nets. (Reuters) contribution in various capacities and match ODI series and a T20 game in the in their role, the BCCI informed. Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, June 21, 2017 CRICKET

SPOTLIGHT PLAN ICC mulling axe of C’Trophy for more Du Plessis hopes World T20 Cups

AFP gets changed, the considera- London tion has been given to changing to two T20s in a four-year cycle which would mean swapping the he Champions Trophy Champions Trophy for a World Global League can could be scrapped in fa- T20.” vour of staging the World He added: “The fact is that Twenty20 every two World T20s do attract a lot of in- Tyears, according to International terest, they generate signifi cant Cricket Council (ICC) chief ex- revenue for the television com- ecutive David Richardson. panies, but most importantly Pakistan thrashed India by 180 from our point of view they pro- runs to win this year’s edition of vide us with an opportunity to halt talent exodus the Champions Trophy at The give more opportunities to more Oval on Sunday, with a worldwide teams. The combination of a relatively weak economy and the lure of the English county television audience of millions “A 16-team World T20 — even watching the stunning fi nal. a 20-team World T20 — down game has seen a number of Proteas cricketers call time on their international careers But some offi cials believe the the line is something that we eight-team event is now too would like to look at. similar to the World Cup which “With a 10-team World Cup the ICC, controversially, has de- we’re hoping to increase the cided should be contested by just competitiveness of matches and 10 teams from the 2019 event in the standard of the tournament England. as a whole. India are due to stage the “It might not be necessary to next Champions Trophy in 2021 continue with two 50-over tour- but Richardson warned Mon- naments going forward.” day it was by no means certain This week’s ICC gathering the event would go ahead, with at The Oval is also set to decide the former South Africa wick- whether to grant Test status to etkeeper saying future World Ireland and Afghanistan, with Twenty20s could feature up to an announcement expected on 20 teams. Thursday. “What we want to do is dif- “It’s never wise to try and ferentiate our global events from make a call too early, but cer- each other so that they can be tainly the applications of both standalone and create maximum are very well founded,” said Ri- interest every time the event chardson. happens,” Richardson told re- “They both, on the face of it, porters via telephone on the eve meet the majority, if not all, of of the ICC’s annual conference in the full member criteria that has London. been set. “At this stage, the next Cham- “I’m optimistic that they’ll be pions Trophy is still scheduled given serious consideration to for India in 2021. Whether that have every chance of succeeding.”

ALL IS WELL Pietersen has no regrets over T20 pioneer role South Africa’s Chris Morris and Morne Morkel (R) during nets. (Reuters)

AFP often cited reason, there have been con- view and from a fi nancial point of view (Cape Town), David Miller (Bloemfon- London cerns transformation targets designed — they don’t need to go overseas and look tein), Kagiso Rabada (Johannesburg) and to correct the legacy of apartheid, when for other stuff . Imran Tahir (Port Elizabeth) are the play- non-white players were eff ectively “This is going to be really important to ers who fall into this category. af du Plessis is optimistic the cre- barred from representing South Africa, keeping most of the players in the country.” Meanwhile there will also be eight in- ation of a new Twenty20 Global could have played a part too. The November-December time frame ternational marquee players, with Eng- League in South Africa will help But Test and Twenty20 captain du for the new event will also mean South land (Eoin Morgan, Kevin Pietersen and prevent the country’s top crick- Plessis, who played for Lancashire un- Africa’s leading players are available for Jason Roy) and the West Indies (Dwayne etersF leaving in search of greater fi nancial der the Kolpak rule and has appeared in the whole of a domestic Twenty20 com- Bravo, Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard) opportunities. Twenty20 leagues around the world, said petition. providing three apiece in a list that also The combination of a relatively weak he hoped the new tournament would “We’ve always come back from long includes Sri Lanka paceman Lasith Ma- This file photo shows Surrey’s Kevin Pietersen warming up. economy and the lure of the English help provide opportunities currently tours and there was a lot of important linga and former New Zealand captain county game has seen a number of Pro- only available outside of South Africa. cricket coming up so we haven’t always Brendon McCullum. AFP ment I have been in since 2008. teas cricketers all call time on their inter- been around to play as much domestic Their teams have yet to be assigned. London “It is the environment that national careers. ‘HUGE STEP’ cricket as was needed,” said du Plessis, a “You are starting to see diff erent T20 got me in trouble with all the big South Africa has a trade agreement “I spoke about it when the Kolpak thing veteran of 40 Tests. leagues taking up diff erent gaps during bosses, this is the environment with the European Union which means started happening in South Africa — it “For the whole South African team to the year and current international play- evin Pietersen has in- where it is now being applauded players in England are regarded as ‘home’ was probably important that South Af- be available to play in this tournament is ers can’t participate in all of them — it’s sisted he was happy to and they are willing to risk inju- selections under the Kolpak rule. rica looked at diff erent ways to try and the most important thing.” just not possible,” said du Plessis. have paved the way for ries for players to participate for The likes of Kyle Abbott, Rilee Ros- keep players in the country,” explained du Each one of the teams, six of whom “What that does is bring in your ex- current England stars the experience. souw, Dane Vilas, David Wiese, Simon Plessis at the eight-team Global League’s have overseas owners, has been assigned players, as Brendon (McCullum) talked Kto play in Twenty20 franchise “I came back from that fi rst Harmer, Hardus Viljoen and Stiaan van launch in London on Monday. a ‘marquee’ South Africa player, based on about, your ‘mercenaries’. cricket even if it helped curtail IPL, that second IPL and I was Zyl have all opted to play county cricket “I think this is a huge step towards a connection with the city concerned. “South Africa is no diff erent to any his own international career and promoting it, and saying ‘we’ve rather than continue to represent South that,” the 32-year-old batsman added. Hashim Amla (Durban), Quinton de other place. The fans would love to see saw him labelled the ‘bad guy’. got to get more English guys into Africa, sparking fears of a mass exodus. “Players don’t have to look outside Kock (Benoni), AB de Villiers (Pretoria), Brendon McCullum, Dwayne Bravo, Ki- Pietersen, one of the out- these set-ups’. While fi nancial security has been the anymore, from an opportunity point of du Plessis (Stellenbosch), JP Duminy eron Pollard and all those players.” standing batsmen of his genera- “I was painted as the bad guy tion, has not played for England and I’m totally cool with it be- since being frozen out follow- cause the public can see the BOTTOMLINE ing the team’s return from a 5-0 picture that is now being rolled Ashes thrashing in Australia in out,” the 36-year-old Pietersen 2014. added. Having once held out some “It is nice to see the young- hope of a return to England duty, sters, (Chris) Woakes going out Pietersen has spent most of the there, Stokes going out there. It intervening period playing in the was absolutely fantastic.” Top West Indians will continue growing number of Twenty20 franchises around the world, ‘WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE’ having been a early overseas star Former England team-mate in the Indian Premier League. Stephen Harmison said in his re- Monday saw Pietersen an- cently published autobiography international snub: Sammy nounced as one of eight interna- that Pietersen had been “hung Reuters success outside the shortest for- “I’m very scared we tional marquee players for South out to dry” by the ECB. London mat and missed out on qualifi - will be relegated to be Africa’s T20 Global League that Pietersen, a former England cation for the recent Champions playing against Ireland is due to start later this year. captain, was grateful for the sup- Trophy, played among the top and Scotland. It’s very The England and Wales Crick- port of the one-time fast bowler. eading West Indian eight 50-over sides of the world. sad for us” et Board once had little time for “I spoke to him after and said cricketers will pre- They are ranked ninth in one- events such as the IPL but has ‘that is really kind, thank you’ fer to play in lucrative day internationals and one place right players for all the formats recently softened its stance, and he said it was just a pity no Twenty20 tournaments higher in the test format. playing and helping you get to with the likes of all-rounder Ben one else has come out and said it. Laround the world instead of Sammy tore into his home tournaments.” Stokes named player of the tour- “But it is water under the representing the Caribbean governing body immediately CWI said it was working with nament at this year’s edition. bridge, it was a long time ago,” side under the current admin- after guiding the side to their stakeholders to resolve the is- Offi cials are now even pre- said Pietersen, who reckoned he istration, former captain Darren second World T20 title in India sue and was focussed on direct pared to let players miss England was now “fi tter than I ever was Sammy has said. last year, saying the players “felt qualifi cation for the 2019 50- games to take part in the IPL, when I played for England”. Players such as Chris Gayle, disrespected by the board com- over World Cup in England and something once unthinkable, South Africa-born Pietersen, Kieron Pollard and Dwayne ing into the tournament”. Wales. with Pietersen’s desire to play in asked if England had missed out Bravo have long been embroiled The 33-year-old has since “Regarding player eligibility, the lucrative event leading to a on a few years of international in contractual disputes with the missed out on selection for the since the July 2016 meeting in major falling out with then Eng- cricket from him replied: “I don’t board and the team even aban- West Indies. Fort Lauderdale, there has been land coach Andy Flower. want to go over old stories and doned a tour of India midway “The way we structure our ongoing meetings with the play- Pietersen said he was proud old stuff because it’s gone, it’s through the 2014 series over a cricket, we’re not going any- ers in large and small groups, and of his pioneering role, for all the done and dusted. payment structure row. where,” said Sammy, who has we feel we are closer to a resolu- criticism that came his way at “But I’ve enjoyed some of my Cricket West Indies (CWI) played 38 tests and 126 ODIs. tion,” the BBC quoted a CWI the time. best batting days in Australia at only select players for their in- File picture of West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle. “I’m very scared we will be statement as saying. “I’m lucky to have these T20 the Big Bash, playing in the PSL ternational sides if they feature relegated to be playing against “Cricket West Indies remains tournaments where I can still (Pakistan Super League), playing in domestic competitions, lead- “I can’t tell a player not to play led West Indies to two World Ireland and Scotland. It’s very focused on its role to facilitate produce on the big stage,” Pi- for Surrey. I got that triple-hun- ing to many high-profi le absen- in a league when it could make Twenty20 titles, told BBC Radio sad for us. player development through its etersen told reporters art the dred for Surrey, I’ve had some of tees who ply their trade in over- them fi nancially stable to look Five Live. “If you really have West Indies competitions and other support Global League launch in London my real good days of batting. But seas Twenty20 leagues. after their family,” Sammy, who West Indies have had little cricket at heart you will have the services.” on Monday. “This is the environ- it is what it is.” Gulf Times Wednesday, June 21, 2017 3 TENNIS

REPORT SPOTLIGHT Kvitova raises hopes of comeback success Murray stunned as AFP careful about things. I don’t Birmingham, United Kingdom want to get infl ammation,” she said of the injuries which ap- parently included damage to all wo-time Wimbledon fi ve fi ngers and two tendons. champion Petra Kvi- “I came here early to practise tova made a winning and try to do the right things. return to grass with a “I’ve missed the fi ght and seeds fall at Queen’s T6-2, 6-3 victory over her fel- the adrenaline. I don’t miss low Czech Tereza Smitkova to the nerves — I am always very move into the second round of nervous.” ‘I was just a little too passive. I was letting him dictate too much’ the WTA tournament in Bir- This may well account for an mingham. indiff erent start which saw her Reuters But Kvitova will not consider go 3-1 up when she might have London this a step towards an attempt gone 3-1 down. on a third Wimbledon title just She saved a break point in yet. Far more importantly it the third game with a brilliant ndy Murray suff ered continued to raise hopes that, but risky drop shot, and saw one of the most em- after the injuries infl icted upon Smitkova three times have barrassing defeats her left hand by an intruder points to hold her next service of his career, as the in her home with a knife, she game only to lose it with a sec- worldA number one slumped to might yet regain many of her ond serve which leapt off the a stunning Queen’s Club fi rst- impressive attacking qualities. net cord and out of court. round exit to Australia’s Jordan At the age of 27, and after six That seemed to change eve- Thompson yesterday. months on the side-lines, this rything. Kvitova played three Murray was hoping to warm was only her third comeback great points to go 4-1 up and up for his Wimbledon title de- match, but there were mo- then produced three brilliant fence by winning the Queen’s ments when Kvitova struck the forehand drive winners to title for a sixth time, but instead ball as well as ever. break serve again. he succumbed to an astonishing There were also mistakes, Smitkova, only a lucky loser 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 defeat against the but these became fewer and from qualifying but who once world number 90. less worrying the longer the reached the fourth round of The 30-year-old’s loss was match went on. Wimbledon, showed that she all the more remarkable because Kvitova had come away from too prefers this surface more Thompson was only called up to her comeback tournament, the than any other, hitting some face Murray at the last minute. French Open where she won rousing ground strokes and Murray was scheduled to face only one match, with an empty fi nding some good angles as Aljaz Bedene, but he withdrew feeling. the second set went on. with a wrist injury just hours Now she was happy, she But by now Kvitova was before yesterday’s match, leav- said, an emotion she appar- playing with a better rhythm ing Thompson, who was at the ently generated in others, par- and more confi dence and com- west London venue as an alter- ticularly when the music which ing to the net more often. nate after losing in the qualify- signalled her capture of the She ended, suitably, with an ing rounds, to scramble to get fi rst set was allowed to con- ace, and plenty of applause. ready for his unexpected date tinue so long that it delayed the The world number 16 next with destiny. second set by a minute. plays Naomi Broady, a British With the Queen’s champion “I love to be playing on grass, wild card, and if she survives well below his best, 23-year-old I have to be glad I am playing again, may have a quarter-fi nal Thompson seized his opportu- the game I love again, and yes, with the fi fth-seeded French- nity in memorable fashion and I am happy with the way I am woman Kristina Mladenovic, handed Murray his earliest exit playing,” she said. “I hope my who ended the French Open from the tournament since 2012. coaches are too. title defence of Garbine Mugu- The shock loss ended Mur- “Of course I still have to be ruza in Paris two weeks ago. ray’s 14-match winning streak on grass and his 10-match un- Great Britain’s Andy Murray looks dejected during his first round match against Australia’s Jordan Thompson in London yesterday. (Reuters) beaten run at Queen’s. After reaching the French his sky-high standards after don champion in a long rally Open semi-fi nals to raise hopes battling shingles, an elbow in- to break in the fi fth game, then Federer resumes comeback with easy win that he was fi nally back on track jury and the fl u. landed the knockout blow with following a poor fi rst half of Even so, no one saw this melt- another break before fi nishing Top seed Roger Federer resumed his comeback on grass with a the season, Murray will head to down coming. Thompson has off the bewildered Murray. 6-3 6-1 demolition of Japan’s Yuichi Sugita in his Halle Open first Wimbledon, which starts on July never won a Tour title, while Kokkinakis, 21, needed a wild round, with the Swiss looking sharper than in last week’s shock 3, with fresh doubts about the Murray has 45, including three card from the tournament or- loss in Stuttgart. state of his game. Grand Slams, to his credit. ganisers to make the Queen’s The 18-times grand slam winner won the Australian Open as well Murray’s downfall left Queen’s But, while Thompson might main draw after his ranking as Miami and Indian Wells before skipping the entire claycourt without the top three seeds not have Murray’s glittering tro- plunged to 698 following a host season to prepare for an assault on an eighth Wimbledon title and as world number three Stan phy cabinet, the 23-year-old was of injuries. the U.S. hardcourt season. The 35-year-old’s first match back in Wawrinka and world number six already up to speed on grass after “You don’t want to know action last week at the Stuttgart Open was a flop when he suff ered Milos Raonic also crashed out reaching the fi nal of the Surbiton about the extensive list of injures a shock loss to German veteran Tommy Haas, ranked 302 at the earlier in the day. Challenger last week. I’ve had. That was 22 months out time, despite leading for a set and a half. Raonic fi nished as Queen’s And in his fi rst match since of the game,” Kokkinakis said. But Federer, an eight-times winner on Halle grass, was in com- and Wimbledon runner-up last losing to Wawrinka on the Paris “I can’t wait to play in the next plete control against world number 66 Sugita - a lucky loser who year, but the Canadian’s hopes of clay, Murray looked all at sea. round.” replaced injured Lu Yen-hsun - yesterday. another strong showing on grass Thompson was showing im- Raonic added: “I was just a The world number five required a little longer after he wasted were wrecked by Australian pressive serve and volley prow- little too passive. I was letting three match points at 5-0 before breaking Sugita again to clinch wildcard Thanasi Kokkinakis’s ess and, with Murray lacking him dictate too much. Obviously his 1100th win on the ATP Tour. 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (10/8) triumph. focus and fl uency, the Australian the disappointment is high right Third seed Kei Nishikori had to work much harder to get into the Wawrinka was beaten 7-6 took advantage to steal the fi rst now. next round with a 6-7(7) 6-3 6-4 victory over Spaniard Fernando (7/4) 7-5 by Spain’s Feliciano set tie-break. Back on court for the fi rst time Verdasco. Local hero Alexander Zverev, the fourth seed who has Lopez in the Swiss star’s fi rst When Murray squandered since his straight-sets defeat already won three titles this year, made light work of Italian Paolo match since being thrashed by three break points at the start against Nadal in Paris, Wawrinka Lorenzi during a 6-3 6-2 workout, while his older brother Mischa Rafael Nadal in the French Open of the second set, Thompson’s was hoping to erase that painful also booked a second round spot with a 6-4 6-4 victory over Lukas fi nal. So far this year, Murray has confi dence rose even further. memory with a rare good run at Lacko. Petra Kvitova celebrates victory over Tereza Smitkova in the first been mired in a major slump by He out-witted the Wimble- Queen’s. round of WTA tournament in Birmingham. (Reuters)

FOCUS Vika relishing future ‘battle of mums’ with Serena

Reuters one of the most ferocious com- win three of her four major titles. Madrid petitors on the women’s circuit. “I’m managing my time bet- Tennis has been all-consum- ter now,” she said. “I get better ing – a diet of practise, tourna- quality time now. When it comes ictoria Azarenka can- ments, gym sessions and the to practise I used to get there and not wait to renew all-too-regular rehabilitations talk and laugh, and waste some her rivalry with close from injury. Since becoming a time. friend Serena Williams mum, however, there is a new “Now I’m just there for one Vin what could shape up to be- Azarenka. reason. I’m there, then I’m gone. come a future battle of the tennis “Having Leo has changed my I have a limited time and I need mums. life 180 degrees,” the Belarusian to make the best of it. You have For a change, Azarenka, who explained. “I love every moment a short time to have your priori- has four wins and 17 defeats of being a mum. But now I have ties straight, to give it all for the against Williams, is a step ahead two diff erent mentalities. sport you love, but it doesn’t end of the American having given “When I’m on the court, the here. birth to son Leo in December – a only reason I’m there is that I “Tennis is not forever. day, she says, represented a “180 love the game and I still have degree” turn in her life. so much potential to improve. MORE MEANINGFUL While the former world When I’m there I give 100 per- “So for me to be able to con- number one and twice Austral- cent every time. tinue my career with having ian Open champion resumes “But after that I’m in a diff er- already had a child, it’s more her career this week in Mallorca, ent mode. I switch off . That has meaningful. You can still chase Williams’s baby is due in Sep- always been so hard in the past. your dream but I have a much tember with the American to re- “I used to come back and bigger life purpose now. turn next year. “I’ve been friends watch tennis or talk about ten- “Hopefully what Kim did and off the court with Serena for a nis, or check tennis on the In- what hopefully Serena and I can long time and I’m very happy for ternet. Now with Leo, it’s easy to do can inspire more women to do her,” Azarenka told Reuters as forget it. the same. It’s a stereotype that she prepared for her comeback “Whenever I come back from only male players can succeed on the Mallorcan grasscourts. practise I just want to spend after having kids.” “First of all I was so happy time with Leo, read books, swim Azarenka is used to making when she said she was pregnant in the pool, regular stuff . He is comebacks. A foot injury kept her but when I fi rst heard I thought, a good napper too. When I’m off court for fi ve months in 2014 ‘Oh my God, I’ll never have the practise he usually naps.” and she has suff ered niggling in- Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka hits a shot during her match against Japan’s Naomi Osaka at the Australian Open on January 23, 2016. (Reuters) chance to play against her again.’ Azarenka, who is back on a juries since. Her last tournament, I was a little sad. protected ranking, believes the the 2016 French Open, was cur- cover her roots in Minsk and pointment. But this was for a sure I’m strong and can come and grind again and play a lot of “But it’s incredible that she’s enforced 12-month break can tailed by a knee injury. support her mother, Ala, who very happy reason and I think back injury free,” she said. “I matches. “Just need time to get coming back and I know that help her become an even better So this break from the game has successfully fought cancer. it can help me. “It was nice to never really had that time before. the rhythm back. I don’t know hopefully we’ll face each other player than before and maybe has been a happier one as it also “Emotionally it’s completely experience the vibes in Minsk I didn’t really expect to play this how long that will take but I will more times.” emulate Kim Clijsters, who re- allowed her to spend time with diff erent,” she said. “Absence again. And it’s given me time early. I don’t know how I’m go- get there. Defi nitely. It’s going to Azarenka, 27, has always been turned after starting a family to partner Billy McKeague, redis- because of injuries is a disap- to work hard on my body, make ing to do. But I’m ready to play be fun.” Gulf Times 4 Wednesday, June 21, 2017 SPORT

RUGBY Lions beat Chiefs, fi re warning to All Blacks

AFP “We’re not here for second place. Lions coach Warren Gatland in his Dell excelled. Hamilton It’ll be a tough contest but we’re home town of Hamilton, which has Winger Nowell dived a pile of looking forward to it.” proved a graveyard for international bodies to score the fi rst try of the The result followed Saturday’s teams in the past. match in the 25th minute after some he British and Irish Lions convincing win over the Maori All Gatland himself was a hooker for eye-catching build-up play from warned they’re “not here Blacks and ended a sequence of Waikato when they humbled the Williams and Dan Biggar. for second place” as they set mid-week defeats for the Lions, who Lions 38-10 in 1993 and he even The tourists enjoyed 58 % of pos- up this weekend’s fi rst Test earlier lost to the Auckland Blues scored a try against the team he now session and 63 % of territory in the againstT the All Blacks with a thump- and Otago Highlanders. coaches. fi rst half, although a penalty from ing 34-6 win over the Waikato They starved the Chiefs of attack- He was on the other side of the Chiefs’ skipper Donald narrowed Chiefs yesterday. ing opportunities and Nowell’s sec- scoreline last year when the Chiefs their lead to 13-6 going into the Jack Nowell’s sparkling try dou- ond try showed they can also play thrashed his Wales side 40-7 in a break. ble was the highlight as the Lions with fl air, as they took the ball the tour match. The Lions worked the ball through scored four tries and kept the Chiefs length of the fi eld and through 10 After the Chiefs’ haka in front of 16 phases after the restart but again from crossing the line, further pairs of hands before the English- the sell-out 30,000 crowd, the Li- failed to score and they were lucky building momentum as the opening man swerved past two defenders to ons made a promising start in clear not to concede as the Chiefs showed Test looms on Saturday. fi nish. conditions, going on the attack after some quicksilver passing during While the team to play the All “I thought they were excellent, Courtney Lawes stole a Chiefs lin- their rare periods of possession. Blacks in Auckland is probably al- full credit to them — they suff ocated eout ball. But Lions’ pressure paid off when ready settled, plenty of the Lions’ us and then scored some great tries,” But the failure to convert chances they were awarded a penalty try af- second-stringers put their hands up said Chiefs skipper Stephen Donald. that has dogged the tour returned as ter the Chiefs collapsed their maul to feature later in the Test series. “Disappointing in front of a great they worked it through 20 phases, for the third time. “I think we’ve a good squad. So do crowd, we just couldn’t get going. only to fail when Liam Williams Chiefs heads dropped after the All Blacks but we feel we need to But we’ve got no complaints, they knocked on. Nowell’s slickly taken second try, keep improving, that’s what we’ve were just too good.” Poor discipline could have also and Jared Payne soon added another been doing over the last couple of cost them when Harlequins prop when Williams caught the defence British and Irish Lions’ Jack Nowell (C) runs with the ball during the rugby match between weeks,” said Lions captain Rory Home comforts Joe Marler was sin-binned for a late napping with a quick restart to set the British and Irish Lions and the Waikato Chiefs at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton Best. It was a potential banana-skin for tackle, but his replacement Alan him up and confi rm the big win. yesterday. (AFP)

RUGBY NBA Clippers introduce West as consultant Bellinger, Turner By Broderick Turner Los Angeles Times

oc Rivers shared a stage with Jerry West to his left and Lawrence Frank to his right, the three forming a part- nership they hope will someday deliver the Los Angeles Clippers an NBA championship. lead Dodgers in DThey offi cially joined forces Monday when Rivers introduced West as a consultant to the Clippers and a voice to provide wisdom and knowledge to an organisation seeking success in the playoff s. Rivers, the team’s coach and president of basketball operations, and West, whose adviser role will be similar to the one he held with the NBA champion Golden State Warriors the last six seasons, are the prominent fi gures in this relationship. Frank, vice president of basketball operations, will be around to provide input. 10-6 win over Mets According to Rivers, he fi rst thought about bringing West on board when Rivers was promoted from senior vice president of basketball operations to his current position in 2014. ‘It’s unbelievable. This guy swings a bat and he hits it on the barrel. Pretty impressive’ “It’s something honestly when I fi rst got the job as president, I started throwing out feelers,” Rivers said during a new conference at the Clippers practice facility. “I just thought Jerry would be a By Bill Shaikin perfect fi t for me. And I think him and Lawrence working together, Los Angeles Times they are going to be terrifi c. They are going to be terrifi c for me.” West, who said he was going to be with the Clippers “for two years,” said he just wants to provide the insight of an executive s the Los Angeles who made the Los Angeles Lakers into a top-notch championship Dodgers have crossed franchise, the Memphis Grizzlies into a consistent playoff partici- these United States this pant and the Warriors into today’s powerhouse. month, from Missouri “I am not going to be someone who is going to be someone sec- toA Wisconsin, to California and ond-guessing anything you do,” West said to Rivers and Frank. “I then through Ohio, Cody Bell- am going to give you my opinion if they ask. I know the pecking inger hears the same question. order here.” Home run derby, yay or nay? Managing egos can be tricky in sports, something West touched There is a third option, one so on when asked how he plans to work with Rivers. “I would like to audacious that few would dare think the people I work with, if they think I’m going to have an ego, attempt it. Bellinger has, with I’m not,” West said. “I’ll give my opinion, but somebody’s going to enviable success. make a decision. But in this case, I’m not making a decision, which See, Bellinger doesn’t need a I’m fi ne with. I will not be a shrinking violet when giving my opin- batting-practice pitcher to go ion. But at the end of the day, I’m not making that decision. I just deep just about every night. He hope I can help make a diff erence here.” is turning the Dodgers schedule West didn’t shy away from answering questions about the Lak- into his own home run derby. ers, with whom he became famous as a Hall of Fame player and He does not need to go to the pre-eminent executive. History has credited West with making actual derby to make people take the Lakers into a dynasty that won fi ve NBA championships in the notice of his slugging prowess. 1980s and then rebuilding them into a team that won three con- He makes people go back, back, secutive titles from 2000-2002. back into the record books every West left the Lakers after they won the 2000 championship, time he circles the bases. was hired as general manager of the Grizzlies in 2002 and joined Bellinger hit two more home the Warriors in 2011. West admitted in a recent interview that he runs Monday, driving in four would have liked to return to the Lakers, who instead hired Magic runs and powering the Dodgers Johnson as president of basketball operations and Rob Pelinka as to a 10-6 victory over the New general manager. “Earvin Johnson, I admire a lot,” West said. “I York Mets. Justin Turner had want him to do well. But I hold no animosity to them at all. Abso- four hits, including a home run, lutely not. And honestly I think the fans have to just put it to rest. drove in four runs and lifted his Enough is enough, OK?” batting average to .399. The Clippers big three of Chris Paul, Blake Griffi n and DeAndre “It’s unbelievable,” Mets man- Jordan haven’t advanced beyond the second round of the playoff s ager Terry Collins said. “This in six seasons together. guy swings a bat and he hits it on the barrel. Pretty impressive.” For the second straight day Defi ant Foley says Wallabies can - this one in a game started by have world’s best attack Clayton Kershaw, no less - the Dodgers opened up a seven-run MELBOURNE: The Wallabies, execute exactly what we want lead but could not complete the under fire after a surprise to do, I don’t think there’s a game without closer Kenley home defeat to Scotland, can defence that can stop the at- Jansen getting loose. become the best attack- tacking abilities of the players Chris Hatcher walked the ing team in the world once in our team. “That’s what we’re bases loaded in the eighth in- combinations are bedded striving for and it’s not going ning, bringing Jose Reyes to the down, according to flyhalf to gel in one week. We have to plate, representing the tying Bernard Foley. Australia lost build it together, keep spending run. Reyes had homered twice 24-19 to Scotland in Sydney time as a combination and against Kershaw. Hatcher struck on Saturday to slip to fourth keep growing those connec- him out. in world rankings and trigger tions and that’s what we’re He spotted the rest of the Na- a firestorm of criticism from aiming to do.” tional League three weeks and fans and local media. New A review of the fumbled leads the league in home runs. Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Cody Bellinger hits a solo home run against the New York Mets during the second inning at Dodger South Wales Waratah Foley passes and turnovers during Bellinger spotted the rest of Stadium in Los Angeles. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports has worn much of the flak, for the Scotland game might give the National League three weeks, missing a penalty and a con- supporters less conviction and leads the league in home shaw on this warm night was fi rst time he had done so in more the evening. He homered in his As Johnson is well aware, the two version attempt at the week- that the Wallabies have the runs. He has 21, the fi rst major that the ball was fl ying for both than three years. He started the fi rst two at-bats and, if Scooter words that might best describe end and getting sin-binned skills to challenge the defence league player to hit so many in teams. For the fi rst time in his day leading the NL with a 2.23 Gennett could hit four in a game, Bellinger at this point are these: for a shoulder charge in the of the world champion the fi rst 51 games of his career. career, Kershaw gave up four earned-run average; he fi nished why not Bellinger? Big baller. first half, with the Wallabies All Blacks, who destroyed Mike Piazza holds the Dodgers home runs. He has given up 17 in second place at 2.61. He made In the fi fth inning, Bellinger conceding a try while he was Samoa 78-0 on Saturday. The rookie record with 35 home runs. home runs this season, a career 112 pitches, the second-most in struck out, twice swinging from RESULTS off the field. “I can honestly Wallabies also had plenty of If he keeps hitting homers at high in a season not quite to the his 15 starts this season. his heels. In the seventh, he lined Dodgers 10 Mets 6 say that this Australian team possession deep in Scottish his current pace, Bellinger would halfway point. He started the He also walked one and struck out. In the eighth, in his fi nal at- Marlins 8 Nationals 7 can be the best attack in the territory to find a late try and fi nish with 58. seventh inning at 100 pitches. He out 10, meaning the stuff was bat, he singled. Indians 12 Orioles 0 world and we’re going to keep change the result but were The franchise record - Brook- did not fi nish the inning, yanked fi ne but the location was not, Before Bellinger’s fourth at- Royals 4 Red Sox 2 pursuing that and tirelessly unable to find a way through lyn, Los Angeles, rookie, vet- after Reyes took him deep for the and the fl y balls that might have bat, Dodgers co-owner and Lak- Cubs 3 Padres 2 working on it to make sure it despite the urgings of home eran, whatever - is 49, by Shawn second time in the game. otherwise been caught kept on ers president of basketball op- Pirates 8 Brewers 1 gets there,” Foley told local fans. Australia play Italy at on Green in 2001. Kershaw walked off the eld,fi going in the warm atmosphere. erations Magic Johnson tweeted Braves 9 Giants 0 media in Brisbane. “It’s just Saturday, their last test before The franchise player on dis- stomped around the dugout, Besides the home runs, the his congratulations to the rookie. Reds 7 Rays 3 making sure we’re all on the taking on the All Blacks in the play Monday was Kershaw, the then kicked the bench with his Mets went two for 20 against Two home runs, the major Blue Jays 7 Rangers 6 same page when we run out Rugby Championship opener three-time Cy Young Award right foot. Kershaw, with no extra-base league record for fastest to 21, Astros 4 Athletics 1 there. “When we go out and in August. winner. The problem for Ker- He gave up six earned runs, the hits. Bellinger brought a buzz to and the NL lead in home runs? Mariners 6 Tigers 2 Gulf Times Wednesday, June 21, 2017 5 SPORT

BOXING GOLF Tiger says getting Mayweather return ‘professional help’ won’t overshadow me, says Golovkin ‘This (Mayweather-McGregor) is not for fighters, but business’

AFP London

ennady Golovkin has dis- missed the idea that Floyd Mayweather Jr’s comeback against Conor McGregor will Govershadow his September 16 clash with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez. WBC-IBF-WBA middleweight champion Golovkin defends his world title belts at the T-Mobile Arena three weeks after Mayweather faces Conor McGregor at the same Las Vegas ven- ue. Five-weight world champion May- weather, now 40, will not have fought for nearly two years by the time he faces 27-year-old Irishman McGregor, a mixed martial arts fi ghter, on Aug 26. AFP him struggling to pass a sobriety test, But McGregor, a two-weight UFC Miami Woods said he has sought aid in fi ght- champion, has never fought as a pro- ing medicating issues. fessional boxer and faces the sport’s “I’m currently receiving profes- best practitioner for decades. iger Woods, arrested three sional help to manage my medications Golovkin (37-0, 33 KOs), 35, insists weeks ago for impaired driving, and the ways that I deal with back pain his fi ght with Alvarez (49-1-1, 34 KOs) said Monday he is receiving and a sleep disorder,” Woods wrote in a is bigger and of more signifi cance than “professional help” to man- posting on Twitter. Mayweather-McGregor, which he Tage his medications and help cope with “I want to thank everyone for the sees as a “circus show”. back pain and a sleep disorder. amazing outpouring of support and “This (Mayweather-McGregor) Woods, a 14-time major golf cham- understanding, especially the fans and is not for fi ghters, but business,” pion who has not won a PGA Tour title players on tour.” Golovkin told reporters at a press con- Gennady Golovkin (right) and Canelo Alvarez pose after the press conference in London on Monday. (Reuters) since 2013, was arrested May 29 when Mark Steinberg, Woods’s agent, told ference in London Monday. police in Jupiter, Florida, found him ESPN that the golf star was undergoing “I think people understand what is evision viewers. Only one world title — the WBO — “He needs to come down in weight asleep at the wheel of his car on a road. “in-patient treatment.” a true fi ght, a boxing fi ght, like mine But Golovkin-Alvarez is a fi ght will not be on the line when the pair if he want to fi ght one of us. I’ve never A police report uncovered by The Last month, Woods announced he with Canelo or a big show, maybe for the ages, one of the most eagerly collide, but the winner on Monday was really watched him or studied him. Golf Channel said Woods told authori- had undergone a fourth back surgery sometimes for people a funny show, awaited boxing match-ups in recent off ered the chance to fi ght for it later “With one hand tied behind my ties he had not been drinking but had a that would cause him to miss the rest of like a circus show. memory. this year. back and with my eyes closed I will reaction to several prescription drugs, the season, ending a comeback that be- “Everybody knows — Conor is not It pits two crowd-pleasing icons Alvarez, who cruised to a wide still beat him.” including Xanax, which can be used to gan in December but lasted only three boxer, just show. If you want to watch against each other to decide the points win over fellow Mexican Julio Saunders was linked to fi ghting treat insomnia. tournaments. a show please watch them, if you want world’s best middleweight. Cesar Chavez Jr in May, admitted he Golovkin in his homeland of Kaza- Woods, 41, was arrested on suspicion Woods, who last won a major title at to watch a true fi ght, a true boxing Golovkin, a knockout machine from did not know who WBO world middle- khstan on June 10, but the fi ght never of driving under the infl uence of drugs the 2008 US Open, has won 79 career fi ght and you respect boxing, watch Kazakhstan but now based in Califor- weight champion Billy Joe Saunders happened. or alcohol, although he did not show PGA titles, three shy of Sam Snead’s my fi ght with Canelo. nia, has made 18 consecutive world (24-0, 12 KOs) was when the Briton “He talks too much, but he’s not a any sign of alcohol in a breathalyser all-time record. “This is business. Conor with Floyd middleweight title defences and was addressed him at a press conference in promoter,” Triple G told reporters at a test. His arraignment on those charges Next week’s PGA event in suburban is not a boxing fi ght because Conor taken to points for the fi rst time since London on Monday. press conference in London Monday. has been set for August 9. Washington is operated by Woods’s is not a boxer. Money fi ght OK, show 2008 by American Daniel Jacobs in Saunders, who asked Canelo why he “I told my promoter Tom Leoffl er I In his fi rst comments since the re- charity foundation, with the player of- fi ght OK.” March. had not fought Golovkin sooner, holds wanted this [Saunders] fi ght for June lease of police video footage showing ten serving as host. Regardless of some dismissing it as Alvarez, 26, also has an impressive the only world middleweight title not 10 and he said he wasn’t ready. He has a mismatch, Mayweather-McGregor record that has seen him win world in Glolovkin’s hands and wants to face said no two times and he has wasted is expected to do record business titles in two weight divisions with one the winner of the Sep 16 showdown. my time. I said I’m ready for this fi ght for a boxing fi ght and may eclipse blemish — by majority points decision “I didn’t even recognise him,” Alva- in Kazakhstan but he said no and I Henderson, Bradley, Andrade capture trios Golovkin-Alvarez in revenue and tel- to Mayweather in 2013. rez told reporters Monday. turned my focus to Canelo.” title by one stroke

HORSE RACING Injured Dettori out of Royal Ascot

AFP Shutter Speed in the French Oaks on Velazquez, who has won the Ken- London Sunday. tucky Derby twice as well as the Bel- But Dettori said the injury was still mont Stakes amog other big race troubling him, meaning he will miss successes, originally had just the one eading jockey Frankie Det- all fi ve days of the Royal meeting, one ride another of Ward’s runners in the tori said yesterday he had been of the highlights of the English racing Windsor Castle Elizabeth Darcy. ruled out of this week’s Royal calendar, which started yesterday. Elizabeth Darcy will now be ridden for Ascot meeting with an arm in- He had four rides on the opening 49-year-old Ward — the fi rst American Ljury. day alone, including favourite Ameri- to have trained a winner at Royal Ascot “I’ve been trying so hard to get fi t for can speedster Lady Aurelia in the back in 2009 — by Edgar Prado. today but had to accept this morning it King’s Stand Stakes. Dettori’s ride on another Ameri- wasn’t going to happen,” Dettori said The ride on Lady Aurelia — who can challenger American Patriot in in a statement to Ascot racecourse. stormed home by seven lengths in the the opening Group One Queen Anne “I’ve got to have physio and get it Queen Mary Stakes under Dettori last Stakes has also been snapped up by properly looked after so won’t be at year — is taken by American legend Velazquez. Ascot this week. John Velazquez. Three-times the champion jockey “For me that’s soul-destroying as The 45-year-old has also been giv- in Great Britain, Dettori’s best-known Canada’s Brooke Henderson (right) birdied the final hole to give herself, it’s the most important week of the en the nod by Lady Aurelia’s trainer achievement came at Ascot on Sep- Keegan Bradley and co-host Billy Andrade a one-stroke victory Monday at year. I’ll be counting the days until sustained the injury in a paddock fall Wesley Ward for the prized mount of tember 28, 1996, when he won all sev- the 19th annual CVS Health Charity Classic. A day after winning her fourth next year,” the 46-year-old added. at Yarmouth, eastern England, last Nootka Sound in the fi nal race on the en races on that day’s card at the Berk- career LPGA title, and first in almost a year, at the Meijer Classic, Henderson The British-based Italian rider Tuesday but was passed fi t to ride card the Windsor Castle Stakes. shire course, southwest of London. picked up another win in the three-tour unoff icial event at par-71 Rhode Island Country Club in Barrington. The one-day event unites one player each from the US PGA, LPGA and 50-and-over PGA Champions Tour on each of six teams CALENDAR UPDATE with the two low scores on each hole counting for the trio. Henderson and Americans Bradley and Andrade were deadlocked with Americans Jon Cur- ran, Paula Creamer and Mark O’Meara at 13-under par as both groups reached the tee at the par-4 18th hole. O’Meara’s birdie gave his group the lead but Bradley, who missed the cut at last week’s US Open, birdied to level the score F1 triple-header due to 2018 World Cup fi nal at 14-under and Henderson followed with the winning birdie to give her trio the title, the first for Rhode Island native Andrade in his 19 years as co-host Reuters year it has got this unique event, the listed with asterisks against them, as tending its contract with Formula with Brad Faxon. Geneva World Cup fi nal,” Carey said at an FIA subject to confi rmation with the com- One, the trade ministry said Tuesday Sport Conference in Geneva. mercial rights holder, but Carey said as negotiations for the night race to “So part of the schedule of having there was no concern about those rac- continue in the city-state are under- Asian Tour to co-sanction New Zealand Open ormula One decided to pack three (races) in a row was because we es not happening. way. fi ve European races into six did not think it was ideal for a promot- He also did not expect the draft “Negotiations for the term renewal The Asian Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia have agreed to co-sanction the weeks on its 2018 calendar er to have an event (go) head-to-head calendar to change, as was the case for F1 is ongoing and a decision has not New Zealand Open in 2018 and 2019, off icials said on Tuesday. Prize money because organisers wanted to with the World Cup fi nal.” in past years when former supremo been reached,” a ministry spokesper- will count towards the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit and 30 Tour members will avoidF a clash with the World Cup fi nal Carey said Formula One manage- Bernie Ecclestone drew it up. son told AFP in an e-mailed reply. “The be included at the event, which will be played from March 1 to 4 next year at in Russia, chairman Chase Carey said ment had discussed the situation with “It’s just the reality of having agree- process is a deliberate one to carefully The Hills and the Millbrook Resort in Queenstown. The tournament, which is yesterday. promoters before deciding to hold the ments that have come up. We’re nego- consider the terms and benefi ts.” in the pro-am format, had been co-sanctioned by the European Tour and the The 21-race calendar was published unprecedented triple-header. tiating new agreements, we’re having Singapore’s Formula One future US PGA Tour’s secondary Nationwide Tour in the past, but has been solely by the governing International Auto- “We made sure with our partners good, constructive discussions, and hangs in the balance as the city-state sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia since 2011. A smaller scale col- mobile Federation (FIA) on Monday that it was manageable,” he added. expect to get there,” Carey said of the looks to renegotiate its contract to laboration this year saw 10 Asian Tour members feature in the tournament. with grands prix in France, Austria “I think everybody thought that was two Asian races. host the sport’s only night race. “Following a landmark tri-partite agreement, the Asian Tour will now become and Britain taking place on successive manageable and within that schedule “We don’t expect it to be 19, we ex- Singapore’s 23-turn, Marina Bay a full co-sanctioning partner of the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open...,” off icials weekends on June 24, July 1 and 8. (we) did preserve the four-week break pect it to be 21. We wouldn’t have put street circuit is seen as one of the most said in a statement. “We are thrilled to become an off icial co-sanctioning Races in Germany and Hungary in August.” it out if we didn’t expect it to be 21, but challenging on the calendar and has partner of the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open which will provide a won- will also be held on July 22 and 29. The The 2018 calendar has one more the reality is we don’t have a complet- proved popular with fans. derful opportunity for 30 Asian Tour members per year to compete in this 2018 World Cup fi nal will take place at race than this year’s due to the return ed agreement.” But organisers said a slowing eco- outstanding tournament in 2018 and 2019,” Asian Tour CEO Josh Burack said. Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium on July 15. of France, after a 10-year absence, and nomic climate has seen daily attend- The tournament will off er a minimum prize fund of NZ$1.1mn ($796,840), the “Every year there is always a unique Germany while Malaysia departs. SINGAPORE WON’T BE RUSHED ance slump to 73,000 in 2016 from statement said. thing we’re playing around and next China and Singapore were both Singapore will not be rushed into ex- 87,000 in 2015. Gulf Times 6 Wednesday, June 21, 2017 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT TRANSFER Liverpool set to seal Donnarumma staying Salah signing from Roma for £35mn

The Guardian Liverpool, who wanted the play- London er in 2014 only to see him move to calm as AC Milan Chelsea instead from the Swiss club Basel. He struggled to make iverpool expect to sign an impact at Stamford Bridge, Mohamed Salah before however, and in 2015 moved to the end of the week, with Italy, joining Fiorentina on loan the winger due to have before moving to Roma, also on La medical on Merseyside before loan, soon after. That became a transfer tension rises completing a £35mn transfer long-term move last August and from Roma. Salah left his native Salah has subsequently fl our- Egypt yesterday and is likely to ished for the Giallorossi. Last Fake bank notes, alleged threats and contrasting narratives form the backdrop as have his medical at Liverpool’s season he scored 15 goals and as- Melwood base. Personal terms sisted 13 others in 31 league ap- the Italy Under-21 goalkeeper aims to secure a future away from San Siro are believed to have been agreed pearances. Klopp believes Salah with the 24-year-old. can provide Liverpool with an The deal will bring to an end a injection of pace in their front- period of negotiations between line, something all but absent Liverpool and Roma that began when Sadio Mane is unavailable, at the start of the month and saw and such is the manager’s keen- the Serie A club reject an initial ness to acquire the player that £28mn bid. With Jurgen Klopp Liverpool are poised to make him determined to sign Salah an in- the joint most-expensive sign- creased amount, which could rise ing in their history, following with add-ons, was eventually of- the £35mn spent on purchasing fered. Signing Salah represents Andy Carroll from Newcastle a case of second time lucky for United in January 2011.

Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah. (Reuters)

Highly-rated goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma is regarded as the heir apparent to legend Gianluigi Buff on for Italy. Leipzig, Salzburg both By Ed Aarons keep a player by threatening him. He was protracted takeover of the seven-time €38mn appear to have failed to convince The Guardian ready to sign a new contract, there were European champions from Silvio Ber- Raiola that Li is the real deal. Most reveal- no doubts in his mind,” Raiola said. “They lusconi, there was a hint of what was to ingly, his admission that Milan have not cleared to compete in the forced us to abandon the negotiations be- come. Questioned over the prospect of enquired as to the availability of Zlatan See? I’m always smiling,” said Gi- cause of the environment created around Donnarumma committing his future to Ibrahimovic after Manchester United Champions League anluigi Donnarumma as he was him. I take the responsibility. They forced the club he joined for £200,000 from Na- confi rmed the veteran striker will not hurriedly ushered through the us. It was Milan that lost Donnarumma. poli only four years previously, Milan’s be at Old Traff ord next season certainly Zurich: Bundesliga runners-up Bull Salzburg, and then SSV mixed zone in Krakow, Poland af- He said to me: ‘Honestly Mino, I don’t chief executive at the time, the long- spoke volumes about their relationship. RB Leipzig and Austrian cham- Markranstaedt in 2009, giving ter“ Italy’s 2-0 win against Denmark in feel it is right to carry on negotiations.’” serving Adriano Galliani, had admitted “With Galliani, he’d already be here,” he pions Salzburg can both play it the name RB Leipzig. the European Under-21 Championship Raiola had promised an open press his doubts. told Gazzetta dello Sport. in the Champions League next It has argued that, following on Sunday night. Despite the brief delay conference, but in the end only three me- “Raiola wants to know what the ambi- The pawn in the middle of all this season after UEFA said it was a restructuring, it no longer in the fi rst half as stewards scrambled to dia outlets were given access to the meet- tions and future of Milan are, and who the is, lest we forget, is still only 18. Don- satisfied that energy drinks has a controlling stake in clear the fake dollar bills accumulated in ing, with the agent placing a strict mid- owners are,” said Galliani. “One is enti- narumma – whose deal at Milan expires manufacturer Red Bull does Salzburg and merely sponsors his goalmouth, it will clearly take more night embargo on his words. That meant tled to ask and he wants to see in the light next summer – delayed his fi nal school not have a controlling influence the club. Salzburg will enter than a few irate supporters to aff ect the the supporters who placed their “Dol- of a beautiful day who the owners are. We exams to link up with Luigi Di Biagio’s It- in both clubs. The club financial the Champions League in the Azzurri’s new golden boy. larumma” banner behind his goal in Kra- wait for the closing.” aly squad in Poland this month and while control board of European second qualifying round after Hours earlier Mino Raiola had been kow were unaware of Raiola’s accusations Four months later, and using a totally Raiola has claimed he has not discussed football’s governing body said winning the Austrian league holding court in the kitchen of his apart- that Milan are to blame for the situation. diff erent holding company to complete the prospect of his client joining Real in a statement yesterday that last season. ment in Monte Carlo as he sought to Milan have denied Raiola’s claims. the fi nal instalment of his €500mn pur- Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain or Juventus “no individual or legal entity” Leipzig will go straight into explain the decision to snub Milan’s of- “There were no threats,” said the CEO, chase, Li was fi nally announced as Mi- this summer, it seems inevitable that his had a decisive influence over the group stage after finish- fer of a new contract worth £80,000 a Marco Fassone. “Our position is clear: lan’s new owner. Yet after it emerged that future lies elsewhere – even if Milan seem more than one of the two ing second in the German week at the club Donnarumma joined as Donnarumma is not for sale, and (the the Chinese businessman had taken out a prepared to make him languish in the re- clubs. UEFA rules do not allow Bundesliga in their first season a 14-year-old. He holds Milan’s new Chi- coach) Vincenzo Montella will decide on €300mn loan from notorious US-based serves for a season. any two clubs competing in in top-flight football. UEFA said nese owners and sporting director, Mas- a weekly basis. As far as I am concerned, ‘vulture fund’ Elliot Management to “He didn’t get agitated, he remained European competition to share it had conducted a “thorough similiano Mirabelli, chiefl y to blame. he can play every game. However, we complete the deal, there were doubts over calm in a diffi cult situation and seemed the same owner. investigation” and that there “The situation had become too hos- cannot run any risks, so we need to seek whether he was the right person to usher like a 30-year-old,” refl ected Di Biagio In cases where that happens, had been “several important tile, so there was no way out,” claimed out another goalkeeper. “For example, if in a new dawn at a club that has failed to after the Denmark match. “He was ready priority is given to a team who governance and structural the agent, who has made a habit in recent San Siro were to protest during a game, recapture the glory days of the 1990s in to put up with something that goes be- are champions of their coun- changes made by the clubs”. It years of making some of Europe’s biggest that could take something away from his recent years. yond football.” try — meaning that Leipzig said it would “continue to moni- clubs to dance to his tune. concentration. From what Raiola says, Even a raft of signings since the end of As the anointed heir of Gianluigi Buf- would have missed out. Red tor both clubs to ensure that “We took a decision that we didn’t the lad seems very restless.” the season, including the left-back Ricar- fon, having already won four senior caps, Bull bought Austria Salzburg integrity rules are respected want to take. It was nothing to do with As far back as December last year, as do Rodríguez from Wolfsburg and Por- that is something Donnarumma may just in 2005, renaming it Red going forward”. money. We were threatened. You can’t Li Yonghong prepared to complete his tugal striker André Silva from Porto for have to get used to.

FOCUS Sunderland continue to pay the price for mismanagement

By Louise Taylor ball takeover specialist Dr Keith Harris to assist The Guardian him, stays on, he is currently minded to allow Moyes’s successor no more than £15m-20m to invest in the squad. Considering Sunderland uring an often proud history, featur- have just sold Jordan Pickford to Everton for ing the collection of six English league £30m and will receive £47m worth of parachute titles, Sunderland have variously been payments this season alone, it seems a bit pen- dubbed ‘the team of all the talents” ny-pinching. Short, though, has become fed-up andD the “Bank of England club”. of the transfer calamities his club specialised in These days the latter – attached in the 1950s as he worked his way through seven managers – seems something of a sick joke. After a decade in fi ve largely chaotic years. The latest example spent in the Premier League, the newly relegated features last week’s court of arbitration for sport Wearside club somehow fi nd themselves at least ruling that Sunderland must pay Internazionale £110mn in debt, up for sale and managerless. £9.2mn for Ricardo Álvarez. With 12, mostly out-of-contract, players Álvarez, signed by Gus Poyet, joined Sun- having departed since the end of last season, derland on a season-long loan in August 2014. the squad is looking skinny before the start of Ill-equipped for English football, the Argentin- pre-season training next week. A humiliating ian winger made only made fi ve Premier League miscalculation dictated that rather than rub- starts but his contract stipulated the club would ber-stamp the installation of Derek McInnes as have to sign him permanently providing they David Moyes’s successor last week, Aberdeen’s Sunderland’s Stadium of Light will be hosting Championship football next season, although the club’s ownership and manager have yet to be determined. avoided relegation. Sunderland claimed the manager had an 11th-hour change of heart, opt- clause became void, citing a knee problem which ing to remain at Pittodrie. football operation remains in limbo. nine fi rst-teamers clocked on for a pre-season be no nasty surprises, the new owner would they said Inter had neglected to address, but the With Martin Bain, Sunderland’s chief ex- Sunderland were so confi dent of recruit- trip to Austria. Short, who has been wanting then have to be approved by the Football League CAS eff ectively dismissed that argument. ecutive, having spent weeks courting McInnes ing McInnes and his backroom team that they to sell Sunderland for quite a while, appreciates before completion, suggesting that, realistical- Even so, it seems hard to credit precisely how it was an embarrassing rebuff but the latter’s parted company with Paul Bracewell, Moyes’s the potential to cause enduring damage and has ly, nothing is likely to be signed and sealed un- Sunderland are in such a mess after 10 years in camp maintain that, rather then merely playing former assistant, last week. His departure leaves set a deadline – thought to be early July – by til early autumn. More immediately, a price has the world’s wealthiest league. As their Swe- a game to secure enhanced terms at Aberdeen, Robbie Stockdale, the fi rst-team coach, prepar- which time a purchaser must have reached an to be agreed. Short – who has invested around den Under-21 striker Joel Asoro recently put it: the Scot was concerned that any prospective ing to take the players to Austria for a pre-sea- agreement in principle. Should no deal be on the £200mn of his personal fortune in Sunderand “Sunderland received £93m for fi nishing bot- new owner might not have wanted him at the son training camp. Signifi cantly, Stockdale is table by then the American fi nancier will aban- since 2008 – is understood to have rejected a tom of the Premier League. It’s crazy. Why don’t Stadium of Light. one of only three senior support staff –the oth- don talks and accept he is stuck with the club for £50mn bid from the German consortium and they have the money?” The answer resides amid It means that while Sunderland owner El- ers are the goalkeeping coach Adrian Tucker and the foreseeable future. remains resolute that he will not sell for less a catalogue of appalling buys by assorted man- lis Short continues to talk to both an unnamed academy manager Elliot Dickman – still in post. This deadline, intended to determine whether than £85mn, a signifi cant reduction from last agers. Damningly, Sunderland sold no player on German consortium and another fronted by There are shades of the chaos at Hull City the consortia are serious, could fi re the starting season’s £170mn asking price. Fulwell73’s in- for a profi t between August 2011 and January representatives of Fulwell73 – a TV production last summer when fevered talks about takeo- gun for due diligence. A routine process likely to terest is believed to be bankrolled by wealthy 2017 and have made money on only fi ve of the company run by fanatical Sunderland support- vers which never materialised prompted a re- take some weeks, it would involve the would-be American backers and they, too, are said to value last 48 they have traded. As Asoro added: “Sun- ers which envisages off ering the former England cruitment freeze which, in turn, prefaced Steve buyer going through Sunderland’s books with Sunderland at around £50mn. derland have had a lot of money, it’s just they defender Tony Adams a key role at the club – the Bruce’s resignation as manager and ensured only the help of forensic accountants. Should there If Short, who has hired the renowned foot- haven’t used it properly.” Gulf Times Wednesday, June 21, 2017 7 FOOTBALL

CONFEDERATIONS CUP FOCUS Socceroos Russia tackle embattled boss glum aft er defeat

AFP Ronaldo’s Portugal Sochi, Russia ustralia head coach Ange Postecoglou cut 'We saw how dangerous Portuguese counter-attacks can be against Mexico. We must be ready' a disappointed fi gure after their 3-2 opening ConfederationsA Cup defeat to AFP Moscow Germany, but expects the Soc- ceroos to bounce back against Cameroon on Thursday. Having ristiano Ronaldo’s Por- been hammered 4-0 by Brazil in tugal take on Confed- Melbourne last week in a friendly erations Cup hosts and ahead of the tournament in Rus- Group A leaders Russia sia, Australia stumbled again, todayC with the tax storm scan- losing to the world champions, dal clouding Ronaldo’s Real Ma- who fi elded an inexperienced drid future. Having opened their side on Monday in Sochi. Confed Cup campaign with a Lars Stindl, Leon Goretzka and 2-0 win over New Zealand, Rus- Julian Draxler — the latter from sia face a step up against Euro a penalty — scored for Germany, 2016 winners Portugal and their with Celtic midfi elder Tommy troubled superstar captain. Rogic and Tomi Juric netting Spanish authorities accuse for Australia. Juric’s eff ort on 56 Ronaldo of evading 14.7mn euro minutes was allowed to stand ($16.5mn) in tax and he has been despite a suggestion of handball summoned to appear in court leading to a review from the vid- next month in Madrid. The four- eo assistant referee. time world player of the year has Having found themselves 3-1 protested his innocence and has down just after the break, Aus- threatened to leave Real over the tralia rallied in Sochi and Juric’s matter. President Florentino Pe- eff ort reduced the defi cit before rez has said Champions League he, Robbie Kruse and James Troi- winners Real have so far received si all tested Germany goalkeeper no off ers for Ronaldo, the world’s Bernd Leno late on. There was to highest paid athlete according to be no equaliser, and Postecoglou Forbes magazine. was especially disappointed Despite the off -fi eld disrup- about the way his side started tion, Ronaldo picked up the the game. “It’s disappointing, man-of-the-match award in we were barely clinging on in the Portugal’s opening 2-2 draw fi rst half,” admitted Postecoglou. with Mexico on Sunday. Having “The second half was better, rattled the crossbar, Ronaldo’s we composed ourselves and got deft pass in the area found Ricar- back into things. It’s a loss and do Quaresma unmarked to open the loss falls on me, it’s my re- the scoring in Kazan. Javier Her- sponsibility. It was no fault of the nandez then equalised, only for players, they (Germany) took ad- Cedric to restore Portugal’s lead vantage in the fi rst half and they late on before Mexico equalised were way too good.” with a header by Hector Moreno The Socceroos, who lost all from the fi nal corner. three games on their last appear- “I was happy to have scored, ance at the Confederations Cup but sad about the result,” said in 2005, now face a crunch clash Quaresma. “We had enough with the African champions in chances to win the game.” Russian players take part in a training session ahead of their Confederation Cup match against Portugal at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow yesterday. (Reuters) Saint Petersburg in their second And Russia know the key to Group B outing. Cameroon are derailing Portugal is ensur- unlikely to off er the same threat ing Ronaldo has a quiet match as the Germans, even if the world at Moscow’s Spartak Stadium. New Zealand must be brave against Mexico: Hudson champions have come to Russia “The fi rst place in group after without a host of leading players. the fi rst game means nothing,” Sochi, Russia: New Zealand coach “We don’t want to go in and be fearful, “There is no question, it’s a said Russian midfi elder Alexey Anthony Hudson says the All Whites must or negative or sit back and let Mexico team full of character and it’s Miranchuk. “It only matters af- be brave against Mexico, knowing defeat do what they want. I’m expecting an not easy to play well against the ter three games. We saw how today will eff ectively end their Confedera- incredible spirit from our team — this is a best team in the world,” said the dangerous Portuguese counter- tions Cup hopes. Their 2-0 loss to hosts massive game for us.” 51-year-old Postecoglou. attacks can be against Mexico. Russia in Saturday’s opening Group A Goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic, who “They (Germany) caused us We must be ready for them.” match means Oceania champions New faces a busy night against the likes of problems down the left-hand The hosts will have vocal home Zealand have now gone a record ten ex-Manchester United striker Javier Hern- side and we had to move things support as their captain and games without a win at the Confedera- andez, believes New Zealand can pull off around after the break. They goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev is set tions Cup having left the 1999, 2003 and an upset. “We can definitely get a result probed for weaknesses, they to make his 100th appearance for 2009 editions empty-handed. against them,” said the 25-year-old. “We capitalised on the opportunities Russia. Portugal’s coach Fern- Following Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Por- were unlucky against them before so we’ll they had. We sat back too deep. ando Santos has said he will ro- tugal, Mexico are up-beat and favourites be going for three points.” As much as you try and set up tate his team through the Confed to win the showdown in Sochi. “We went Hernandez’s diving header against Por- the team to be brave in terms of Cup. After Portugal’s defensive toe-to-toe with the European champi- tugal leaves ‘Chicharito’, Mexico’s all-time where we want to defend, it’s hu- frailties were exposed against ons and we managed to keep Cristiano top-scorer, just two short of the 50-goals man nature to pull back and sit Mexico, Santos could inject some Ronaldo in check,” beamed Mexico coach tally. Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio is deeper than you’d like.” pace in midfi eld by starting with Juan Carlos Osorio after Sunday’s draw expected to rotate his team, which could However, his opposite number Gelson Martins, Nelson Semedo in Kazan. see captain Rafa Marquez, 38, make his Joachim Loew said Australia have and Andre Silva. Strangely, Por- In contrast, underdogs New Zealand first Confed Cup start. developed since Postecoglou tugal have never won in Moscow, must break their goal-drought to have Marquez is the only player at Rus- took charge in 2013. Indeed, losing all three of their previous a chance against Mexico. After friendly sia 2017 to have previously lifted the Loew believes the Socceroos games there. The Soviet Union 1-0 defeats to both Northern Ireland and New Zealand players at a training session in Sochi, Russia. (AFP) Confederations Cup when hosts Mexico have come a long way since their beat Portugal 5-0 in a Euro- Belarus en route to Russia, the All Whites beat Brazil 4-3 in the 1999 final. “We’ve 4-0 rout at the hands of Germa- pean championships qualifying have now played three matches in the Zealand lost 2-1 to Mexico in a friendly “We need to be positive, we need to be been trying to figure out if they will make ny in the group stage of the 2010 match in the Russian capital in last two weeks without scoring. last October and Hudson, 36, expects a brave. Mexico are a world-class side and chances,” said NZ boss Hudson. World Cup. “From what I have 1983. Then in 2012 Russia won a They badly need a good result against spirited showing from his side. we’re the smallest team in the competi- “They have players with quality in all seen there has been a positive de- World Cup qualifi er 1-0 against the Mexicans with Euro 2016 winners “We’re determined to approach his tion. But we played them in October in positions, but I believe the style will stay velopment from where Australia Portugal and ran out winners by Portugal to follow in St Petersburg on game with the right mind-set and we front of 40,000 fans, it was a close game the same. It’s a world-class squad and an was in 2010 — they liked long the same slender scoreline in a Saturday in their final group match. New definitely want to progress,” said Hudson. and we caused them problems. incredible test.” balls then and that was easy for friendly in 2015. us to defend against,” said Loew.

ROUND-UP Maradona prefers Messi, but dubs Ronaldo ‘incredible’ Argentinian footballing legend Deigo laws of the game, authorised VAR to be used on Netherlands 2-0 in March in a key World Cup Maradona (right) has said that he preferred an experimental basis in March 2016. It can only qualifi er. The Dutch have now moved up to third compatriot Lionel Messi to Cristiano Ronaldo be used to decide whether or not to award a goal spot in Group A, with Sweden taking top place all the while dubbing the Portugal captain an or a penalty, for straight red cards and in cases ahead of France, after reversing their fortunes ‘incredible’ player. “I can’t remember having of mistaken player identity. under new coach Dick Advocaat with a stunning seen Lionel Messi play badly,” Maradona told 5-0 win over Luxembourg earlier this month. TyCSports. “I prefer Messi to Cristiano Ronaldo NORDTVEIT LEAVES WEST HAM But under Van Breukelen’s watch The but I acknowledge that the latter is an animal. FOR HOFFENHEIM Netherlands failed to qualify for Euro 2016 in He’s incredible,” said the 1986 World Cup win- West Ham United midfi elder Havard Nordtveit France and then sank in Group A after their ner. Speaking from Dubai, where he now lives, has moved to German Bundesliga side Hoff en- shock defeat by Bulgaria. Despite the odds being Maradona added that he’d wished Ronaldo, who heim for an undisclosed fee, the Premier League stacked against them, the Dutch remain hopeful is Portuguese, was Argentinian. “He makes me club said yesterday. The Norway international of snatching a seat in Russia with upcoming think of Gabriel Batistuta,” the Argentina striker had joined them from another German side, qualifi ers against France in Paris on August 31, who starred at three World Cup fi nals. “As soon Borussia Moenchengladbach, a year ago on a and Bulgaria on September 3. as he touched the ball, it was a goal.” free transfer. Nordtveit played 21 games in all Turning back to Messi, Maradona said the competitions for the London club. He will get BUCCHI TAKES OVER FROM Barcelona player was still the world’s best the opportunity to play Champions League DI FRANCESCO AT SASSUOLO despite not having won a World Cup. “Alone, football after Hoff enheim achieved their high- Former Perugia coach Cristian Bucchi was he will not be able to win the World Cup. You est-ever league position of fourth last season. named as the new boss of Serie A side Sassuolo, need a solid team for that. Football history will after Eusebio di Francesco left to take over at remember Messi,” said Maradona. “Football was when the video assistant awarded Aus- That is what VAR is all about. The VAR tests DUTCH FEDERATION’S VAN Roma last week. Former Napoli forward Bucchi has given him a lot, as much as he has given the tralia a goal in their 3-2 defeat to Germany on used during this Confederations Cup are also BREUKELEN QUITTING led Perugia to a fourth-placed fi nish in the Ital- sport and to win a World Cup, in my opinion, Monday, despite replays appearing to show a helping us to improve the processes and fi ne- Hans van Breukelen announced yesterday he is ian second tier last season, but they lost in the wouldn’t bring himself anything else.” handball from eventual scorer Tomi Juric in the tune communication. What fans have been stepping down as the technical director of the play-off semi-fi nals to Benevento, who went on build-up. There was also confusion on Sunday waiting for over so many years is fi nally hap- Dutch Football Federation (KNVB) after a some- to win promotion to the top fl ight. VIDEO TECHNOLOGY IS THE as Eduardo Vargas saw his apparent goal for pening. This is a milestone tournament. Video times rocky 13 months in the job. He leaves on The 40-year-old was also in charge at Pescara FUTURE OF FOOTBALL: INFANTINO Chile ruled out for a marginal off side over a assistant refereeing is the future of modern August 1 just weeks before key matches as the in Serie A for 11 matches in 2013, although they FIFA president Gianni Infantino has strongly minute after he had started his celebrations. “I football.” Dutch national team battles for a place in next drew one game and lost 10 with him at the helm defended the use of video assistant referees am extremely happy with VAR so far,” Infantino In April, Infantino said that the technology year’s World Cup fi nals in Russia. on the way to relegation. Sassuolo fi nished 12th (VAR) during the fi rst round of group-stage said in a statement. would be used at the 2018 World Cup after “very Van Breukelen had come under pressure over last term, after Di Francesco had taken them matches at the Confederations Cup in Russia. “We have seen how video assistance has positive feedback”. The International Football the replacement of former coach Danny Blind into the Europa League in 2016 with a sixth- The latest of the fi ve decisions to go to review helped referees to make the correct decisions. Association Board (IFAB), which governs the who was sacked after Bulgaria defeated The placed eff ort.

Wednesday, June 21, 2017 GULF TIMES SPORT

Qatar in FIBA 3x3 World Cup quarters SPOTLIGHT More than 1,000 participants for Aspire’s Ramadan Sports Festival

By Sports Reporter nity and encouraging active and Doha healthy lifestyles. “The new tournaments we in- troduced this year proved to be or the last six consecutive a great success and helped en- years, Aspire Zone Foun- courage more people to get in- dation’s (AZF) Ramadan volved and stay active during the Sports Festival (RSF) has holy month of Ramadan and this becomeF a must-attend event for year’s stats clearly demonstrate local community members look- that the festival getting more ing for fun, interactive and sports popular by the year. Importantly, focused activities during the events like this help us fulfi l one holy month of Ramadan. of our core objectives which is to Sponsored by Ooredoo and promote healthy and active life- Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Co., styles among the local commu- this year’s RSF did not disap- nities in Qatar and I think that point, being bigger and better this year’s festival once again than previous years and attract- proves that people in Qatar are ing over 1,000 participants who keen to get involved with sport- took part in a number of new ing community events. We’re sporting tournaments that all already looking forward to next took place at Aspire’s world- year’s activities.” Qatar’s Erfan Ali Saeed (centre) tries to go past Sri Lanka’s Isuru Perera (left) during their Pool C match at the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2017 in Nantes, France, yesterday. Qatar class sporting facilities. Families were particularly won the match 20-4. Earlier in the day, Ukraine stayed unbeaten in the group by edging out Qatar in a thriller 21-20. Having secured the second spot in the pool stage, Qatar Commenting on the success- keen to join the sporting fun this have made it to the quarter-finals. (FIBA) ful conclusion of this year’s festi- year, with hundreds cheering on val, AZF Events manager Abdul- their friends and loved ones after lah Aman al-Khater said, “The Tarawih prayers. The large turnout Ramadan Sports Festival is just made the festival a real sporting FOCUS one of our excellent events that spectacle, with moments of sheer form a part of our year-round excitement and anticipation for programme of activities aimed the crowds who in turn encour- at engaging the local commu- aged those participating.

RSF in numbers

1,054 participants Cricket Tournament: 90 play- Troubled Ronaldo 133 matches; 125 hours of play ers across 10 teams 11 sports tournaments Hockey Tournament: 72 male Men’s Basketball: 96 players players across 8 teams across 12 teams Volleyball Tournaments: 108 Men’s Football: 208 players men and 70 women across 16 teams Table Tennis for Special Futsal for Juniors: 88 players Needs: 30 players in the only across 8 teams Ramadan tournament of its gets court date Futsal for AZF Staff : 208 kind in Qatar employees from AZF and its Ladies Fitness Challenge: 25 member organisations – Aspire of AZF’s female employees Mourinho too is accused of tax fraud while he coached Real from 2010 to 2013 Academy, Aspetar and Aspire Walk in the Dome: 200 par- Logistics ticipants AFP “But something really bizarre would Madrid have to happen if he were to leave this club.” Perez said he could understood why COMMENT ristiano Ronaldo’s woes deep- Ronaldo had been upset after he was ac- ened yesterday when the star cused last week of tax fraud. striker who reportedly wants to He said that Ronaldo had clearly done quit Real Madrid was summoned nothing wrong and Perez was appalled Former Chelsea toC appear before a judge investigating tax that the “presumption of innocence is fraud. not respected” by the media who have Ronaldo, 32, said to have vowed that he branded the played a delinquent. player Mikel praises would never play for Real Madrid again, As for Mourinho, Manchester United was ordered to appear in a Madrid court 54-year-old Portuguese coach, he stands on July 31 to answer four counts of tax accused of two counts of tax fraud while he Aspetar’s expertise evasion of 14.7mn euro ($16.5mn). coached Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013. Spain’s Budget Minister Cristobal Perez, a 70-year-old construction Montoro urged media to respect the pre- magnate said to be close to Ronaldo, was By Sports Reporter sumption of innocence regarding the elected unopposed Monday for a third Doha four-time world player of the year. term in charge of Europe’s most success- “What is very important for me is to ful club. insist that no one is a criminal if he is not His fi rst big challenge is keeping Ro- ormer Chelsea star and convicted,” Montoro told a press confer- naldo at the club he joined in 2009 from current Tianjin TEDA ence. “That is why we must apply the Manchester United for a record 94 mn midfi elder John Obi principle of presumption of innocence in euros ($105.3 mn). Mikel praised the world- all areas.” Perez has dismissed speculation that Fclass treatment facilities and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after the 2017 Confederations Cup group A football Unhappy Ronaldo has left his future match between Portugal and Mexico in Kazan on Sunday. (AFP) Ronaldo is trying to put pressure on Real services at Aspetar, Qatar’s or- at the Spanish giants in doubt after an- so that they will bear some of the burden thopaedic and sports medicine grily announcing last week that his “con- of an eventual fi ne for tax evasion as Bar- hospital, while in Doha for re- science is clear.” back him as fully as he had hoped in his In an earlier report Marca said Ronaldo celona did for Lionel Messi. habilitation after sustaining an Spanish tax authorities are also tar- dispute with the taxman. has told his teammates he was leaving and Manchester United have so far made no injury that kept him out of action geting Jose Mourinho, the Manchester And he has also complained on multi- “there is no turning back”. comment on reports they are interested early this year. United manager who was on Tuesday ac- ple occasions in the past about Real sup- in buying back the player for an estimated The Nigeria captain admit- cused of evading 3.3mn euro ($3.7mn) in porters, who have resorted at times to REALLY BIZARRE 200mn euros, on top of the release fee. ted to choosing Aspetar as his tax during his stay at Real Madrid. jeering and booing his performance on However, Perez said that he had not spo- Since extending his contract in No- preferred destination due to the Montoro said, however, that sports the pitch. ken to Ronaldo, who is on duty for Portu- vember until 2021, Ronaldo is accord- renown of its internationally- stars must be “exemplary” and “particu- However club president Florentino Pe- gal at the Confederations Cup in Russia, ing to Forbes the highest paid sports star recognised physiotherapists. larly scrupulous in the fulfi lment of their rez disclosed that no off ers had been re- which ends on July 2. in the world with $93mn (83m euro) in Speaking about his decision to tax obligations” because their actions ceived by Real to tempt Ronaldo away and He also confi rmed that Ronaldo’s con- 2016-2017. choose Aspetar as his preferred “radiate over the whole society, for ex- the club was determined to keep him. tract was ring-fenced by a one bn euro Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea are destination, Mikel said: “After ample on youth, children”. “Ronaldo is a Real player and will con- release clause. also reported to be interested but Bay- picking up an injury in the sec- According to media reports Ronaldo is tinue to be so as far as we are concerned,” “I have not spoken with him. We don’t ern Munich president Karl-Heinz Rum- ond game of the season in China, unsettled at Real Madrid because he be- Perez told Marca sports daily Tuesday. want to disturb his concentration with menigge denied the German champions I thought of heading to London lieves the European champions did not “No off er has been received for him.” the national team,” said Perez. would make an off er. for surgery.” “Then I started making some phone calls to ask about the best treatment centres, especially lifestyle as quickly and safely for an athlete with my injury. I as possible with a proven track Qatar Olympic football team in training decided to come to Qatar after record of screening, treating and learning that Aspetar has very rehabilitating world-renowned good rehab centres, and physi- international athletes. otherapists who have a lot of Aspetar has become an ideal expertise in the fi eld and know treatment and rehabilitation what they are doing. I spent 11 destination for elite athletes years with my former club, Chel- from Europe, including Stoke sea, and I have always had my City goalkeeper Jack Butland, treatments there before moving whose injury left him out of ac- to China. I think Aspetar’s facili- tion for a year, Northern Ireland ties, physiotherapists and doc- and Watford FC footballer, Craig tors are similar to Chelsea’s. That Cathcart, and Icelandic foot- is also why I enjoy my time here,” ballers Eidur Gudjohnsen and he added. Alfred Finnbogason. As the of- Aspetar has one of the most fi cial medical partner to French advanced rehabilitation depart- club Paris-Saint Germain (PSG), ments in the region, equipped Aspetar’s experts have also pro- with the best expertise and the vided surgical treatment for in- latest technologies. The hos- jured players Thomas Meunier pital’s method focuses on as- and Ivan Kurzawa. sessment and treatment of in- Former French Interna- jured athletes by implementing tional and Sunderland foot- high-level injury treatment pro- baller Younes Kaboul and Club grammes. Brugge’s Abdoulay Diaby left Utilising an evidence-based Aspetar last week after receiving approach, Aspetar’s experienced treatment in the hospital, mak- Qatar Olympic team coach Felix Sanchez (centre) talks to his players during a training session on Monday. The team has been preparing for AFC U-23 Championship practitioners in physiotherapy ing them the latest international qualifiers that will start on July 19 in Doha. PICTURES: Fadi al-Assaad and rehabilitation aim to re- players to benefi t from Aspetar’s turn patients to their pre-injury services.