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Sunday, August 22, 2021 TENNIS Muharram 14, 1443 AH Barty powers GULF TIMES past Kerber into Cincinnati fi nal SPORT Page 2

FOCUS Qatar swimming team shines at 28th GCC Aquatic Championships

QNA more experience given that the Doha team is in the stage of prepara- tion and development. He praised the Qatari team’s atar national swim- accomplishment of the title ming team yesterday of the age group after winning won 4 medals (one 30 gold medals, stressing that gold, two silvers and this number of medals which is oneQ bronze) in the general stages achieved for the fi rst time re- of the 28th GCC Aquatic Cham- fl ects the development of the pionships, currently in session Qatari swimming level. in Doha with the participation He underlined the great at- of the six GCC countries. tention paid by the QSA to all The tournament is organised teams in order to advance their by Qatar Swimming Association performance and achieve more at Hamad Aquatics Centre and Qatar Swimming Association President Khaleel al-Jabir (left) crowns distinguished results in future will conclude today. the winners of the men’s 18 and over 200m medley, which was Qatar’s Abdulaziz al-Obaidly (second from left) won silver in men’s 50m breaststroke at the Hamad competitions at all levels. In yesterday’s competitions, topped by Qatar’s Mohamed Mahmoud (centre) yesterday. Aquatic Complex yesterday. Swimmer Mohamed Mah- Mohamed Mahmoud won the moud was delighted after win- gold in the 200m freestyle, Ab- Saidi won silver in the 100m 200m freestyle. of the Water Polo Commit- formance in the championships. es and was a strong competitor, ning the gold, and looked for- dulaziz al-Obaidli won silver freestyle; while the Qatari relay Qatar Swimming Association tee Khalid Abdullah expressed Abdullah said that the nation- noting that the purpose of the ward to winning more medals in the 50m breaststroke, Feras team won bronze in race 4 of the (QSA) Board member and Head pleasure with the Qatari per- al team put in good performanc- participation aimed at gaining on the closing day today.

PREMIER LEAGUE COMMENT Ronaldo is Grealish bags fi rst goal staying at Juve, in Man City cruise, says Allegri Liverpool beat Burnley Jota, Mane score in 2-0 win over Burnley; Raphinha rescues 2-2 draw for Leeds vs Everton

AFP the fi rst Premier League game with London, England a full crowd at Elland Road for 17 years. Dominic Calvert-Lewin put ack Grealish scored his fi rst Everton ahead from the penalty goal for Manchester City as spot, but Mateusz Klich levelled the Premier League cham- before half-time with a composed pions thrashed Norwich 5-0, fi nish from just inside the area. whileJ title rivals Liverpool extend- Demarai Gray restored Ever- ed their perfect start with a 2-0 ton’s lead in the 50th minute as victory against Burnley yesterday. the winger drilled home for his Grealish marked his home de- fi rst goal since signing from Bayer AFP but following his British record Leverkusen in the close-season. Rome, Italy £100mn ($136mn) move from As- But Leeds equalised through a ton Villa with a close-range eff ort blistering strike from the Brazilian to double City’s lead after Tim winger Raphinha 18 minutes from ristiano Ronaldo will remain at Juventus, Krul’s own goal opened the fl ood- time. coach Massimiliano Allegri insisted yesterday, gates at the Etihad. Brighton moved alongside Liver- saying he had received assurances from the Aymeric Laporte, Raheem Ster- pool on six points at the top of the Portugal star dispelling rumours of a possible ling and Riyad Mahrez netted in the table after a comfortable 2-0 win returnC to Real Madrid. second half to ensure City bounced over Watford thanks to fi rst-half “Let’s clarify this issue, Ronaldo told me that he’s back from last weekend’s defeat at goals from Shane Duff y and Neal staying,” Allegri said in response to numerous questions Tottenham. Maupay. on Ronaldo’s form and mindset ahead of today’s Serie A Despite Grealish making the per- Danny Ings scored a spectacu- opener at Udinese. fect start on his home debut, it was lar bicycle kick as Aston Villa beat “He has always trained well and has always been Gabriel Jesus who caught the eye in Newcastle 2-0 to claim their fi rst available. I’ve read rumours in the papers, but he’s never an unfamiliar role on the right of a win of the season. wanted to leave Juventus.” front three. Former Southampton striker Italy’s top scorer last season with 29 goals was absent “One of the reasons why I’m a Ings’ moment of magic came in for Juve’s fi nal warm-up against the club’s youngsters manager is when you can work with Manchester City’s Jack Grealish (right) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against Norwich City fi rst-half stoppage-time, making on Thursday, but Allegri said he was ready to play in people like Gabriel,” said Guardio- during their Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, yesterday. (AFP) it two goals in as many appearances what will be his fourth and fi nal season of his contract. la. for his new club. Allegri’s comments follow the 36-year-old’s own re- “He was involved in three of our ‘TOO DANGEROUS’ Anwar El Ghazi got Villa’s sec- jection of reports he was angling for a return to Madrid goals and is an incredibly impor- Mane then made sure of the three ond from the penalty spot after under Carlo Ancelotti, calling such talk “disrespectful”. tant player for us.” points with a thumping fi nish from Jamal Lascelles handled in the 62nd In an Instagram post this week Ronaldo said his “sto- It was the Brazilian forward’s Trent Alexander-Arnold’s through minute. ry at Real Madrid has been written”, although he did not volleyed cross in the seventh ball 21 minutes from time. Patrick Vieira is still waiting explicitly say that he was not looking for a way out of minute that forced City’s opener However, Klopp was frustrated for his fi rst win as Crystal Palace Juve. as Grant Hanley attempted to clear that Sean Dyche’s side, renowned manager after a 0-0 draw against “There have been frequent news and stories asso- but instead hit Norwich goalkeeper for their physical approach, were Brentford in the fi rst meeting be- ciating me with a number of clubs in many diff erent Krul as the ball looped into the net. able to get away with some thun- tween the London clubs for 44 Leagues, with nobody ever being concerned about try- Jesus was the creator again on derous challenges due to lenient years. ing to fi nd out the actual truth,” Ronaldo added. 22 minutes when his cross reached refereeing. Since moving to Juve in 2018, Ronaldo has won two Grealish at the far post and bounced “You saw these challenges of RESULTS Serie A titles and one Italian Cup, but has not brought in off the England midfi elder. (Ashley) Barnes and (Chris) Wood Aston Villa 2 (Ings 45+3, El the European glory the Italian club craves. Laporte scored in the 64th on Virgil (Van Dijk) and Joel (Mat- Ghazi 62-pen) Newcastle 0 Allegri has returned to manage the club after a two minute with a close-range fi nish ip),” Klopp said. Brighton 2 (Duff y 10, Maupay year absence following the failure of Pirlo’s regime after Norwich failed to clear a cor- “I am not 100 per cent sure if we 41) Watford 0 which saw Juve let go of the league title for the fi rst time ner. are going in the right direction with Crystal Palace 0 Brentford 0 since 2012. Jesus provided his third assist of Liverpool’s Sadio Mane (right) shoots at goal during the EPL match against these decisions, if we go 10 years Leeds 2 (Klich 41, Raphinha 72) “Like every year, we are out to win every competi- the afternoon as Sterling tapped Burnley at Anfield in Liverpool yesterday. (Reuters) back. Everton 2 (Calvert-Lewin 30-pen, tion,” said Allegri, who won fi ve Scudettos with Juve in after 71 minutes before Mahrez “It is too dangerous. It is just Gray 50) from 2015 to 2019. grabbed City’s fi fth with a simple Sadio Mane, but Reds boss Jurgen in the 3-0 win at Norwich last hard. The rules are how they are Liverpool 2 (Jota 18, Mane 69) “We’ll take things one step at a time and try to win fi nish in the 84th minute. Klopp was angry with the Premier weekend and the Portugal forward but you cannot defend these situ- Burnley 0 our fi rst match at Udine. At Anfi eld, Liverpool earned League’s new dictate for lenient gave Klopp’s men the lead again ations.” Manchester City 5 (Krul 7-og, “It’s going to be a fi nely fought season and you can’t a second successive win thanks refereeing. with an 18th minute header from Raphinha’s rocket rescued a 2-2 Grealish 22, Laporte 64, Sterling 71, have peaks at 100 and then 30, better to have a cruising to goals from Diogo Jota and Jota scored Liverpool’s fi rst goal Kostas Tsimikas’ cross. draw for Leeds against Everton in Mahrez 84) Norwich 0 speed of 80 to 90.” Gulf Times 2 Sunday, August 22, 2021 SPORT

TENNIS Rain delays Day 2 of Windies-Pakistan Test Rublev topples Medvedev AFP The 23-year-old reached his counter. In an epic eighth game, Cincinnati maiden Masters 1000 fi nal in Rublev raised his level, convert- Monte-Carlo in April and will ing his fi fth break point as he face third seed Alexander Zverev managed to hit through his coun- ussian Andrey Rublev or Roland Garros fi nalist Stefanos tryman, before holding serve to ambushed compatriot Tsitsipas in Sunday’s champion- claim his fi rst-ever set against and top seed Daniil ship match as he bids to claim his Medvedev and force a decider. Medvedev 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 fi rst title at this level. Both players were strong on yesterdayR to earn a spot in the fi - Rublev has fond memories serve in the third set until the nal of the ATP and WTA Cincin- in Cincinnati, having defeated seventh game, when three er- nati Masters. Roger Federer en route to the rors from Medvedev handed Rublev, the fourth seed, will quarter-fi nals in 2019. This year, Rublev a crucial break of serve. play in his second Masters fi nal “The match was so intense, so the eight-time tour-level titlist The World No. 7, who won 73 per after fi nally winning a match many long rallies, super tough, helped guide Russia to the ATP cent (44/60) of his fi rst-service against Medvedev, who had won super physical, super mental. A Cup title alongside Medvedev in points, then held his nerve to se- all four of their previous meet- lot like a chess match. February and lifted the Rotter- cure his victory. ings in straight sets. “Medvedev is one of those dam trophy in March. Medvedev overcame big- The fourth seed, who fell to players who won’t give you a In a lively start, Medvedev serving American Reilly Opelka Medvedev and the Australian chance to attack, but if I have gained an early break as he sat in Toronto last week to capture Open in February, had not de- enough power and chose the deep behind the baseline and his fourth Masters 1000 title. feated the 12-time tour-level right moment, I have to be the hit with consistent depth. The The top seed, who clinched the titlist in their previous four en- one to make him run. In the end, 25-year-old covered the court Cincinnati trophy in 2019, had counters. However, Rublev ral- I was trying to fi nd the perfect well to frustrate Rublev, who won 11 out of his past 12 matches lied in Ohio hitting powerful moment to start being more ag- committed 18 unforced errors in in Ohio. forehands to defeat Medvedev in gressive to open the angles. the fi rst set as Medvedev moved The Australian Open fi nalist, two hours and 22 minutes. “It gives me more confi dence ahead. After colliding with a who has also lifted titles in Mal- “Even when I was 2-6 down, that I can compete against him. cameraman at 1-1 in the second lorca and Montpellier this sea- the score should not have been There are still so many things to set, Medvedev recovered as both son, was aiming to become just like this because the points were improve, but It’s like you pass hammered their groundstrokes the seventh male player in the Rain delays the start of Day 2 of the second Test between West Indies and Pakistan at Sabina Park, so tight,” Rublev said in his on- university and they give you a di- to manoeuvre each other around Open Era to complete the Toron- Kingston, Jamaica, yesterday. (AFP) court interview. ploma.” the court in a high-quality en- to-Cincinnati double.

FOCUS RUGBY Pollard kicks South Africa top of Rugby Barty powers past Championship

AFP “We must decide what we did Gqeberha, South Africa wrong and keep on working. We fi nished with a try but we did not do what we wanted to. We played ly-half Handre Pollard too much in our half,” the hooker Kerber into WTA kicked 19 points as South added. Africa beat Argentina Both matches were staged in 29-10 in Gqeberha yes- the eastern Cape city formerly terdayF to take a four-point lead called Port Elizabeth because of over New Zealand in The Rugby the coronavirus situation in the Championship. South American nation. Pollard, 27, slotted fi ve fi rst- Australia were scheduled to half penalties for a 15-3 half- host New Zealand next week- Cincinnati fi nal time lead and converted tries by end in the other second round winger Makazole Mapimpi and fi xture, but the All Blacks pulled hooker Malcolm Marx. out on Friday amid uncertainty ‘She starts playing really aggressive, and I was just trying to find my rhythm’ Flanker Pablo Matera scored a around Covid-19 travel restric- post-hooter try for the Pumas, tions. South Africa and Argen- AFP which fl y-half Nicolas Sanchez tina planned to share a chartered Cincinnati converted after coming off the jet to Australia today, but that bench in the second half for Do- has been put on hold pending a mingo Miotti, who kicked a pen- revised decision by the organis- orld number one alty. ers, SANZAAR, on match venues Ashleigh Barty The 19-point victory for the and dates. reached her sixth Rugby World Cup winners was The future of this season’s fi nal of the season almost identical to last weekend southern hemisphere compe- Wyesterday, beating Angelique when they defeated the Pumas by tition became uncertain when Kerber 6-2, 7-5 at the ATP and 20 points in the opening round. New Zealand unilaterally decid- WTA Cincinnati Masters. But while the previous win ed to withdraw from the fi xture The top-seeded Aussie, who also yielded a bonus point for in Perth. has led the rankings for the past scoring three tries, the Spring- Wallabies coach Dave Rennie 82 weeks, needed an hour and a boks failed second time round as was “bloody angry” at the move quarter to move into today’s ti- they scored only two. and Rugby Australia chief Andy tle match, surpassing her semi- “Argentina are very passion- Marinos claimed he learnt about fi nal showing from 2019 in the ate. We stuck to our game plan it only through the media. Ohio hardcourt tournament that but they defended well, we made Amid uncertainty triggered is a tuneup for the US Open. mistakes and they contested well by the pandemic, options in- Barty will play for the trophy in the lineouts,” Springboks cap- clude staging double-headers today against the winner of a tain and fl anker Siya Kolisi said. in other Australian venues, later match between Swiss wild “I’m very happy with the win. South Africa or Europe. There card Jil Teichmann – who beat Obviously we wanted the bonus has been speculation that Car- good friend and Olympic gold point but good luck to them as diff, Dublin, London and Paris medallist Belinda Bencic in the they defended well and got the could host matches – a com- quarter-fi nals – and Czech fi fth last try,” he added. Argentina mercially attractive proposi- seed Karolina Pliskova, more had forwards Rodrigo Bruni and tion with the likelihood of huge than a year and a half without a Tomas Lavanini yellow carded crowds. title. and, in the fi rst half alone, con- There is a precedent for play- Against Kerber, Barty in- ceded 13 penalties. ing in Europe with Argentina creased her lead in the series “Our discipline was very, ‘hosting’ Australia in London in between multiple Grand Slam very bad. Too many penalties, 2016 while, fi ve years earlier, the winners to 4-2 as she duplicated they kept scoring points, points, Crusaders and Sharks played a a Wimbledon semi-fi nal victory points,” Pumas skipper Julian Super Rugby match in the Eng- from last month. Montoya said. lish capital. Barty produced a dozen aces and broke Kerber fi ve times. Her 39 match wins this year nudged her one ahead of Aryna Sabalen- ka on the WTA list. Ashleigh Barty of Australia returns a shot to Angelique Kerber of Germany during the semi-finals of the Western & Southern Open at The top seed needed to call Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, yesterday. (Getty Images/AFP) upon some strategy to see her through to the win. able to execute the points when good job of getting out of some gressive, and I was just trying result this week, getting good The pair twice traded breaks I had set them up the way that I tough holes late in that second to fi nd my rhythm,” the German matches before going to New in the second set, with Barty fi - wanted to was frustrating. set. “I had to accept that if I was said. “I tried to come back in the York (for the US Open).” nally getting the deciding fi fth “I was able to get that mo- going to miss I was going to miss second set. Barty’s 29 winners out-paced break in the fi nal game. mentum back with the break in the right way. “That was big at “I had my chances, but she Kerber’s 16. “It was frustrating me, be- straight away, then it was a bit of the end.” played really well in important The Aussie also had 18 un- cause I knew Angie was lifting a tug of war. Kerber said that, fi nally, she moments and closed the match forced errors on the way to her (her game) and I needed to go “I was able to build pressure was out-played. her way. 19th career fi nal and a tour-best with her,” Barty said. “Not being on her games, but we both did a “She starts playing really ag- “I’m pretty happy about my sixth of the season.

South Africa’s fly-half Handre Pollard (centre) is tackled by Argentina’s England’s Livingstone aims for Test call aft er white-ball exploits fly-half Domingo Miotti during the Rugby Championship Test at The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth yesterday. (AFP) Liam Livingstone’s growing reputation dia, the spin-bowling all-rounder has also will be unavailable for the remainder of Australians Adam Zampa and Daniel may have been built on his dynamic set his sights on making a Test debut. the Indian Premier League campaign Sams and New Zealand’s Finn Allen were white-ball displays but the 28-year-old is “I think everybody that grows up in Eng- due to personal reasons, with Director unavailable for the team. desperate to play Test cricket for England land wants to play Test cricket and that of Cricket Operation Mike Hesson taking Elsewhere, Rajasthan Royals said that Alvarez to battle Plant in Nov in Las Vegas as that is the “pinnacle of our sport”. will never change, it is the pinnacle of over. The eight-team Twenty20 competi- they had signed New Zealand wicket- Livingstone struck England’s quickest our sport” said Livingstone, not included tion was suspended in May after sev- keeper-batsman Glenn Phillips as a re- Saul “Canelo” Alvarez con- on Twitter on Thursday. T20 hundred, off just 42 balls, against in the squad for next week’s third Test eral players and backroom staff tested placement for England’s Jos Buttler, who firmed that he will face Caleb “Going for the missing belt!” Pakistan last month and this week his against India at Headingley. positive for Covid-19 amid a devastating will miss the rest of the tournament with “Sweethands” Plant for the Both boxers dominated in their 92 not out from 40 deliveries for the Bir- “We’re very lucky we get opportunities to second wave of the virus in India. his second child due to be born soon. undisputed super middleweight opponents in their most recent mingham Phoenix against the Northern play white-ball cricket around the world The lucrative tournament is scheduled to Punjab Kings said Australian pace bowler title on November 6 in Las fights. Superchargers saw the Midlands side but if you ask any young kid what they resume from September19 in the United Nathan Ellis will join them for the second Vegas. Alvarez claimed his third title into the inaugural men’s final of the new want to do, they want to play Test cricket Arab Emirates, with the final set for half of the tournament. Mexican Alvarez (56-1-2, 38 when Billy Joe Saunders’ corner Hundred competition at Lord’s. for England and at Lord’s for example.” October 15. Ellis, who became the first male player KOs) holds three 168-pound ti- threw in the towel in the eighth The big-hitting Livingstone now looks set The Bangalore team also announced to secure a T20 hat-trick on his debut tles (WBC, WBA and WBO) while round of their May bout. to be involved in this year’s T20 World Bangalore coach Katich steps down, three signings with Sri Lankans Wanindu against Bangladesh this month, was American Plant (21-0, 12 KOs) Plant successfully defended Cup but, with a first-class batting average Hesson takes over for rest of IPL Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera named on Thursday as one of Australia’s owns the fourth, the IBF. his title with a unanimous deci- of nearly 39 and the England top-order Royal Challengers Bangalore said yester- as well as Singapore’s Tim David joining three reserve players for the T20 World “This Nov 6th we’ll put Mexican sion win over Caleb Truax in faltering in the ongoing series against In- day their Australian coach Simon Katich captain Virat Kohli’s side. Cup, which begins in October. boxing on top,” Alvarez wrote January. Gulf Times Sunday, August 22, 2021 3 SPORT

GOLF Rahm grabs CYCLING 1-stroke lead at PGA Northern Jakobsen claims Trust second Vuelta Nordqvist grabs AFP New York stage to continue op-ranked Jon Rahm, the reigning comeback US Open champion, fi red a bogey-free AFP Jakobsen said. “They kept the four-underT par 67 to grab a speed high and even though I La Manga del Mar Menor, Spain share of lead one-stroke lead after Friday’s lost them a little bit, I was still second round of the US PGA in a good position. I launched Northern Trust tournament. utch rider Fabio Ja- my sprint just on the corner at ‘I PLAYED SO SOLID AND I’VE HAD A GREAT ATTITUDE THIS WEEK’ The 26-year-old Spaniard kobsen won stage 8 200 to go and I was the fastest, stood on 12-under par 130 of the Vuelta a Es- I think.” AFP without a bogey through 36 pana yesterday for his “It was about being strong, holes at Liberty National in secondD mass sprint triumph fast, and it’s about timing, I Carnoustie, United Kingdom suburban New York at the first on the race just a year after a think. In a fi nish like this you FedEx Cup playoff event. It’s near fatal crash on the Tour of need to be on time. I’ve been weden’s Anna Nordqvist the first time in 110 starts in Poland. twice too late and this time I and Denmark’s Nanna Rahm’s US PGA career that he Primoz Roglic retained the was perfectly right, and I could Koerstz Madsen were has started 36 holes without a overall lead after the largely fl at do a full sprint to the line.” tied on nine under par at bogey. “It’s nice to be bogey- 173km run from resort town Last August, Jakobsen had a theS top of the Women’s British free, but it’s not like it’s goal Santa Pola as Jakobsen brush with death in a terrify- Open leaderboard after yester- number one. Might be actu- of Deceuninck Quick-Step ing crash in a mass sprint on day’s third round at Carnoustie. ally first time I go 36 holes outpaced Alberto Dainese and the Tour of Poland. He needed On a day blighted by heavy bogey-free,” Rahm said. Jasper Philipsen at the line. fi ve-hours of surgery after showers, Swede Nordqvist fi red “The goal is to win a tourna- If Jakobsen had any lingering breaking his jaw and losing all a best of week 65, while Koerstz ment and put yourself in fears remaining from his crash his teeth. Madsen highlighted her 68 with the best position. If I had to in Poland a year ago they were Deceuninck have a recent an eagle from 12 feet at the long choose, I would rather be nowhere to be seen yesterday track record in bringing people 12th. leading than bogey-free.” as he clinched the win with a back from the brink as The pair led by one from the American Tony Finau was risky manoeuvre. they shepherded Mark Cav- 2019 runner-up, Lizette Salas second on 131 after a 64 Sixth coming into the fi nal endish to the Tour de France (70), while the group on seven Friday with fifth-ranked Justin corner, the 24-year-old accel- green jersey and four stage under included American Lexi Thomas, Olympic champion erated fearlessly to emerge not wins in July. Thompson (70) and Scottish Xander Schauff ele and fellow only fi rst but fastest moving. On Saturday, Spanish cy- amateur Louise Duncan (68). American Keith Mitchell shar- After that even a fi nish line cling icon Alejandro Valverde The new US star, Yealimi Koh, ing third on 132. Schauff ele bike-throw from Philipsen underwent surgery on a frac- was out on her own on ten under and three-time major winner didn’t beat him. tured shoulder after his crash but then became the latest casu- Jordan Spieth each had six Astana forced a sudden ac- on Stage 7 on Friday. The alty of Carnoustie’s testing fi nal birdies, two eagles and a celeration at the head of the 41-year-old Movistar leader holes. bogey to shoot 62s. Spieth, peloton with 30km to go, brief- was riding his 15th Vuelta. Ten under with three to play, who shared 10th with Brooks ly splitting the bunch in three, Today’s Stage 8 is a high the 20-year-old – third in last Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist in Koepka on 134, holed an 81- before the entire pack regath- mountain aff air which will re- month’s Evian Championship action during the third round yard shot from the fairway at ered and raced shoulder to veal which of Roglic’s rivals – dropped shots at the 16th and of the Women’s British Open the par-4 fifth. “Just chipped shoulder all the way to a nervy might be up to the job of bet- 17th and then went into the burn in Carnoustie, Scotland, the ball unbelievably well,” high speed fi nish. tering him over the 21 days. and ran up a double-bogey six at yesterday. (Reuters) Spieth said. “It led to at least On a broad dual-carriage- The stage ends in a 13km the 18th to fi nish with a 71 for six some short par putts and way Jakobsen was expertly de- climb that should provide the under. then took advantage when livered to the front of a frantic scene for a skirmish to shake Nordqvist, a two-time ma- they were for birdie.” Rahm, throng of sprinters and then up the overall standings jor champion, won the Evian who captured his first major got the better of his great rival with Colombian climber Championship in pouring rain title in June at Torrey Pines, Philipsen of Alpecin. Egan Bernal and his two Ineos four years ago, so she has shown said he was most pleased Both men have two stage lieutenants, Adam Yates and she can perform in tough weath- about keeping his composure, wins but Jakobsen, on 180 Olympic champion Richard er. notably in the wake of poor points, has retaken the green Carapaz, poised should the “I played so solid and I’ve had wedge shots on approaches sprint points jersey from Slovenian double-defend- a great attitude this week,” said at the third and 16th holes. Philipsen, on 164. ing champion show a sign of the 34-year-old. “I’m leaving myself a really “The team did a perfect job,” weakness. “I love being back in Scotland tough up-and-down and I was and the rain wasn’t quite as bad able to make good putts for as predicted. I had a few family “I have played in six of them a tie for third in the fi rst major contention on six under par and par,” Rahm said. “Just accept- and friends out there which was and it is always a huge highlight this season, the ANA Inspiration three off the lead. Duncan had ing that I can miss shots. You nice.” to make the European team.” in California. another outstanding day in front get a little too greedy, miss She also knows this week is Koerstz Madsen is hoping “I am trying not to focus on of her home crowd. the green, and you can have a important for European Solheim that one more good round could the Solheim,” she said. Playing alongside the pro- tough up-and-down, and I’ve Cup selection as captain Catrio- clinch her Solheim Cup debut “I played good golf today and fessionals for a fi rst time, the been able to save those so far. na Matthew names her team on for Europe’s defence in the USA tomorrow I just have to calm my 21-year-old has far surpassed “Coming into the weekend, Monday. in a fortnight’s time. nerves and try and put together her expectations. I’m definitely going to have “I need a pick so fi ngers She won on the European Tour another good score.” “I was just hoping to make the to clean a couple of those crossed,” said Nordqvist after in 2016 and also has three victo- Nelly Korda, the Olympic gold cut and enjoy every minute. So mistakes up.” the bogey free round. ries on the Symetra Tour and had medallist, had a 70 to stay in far, it’s been amazing,” she said.

MOTORCYCLING Marquez feared not having ‘a normal arm’ aft er crash

Reuters to his best form. have a normal arm,” he told The championship, placed 11th – “In the good moments, every- Madrid Marquez fractured his arm in Guardian. “There was one point 122 points adrift of leader Fabio body is happy and smiling, in the 2020 July season-opening in October-November when I Quartararo. the hard moments you need to Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez was not able to take a bottle of Marquez said he misses the fi ght. onda’s six-times Mo- and did not race again until this water, I was straining to eat, I feeling of victory, likening to “a “The easiest way would be to toGP champion Marc year’s Portuguese GP in April. was not able to move the arm in drug”, but that he is far from giv- stop and come back when I feel Marquez feared he The youngest-ever champion a normal way.” ing up as he tries to push through ready in one or two years. But would not have “a nor- in premier-class history said The 28-year-old secured an the diffi cult moments. that’s not my style. My style is to malH arm” after a career-threat- the accident left him unable emotional victory at the Ger- “My motivation is higher than try to suff er to improve and come ening crash last year but the to hold a bottle of water months man GP in June, winning for the before because it is the fi rst time back. And to enjoy it on the bike. Stage winner Team Deceuninck’s Dutch rider Fabio Jakobsen Spaniard said he is now fully fo- later. fi rst time since the crash, but he that I have a very hard moment Now I am not enjoying it, now I celebrates on the podium wearing the green jersey after the 8th cussed on fi ghting his way back “I was afraid I would not is still way behind in the riders’ in my career,” he said. am suff ering.” stage of La Vuelta in La Manga del Mar Menor yesterday. (AFP)

ATHLETICS Hassan comes up short in quest for 5,000m WR Reuters France’s Zhoya breaks U20 110m hurdles world record again Eugene France’s Sasha Zhoya broke the the job is done, since last year it personal bests. Later in Nairobi, men’s under-20s 110m hurdles was the objective I gave myself,” Olympic silver medallist Chris- ifan Hassan dominated world record for a second time in Zhoya told World Athletics. tine Mboma and her Namibian the fi eld but came up 24 hours yesterday to claim the “Today in the warm-up I had teammate Beatrice Masilingi short in her quest to title at the age group World Ath- some pain in the hips. It’s diff icult race in the women’s 200m final break the 5,000 metres letics Championships in Kenya. but the life of an athlete is to at 1500GMT. worldS record on Friday in her Zhoya, 19, who was born in Aus- manage that,” he added. Masilingi, who took silver in fi rst meet since her star turn at tralia to a Zimbabwean father Jamaica’s Vashaun Vascianna Thursday’s 100m final behind the Tokyo Olympics. and French mother, ran 12.72 finished in second place with Jamaica’s Tina Clayton, was the In front of throngs of hope- seconds to claim gold which im- a time of 13.2sec with Poland’s fastest of the finalists as she won ful fans and on a picture perfect proved his semi-final time on Fri- Jakub Szymanski third on her semi-final in a championship night at the Prefontaine Classic day by 0.21sec. “I’m very happy, 13.43sec, with the pair running record time of 22.19sec. in Eugene, Oregon, the Ethio- pian-born Dutch runner eas- ily won with a time of 14:27.89 but failed to best the record of 14:06.62 set by Letesenbet Gidey in 2020. The world record attempt slipped away from Hassan with about three laps to go as the toll of running six races at the Olym- pics appeared to catch up with her. “The last two laps I knew I wasn’t going to break the world Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands celebrates with fans after winning 5,000m race during the 2021 Prefontaine record,” she said. Classic at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. (Getty Images/AFP) “I just want to fi nish strong and run hard. I had a really tough more than 5,000 on the campus Tokyo as she attempted an un- gold medals in the 1,500 and two weeks at the Olympics. All of the University of Oregon. precedented Olympic treble, 10,000 at the 2019 World Cham- the emotion with the media and Senbere Teferi (14:42.25) fi n- winning the 10,000 metres and pionships as well. She broke the the stress. I’m in shape but I’m ished second and her Ethio- 5,000 metres but walking away 10,000-metre world record in just tired. I’m not fresh.” pian compatriot Fantu Worku with bronze in the 1,500. June in 29:06.82, only to have France’s Sasha Zhoya celebrates after winning the final of the men’s 110m hurdles during the U20 World She was still cheered on to the (14:42.85) came in third. The 28-year-old, who holds Ethiopia’s Gidey improve that Athletics Championships at the Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi yesterday. (AFP) fi nish by the adoring crowd of Hassan seized headlines in the world record in the mile, won time by 5 seconds two days later.

Sunday, August 22, 2021 GULF TIMES SPORT

FOCUS Qatar’s Paralympians reach Tokyo Arsenal spending ups pressure on Arteta to deliver Gunners have spent a reported £130mn in the transfer window

AFP London, England Team Qatar Paralympians Sara Masoud and Abdulrahman Abdulqader landed in Tokyo for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, which begin on Tuesday and conclude on acing up to a fi rst season in September 5. The two shot put Rio Paralympics silver medallists are medal hopes for 25 years without European Qatar this time round too. football, Arsenal were ex- pected to feel the economic crunchF caused by the coronavi- rus pandemic but have spent more LIGUE 1 money on new players that any other Premier League club in the transfer window to date. The arrival of Norwegian mid- fi elder Martin Odegaard from Real Mbappe strikes as PSG Madrid and imminent signing of Aaron Ramsdale as competition for the role as number one goalkeeper has taken the Gunners outlay to a beat Brest to go top reported £130mn ($178mn). In both Arteta’s fi rst two seasons Reuters in charge, Arsenal have fi nished Brest, France eighth in the Premier League, their worst performances since 1995. A club that between 1998 and rance World Cup 2016 enjoyed 19 consecutive cam- winner Kylian paigns in the Champions League Mbappe netted with under Arsene Wenger has now been a superb header to deprived of the prestige and riches helpF Paris St Germain to a of Europe’s top club competition 4-2 win at Brest on Friday for fi ve years. which lifted them to the Their start to the new season has top of Ligue 1 with a maxi- done little to off er hope that run will mum nine points from three be ended come May as they opened complaints over his investment in joined Madrid at 16, Odegaard has games. the Premier League campaign with the club. since been farmed on a series of loan PSG again showed scoring a 2-0 defeat to newly-promoted As United fans returned en masse moves, while Ramsdale has suf- prowess as they have now Brentford. to Old Traff ord for a 5-1 win over fered back-to-back relegations at netted 10 goals in the open- Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe celebrates his goal with Arteta bemoaned the fact that Leeds last weekend there was barely Bournemouth and Sheffi eld United. ing three games, and that teammates during the Ligue 1 match against Brest in Brest, match was not postponed on Fri- any trace of the protests that saw a Arteta hit back at that criticism, is even before new signing France, on Friday. (Reuters) day after four positive coronavirus behind closed doors match against pointing to a long-term project Lionel Messi has made his cases robbed him of strikers Pierre- Liverpool in May postponed as an- with all fi ve signings aged between highly-anticipated debut. Emerick Aubameyang and Alexan- gry fans stormed the pitch. 21 and 23. Manager Mauricio Pochet- 10-man Lens sink 10-man Monaco dre Lacazette. However, while United’s signings “I know people have the inten- tino said there was still work But the Spaniard needs a quick of French World Cup winner Rap- tion to bury us, to criticise us. I am to be done in order to make Opportunist goals by Ignatius Ganago and substitute response ahead of today’s visit of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta (also hael Varane and England interna- not interested in that, we have a lot sure his side amounted to Simon Banza gave Lens a 2-0 win at Monaco and piled the European champions Chelsea and a above). tional winger Jadon Sancho could of positives, a lot of energy and my the sum of talented parts. pressure on home manager Niko Kovac after both teams trip to Manchester City next week- make them title contenders, the re- focus is on that and to fi nd a way to “We have a unit full of finished with 10 men in their Ligue 1 clash yesterday. end if his side are to avoid going into whether a summer spending spree sponse to Arsenal’s arrivals has not beat Chelsea,” he added. shining names and the main The result provisionally lifted Lens up to fourth on five the September international break has eased the angst among fans. been so positive. “It is a big turnaround and we are challenge is to gel them into a points from three games after their first league win of the without a point. Arsenal supporters protested fu- Ben White, a £50mn signing from trying to do it in the right way so unit so that everyone is at the season while Monaco dropped to 17th with one point fol- “I love challenges and we have a riously against the club’s American Brighton, was bullied by Brent- this club is stable. It is a clear indi- team’s service,” the Argen- lowing a second successive defeat. challenge,” said Arteta. “Let’s just billionaire owner Stan Kroenke to- ford’s physical forwards on the cator the business that we are do- tine told a news conference. Ganago fired Lens into a 51st-minute lead when he robbed embrace it and do the best that we wards the end of last season after opening night. ing. The ages are between 21 and 23 “It’s diffi cult, you need Strahinja Pavlovic of the ball and powered his shot past can every single day to try to cre- his involvement in the failed Euro- Nuno Tavares and Albert Sambi years old and it tells you the project work to get a strong team. Alexander Nuebel, as the home side’s stand-in keeper got ate the best possible atmosphere pean Super League project. Lokonga will add depth to Arteta’s that we are building.” We struggled a bit in the a hand to the ball but could not keep it out. around this place.” Like Manchester United’s US- squad, but are not the calibre of The question remains how long closing stages but I am hap- Lens had Cheick Oumar Doucoure red-carded on the hour The atmosphere inside the based owners, the Glazer fam- names expected to launch Arsenal Arteta will be given to manage that py that we came away with for a studs-up challenge on Krepin Diatta before Monaco’s Emirates for a fi rst full house in 17 ily, Kroenke has loosened the purse back into the top four. project if there is no sign of progress three points against a very Russian forward Aleksandr Golovin followed in his foot- months today will reveal a lot about strings in the transfer window after A teenage sensation when he in the coming weeks. good team.” steps in the 85th minute for a rash tackle on Banza. Ander Herrera fi red PSG The late substitute sealed his team’s victory after another ahead with a 23rd-minute calamitous defensive error by Monaco, with left back Caio volley before Mbappe made Henrique giving the ball away to Przemyslaw Frankowsk Liverpool in talks with Salah ‘Not my job to convince players’: Roma is a diff erent kind of it 2-0 in the 36th when he who squared the ball to Banza for a simple finish. (Reuters) over new contract, says Klopp Nuno aft er Ndombele exit talk challenge: Mourinho powered his eff ort past home goalkeeper Marco Bizot from Premier League club Liverpool have opened Tottenham Hotspur manager Nuno Espirito AS Roma coach Jose Mourinho said the chal- 10 metres after latching on two-goal advantage in the Mounie set up a tense fi n- talks with forward Mohamed Salah over a Santo said it is “not his job to convince” players lenge that awaits him this season is diff erent to to a rebound from Georginio 73rd minute with a rasping ish when he reduced the ar- new contract, manager Jurgen Klopp said. to play for the Premier League club, after media many of his previous jobs, insisting it will take Wijnaldum’s shot. shot from 35 metres which rears in the 85th minute as Salah, who joined Liverpool from Serie A club reported that record signing Tanguy Ndombele time for him to leave his mark on Serie A. Mour- Franck Honorat pulled beat Bizot inside the near he drilled in his shot under AS Roma in 2017, has two years left on his wants to leave. Ndombele, who joined Totten- inho, who steered Inter Milan to an unprecedent- one back for the home side post, although the keeper Navas after another fi ne as- current deal. The Egypt international is one of ham from Olympique Lyonnais for a club record ed treble in 2010, has returned to Serie A to take with a crisp fi nish in the should have done better. sist from Faivre. Klopp’s key players, having scored 126 goals in 54mn pounds ($74mn) in July 2019, has scored over from Paulo Fonseca at Roma, after they fin- 42nd minute after a slick Brest missed a pair of PSG were forced to hang all competitions and helped the club win the eight goals in 75 games in all competitions. ished a disappointing seventh last season. “Roma move, with Steve Mounie chances in the 77th as vis- on in the closing stages be- Premier League and Champions League titles. Nuno confirmed that the midfielder will not is a giant club, the size of many other clubs I have holding up the ball well to iting keeper Kaylor Na- fore substitute Angel Di “Mo is obviously in a really, really good moment feature in today’s league trip to Wolverhampton been to,” Mourinho said. “Roma are in a diff erent set up Romain Faivre who vas parried a Ronael Pierre- Maria sealed their win in football-wise, mood-wise... When there are Wanderers. “What I can tell you is that Tanguy is situation — they are a club that hasn’t won in a released Honorat with a Gabriel shot and Honorat stoppage time with a sub- talks then there are talks — and when there is a with us, he works but we have to speak honestly long time and that last year finished 29 points clever back-heel. rattled the woodwork with lime lob from the edge of decision, we will tell you,” Klopp told Liverpool’s and to take the best out of Tanguy, (it) has to from first and 16 from fourth. It is obvious that it The pace dropped after the rebound. the penalty area as the visi- website. come from himself,” the Portuguese said. takes time and in football time is important.” the break before midfi elder The visiting defence con- tors broke away after a Brest Idrissa Gueye restored PSG’s tinued to look shaky and corner.

SERIE A BUNDESLIGA SPOTLIGHT Inter Milan open title defence Freiburg pull off 2-1 win over Celtic hit St Mirren for six with 4-0 thumping of Genoa Dortmund, Wolfsburg go top AFP Glasgow, Scotland AFP 24th minute as Inter dominated. Reuters lai slammed the ball home on goal diff erence. Milan, Italy The hosts also had two goals Freiburg, Germany from close range. Monchengladbach con- ruled out off side either side of Dortmund were thrown a ceded an own goal after three avid Turnbull scored half-time, with Ivan Perisic and lifeline when midfi elder Yan- minutes, with Patrik Schick a hat-trick as Celtic nter Milan kicked off their Calhanoglu — who arrived from C Freiburg rose to sec- nik Keitel steered a low cross adding a second fi ve minutes showed 10-man St Mir- Italian league title defence local rivals AC Milan to take the ond in the Bundesliga past his own keeper in the later. Leverkusen then added ren no mercy in a 6-0 by cruising past Genoa 4-0 place of Christian Eriksen as he table yesterday thanks 59th minute. But the Freiburg two second-half goals to com- Dthrashing to move to the top of the in the opening match of the recovers from cardiac arrest at to a gritty 2-1 win over rearguard stood fi rm to repel plete the rout. Scottish Premiership yesterday. Inew Serie A season. Euro 2020 — both denied. aS Borussia Dortmund side who Erling Haaland and company There was little doubt over the Goals from Milan Skriniar, Vidal made sure of the points dominated possession but as they hung on to win. RESULTS outcome after just 19 minutes as Hakan Calhanoglu, Arturo Vidal when he swept home the third fol- failed to convert their chances Elsewhere, Wolfsburg went Eintracht Frankfurt 0 the Buddies found themselves a and Edin Dzeko gave Inter the lowing smart from Nicolo Barella on the league’s second week- top of the standings by coming Augsburg 0 goal and a man down. perfect start to the new season in to set up the Chilean after Dzeko’s end of play. back from a goal down to beat Freiburg 2 (Grifo 6, Sallai Liel Abada opened the scoring front of just over 27,000 specta- curling shot was well saved by Vincenzo Grifo rocked the Hertha Berlin 2-1, with Lukas 53) Borussia Dortmund 1 (Kei- with the help of some poor goal- tors at the San Siro as crowds re- Genoa stopper Salvatore Sirigu. visitors early, putting Freiburg Nmecha getting the winner in tel 59-og) keeping from Jak Alnwick before turn to stadiums in Italy. Skriniar opened the scoring fi ve Dzeko rounded off the scor- ahead with a stunning free the 88th minute. Hertha Berlin 1 (Lukebakio Alan Power was shown a straight In yesterday’s other early minutes into the new season with a ing by meeting Vidal’s deep cross kick in the sixth minute. That Bochum forward Simon 60-pen) VfL Wolfsburg 2 (Baku red card for a lunge on Turnbull. match Sassuolo won an enter- thumping header from a corner by with a thumping header to score shocked the visitors into action, Zoller set up a goal in each half 74, Nmecha 88) Abada quickly doubled the taining contest at Verona 3-2. Calhanoglu, who doubled Inter’s his fi rst goal in Inter colours. and midfi elder Jude Bellingham as his side beat Mainz 2-0, VfL Bochum 2 (Holtmann lead before Turnbull added two Inter had a diffi cult summer lead eight minutes later by drilling came closest to an equaliser in and Greuther Furth came back 21, Polter 56) Mainz 0 more before half-time. with fi nancial problems leading home a long-range strike after ex- RESULTS the fi rst half, hitting the post from a goal down to grab a Greuther Fuerth 1 (Klos Odsonne Edouard stroked to coach Antonio Conte’s depar- changing passes with fellow new Inter Milan 4 (Skriniar 6, with a header from a corner. point against 10-man Arminia 45) Arminia Bielefeld 1 (Hrgota home Celtic’s fi fth on the re- ture and the sale of star players signing Dzeko. Calhanoglu 16, Vidal 74, Dzeko Despite Dortmund keep- Bielefeld. 50-pen) bound after his fi rst eff ort had Romelu Lukaku and Achraf Hak- Bosnia forward Dzeko was ex- 87) Genoa 0 ing possession for long spells, In yesterday’s late game, Bayer Leverkusen 4 been blocked. And with six min- imi, but they played as though cellent up front and was denied Verona 2 (Zaccagni 71-pen, they found themselves two Bayer Leverkusen hammered (Sommer 3-og, Schick 8, utes remaining, Turnbull com- their troubles were behind them a debut goal when his defl ected 90) Sassuolo 3 (Raspadori 32, down eight minutes into the Borussia Monchengladbach Diaby 55, Amiri 87) Borussia pleted his hat-trick by prodding under new boss Simone Inzaghi. shot clipped off the bar in the Djuricic 51, Traore 77) second half when Roland Sal- 4-0 to move into second place Moenchengladbach 0 home Tom Rogic’s pass.