MMOTOGPOTOGP | Page 2 CCYCLINGYCLING | Page 6 Miller masters Bernal destroys the rain to his rivals to douse French take Giro hopes d’Italia lead

Monday, May 17, 2021 FOOTBALL Shawwal 5, 1442 AH Suarez winner GULF TIMES keeps Atletico’s title hopes alive SPORT Page 7 RALLYING Qatar’s al-Attiyah races to second straight Andalucia Rally win

Agencies Villamartin, Spain Qatar’s Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah Khalifa al-Attiyah runner-up in T4 category (right) and his French co-driver Matthieu Baumel celebrate South Racing-built Can-Ams filled asser Saleh al-Attiyah and their Andalucia Rally win in the top five places in the Andalucia Matthieu Baumel guided Villamartin, Spain, yesterday. Rally, round one of the 2021 FIA their Overdrive Racing Toyota World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies. Hilux to a second successive Outright victory fell to the American victoryN in the fi ve-day Andalucia Rally racer Austin Jones and his Brazilian in southern Spain and got their 2021 navigator Gustavo Gugelmin in their FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Ral- Monster Energy Can-Am Maverick lies campaign off to the perfect start. XRS. The Qatari and his French teammate Jones became embroiled in a grip- became embroiled in a fi erce battle ping tussle over the varied southern The Dutch duo of Kees Koolen and with Spain’s Carlos Sainz and Over- Spanish terrain with Qatar’s Khalifa Mirjam Pol crewed their South Rac- drive Racing teammate Yazeed al-Rajhi Saleh al-Attiyah and his experienced ing Can-Am to the final place on the for honours over four demanding legs French co-driver Xavier Panseri. Al- podium. Chile’s Hernan Garces and through Andalucia and the neighbour- Attiyah led midway through the rally, Juan Pablo Latrach were fourth in ing province of Cordoba. but Jones hit back over the last two their Maverick and Argentina’s David Al-Attiyah led from the opening days to secure the win and al-Attiyah Zille and Bruno Jacomy rounded off qualifying stage, but Sainz maintained finished second in his South Racing the top five for the South Racing Can- the pressure right to the fi nal kilome- Can-Am Team Maverick. Am Team. tres, as the Qatari crossed the fi nish line with a slender winning margin of 2min rounded off the podium places and se- the fi fth of the Toyotas. 43sec. cured third place for a second year. They had a strong start to the event Al-Attiyah said: “The last stage was Dutchman Erik van Loon and his but a time loss on day two pushed not easy. We had to keep the position, French co-driver Sébastien Delaunay them down to 57th overall and they the fi rst place, but I am quite happy to Baumel added: “Andalucia, like last with Carlos and Yazeed was very high. With regular co-driver Michael delivered an impressive performance in recovered to finish much higher up win here again. Every race we are fi ght- year, was fantastic. Nice places, nice We pushed a lot to win again this year. It Orr still recuperating from a back in- the third of fi ve Overdrive Racing cars the rankings. ing with Carlos (Sainz). He is one of roads, technique, fast and in the moun- is only piste, so navigation is not so dif- jury sustained in Saudi Arabia in early to fi nish fourth. Action in the 2021 FIA World Cup for the best drivers in the world. I am quite tains and in the valleys and between the fi cult here. It is more about speed than March, al-Rajhi was partnered by Portugal’s Victor Conceicao teamed Cross-Country Rallies resumes with happy.” vegetation and the olive trees. The fi ght navigation here.” German navigator Dirk von Zitzewitz, up with Brazilian Valeria Nacarato in Rally Kazakhstan on June 7-13.

TENNIS HORSE RACING Abdullah bin Fahad al-Attiyah’s Rafa beats Djoko Coeursamba lands Gr1 in Paris for 10th Rome win ‘It doesn’t get a bigger challenge than playing the final against Rafa’

AFP Rome, Italy

afael Nadal beat world number one Novak Cristian Demuro (right) rides Coeursamba to victory in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (Group 1) at Djokovic to win a 10th ParisLongchamp yesterday. (Scoopdyga) Italian Open title yes- Rterday and set down a key marker Agencies two weeks out from the defence Paris, France Al Shaqab Racing’s Ebro River emerges of his Roland Garros crown. victorious at Doncaster on second start Second seed Nadal won through 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 in 2hr n the colours of Abdullah Agencies the race. Taking the lead with 49min against the defend- bin Fahad al-Attiyah, Co- Doncaster, England 200m left to run, he hung ing champion in the 57th career eursamba won the French to the right, but was quickly showdown between the pair. Classic Poule d’Essai des corrected by his jockey, “It’s amazing I have this tro- IPouliches with show-stopping ollowing on from Joud running on to the line to win phy in my hands for a 10th time, acceleration at ParisLong- Al Cham’s victory in by a length. The Adrian Paul something impossible to im- champ yesterday. FFrance on Saturday Keatley-trained and Nathan agine,” said the world number She was giving her trainer morning, the two-year-old Evans -ridden Kyber Crystal three who also equalled Djoko- Jean-Claude Rouget his fi fth colt Ebro River followed was the runner-up. Koda vic’s record of 36 ATP Masters win in this French Classic for up with another win for Al Legend finished six lengths 1000 titles in his 12th Rome three-year-old fi llies run over Shaqab Racing at Doncaster behind in third for trainer final. a mile. Coeursamba had a per- in the Restricted Novices’ Ralph Beckett and jockey “I remember the fi rst fi nal I fect race under Italian jockey Stakes over five furlongs Hector Crouch. won here in Rome back in 2005 Cristian Demuro, coming up (1,000m) in the afternoon. This was just the second start against (Guillermo) Coria which in between King’s Harlequin, Ridden by former champion for this two-year-old, who lasted fi ve hours,” recalled the Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates with the trophy after winning his Italian Open final against Serbia’s Novak and the Irish runner and 1000 apprentice David Egan, Ebro is trained by Hugo Palmer 34-year-old of his fi ve-set battle Djokovic (not pictured) in Rome, Italy, yesterday. (Reuters) Guineas winner at Newmarket River was slowly away from in Newmarket. He was bred past the Argentine. two weeks previously, Mother the gates, ending up at the by Tally-Ho Stud, who stand Djokovic and Nadal were fac- Earth, in the closing stages. rear on the field. He was keen Galileo Gold on behalf of Al ing each other for the 57th time, Swiatek demolishes Pliskova to claim Rome crown She fl ew away in the fi nal in running and progressed up Shaqab Racing. The colt was a having last played in the 2020 metres, pulling a length and a to hit the front after 400m of Tattersalls yearling purchase. French Open fi nal which the French Open champion Iga quarter clear of Mother Earth, Spaniard won in straight sets. Swiatek served a warning to trained by AP O’Brien and rid- The pair have won 15 of the last her rivals ahead of the clay- den by Christophe Soumil- condition… She showed double Coeursamba was bred in 17 Rome titles between them. court Grand Slam with a 6-0, lon. Kennella, who is trained in the acceleration of some very Normandy by Julie and Fran- “I really wanted this title. This 6-0 demolition of former world Chantilly by Nicolas Caullery good fi llies. cine Mestrallet of Haras de had been one of the most impor- number one Karolina Pliskova in took an excellent third place “I didn’t enter her in the Cor- l’Aumônerie. She was sold as a tant titles in my career. I’d won the Italian Open final yesterday. with Theo Bachelot in the sad- onation Stakes (Group 1), due foal, before subsequently sell- 10 in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and The victory in 46 minutes meant dle, a short head in front of to the complications caused by ing as a yearling the following Roland Garros and really wanted the world number 15 from Sweet Lady. Covid. I don’t think that she autumn when she was bought it here too,” added Nadal. Poland, who shot to fame at “I wasn’t too worried for this will run in the Prix de Diane by her trainer, Jean-Claude Djokovic saved a fi rst match Roland Garros last year by beat- one. The fi lly was in great shape,” (Gr1) as she has limited stamina, Rouget. She then was pre- point in the eighth game of the ing Sofia Kenin in straight sets Rouget said after the win. but Ascot is a possibility.” sented at the boutique Arqana third but Nadal made no mistake in the final, will enter the top 10 “We gave her the entire win- Demuro added: “You always Arc Sale as a two-year-old last on his second chance in the fol- for the first time when the new ter off and sent her to the stud. have to have belief! We have a October, at which she was ac- lowing to seal his 88th career title rankings are out today. the Czech, who was the 2019 Saturday after they were post- We couldn’t get her back in very great run. She came back very quired her owner Abdullah bin after winning in Barcelona earlier Swiatek’s third title overall Rome champion. poned due to rain. early, but that didn’t worry me well from her last race. Today Fahad al-Attiyah. By sire The this month. following triumphs at Roland “I’m really happy to win this “I’m really happy I got through too much as she ran quite a lot was just a dream. I think it’s Jean- Wow Signal, a top-class race- “It doesn’t get a bigger chal- Garros and Adelaide came on tournament in Rome, it’s been a everything and I was really as a two-year-old. I picked the Claude Rouget that makes the horse for Al Shaqab Racing lenge than playing in the fi nal the back of one of the most tough week from the begin- focused today, so I’m proud of Prix du Louvre (Class 1) for her diff erence! She stepped up to the who sadly died prematurely, against Rafa,” said Djokovic. dominant performances of ning,” said Swiatek, who won myself. Now I’ve finally earned seasonal comeback, with orders distance really well. She acceler- she is out of the Anabaa mare “Overall three hours of high qual- the 19-year-old’s career as she her quarter-final and semi-final some tiramisu.” to give her a gentle race. Every- ated brilliantly and the low draw Marechale, a full sister to mul- ity tennis. I’m disappointed not to dropped only 13 points against matches in straight sets on (Reuters) thing went well for her today: was a defi nite advantage. The tiple Stakes winners Maxwell win, but pleased with my level.” a good draw, in good physical open stretch helped her too.” and Prince Fasliyev. Gulf Times 2 Monday, May 17, 2021 SPORT

MOTORCYCLING FOCUS Brazil’s Oliveira KOs Chandler to take Miller masters UFC lightweight belt the rain to douse French hopes ‘I felt very comfortable. It’s amazing, I can’t believe we have had back to back wins’

Charles Oliveira lands a kick on Michael Chandler during their UFC bout on Saturday. PICTURE: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

AFP impromptu victory lap from Houston the cage-side commentary desk into the crowd. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu mas- razil’s Charles Oliveira ter had arrived in Texas boast- rallied with brutal ef- ing more submission wins than fi ciency to knock out anyone else in UFC history with American Michael 14 and his TKO win gave him an- ChandlerB early in the second other record – 17 fi nishes inside round at UFC 262 in Hou- the distance. ston, Texas, on Saturday and be “Michael said I couldn’t take crowned new lightweight cham- pressure and he hit, hit, hit and pion. I’m still here. Here’s the belt.” “I am proving to everybody While Nurmagomedov, argu- I am the lion of lions,” Oliveira ably the greatest MMA cham- said inside the cage afterwards. pion of all time, retired last “I told you I was going to knock October with a record of 29-0, him out and I came and knocked McGregor remains in the light- him out.” weight mix. The 31-year-old Oliveira’s The Irish 32-year-old is next challenge will be to carve ranked sixth, despite losing his legacy in the blue riband UFC two of his past three fi ghts, and weight class previously domi- he is set to face the top-ranked nated by Khabib Nurmagomedov American Dustin Poirier at UFC and Conor McGregor. 264 in Las Vegas on July 10. “I wanted to come here tonight McGregor topped Forbes and show that I am the best,” said magazine’s annual list of the Oliveira. world’s richest sportsmen for The 35-year-old Chandler had the past 12 months, with earn- been fast-tracked to a title shot ings inside and outside the cage after the former Bellator organi- of an estimated $180mn. sation lightweight champion’s Local media reported Satur- stunning UFC debut in January day that about 17,500 tickets with a fi rst-round knockout of had been sold for the event, with New Zealand veteran Dan Hook- the UFC was claiming the $4 mn Ducati Lenovo Team’s Jack Miller (also inset) crosses the line to win the French MotoGP at Le Mans yesterday. er. gate receipts were a record at An all-American wrestler in a venue that is usually home to AFP Italy on May 30. alties which allowed Zarco, who wins out of the fi ve races staged Takaaki Nakagami (JPN/Honda- his college days, Chandler has the Houston Rockets NBA team. Le Mans, France “The wind added to the rain was fl ying after the change, to so far to give him a command- LCR) 28, 10. Pol Espargaro (ESP/ evolved into an explosive stand- America’s Centers for Disease and I thought the race was going close up and chase them to the ing 54 points cushion over his Honda) 25 up force and appeared to have Control and Prevention had on to be stopped,” said Miller who fl ag. Spanish compatriot and near- been ahead after the fi rst round. Thursday eased its mask-wear- ustralian rider Jack survived two time penalties to “Maybe if we had changed est rival, Garcia. Garcia’s sec- Moto2: He somehow managed to es- ing guidance for fully vaccinated Miller made it back become the fi rst Australian ever bikes a little earlier we could ond Moto 3 win after Valencia in 1. Raul Fernandez (ESP/Kalex) cape Oliveira’s clutches after people, with those vaccinated to back wins on his to win two successive victories have won the race”, said Zarco. 2019 came at the main expense 40min 46.101sec, 2. Remy the fi ght had gone to the ground now free to stop wearing masks Ducati with a dramatic in MotoGP. He did overtake Quartararo of Czech Republic rider Filip Gardner (AUS/Kalex) at 1.490, early and he landed some huge outdoors and in most indoor victoryA in a windy, rain-strewn “I felt very comfortable. It’s but did not have enough in the Salac and Italian Riccardo Rossi 3. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA/Kalex) headshots, particularly from his settings. French MotoGP at Le Mans yes- amazing, I can’t believe we have tank to overhaul Miller who in second and third. 4.599sec, 4. Tony Arbolino (ESP/ left hand, when they got back to Fans were encouraged to wear terday. had back to back wins.” crossed the line over four sec- Kalex) 7.503, 5. Bo Bendsneyder their feet. masks Saturday but there were Miller, who won the last The diffi cult conditions onds clear to collect only his MotoGP: (NED/Kalex) 11.887 But it was Oliveira who came no restrictions enforced. race in Spain, fi nished ahead of which saw rain sweeping across third MotoGP victory. 1. Jack Miller (AUS/Ducati) out swinging hard and fast in the Oliveira was one of many French pair Johann Zarco, rid- the Bugatti circuit led to numer- 47 mins 25.473sec, 2. Johann World championship stand- second. A left hook put Chan- fi ghters on the 12-bout card who ing for Ducati’s satellite Pramac ous bikes sliding off the track, FERNANDEZ TAKES Zarco (FRA/Ducati-Pramac) at ings (after five rounds): dler down and was followed by noted that having a full house team, and Fabio Quartararo, on a leading to a mass bike change MOTO2 3.970sec, 3. Fabio Quartararo 1. Remy Gardner (AUS/Kalex) a barrage of unanswered blows back in full voice had made a big Yamaha, who takes over the lead for wet tyres when the race went Spain’s Raul Fernandez won (FRA/Yamaha) 14.468, 4. 89 pts, 2. Raul Fernandez (ESP/ with the referee stepping in af- diff erence. in the championship. ‘fl ag to fl ag’. the Moto2 race to climb to just Francesco Bagnaia (ITA/Ducati) Kalex) 88, 3. Marco Bezzecchi ter only 19 seconds of the round. “Thank you Houston, thank Quartararo, who has won two “I know the possibility of a one point behind his Australian 16.172, 5. Danilo Petrucci (ITA/ (ITA/Kalex) 72, 4. Sam Lowes The jubilant Oliveira vaulted you Brazil. This belt is for all of races this season and started on podium is very low,” said Marc teammate Remy Gardner in the KTM) 21.430, 6. Alex Marquez (GBR/Kalex) 66, 5. Fabio di Gian- the fence and embarked on an us,” he said. pole here, has 80 points, one Marquez just before the race but championship standings. (ESP/Honda-LCR) 23.509, 7. nantonio (ITA/Kalex) 60 more than Miller’s teammate when the riders reemerged after The two KTM team riders Takaaki Nakagami (JPN/Honda- Francesco Bagnaia who fi nished the change of bikes, it was the dominated a race marred by LCR) 30.164, 8. Pol Espargaro Moto3: fourth. six-times world champion who multiple crashes. (ESP/Honda) 35.221, 9. Iker 1. Sergio Garcia (ESP/GasGas) Rugby world pays tribute It was a major bonus for the took charge. Fernandez, 20, is in his fi rst Lecuona (ESP/KTM) 40.432, 10. 42min 21.172sec, 2. Filip Salac Frenchman, coming just 12 days In his third race back after a season in Moto2 and he arrived Maverick Vinales (ESP/Yamaha) (TCH/Honda) 2.349, 3. Ricardo as All Blacks’ Read retires after undergoing ‘arm pump’ year out with injury, Marquez at Le Mans with his maiden win 40.577, 11. Valentino Rossi (ITA/ Rossi (ITA/KTM) 5.589, 4. John surgery following problems opened up a promising lead be- in the category already secured Yamaha-SRT) 42.198 McPhee (GBR/Honda) 7.158, Tokyo: World Rugby and the All with his right forearm, which fore sliding off with 19 laps re- in Portugal last month. 5. Ayumu Sasaki (JPN/KTM) Blacks led tributes yesterday to saw him slip to a 13th place fi n- maining. Completing the podium for World championship stand- 14.882 Kieran Read who announced ish last time out at Jerez. The Spaniard struggled to get this fi fth leg of the season was ings (after five rounds): Selected: 8. Pedro Acosta (ESP/ his retirement from rugby after “I’m so happy, it’s like a vic- his bike upright but remounted Italian Marco Bezzecchi who 1. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yama- KTM) 29.880 a semi-final defeat in Japan’s tory for me,” said Quartararo and picked his way through the goes third in the standings. ha) 80 points, 2. Francesco Bag- Top League. whose front tyre was completely fi eld before sliding off a second Sergio Garcia, meanwhile, naia (ITA/Ducati) 79, 3. Johann World championship stand- The third most-capped player in worn out at the end of the race. time and out of the race. won the Moto3 division with Zarco (FRA/Ducati-Pramac) ings (after five rounds): New Zealand rugby history con- Zarco is third in the title race Miller had made an excellent championship leader Pedro 68, 4. Jack Miller (AUS/Ducati) 1. Pedro Acosta (ESP/KTM) 103 firmed before leading Toyota with 68 points and Miller is just start taking the lead from pole- Acosta a valiant eighth after the 64, 5. Maverick Vinales (ESP/ pts, 2. Sergio Garcia (ESP/Gas- Verblitz against the Panasonic four points further back, leav- sitter Quartararo and these two 16-year-old rookie jumped back Yamaha) 56, 6. Joan Mir (ESP/ Gas) 49, 3. Andrea Migno (ITA/ Wild Knights on Saturday that ing the top four within 16 points battled it out for most of the onto his bike after a crash. Suzuki) 49, 7. Aleix Espargaro Honda) 47, 4. Romano Fenati he would finish playing at the of each other ahead of the sixth race before and after the bike Acosta has enjoyed a dream (ESP/Aprilia) 35, 8. Franco Mor- (ITA/Husqvarna) 46, 5. Niccolo end of the Japanese season. race of the season at Mugello in change. Both were hit with pen- start to life in Moto3 with three bidelli (ITA/Yamaha-SRT) 33, 9. Antonelli (ITA/KTM) 44 That came at the final whistle of the match as Verblitz lost 48-21, unable to extend Read’s storied BOTTOMLINE career to next weekend’s final. their off icial Twitter feed. “I’m looking forward to return- “One of the greats. Enjoy retire- ing to New Zealand and spend- ment,” added NZR alongside a ing time with my family,” Read black heart emoji. posted on social media. Read made his All Blacks debut The towering No 8 made 127 in 2008 and formed, with Test appearances for New McCaw and Jerome Kaino, the Netherlands’ VeeKay wins Zealand, 52 of them as captain formidable back row that was a after taking over the armband fundamental part of the World from Richie McCaw in 2016. Cup-winning sides in 2011 and He was part of two Rugby 2015. World Cup-winning All Blacks “Congrats on an incredible IndyCar Indianapolis GP sides and was voted World career, Kieran,” tweeted the Rugby’s player of the year in Rugby World Cup with a video AFP this season and the fourth driver by 4.951sec. VeeKay, who gave had the car, and we were so fast. testing to start 2021, breaking a 2013. of Read leading the haka at his Los Angeles under the age of 25 to win in fi ve Ed Carpenter Racing a fi rst vic- Just the perfect day. It’s amaz- fi nger. But he still fi nished in the At club level, he won four Super final Rugby World Cup game, races in 2021 after Colton Herta, tory since 2016, surrendered the ing. “Palou was third, with Josef top 10 of three of the next four Rugby titles with the Canter- the 2019 third-fourth playoff Pato O’Ward and Alex Palou. lead briefl y through a pit stop Newgarden and Graham Rahal races. For Grosjean, a fi rst Indy- bury Crusaders. against Wales in Japan. inus VeeKay used some He started in seventh and cycle, but led the fi nal 20 laps of rounding out the top-fi ve. Car podium marked a stunning World Rugby posted on social “All the best in retirement mate” bold moves to win the powered his way up with speed the 85-lap race on the 14-turn, The signs were good for return from his horrifying fi ery media a list of Read’s incredible posted arch-rivals Australia on IndyCar Indianapolis and determination, making a 2.439-mile road course at In- VeeKay when he was fastest in crash in Bahrain last November honours as a player with the their off icial Wallabies social Grand Prix on Satur- big move on lap 42 when he split dianapolis Motor Speedway – the morning warm-up. He had that ended his Formula One ca- simple sign-off : “What a career,” media pages. day,R capturing his fi rst win in the Chip Ganassi Racing cars where the Indianapolis 500 will some success before on the In- reer. and a clapping emoji. Read was co-captain this sea- the US open-wheel series ahead of Palou and Jimmy Johnson to be run on the famed oval course dianapolis road course with a “That’s really a good day,” said “Thank you, Reado. We wish son at Toyota Verblitz, where of pole-sitter Romain Grosjean. overtake them both. in two weeks. pole position and third-placed the 35-year-old Frenchman, you all the best in your retire- his former All Blacks coach The 20-year-old from the He passed Grosjean – who “We had an awesome start to fi nish last October. who received massive cheers ment from professional rugby,” Steve Hansen is director of Netherlands became the third held a comfortable early lead – the weekend, best start I’ve ever He crashed heavily on the from the limited crowd as he was said New Zealand Rugby on rugby. fi rst-time winner in the series with 37 laps remaining and won had,” VeeKay said. “I knew we Indy oval in Indianapolis 500 interviewed post race. Gulf Times Monday, May 17, 2021 3 SPORT

RACING SWIMMING Aussie McKeown narrowly misses Rombauer roars to 50m backstroke world record

AFP doesn’t mind doing it,” her coach Sydney Chris Mooney told reporters. upset win in 146th “We really do put a lot of focus and attention on our race proc- ustralian Kaylee McK- esses and we fi nd that if we get eown narrowly missed those processes done well then the 50 metre back- the result usually follows.” stroke world record The Sydney Open was the last Awhile setting the year’s best time meet before Australia’s Olympic in the 200m individual medley trials in Adelaide next month. Preakness Stakes as she ramps up preparations for Maddy Gough was also in su- the Tokyo Olympics. perb form, winning the 1,500m ‘It does feel totally diff erent. What a feeling’ The 19-year-old was the stan- freestyle — which will be a new dout performer at the four-day Olympic distance in Tokyo for AFP Sydney Open, swimming the women — in a personal best Washington second-fastest 100m backstroke 15min 55.14sec, a time only bet- in history and the fourth quick- tered by US superstar Katie est over 200m. Ledecky and Germany’s Sarah ombauer charged late She followed up those ex- Kohler. Zac Stubblety-Cook to win the 146th Preak- ploits by setting a new Austral- warmed up for the trials by ness Stakes on Satur- ian and Commonwealth record clocking a new Australian record day as Medina Spirit, of 27.16sec over 50m, just 0.18 of 2:07.00 in the men’s 200m Rwhose Kentucky Derby victory outside the world record held by breaststroke, the second-fast- was clouded by a failed drugs China’s Lui Xiang since 2018. est time in the world this year. test, fi nished third. McKeown fi nished the med- Former world record holder Matt Rombauer, an 11-1 longshot, ley in 2min 08.73sec, a time only Wilson sat out the fi nal. gave trainer Mike McCarthy a bettered in the 2020-21 sea- “It does wonders for the victory with his fi rst entrant son by her own 2:08.23 at the confi dence, knowing that all in one of US fl at racing’s Triple Queensland State Champion- the hard work in training, that Crown races. ships. comes down to just over two For US-based French jockey “Kaylee takes her body and her minutes work in the race is cer- Flavien Prat it was a second mind and she punches through tainly paying off and we are on Triple Crown win — but his pain barriers like no one else the right track,” said Stubblety- fi rst chance to experience the I’ve ever seen in my life and she Cook. thrill of taking the wire since his 2019 Kentucky Derby vic- tory aboard Country House was inherited when Maximum Security was disqualifi ed for interference. “It does feel totally diff er- ent,” Prat said. “What a feel- ing.” Medina Spirit, trained by Bob Baff ert and ridden by John Velazquez, had been in the spotlight all week but not with the usual anticipation of seeing a Kentucky Derby winner pull off the second leg of the Triple Flavien Prat aboard Rombauer reacts after winning the 146th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on Satur- Crown. day. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports The colt tested positive af- ter the Derby victory for beta- ing on a day like this... it just horse in 37 years to win the Tri- methasone, which is banned goes to show you that small ple Crown in 2015, and Baff ert within two weeks of a race. players in the game can be suc- guided Justify to the coveted With the “B” sample yet to cessful as well.” treble in 2018. confi rm the positive result and Prat, who set up shop in the Baff ert, who has been at the Medina Spirit’s Kentucky Der- United States in 2015, said in a centre of a string of drugs vio- Australian Kaylee McKeown . PICTURE: Swimming Australia by victory still in the balance, post-race interview he didn’t lations, wasn’t at Pimlico race racing authorities green-light- know much about US racing’s track in Baltimore on Saturday, ed his Preakness bid. Triple Crown of the Kentucky preferring, he said in a state- He went off the 2-1 favourite Derby, Preakness and Belmont ment, to keep the focus on Me- Andrew wins again as Indianapolis and broke well from the third Stakes. dina Spirit and the other horses post, seizing the lead with 3-1 “Since I’m here, I realize how in the fi eld. Pro Swim comes to close second choice Midnight Bour- important it is,” he said of the “I do not want to serve as a bon pressing the pace. treble that only 13 horses have distraction to what has always Los Angeles: Michael Andrew for trials.” Midnight Bourbon, trained completed. “There’s so much been of paramount importance notched his third win in as In other events on the final by Steve Asmussen and rid- history behind these races. To — the joy of this great sport and many days at the Indianapolis day, world record-holder Re- den by Irad Ortiz, had taken win one, it’s amazing. To win the horses that make it possi- Pro Swim Series Saturday and gan Smith won the women’s the lead as they headed into Trainer Michael McCarthy (R) and jockey Flavien Prat celebrate in the Preakness, it’s even better.” ble,” Baff ert said. if his 200m medley victory 100m backstroke in 58.77sec the fi nal turn but would settle the winners circle. The fact that Baff ert has sad- He said there was “never any left something to be desired it with Phoebe Bacon — who for second as Rombauer roared dled two Triple Crown winners attempt to cheat the system” was still a good sign with the bested Smith in the 200m past both of them and powered ence. Fantastic.” connections feeling the 1 1/4 makes his involvement in yet and that even if the analysis US Olympic trials coming up. back — second in 59.62. to victory by 3 1/2 lengths. Rombauer was coming off mile race at Churchill Downs another doping controversy all of the second part of a split “I think of all the races At the US trials in Omaha, “Coming to the quarter pole a third place fi nish in the Blue didn’t suit his style. the more damaging for a strug- sample confi rms the positive this weekend, I was most Nebraska, in June, Smith and I started to get excited,” McCa- Grass Stakes at Keeneland, and “So proud of this horse,” Mc- gling sport. test “it would have nothing to disappointed with this one,” Bacon will be up against stiff rthy said. “At the eighth pole it didn’t race in the Kentucky Carthy said. “Everybody in- The Baff ert-trained Ameri- do with Medina Spirit’s hard- Andrew said after winning the competition in the 100m back was like an out of body experi- Derby two weeks ago with his volved. To be here, participat- can Pharoah became the fi rst earned and deserved win.” 200m individual medley in as evidenced by results Satur- 1min 56.84sec. day across the country in the “This evening was a little Atlanta Classic. TOP 14 RUGBY hard to get in the right frame There, Olivia Smoliga won of mind, I felt a little tired the women’s 100m back in mentally,” added Andrew, who 58.31sec with Rhyan White looked impressive in 100m second in 58.43. breaststroke and 100m but- That moved them to third terfly victories on Thursday and fourth in the world this and Friday. season, a list topped by ris- ‘Distracted’ Toulouse stunned “That (medley) race hurt a ing Australian star Kaylee lot more, but I’m happy with McKeown with a 57.63 at the some of the adjustments we Sydney Open this weekend — were able to make and I’m the second-fastest time ever looking forward to these next behind Smith’s world mark of ahead of European Cup fi nal three weeks and getting ready 57.57 set in 2019. AFP era Kerr-Barlow as well as Aus- Paris tralia lock Will Skelton for two losses in three days earlier this week. FOCUS oulouse’s forward coach La Rochelle returned to sec- Jean Bouilhou said his ond in the table, leapfrogging side were distracted af- Racing 92 after the Parisians’ ter being beaten 32-28 at win at Pau on Friday. World Sailing wants Thome by struggling Bayonne in Elsewhere, Racing’s cross- the French Top 14 on Saturday as capital rivals Stade Francais kept Cheslin Kolbe was rested a week their hopes of a play-off place confi rmation Tokyo before the European Champions alive with a 32-10 victory over Cup fi nal. Montpellier, who had made 14 South Africa’s Rugby World changes ahead of Friday’s Eu- Games will go ahead Cup winner Kolbe and former ropean Challenge Cup fi nal with New Zealand back-rower Jer- Leicester. Montpellier’s Spring- Reuters would be obliged to disclose ome Kaino were among those bok half-backs Handre Pollard Berlin quite a lot of narrative in the ac- given the weekend off ahead of and Cobus Reinach, who lifted counts in the event of any un- facing La Rochelle at Twicken- the Webb Ellis trophy with Kolbe certainty around Tokyo 2020,” ham next Saturday. two years ago, were among those orld Sailing has de- World Sailing’s audit committee Toulouse remain top, how- to miss the defeat. layed the approval chairman Phil Cotton told the ever, despite a fi rst home loss to “Handre’s had a little calf of its fi nancial online meeting. the Basques since 2006. issue. He’s working a lot,” statements pending “For that reason we ap- The result saw Bayonne go Montpellier coach Philippe Wa confi rmation it has requested proached the IOC for confi rma- three points clear of Pau in the Saint-Andre said. from the International Olympic tion that one, the Games were relegation play-off spot, with Toulouse’s full back Thomas Ramos (R) runs with the ball during their French Top 14 rugby union match “I hope to have him back on Committee (IOC) that this year’s going to proceed and two, that two games of the regular sea- against Aviron Bayonnais Rugby Prp (Bayonne) at The Stade Ernest-Wallon in Toulouse, south-western Monday to prepare for the fi nal.” Tokyo Olympics will go ahead. funding would fl ow. We have yet son to go. “We won’t keep much France, on Saturday. Earlier, France fl y-half Mat- World Sailing council offi cials to receive that confi rmation.” from the match. Maybe the fact thieu Jalibert kicked 15 points said at their mid-year meeting Every international federa- we had a double objective, it’s Lafage slotted 19 points in the minutes to go to claim a bonus Rochelle as South Africa winger as Bordeaux-Begles overcame on Friday that they had request- tion is guaranteed an Olympic not easy to prepare with that in win after former Samoa lock point which handed his team a Raymond Rhule claimed a try Castres 20-16 as they also eye a ed a confi rmation from the IOC fi nancial contribution after each mind,” former Toulouse back- Joe Tekori and France full-back guaranteed place in the end-of- double in a 59-0 hammering of place in the top six places. regarding Tokyo so as to include Olympics as part of a revenue- rower Bouilhou said. Thomas Ramos crossed for tries season play-off s between the already-relegated Agen. The late game saw another the expected revenues from the sharing plan established by the “We blew what we thought to help put the league leaders top six teams. They remain in Head coach Jono Gibbes wel- World Cup winner, Eben Etze- Games in the their accounts. IOC. Many of the smaller sports would be a breeze, it’s the last 14-0 up after just a quarter of pole position for a direct spot in comed back numerous starters beth, making his fi rst Toulon However, the IOC has yet to federations depend on those one.” an hour. Toulouse winger Dim- the semi-fi nals. after resting the likes of former start in seven weeks, away at Cl- respond. funds to operate in the four years Bayonne fl y-half Maxime itri Delibes crossed with two It was a diff erent story for La All Blacks Victor Vito and Taw- ermont. “Haysmacintyre, as auditors, between Games. Gulf Times 4 Monday, May 17, 2021 SPORT

GOLF Spieth chases career Grand Slam at PGA Championship ‘I felt like a favorite going in and it was the last major. And then the years after, I just didn’t really feel in great form in PGAs’

Rangefi nders make major debut at PGA Championship

Rangefinders will make their “I don’t think we’ll use them,” he major debut at next week’s PGA said. “I don’t really like them. I Championship, aimed at speed- think it takes away an advantage ing the pace of play even as of having a good caddie that several top golfers worry it will goes out there and does the do nothing or cause slowdowns work beforehand. instead. “Kiawah Island isn’t some course The golf tech distance-measur- where the greens are going to ing devices, using lasers or GPS be really soft and you just see systems, were approved last pin, hit pin. You’re still going to February for majors sanctioned need to get all that information, by the PGA of America but but then it’s just going to add remain banned for US PGA Tour another element that’s going to rounds. add time to the rounds in terms “We’re always interested in of shooting it with the range- methods that may help improve finder. the flow of play during our “I enjoy that process... but if an championships,” PGA of Ameri- opportunity arises where I hit it ca president Jim Richerson said. off line then yeah, I might use it.” World number two Justin Tho- Some players have used them mas, the 2017 PGA Champion- in practice rounds and while ship winner, doubts it’s going to in the amateur ranks, includ- make a great change. ing defending champion Collin “I certainly don’t think it’s go- Morikawa. ing to speed pace of play up,” “In college I pulled out a range- Thomas said. “Unless you hit it finder for every shot that I hit,” on another hole or some kind Morikawa said. of crazy angle where it would “It’ll definitely give you accurate take you a long time to get a numbers, but so many caddies yardage.” are used to walking everything Fellow American Webb Simpson, off , adding their numbers. Will the 2012 US Open champion, guys do both? I could definitely says many players will continue see that. to have caddies walk off dis- “Will some guys want to stay the tances relative to fixed-position way they are and not change landmarks such as sprinkler anything? Absolutely. It’s a rou- heads. tine. We’re so used to it.” “I don’t think it will really make Morikawa, who won his first a diff erence,” ninth-ranked major title last August at Hard- Simpson said. ing Park in San Francisco, does “It’s not going to speed up play see the move helping certain because everybody I know and players pick up the pace. have talked to, we still want “Will you see pace of play front numbers, and the range- improve like 10 or 15 minutes? finder, you can’t always get the I don’t think so. But will it help accurate front number. certain players pick up speed? I “So you’ll probably have the think it’ll be tremendous in that player shoot the pin, the caddie sense,” Morikawa said. walk off the number because “It’s going to be interesting to I’m going to want what’s front, test it out at a major cham- what’s the pin.” pionship. Is it going to solve Jordan Spieth hits from the fairway on the 5th hole during the final round of the AT&T Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas. (Getty Images/AFP) Reigning US Open champion anything? We won’t know until Bryson DeChambeau won’t we try it.” AFP Slam. “I think 2017, the fi rst time, progress, but I feel like that road the Dallas product won in his home ing I can continue to move that check it in routine situations. Australian Jason Day, the 2015 Kiawah Island, United States was really the only time where it ahead is still signifi cant for me,” state. In his attempts to complete forward.” “It’s going to help me when I hit PGA winner, doesn’t plan to use may have weighed on me, only Spieth said. “I’ll have a good the Slam, Spieth has shared 28th at A week after winning in Tex- it off line. We’re not going to have rangefinders. given it was coming right off of a stretch coming up here in May the 2017 PGA, 12th in 2018, third in as, Spieth shared third at the to go to a sprinkler head and “I don’t mind the idea. Golf is hree-time major win- major win,” Spieth said of career and June, and I’m excited for 2019 and 71st last year. Masters, showing more signs walk 40, 50 yards away,” he said. always evolving and changing,” ner Jordan Spieth, who Slam pressure. what’s to come.” of progress with his best major “If players use it in a way that Day said. “It’ll be interesting to snapped a four-year US “I felt like a favorite going in Only fi ve golfers have com- ‘FEEL THAT MOMENTUM’ showing since sharing his third allows them to speed up play see how many guys will do it. I’m PGA Tour win drought and it was the last major. And pleted the career Grand Slam, but Spieth has regained his touch at the 2019 PGA. “I hit some good that’s great. If they’re always not going to do it.” Tin April, tries to complete a ca- then the years after, I just didn’t a victory by Spieth at Kiawah Is- this year, serving notice with a putts, burned a lot of lips, cer- double checking, it could slow Mexico’s Abraham Ancer sees reer Grand Slam by winning next really feel in great form in PGAs. land on May 20-23 would see him fourth-place fi nish at Phoenix - tainly struck the ball well enough play down a little bit, which I’m the devices helping after woe- week’s PGA Championship. It’s going to pick you apart join Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, highlighted by a third-round 61 - to win and they just didn’t go in,” not a fan of at all.” fully off -target shots. The 27-year-old American if you’re not driving the ball Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Gene and a third-place eff ort at Pebble Spieth said at Augusta. Players are not allowed to use “It will be nice when you’re way makes his fi fth attempt to win straight and far.” Sarazen. Beach in February and a fourth at “I wish I had the control of a rangefinder slope feature to off line,” he said. each of golf’s four major crowns Spieth struggled with form “Every year I go into that tour- Bay Hill in March. my swing that I think is com- measure elevation changes and “That’s where it will come in at least once after capturing the for years before making a break- nament it’s like it’s the one that “It was getting to where it ing soon because it would have can’t use rangefinders to judge very handy. But when you’re on 2015 Masters and US Open and through by winning last month’s if I could pick one more to win I could just kind of start to click made things a little easier and I wind speeds or obtain recom- a tee box, I feel like everybody’s the 2017 British Open. Texas Open and sharing third at would pick that one,” Spieth said. and really feel that momen- did strike the ball really well. I hit mended club selections. going to use it but also double It was only a few weeks after the Masters, raising his idea of “It just kind of excites me a little tum, and that will get me want a lot of fairways.” Thomas sees rangefinders as check, so I don’t know if it’s his triumph at England’s Royal what thrills future events like the bit more going into it.” to go out and nail it inasmuch as If he fi nds that control at Kia- taking away the benefits of a going to help (pace) that much.” Birkdale when he fi rst faced the PGA could hold. Spieth had not won since taking possible,” Spieth said after last wah Island, it might be one for great caddie. (AFP) tension of going for the career “I’ve made a lot of good his third major title in 2017 until month’s Masters. “So I’m hop- the history books.

SPOTLIGHT CRICKET Burns leads by one aft er third round England pacer Archer out of AFP three-time winner Jordan Spieth. Spieth Houston drew one of the biggest roars of the day with NZ series with elbow injury a 31-foot eagle putt from just off the green on the 18th to breathe new life into his chal- Reuters CRICKET AUSTRALIA OPEN TO NEW am Burns will take a one-shot lead lenge after a late stumble. London INFORMATION ON BALL-TAMPERING SCANDAL into the fi nal round of the Byron Spieth looked to be on the charge after Cricket Australia has said it was open to hearing Nelson tournament in Texas after reaching the turn at three under for the day, any new information regarding the 2018 Cape Town shooting a three-under-par 69 on before rattling off three more birdies on the ngland fast bowler Jofra Archer has been scandal in the wake of batsman Cameron Bancroft’s SaturdayS to remain on course for back-to- 10th, 12th and 14th holes to move to six un- ruled out of their two-Test series against comments suggesting that the team’s bowlers were back PGA Tour victories. der. But back-to-back bogeys on the 15th New Zealand starting next month due to aware of the ball-tampering tactics. The 24-year-old from Louisiana - who and 16th saw him tumble down the leader- pain in his elbow, the England and Wales Following an investigation former Test opener clinched his fi rst PGA Tour win at the Valspar board until the late eagle sealed a six-under- cricketE Board (ECB) said yesterday. Bancroft was banned for nine months for his role in Championship a fortnight ago - edged clear par 66 and revived his hopes of a second Archer had surgery in March to remove a glass the incident, while then-captain Steve Smith and of the fi eld with a birdie on the fi nal hole of victory of 2021 following his Texas Open win fragment from a tendon on his right hand, an injury his deputy David Warner were stripped of their lead- a roller-coaster third round after rolling a last month. he sustained in January when an attempt to clean ership positions and handed year-long suspensions. long eagle putt to the edge of the cup. Burns “This tournament’ s done a lot for me in his fi sh tank went wrong. The CA review had at that time cleared the rest of had dominated the TPC Craig Ranch layout the past and I’m glad I’m in contention,” The 26-year-old was having treatment for a the team and the support staff from any wrongdo- in suburban Dallas with a 10-under-par 62 Spieth said, admitting that his last-hole ea- long-term elbow problem at the time. Archer re- ing or knowledge of the damaging incident but Ban- on Friday, but was forced to battle to stay on gle couldn’t have come at a better time. turned to action for county side Sussex against croft’s interview to The Guardian has reopened old top of the leaderboard with a round that in- who had briefl y grabbed a share of the lead “I was kind of leaking oil coming in over Kent this week at Hove but only bowled fi ve overs in wounds. “CA has maintained all along that if anyone cluded fi ve birdies and two bogeys. after his sublime bunker shot from 80 feet the last few holes and I made up for it there.” Kent’s second innings due to pain in his right elbow. is in possession of new information in regards to the The American was in trouble from the left him with a tap-in for a closing birdie. He did not bowl during the fi nal two days of the Cape Town Test of 2018 they should come forward opening hole, missing an 11-foot par putt It capped another fl awless round from LEADING THIRD-ROUND SCORES county championship match. and present it,” the board said in a statement. before responding with a birdie on the third Lee, whose bogey-free 67 included fi ve bird- (USA unless noted, par-72) “The England and Sussex medical teams will “The investigation conducted at the time was after curling in a 28-foot putt from the ies and 13 pars. Lee has birdied the 18th on 196-Sam Burns 65-62-69 seek guidance, and Archer will see a medical con- detailed and comprehensive. Since then, no one has fringe. A deft chip to six inches gave Burns all three of his rounds this week, and so far 197-Lee Kyoung-hoon (KOR) 65-65-67 sultant later this week to determine the next course presented new information to CA that casts doubt another birdie on the fi fth before a bogey on has only one bogey through 54 holes for a 199-Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 65-68-66, Matt of action on the management of his elbow,” the ECB on the investigation’s fi ndings. All I wanted to do the next hole stalled his progress. 19-under aggregate 199. Kuchar 67-66-66, Jordan Spieth 63-70-66, said in a statement. was to be responsible and accountable for my own That was the last blemish of the day how- Burns and Lee will be nervously glanc- Alex Noren (SWE) 65-64-70 Archer featured in two of England’s four Tests actions and part,” Bancroft told the paper when ever, and three more birdies and nine pars ing over their shoulders on Sunday however 200-Seamus Power (IRL) 65-68-67, Doc and all fi ve Twenty20 matches during their recent asked if Australia’s bowlers were aware of what he ensured he will defend the lead when the fi - with a cluster of four players lurking just off Redman 64-67-69 series in India. He missed the start of the now-sus- was doing. “Obviously what I did benefi ts bowlers nal round tees off early on Sunday in order to the pace at 17 under, three adrift of the lead 201-Scott Stallings 67-71-63, Harris English pended Indian Premier League season. and the awareness around that, probably, is self- avoid forecasted storms. and two behind second place. That group 70-68-63, Rafa Cabrera Bello (ESP) 64-71-66, The fi rst Test against New Zealand will be held explanatory.” When pressed further to clarify if the Burns’ birdie on the 18th left him just includes South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel, Bronson Burgoon 68-66-67, Ben Martin 65- at Lord’s from June 2-6 before the second game in bowlers knew, he replied: “Uh... yeah, look, I think, ahead of South Korea’s Lee Kyoung-hoon, Matt Kuchar, Sweden’s Alex Noren, and 69-67, Joseph Bramlett 64-70-67 Birmingham from June 10. yeah, I think it’s pretty probably self-explanatory.” Gulf Times Monday, May 17, 2021 5 SPORT

NBA NHL Dowd scores overtime winner to lift Capitals LeBron returns as past Bruins 3-2

Reuters suff er a pulled groin muscle that Washington forced him from the game. Dillon restored the Washing- ton lead at 8:44 of the second ic Dowd scored the period when his point shot de- Lakers beat Pacers, winning goal to give fl ected off the stick of Bruins the host Washington defenseman Jeremy Lauzon for Capitals a 3-2 overtime his fi rst career playoff goal, but Nvictory over the Boston Bruins in Ritchie’s power-play goal 0 an- Saturday’s Stanley Cup playoff s other defl ection while creating opener. havoc in front of the net 0 with Tom Wilson and Brenden Dil- 3:22 remaining in the second pe- lon also scored for the Capitals, riod again drew the visitors even. stay in playoff hunt while goaltender Craig Ander- son stopped 21 of the 22 shots AVALANCHE’S MACKINNON he faced after being forced into AIMS FOR PLAYOFF ‘A LOT MORE MOBILITY, A LOT MORE MOVEMENT, IT WAS WARM’ action midway through the fi rst OPENER AGAINST BLUES period due to an injury suff ered Colorado Avalanche forward AFP by starting netminder Vitek Nathan MacKinnon was back Los Angeles Vanecek. Jake DeBrusk and Nick at practice Saturday and is ex- Ritchie replied for Boston, and pected to play in today’s Game goaltender Tuukka Rask made 29 1 of a fi rst-round playoff series eBron James made a successful saves in the loss. against the visiting St Louis return from injury as the Los An- Game 2 of the best-of-seven Blues. MacKinnon missed four geles Lakers kept alive their hopes East Division series will be today of the fi nal fi ve regular-season of an automatic NBA playoff spot in Washington. games due to a lower-body in- Lwith a 122-115 victory over the Indiana Dowd was battling in front of jury. But coach Jared Bednar said Pacers on Saturday. the Boston net when TJ Oshie Saturday that the 25-year-old is James fi nished with 24 points while unloaded a long slap shot and on track to play. Anthony Davis led the scoring with 28 as Dowd defl ected the puck into the “He’s such a big part of our the Lakers served notice that they have net at the 4:41 mark of the extra hockey team, especially driv- no intention of surrendering their NBA period for his fi rst career playoff ing our off ense,” Bednar said of crown without a fi ght as the postseason overtime goal. Oshie collected a MacKinnon. “To have him in for approaches. pair of assists. the start of the series would be Saturday’s victory means that the Lak- Anderson, who will celebrate what the doctor ordered.” ers can still secure the sixth seed and his 40th birthday on Friday, saw MacKinnon scored 20 goals avoid the play-in tournament if they win his fi rst playoff action since May and 45 assists in 48 games this their fi nal game of the regular season 25, 2017, while with the Ottawa season. His 65 points were sec- against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sun- Senators. The veteran played in ond on the Avalanche behind day and Portland lose to Denver in their only four NHL games this sea- linemate Mikko Rantanen (30 fi nal game. son, in which he posted a 2-1-0 goals, 36 assists). On Saturday’s evidence, the Lakers ap- record with a 2.13 goals-against MacKinnon was a big-time pear to be hitting the sort of form that de- average and .915 save percentage. performer in last season’s play- livered last season’s championship at just Washington’s No. 1 goalie Ilya off s when he opened by scor- the right time, with James linking bril- Samsonov was removed from ing in 14 straight games. It tied liantly with Davis while other key mem- the league’s Covid-19 protocol Hall of Famers Bobby Orr of the bers of the roster returned from injury. list on Saturday but didn’t play. Boston Bruins in 1970 and Mark When Anderson took the net, Messier of the Edmonton Oilers fourth-string goalie Pheonix in 1988 for the second-longest RESULTS Copley dressed as backup. such streak in NHL playoff his- Bucks 122-108 Heat Wilson, who had a two-point tory. Bryan Trottier of the New game, opened the scoring by York Islanders holds the record Nets 105-91 Bulls taking advantage of a bad break of 18 when he scored in every Lakers 122-115 Pacers for Bruins defenseman Charlie game of the 1981 postseason. Knicks 118-109 Hornets McAvoy, whose stick broke when “He’s one of our stars and a Suns 140-103 Spurs he attempted a point shot. Wil- guy that really looks forward to son executed a give-and-go with this time of year,” Bednar said. Celtics 124-108 Wolves Oshie on the resulting odd-man “We saw what he could do in the rush before he buried a shot from playoff s last year.” As well as James’ return, Germany’s the left circle at the 6:22 mark. Bednar also said forward Dennis Schroder was back from a seven- However, DeBrusk evened the Brandon Saad also could return game layoff due to Covid-19 protocols, score seven minutes later. After Monday. Saad has missed the scoring 14 points, while Lakers coach Curtis Lazar won the off ensive- past 11 games with a lower-body Frank Vogel confi rmed Alex Caruso is zone faceoff , pulling the puck injury. Saad, 28, had 15 goals now fi t again despite not featuring on back, DeBrusk quickly fi red a and nine assists in 44 games for Saturday. long shot that eluded Vanecek as Colorado. The Avalanche went Any lingering doubts about James’ re- he did the splits and appeared to 5-3 against the Blues this season. turn to fi tness were wiped away early on Saturday, with the Lakers star throwing Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James shoots the ball in the fourth quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Field- down a monstrous one-handed dunk house in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. (USA TODAY Sports) from a Schroder alley-oop as the Lakers imposed themselves early on. Six Lakers footed by the early afternoon scheduling defeat would have guaranteed top spot in 12 and Harden 5. “The fact they’re on the players fi nished in double fi gures, with of Saturday’s game, initially expecting a the West to the Jazz, who must now wait court together is positive,” Nets coach Schroder adding 14 points on his return. night-time fi xture. for Sunday’s fi nal round of regular season Steve Nash said of Durant, Harden and James meanwhile was happy to see “It threw me for a loop,” James said. games to clinch the top seed. Devin Book- Irving. “Just the chance to feel it so it’s his return from injury pass off without a “I knew I had to get my engine revved up er led Phoenix’s blowout victory with 27 not so brand new when we start the play- glitch, saying afterwards that while his early and I wasn’t sure how my ankle was points while Mikal Bridges added 18. off s next weekend.” ankle was sore it felt much improved. going to respond. Elsewhere, the Brooklyn Nets warmed “It wasn’t a great game, we weren’t “A lot more mobility, a lot more move- “But it responded very well and I’m ex- up for the playoff s with 105-91 defeat of very sharp,” Nash added. ment, it was warm,” James said. “Tiny cited about what tomorrow holds.” the Chicago Bulls. The game marked the “We weren’t fi ring on all cylinders bit of soreness now that the game is over In other early NBA games on Satur- fi rst time Brooklyn’s big three of Kevin but we got out of it with a win. “We got which is expected, but I didn’t have a set- day, the Phoenix Suns delayed Utah’s Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irv- the job done and we move on tomor- Washington Capitals’ Nic Dowd (No 26) celebrates with teammates back today which is a damn good job for coronation as top seeds from the West- ing had taken to the court together since row. Hopefully we can have a good game after scoring the game winning goal against the Boston Bruins in myself and the medical team.” ern Conference after demolishing the February. Irving led the Brooklyn scorers and that sets us up for a good week of overtime in game one of the first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup James added that he had been wrong- San Antonio Spurs 140-103. A Phoenix with 22 points while Durant fi nished with practice.” Playoff s at Capital One Arena in Washington. (USA TODAY Sports)

SPOTLIGHT Bryant inducted posthumously into Basketball Hall of Fame AFP than life.” Vanessa was helped to the stage by New York NBA legend Michael Jordan, who acted as a pre- senter for Kobe and three-time NCAA cham- pion coach Kim Mulkey. os Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant was “He and Gigi deserved to be here to witness inducted posthumously into the Nai- this. Gigi would have been so proud of her dad smith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame getting into the Hall of Fame,” Vanessa said. on Saturday part of a star-studded group Like Kobe, Garnett went straight out of high Lthat also included Tim Duncan and Kevin | school to the NBA. Garnett talked of his respect Garnett. and admiration for both Duncan and Kobe. Bryant was inducted as part of the Class of “I appreciate you,” Garnett said to Duncan 2020, almost 16 months after he and his 13-year- from the stage. “It’s an honour to go into the hall old daughter Gianna were killed in a helicopter with you, bro. You and Kob.” crash along with seven others in southern Cali- Garnett played 21 seasons for Minnesota, fornia. Bryant’s wife, Vanessa Bryant, took the Boston and Brooklyn, averaging 17.8 points and podium Saturday to speak movingly about his 10.0 rebounds per game. “My only regret with love for basketball, his family, his teammates Minnesota is that I didn’t get to bring a cham- and his fans. pionship,” Garnett said. “But like I said, I look “You did it. You are in the Hall of Fame now. forward to rebuilding Minneapolis.” You are a true champion, not just an MVP. You Duncan had an immediate impact in the NBA, are an all-time great,” Vanessa said. winning the rookie of the year award. His fi rst San Antonio Spurs star Duncan, Minne- NBA title came just one year after that. sota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics big man Garnett, two-time NBA champion coach Rudy ‘MOST NERVOUS’ Tomjanovich and WNBA legend Tamika Catch- “This is the most nervous I’ve ever been in my ings were among those also inducted on Satur- life,” the retiring Duncan said. “Been through day night. fi nals, game sevens, this is offi cially the most The delayed enshrinement stretched over two nervous I’ve ever been in my life. I’ve been pac- days at the Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino in ing in my room all day.” Uncasville, Connecticut, with Vanessa Bryant In 19 seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, and Kobe’s oldest daughter, Natalia, accepting Duncan averaged 19.0 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 Bryant’s Hall of Fame jacket and ring on Friday assists, and 2.2 blocks per game. night. Bryant and the others were voted into the Catchings overcame a number of obstacles Hall of Fame as part of the 2020 class, but the leading up to her stellar basketball career. formal induction ceremony was delayed be- “Basketball chose me, an awkward, lanky, in- cause of the Covid-19 pandemic. troverted tomboy, born with a hearing disabil- “There will never be anyone like Kobe,” Va- ity, a speech impediment, and a will to overcome nessa said. “Kobe was one of a kind. He was spe- obstacles, dream big and to change the world,” (L-R) Class of 2020 inductees Rudy Tomjanovich, Kim Mulkey, Tim Duncan and Vanessa Bryant (accepting for her late husband Kobe Bryant) pose together cial. He was humble – off the court – but bigger Catchings said. on-stage during the 2021 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. (Getty Images/AFP) Gulf Times 6 Monday, May 17, 2021 SPORT

CYCLING NFL Giants sign Benjamin, running back Clement Bernal destroys ETIENNE WORKS AT WR FOR AFP Aintree, United Kingdom MEYER, JAGUARS The Jacksonville Jaguars made a somewhat mysterious selec- he New York Giants an- tion by picking Clemson running nounced the signings back Travis Etienne in the fi rst yesterday of former round of the 2021 NFL Draft. fi rst-round wide receiv- The team already had a strong his rivals to take erT Kelvin Benjamin and former No. 1 running back in James Rob- Philadelphia Eagles running inson and had signed depend- back Corey Clement. able veteran Carlos Hyde in free Both veteran free agents tried agency. On Saturday, fi rst-year out for the team at this week- Jaguars coach Urban Meyer pro- end’s rookie minicamp, with vided a pretty big clue. Benjamin working out prima- Meyer is using Etienne as rily as a tight end. Both received a wide receiver at this week- Giro d’Italia lead one-year deals. Benjamin, 30, end’s rookie minicamp, form- was drafted in the fi rst round ing a pass-catch combo with (28th overall) by Carolina in 2014 Etienne’s college quarterback ‘I CAN’T TELL YOU JUST HOW HAPPY I AM TO BE HERE TALKING TO YOU NOW’ and caught 73 passes for 1,008 – and the No. 1 overall pick – yards and nine touchdowns as a Trevor Lawrence. rookie that season. “That’s the reason we drafted Reuters His career went south after him is the opportunity to be a Campo Felice, Italy that and he hasn’t appeared in dual-threat guy and our history an NFL game since 2018. Ben- as long as we’ve had a guy like jamin’s career totals include 209 that and we saw him as a guy like olombia’s Egan Bernal receptions for 3,021 yards and that in the draft this year,” Meyer soared into the Giro 20 touchdowns in 61 games (52 said on a conference call Satur- d’Italia overall lead yes- starts) with the Panthers, Buff alo day. terday when he acceler- Bills and Kansas City Chiefs. “In “Right now, we’re focusing atedC away from his key rivals to terms of Benjamin working a dif- on the fundamentals of wide re- win stage nine’s mountaintop ferent position today, we’re going ceiver play, learning the off ense showdown. to work diff erent guys at a vari- from wide receiver. The Ineos leader, and win- ety of things right now,” Giants “Like I said, worst-case sce- ner of the 2019 Tour de France, coach Joe Judge said on Friday. nario is you have a running back pulled away from a select group “He’s a big guy (6-5, 245). He’s that’s elite with receiver skills on a gravel ski slope above the always been a big receiver. He’ll and best-case scenario he’s a le- clouds with the other overall work receiver. He’s working a gitimate dual-threat guy. contenders only able to watch as little bit fl ex tight end as well. I Etienne, the 25th overall pick, he skipped away. wouldn’t really pin him down to is up for the challenge. Remarkably this was Bernal’s any one position at this point. “I feel like I create a prob- fi rst stage win on a Grand Tour, We’re going to use the weekend lem outside for a linebacker, so impressive in the manner of its to move him around to diff erent I feel like football is a game of execution and setting. spots and see how it works out.” matchups. We’re just trying to Giulio Ciccone was second Giants general manager Dave get the best matchups for us to on the day at 7sec and Alexandr Gettleman served in the same go out there and make plays and Vlasov was third in the same role with the Panthers when they do what’s best for the team,” time. Remco Evenepoel and Dan drafted Benjamin. Clement, a Etienne said to CBS Sports. Martin came in 10 seconds back hero of Philadelphia’s Super Bowl “I feel like if I really hone in and Romain Bardet also clung on LII victory against the New Eng- on my skills and just keep work- at 12 seconds. land Patriots, appeared in 46 reg- ing at it, work on my route run- Britain’s Simon Yates again ular-season games over the past ning ability and really focus in lost a handful of seconds but four years with the Eagles. He has on what the plan is and buy into there are still 12 tough stages re- rushed for 655 yards and seven that, we’ll make plays, we’re maining. touchdowns and has 37 catches playmakers. I feel like, like I said, The 24-year-old Bernal had for 340 yards and two scores. football is a game of matchups, been suff ering back problems Clement, 26, caught four and this creates the best match- that forced him out of last year’s passes for 100 yards and a ups for us.” Tour de France and limited his touchdown in the 41-33 victory Etienne, 22, caught 102 passes competition time since. against the Patriots in SB LII. for 1,155 yards and eight touch- “I sacrifi ced so much to be The Giants also waived run- downs in four seasons at Clem- here,” an emotional Bernal said ning back Jordan Chunn and son. He also rushed for 4,952 at the line. “I can’t tell you just tight end Nate Wieting. yards and 70 scores. how happy I am to be here talk- ing to you now.” Italian Gianni Moscon guided Bernal up the fi nal steep slope beyond the treeline to its high- est altitude so far with 9 percent average gradient with sections Team Ineos rider Colombia’s Egan Bernal crosses the finish line to win the ninth stage of the Giro d’Italia, 158km between Castel di Sangro at 12 percent. and Campo Felice (Rocca di Cambio), yesterday. (AFP) “I hadn’t been planning to win the stage, but my team- Ineos set a blistering pace as the one of the pioneers of the now 08mins 23sec, 2. Giulio Ciccone 35hrs 19mins 22sec, 2. Remco mates were encouraging me race climbed through the clouds. banned downhill ‘supertuck’ (ITA/TRE) 07sec, 3. Aleksandr Evenepoel (BEL/DEC) at 15sec, to go for it,” said Bernal, who With predictions the 21-year-old position, remained conscious Vlasov (RUS/AST) same time, 4. 3. Aleksandr Vlasov (RUS/AST) produced his exhilarating at- Belgian would take the pink jer- but was taken to hospital for x- Remco Evenepoel (BEL/DEC) 21, 4. Giulio Ciccone (ITA/TRE) tack 600 metres from home in sey from Hungary’s Attila Valter it rays and kept under observation. 10, 5. Dan Martin (IRL/ISR) same 36, 5. Attila Valter (HUN/FDJ) 43, a fi nale contested ‘off piste’, on a was instead Bernal’s brilliant burst Earlier the peloton was given a time, 6. Damiano Caruso (ITA/ 6. Hugh Carthy (GBR/EF1) 44, gravel track used as a ski slope in that provided the day’s fi reworks. Covid-19 all clear with no posi- BAH) s.t., 7. Romain Bardet (FRA/ 7. Damiano Caruso (ITA/BAH) winter. He leads Evenepoel by just 15sec, tive tests amongst the riders or DSM) s.t., 8. Marc Soler (ESP/ 45, 8. Dan Martin (IRL/ISR) 51, 9. with Vlasov third at 21sec and the staff on the 23 teams. MOV) s.t., 9. Daniel Martinez Simon Yates (GBR/BIK) 55, 10. CAMPO FELICE entire top ten separated by 61 sec- However one cyclist Tomasz (COL/INE) s.t., 10. Joao Almeida Davide Formolo (ITA/UAE) 1min The Campo Felice terrain pos- onds. Marczynski of the Belgian Lot- (POR/DEC) s.t. 01sec sibly suited the man from the Yesterday’s stage featured a to-Soudal team was withdrawn SELECTED Andes, who learned his trade spectacular crash on the descent as a precaution because of 14. Simon Yates (GBR/BIK) s.t., SELECTED on mountain bikes and is a re- of the Passo Godi at the 35km symptoms related to the deadly 18. Tobias Foss (NOR/JUM) 35, 11. Daniel Martinez (COL/INE) nowned bike handler. mark when Matej Mohoric hit a virus. 21. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/TRE) s.t, 1:12, 12. Marc Soler (ESP/MOV) Evenepoel said ahead of the crack in the road, snapping his 25. Attila Valter (HUN/FDJ) 49 1:20, 13. Romain Bardet (FRA/ race “everyone is looking forward bike in two and landing on his RESULTS FROM NINTH STAGE DSM) same time, 15. Emanuel to the last climb” but the Belgian head after a midair somersault. STAGE OVERALL Buchmann (GER/BOR) 1:46, 16. rookie was forced to dig deep when The Slovenian, who was 1. Egan Bernal (COL/INE) 4hrs 1. Egan Bernal (COL/INE) Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/TRE) 2:12 Kelvin Benjamin.

MLB Escobar powers Diamondbacks past Nationals another two-out home run, a two-run shot, in Reuters RESULTS New York the eighth inning to increase the lead to 11-3. D’Backs 11-4 Nationals BIG INNINGS PROPEL RAYS IN duardo Escobar had two home runs Rays 12-5 Mets ROUT OF METS and seven RBIs, and the Arizona Dia- Dodgers 7-0 Marlins Pinch hitter Austin Meadows drove in the mondbacks’ pitching, including Seth go-ahead run in a fi ve-run fourth inning and Frankoff in his fi rst major league start, Pirates 8-6 Giants Shane McClanahan won for the fi rst time in subduedE the visiting Washington Nationals Reds 6-5 Rockies the majors as the Tampa Bay Rays posted a 11-4 on Saturday night. Blue Jays 4-0 Phillies 12-5 win over the New York Mets on Saturday Frankoff , a 32-year-old right-hander who in St Petersburg, Fla. toiled in the minors and professionally in Tigers 9-8 Cubs As they did in Friday’s 3-2 series-opening South Korea, lasted 4 2/3 innings – matching Yankees 8-2 Orioles win, the Rays had to battle back against the his three relief appearances combined in his Mets. Tampa Bay received fi ve hits in the Royals 5-1 White Sox big-league career. fourth inning and secured a 5-4 lead off Joey He was recently called up from Triple-A Braves 5-1 Brewers Lucchesi (1-3) on a double by Meadows. Joey Reno to be a spot starter after Zac Gallen Twins 5-4 Athletics Wendle (three doubles, two RBIs, two runs (right elbow sprain) went on the 10-day in- scored) went 4-for-5 and Yandy Diaz and jured list. Frankoff , who pitched profession- Red Sox 9-0 Angels Randy Arozarena each produced three-hit ally in South Korea in 2018 and 2019, pitched Astros 6-5 Rangers performances for the Rays, who won their for the Chicago Cubs in 2017 and the Seattle third straight game. Mariners 7-3 Indians Mariners last year. In a career-long 5 1/3 innings, the left- He allowed three hits and two runs with Padres 13-3 Cardinals handed McClanahan (1-0) surrendered four four strikeouts and four walks before he was runs and two homers but struck out seven pulled by manager Torey Lovullo after Wash- The Diamondbacks answered Washing- – all career-high marks. He allowed six hits ington loaded the bases with two outs in the ton’s run in the fi rst inning with three runs in and walked just one in the 75-pitch outing. fi fth. Alex Young (1-3) came on to strike out the bottom of the inning. Escobar had a two- New York’s Jose Peraza belted a three-run Kyle Schwarber and preserve the 6-2 lead. run single, and Varsho later singled him in. homer and Pete Alonso went deep for the Arizona, which is 4-10 in its last 14 games, After Washington cut the lead to 3-2 on first time in 16 games. Francisco Lindor also had 12 hits on Saturday. Escobar went 3-for- Victor Robles’ RBI single in the second, Esco- homered for the Mets. Drew Smith served as 5 with his eighth and ninth home runs, and bar’s three-run home run with two outs in the the opener, logging two innings and yielding David Peralta was 2-for-5 with his fourth fourth inning off Washington starter Joe Ross one unearned run on two hits before being homer. Daulton Varsho, playing at catcher (2-3) increased the lead to 6-2. relieved by Lucchesi. With the bases emp- after Carson Kelly (fractured left big toe) was Arizona scored twice in the bottom of the ty in the bottom of the first, Diaz sliced a Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eduardo Escobar celebrates after hitting a two run home run placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday, fi fth against Ross, including Andrew Young’s ground-rule double and Wendle reached on against the Washington Nationals during the eighth inning at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. went 2-for-3 with an RBI. RBI single, to take an 8-2 lead. Escobar belted an infield dribbler. (USA TODAY Sports) Gulf Times Monday, May 17, 2021 7 FOOTBALL

LA LIGA COMMENT AFC chief Suarez winner condoles deaths of young Palestinian footballers keeps Atletico’s tragically extinguished in the AFC Kuala Lumpur ongoing strife,” said Shaikh Sal- man. “I would like to extend my FC President Shaikh heartfelt condolences and sym- Salman bin Ebrahim al- pathies to the families and loved Khalifah has expressed ones of Sa’id and Mohamed,” his deep anguish on the added the AFC President. title hopes alive tragicA deaths of Balata FC youth Odeh, who was 16 years of age team player Sa’id Yousef Odeh and the proud owner of jersey and Al Namaa youth player Mo- number 22, had played his last Barcelona are out of the running after they lost 2-1 at home to Celta Vigo hamed Abu al-Ata and conveyed match with Balata against Hilal his sincere condolences to the of Jericho on April 27 at Silwad in Palestinian football family. the Tokyo Tournament, reaching According to information the Round of 16. received by the AFC from the Abu al-Ata, a cousin of PFA Palestine Football Association executive committee member (PFA), Odeh was killed by Israeli Salah Abu al-Ata, was a promis- soldiers in his home village of ing 15-year-old player with the Huwarrah while Abu al-Ata died Al Namaa club. during the Israeli air strikes in The AFC President also Gaza. wished a quick and full recovery “My heart goes out to the fam- to Gaza referee Sa’ied Abdelwa- ilies and friends of Sa’id Odeh hab who suff ered a broken spine and Mohamed Abu al-Ata whose and was severely injured during young and promising lives were the air strikes.

SERIE A Napoli tighten grip on top-four spot with Fiorentina win

Reuters close to a second when denied by Milan, Italy the woodwork again with a low shot that struck the post. Napoli doubled their advan- apoli captain Lorenzo tage in the 67th minute when In- Insigne scored to help signe laid off a pass to Zielinski, his side beat 10-man whose fi rst-time strike took a big Fiorentina 2-0 and defl ection off Lorenzo Venuti on Nmove into provisional third place its way in and was awarded as an in the Serie A table on Sunday as own goal to wrap up the points. they chase a Champions League Later on Sunday, Beneven- spot. to conceded a gut-wrenching The win leaves Gennaro Gat- stoppage time equaliser against tuso’s side on 76 points, one 10-man Crotone at the Stadio point ahead of AC Milan and Ju- Vigorito in a 1-1 draw that left ventus in fourth and fi fth respec- Filippo Inzaghi’s side perilously tively, before Milan host Cagliari close to relegation and secured later on Sunday. Cagliari’s safety. Atletico Madrid’s Luis Suarez (centre) celebrates after scoring the winner against Osasuna during their La Liga match in Madrid, Spain, yesterday. (Reuters) Napoli will be guaranteed a Gianluca Lapadula’s strike place in next season’s Champi- put the hosts in front before AFP dropped below the target rate set outside, but it was Barca who ons League if they win their fi nal Crotone’s Vladimir Golemic was Madrid, Spain by the government. had let in an equaliser against game of the season at home to sent off , but Simy levelled from At Villarreal the maximum Celta Vigo. Hellas Verona next Sunday. close range in the 93rd minute. 5,000 fans cheered their team to All the top three were being Juve had beaten champions Benevento have 32 points, uis Suarez scored the a 4-0 home victory over high- held at half-time. Inter Milan on Saturday to move three behind 17th-placed Tori- goal that could win fl ying Sevilla. Atletico thought they were above Napoli, who therefore no, who have a game in hand. Atletico Madrid La Liga But 60 kilometres (37 miles) ahead on the hour as Stefan travelled to Florence needing a Cagliari in 16th are now safe with when his 88th-minute down the Mediterranean coast, Savic fi nished from Trippier’s victory to ensure they would go 36 points. Lwinner snatched a remarkable Valencia, whose relations with cross. Fans outside set off two into the fi nal round of fi xtures To stay up, Benevento need 2-1 victory over Osasuna yester- their fans are strained, sold ony fi reworks, but Savic was just off - in one of the four Champions Torino to lose their game in hand day after they had looked set to 3,000 of the available places. side and the goal was ruled out. League qualifying positions. at Lazio on Tuesday and then to hand the title advantage to Real The impact was similar as the Atletico put the ball in the Napoli were frustrated by the win the head-to-head meeting Madrid. home team beat struggling Eibar net again, only for fl ag to go up 13th-placed hosts in the fi rst half between the two relegation rivals Atletico trailed with nine 4-1. again, Carrasco nipping behind as goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano on the fi nal day of the season in minutes to go at the Wanda Met- In Madrid, no fans were al- too early before powering in. kept out Piotr Zielinski’s strike Turin next Sunday. ropolitano and faced a defeat lowed in the Wanda Metropoli- The fl ag stayed down at San and Insigne’s free kick rattled the Elsewhere, a late Fabio that would not just have post- tano, but they gathered outside Mames a few minutes later bar, while Fiorentina striker Du- Quagliarella penalty earned poned their bid to be champions and cheered as the team bus ar- though as Nacho put Real Ma- san Vlahovic had a header ruled ninth-placed Sampdoria a 1-0 but allowed Real Madrid, who rived. drid ahead in the 68th minute, out for off side. win at Udinese, who are 12th. were beating Athletic Bilbao, to The crowd was several hun- Karim Benzema, who was off - The breakthrough came after go top with one game left. dred strong by kick-off , and the side, failed to control Casemiro’s 57 minutes when Napoli were RESULTS Instead, Atletico scored in the chanting audible on the pitch. cross and Nacho prodded in. awarded a penalty for a shirt Fiorentina 0 Napoli 2 (Insigne 82nd and 88th minutes to pull Atletico had 16 shots in a fi rst Real Madrid were going top pull at a corner following a VAR 56, Venuti 67-og) off a stunning turnaround. Re- half but could not fi nd a way and seven minutes later, things review, and Viola substitute Bar- Benevento 1 (Lapadula 13) nan Lodi smashed in an equal- through. The chances came got worse for Atletico. Ante Bu- tlomiej Dragowski was shown a Crotone 1 (Simy 90+3) iser before Suarez proved the Barcelona’s Lionel Messi reacts during their loss to Celta Vigo at early and they all fell to Suarez dimir was free at the back post to straight red card for protesting Udinese 0 Sampdoria 1 hero, fi ring in from eight yards Camp Nou yesterday. (Reuters) early on. heading in a free kick. the decision. (Quagliarella 88-pen) to spark mass celebrations. The fans outside were silent. Insigne’s tame spot kick was Parma 1 (Bruno Alves 32) Sas- Atletico’s players and substi- quickly became preservation. scored the opener. FIREWORKS Atletico coach Diego Sime- saved but he fi red home the re- suolo 3 (Locatelli 25-pen, Defrel tutes piled onto Suarez. At the Victory maintains their two- Suarez, who was forced to The best of them came from an one brought on two substitutes bound, and the Italy winger was 62, Boga 69) full-time whistle, some of their point advantage and another leave Barca last summer, has Angel Correa cross but Suarez and they combined to level. players dropped to their knees, win away at Real Valladolid next scored 20 goals this season and took too long and with three Os- Joao Felix scooped a superb pass not with ecstasy, but relief, the weekend will guarantee a second the goal against Osasuna en- asuna players in front of him, he through for Lodi to thunder in title just one win away. league title in 25 years. sured his former team could not could only pick out the post. with eight minutes left. To be crowned champions Barcelona are out of the run- win the title. Atletico kept coming as Saul There was hope. In the 88th with a game to spare, Atletico ning after they lost 2-1 at home After more than a year away, Niguez headed over Kieran minute there was joy, Carrasco needed Real Madrid to slip up to Celta Vigo. fans fi nally returned to La Liga Trippier’s pass. lingering in the area and pulling at San Mames but Nacho Fern- Santi Mina scored twice, in- but only for the two games in They might have thought Real back perfectly for Suarez, who andez put Real ahead in the sec- cluding an 89th minute win- the Valencia region, where the Madrid had conceded when a arrived late, fi red in, and ran to ond half and Atletico’s priority ner for Celta after Lionel Messi coronavirus infection rate has huge cheer came from the fans the corner.

FOCUS Real Madrid is where Raul wants to be Reuters motion to the second division he was committed to Real. Madrid, Spain after a 0-0 draw at Ibiza on Sun- “When I decided to become day and the former Spain striker a coach three or four years ago I was asked if he would end up did it so I could be at my home, eal Madrid great Raul becoming fi rst team coach next my club, get experience and get has said his future is season after reports Zidane has the best possible education,” he at the club following decided to leave. added. Spanish media reports “This is my home and where I “We’ve learned a lot this year thatR current coach Zinedine Zi- want to be. But it’s not the time and I’m an employee of this club. dane is to leave at the end of the to talk about anyone’s future,” I’m a club man, I’m happy at my season. Raul told reporters. home and I hope to continue.” Raul, who scored 323 goals for Raul left Real in 2010 to con- Raul led Real’s under-19 team the club between 1994 and 2010, tinue playing in Germany with to a UEFA Youth League triumph has spent the last two years as Schalke 04 and then in Qatar with last year and by coaching the re- a coach in Real’s youth system, Al Sadd before ending his career serve side Castilla he is follow- taking the under-19s last season with the New York Cosmos. ing the same path Frenchman and the reserve team this cam- The 43-year-old has been Zidane and predecessor San- Napoli’s Lorenzo Insigne (left) in action with Fiorentina’s Erick Pulgar paign. linked with a move to Bundesliga tiago Solari took before getting during the Serie A match at Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence, Italy, His side missed out on pro- side Eintracht Frankfurt but said the top job. yesterday. (Reuters)

Monday, May 17, 2021 GULF TIMES SPORT

ATHLETICS HORSE RACING World leader Richardson headlines Doha 100m More than 100 entries ha’Carri Richard- the Pure Athletics Sprint Elite Marie-Josée Ta Lou (Ivory Coast) for 2021 Qatar Prix de son (USA), the fastest Meet earlier this month af- and Nigeria’s national record woman in the world this ter a windy 10.76 in her heat. A holder Blessing Okagbare, an year, heads an incredible gold medallist over 100m and Olympic, world and Common- l’Arc de Triomphe 100mS fi eld at the Wanda Doha 200m in Rio 2016, she is ranked wealth Games medallist, will also Diamond League on May 28 that fourth-equal in the world all- line up in the stellar 100m fi eld at he Qatar Prix de l’Arc also features double Olympic time rankings (10.70) alongside the Qatar Sports Club. de Triomphe (Group 1), champion Elaine Thompson- Fraser-Pryce, double Olympic The 2021 Wanda Diamond which has been crowned Herah (Jamaica) and defending champion (2008 and 2012) and League comprises 14 meetings – on numerous occasions world champion Shelly-Ann multiple world champion over starting with Gateshead (replac- Tas the world’s top race, has at- Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica). 100m, 200m and 4 x 100m relay. ing Rabat as the fi rst host city on tracted 101 entries this year. Richardson, the world un- “As I embark on this next jour- this year’s circuit) on May 23 – The winner of the 2020 edi- der-20 record holder, clocked ney of my life as a professional leading to a single fi nal across tion, Sottsass, and the third in a stunning 10.72 lifetime best athlete, I’m honoured to partici- two days in Zurich at the end of the same race, Persian King, have at the Miramar Invitational in pate in the historic Wanda Doha the season. Each meeting will be since been retired to stud. How- Florida (World Athletics Con- Diamond League meet,” said broadcast globally in a live two- ever, In Swoop (second in 2020) tinental Tour Silver meeting) in Richardson, who opens her Dia- hour programme. is still on course for the 2021 race. April to go sixth on the world mond League campaign in Gates- The 2021 calendar remains This also applies to Gold Trip all-time list. and 10.77 into a headwind in at Mt SAC in Walnut, California, head a week prior to Doha. It will subject to change depending on (fourth in 2020) and Raabihah in the biggest race in South The 21-year-old backed that the fi nal – at the USATF Golden on May 9. be the fi rst time she’s travelled to the global health situation in the (fi fth in 2020). America – the Gran Premio In- up with another two sub-10.80 Games (World Athletics Conti- Thompson-Herah is also in Europe and the Middle East. coming months. The 2021 edition takes place ternacional Carlos Pellegrini performances – 10.74 in the heat nental Tour Gold meeting) held fi ne form and ran 10.78 to win Multiple world medallist (Diamond League) on October 3, and it will be all (Group 1) winner Nao Da Mais. the more exceptional for the Also present are a Japanese fact that it marks the centenary sextet, including Deep Bond, PREMIER LEAGUE of the race. It is a race which whose connections have already North Korea will be international in every confi rmed the fi rm intention to withdraws way. The best European horses travel to France. will, of course, be present, with Horses owned by Qatari own- from WCup horses that prove themselves in ers also feature among the en- qualifi cation the summer classics may also be tries, including Abdullah Fahad supplemented on September 29. al-Attiyah’s Vaucelles, and the QNA The list features a horse born Qatar Racing Limited pair, Ocean Alisson winner in Brazil, and one that triumphed Road and Twisted Reality. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

he Asian Football SPOTLIGHT Confederation has Tannounced North keeps Liverpool’s Korea has pulled out of qualification for the 2022 Man Utd’s injured World Cup. “The (AFC) has today confirmed the withdrawal Maguire upbeat of the DPR Korea Football Association from the CL dream alive Asian Qualifiers,” the ahead of Europa AFC said in a statement yesterday. Spurs move into sixth place after a 2-0 win at home to Wolves Pyongyang has not yet fi nal: Solskjaer given an off icial reason AFP for pulling out of next London, England months qualifiers for the tournament, to be held in Qatar in November iverpool goalkeeper Al- and December 2022, but isson’s dramatic 95th- South Korean media has minute goal saw the Reds reported that it is because to a 2-1 victory at West of concerns over Covid-19. LBromwich Albion yesterday Due to the spread of the which maintained their bid to virus, there have been no play in the Champions League. qualifiers in Asia since No- Liverpool moved to within a vember 2019 and in order point of fourth-placed Chelsea to reduce travel as the and three behind Leicester with games resume, the AFC two league games left to play has ruled that all group this season thanks to Alisson’s matches in the second late header. round of qualification will With Leicester and Chelsea be played in hubs. still to face off in a repeat of the South Korea is scheduled FA Cup fi nal, won 1-0 by the to host North Korea, Turk- Foxes on Saturday, victories over menistan, Lebanon and Sri Burnley and Crystal Palace will Lanka in Group H qualify- take Liverpool into the top four. ing matches from June The already-relegated Bag- 3-15 in the city of Goyang, gies took an early lead through just north of Seoul. Manchester United’s Harry Maguire (left), holding crutches, sits with Hal Robson-Kanu before the in- With three games teammates Luke Shaw (centre) and Paul Pogba during the Premier form Mohamed Salah equalised remaining, North Korea League match against Leicester City at Old Traff ord in Manchester, before half-time. But Liverpool was in fourth in Group H England, on Tuesday. (AFP) were still heading for a damag- Liverpool’s Alisson (centre) celebrates scoring the winner with teammates during the Premier League of qualification, level on ing draw when Alisson headed match against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns in West Bromwich, England, yesterday. (Reuters) eight points with Leba- Reuters “He’s making progress,” Sol- in from a corner in the fi fth non and South Korea and Bengaluru, India skjaer told the club’s website. minute of stoppage-time. The Egypt striker’s 22nd Pre- “Today our performance was Palace fell behind again two one behind leader Turk- “When I spoke to him this morn- Already-crowned Premier mier League goal of the season excellent,” interim Spurs man- minutes later when Anwar El menistan. Only the group ing he was quite positive but, League champions Manchester saw him draw level with Harry ager Ryan Mason told the BBC. Ghazi scored from close range. winners are guaranteed anchester Unit- naturally, the day after it hap- City and Chelsea will contest Kane in the race for the English “We controlled the game. The Eagles, however, equal- a place in the third round ed skipper Harry pened we were all down. this season’s Champions League top-fl ight’s golden boot award. “This is Tottenham Hotspur. ised for a second time in the of qualification, sched- Maguire is making “We saw early on or we decid- fi nal in Porto on May 29. We want to be playing in the 76th minute when Wilfried uled to start in Septem- good progress in his ed that we have to focus, have to But if Chelsea remain in the SPURS STAY IN EUROPEAN biggest competition in the big- Zaha grabbed his 11th goal of the ber, along with the four Mrecovery from an ankle ligament be positive and think that you’re top four there won’t be an addi- HUNT gest games. This season hasn’t season with a shot defl ected in best runners-up. injury and will be given time to going to make it until you have to tional Champions League place Meanwhile Tottenham Hotspur gone to plan,” added Mason, ap- off Ahmed Elmohamady. The AFC said that it will be ready for the Europa League say ‘no’. I’ve always been an opti- given to the fi fth-placed side in moved into sixth place, on goal pointed after Spurs sacked Jose The comeback was complete refer the decision on how fi nal against Villarreal on May mist, we’re positive. the Premier League. diff erence from West Ham, after Mourinho. in the 84th minute when the the withdrawal will aff ect 26, manager Ole Gunnar Solsk- “But we’ve consciously taken Liverpool were stunned when a 2-0 win at home to Wolves. Eighth-placed Everton, Liv- 21-year-old Mitchell followed- Group H standings to FIFA. jaer has said. the route of not testing him out Robson-Kanu, making his fi rst England captain Kane fi red erpool’s local rivals, are at home up from close range after team- The decision also means England international Maguire, too early, too quickly, because we league start of the season for Spurs ahead on the stroke of to bottom of the table Sheffi eld mate Eberechi Eze had miscued that North Korea will who had been ever-present in don’t want to aggravate some- Albion, put the hosts ahead half-time by curling the ball United in the day’s concluding in a victory that lifted Palace to miss out on the 2023 United’s defence, starting 34 of thing. He wants this so much, so in the 15th minute after he ran into the corner of the net af- Premier League match. 13th place. Asian Cup, to be held in the second-placed team’s Premier he doesn’t want to take any risks, onto Matheus Pereira’s pass and ter Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s Earlier, Crystal Palace twice China, as qualification for League games this season, suf- either.” found the bottom corner at the through ball behind the defence. came from behind to beat Aston RESULTS the World Cup and the fered the problem in last Sunday’s Solskjaer acknowledged Hawthorns. Hojbjerg made it 2-0 just after Villa 3-2, with Tyrick Mitchell’s Crystal Palace 3 (Benteke 32, continental tournament 3-1 victory at Aston Villa. Maguire’s importance as he But Liverpool levelled when the hour when he followed up fi rst goal for the club sealing Zaha 76, Mitchell 84) Aston Villa are combined. The 28-year-old, who was chases his first silverware Sadio Mane, starting in place Gareth Bale’s shot and tapped victory six minutes from time. 2 (McGinn 17, El Ghazi 34) North Korea’s Olympic hurt when Villa’s Anwar El Ghazi since being named United of the injured Diogo Jota, inter- the ball in after goalkeeper Rui John McGinn put Villa ahead Tottenham 2 (Kane 45, Hojb- committee also decided landed on his ankle, missed Unit- manager. cepted a loose pass to Kyle Bar- Patricio could only parry as in the 17th minute at Selhurst jerg 62) Wolves 0 to drop out of the Tokyo ed’s 2-1 defeat by his former club “... Hopefully he’ll speed up tley, with the ball then falling to Spurs bolstered their hopes of Park before Christian Benteke West Brom 1 (Robson-Kanu Olympics to protect its ath- Leicester City and a 4-2 loss to the recovery and be ready for the Salah, who hit a fi rst-time shot at least playing Europa League equalised against his former club 15) Liverpool 2 (Salah 33, Alisson letes from Covid infections. Liverpool, leaving him in doubt for fi nal... I’ll give him as long as he into the bottom left corner. football next season. with a 32nd-minute header. 90+4) the Europa League showpiece. needs, until he says ‘yes’ or ‘no’.”

FOCUS Dortmund clinch Champions League spot with sixth straight Bundesliga win

AFP in the last six weeks. the chance of star striker Haaland leav- Dortmund had appeals for a handball Berlin, Germany They were fi fth and seven points ing at the end of the season. turned down when a Reus fl ick caught the from the Champions League places af- The 20-year-old has made no secret hand of Mainz defender Alexander Hack. ter losing 2-1 to Eintracht Frankfurt in of the fact he wants Champions League Reus got on the scoresheet when orussia Dortmund secured early April. football and his agent Mino Raiola has Sancho ghosted past defenders and their place in the Champions Dortmund have since won all six recently fuelled speculation the Nor- squared the ball for his captain to tap League for next season as Rap- league games to guarantee a place wegian could leave. home three minutes from the break. hael Guerreiro, Marco Reus next season in the group stages of the Haaland has a contract until 2024, There was a ten-minute delay to the andB Julian Brandt scored in a 3-1 win at Champions League. but there is reportedly a release clause second-half after a storm drenched the Mainz yesterday. “Not many people believed in us,” which becomes active in 2022. Mainz pitch, but Dortmund picked up Guerreiro and captain Reus hit fi rst- Dortmund captain Reus told Sky when Dortmund are adamant he is stay- where they left off . half goals before Germany winger asked about bridging the seven-point ing, with sports director Michael Zorc Just after coming on, Brandt fi red Brandt made sure of the three points gap. “The team deserves an incredible insisting Haaland “will play for us next home having combined with Haaland with a late eff ort. compliment. We have shown a really season” before kick-off Sunday. after the pair opened up the Mainz de- With one game left, Dortmund, who strong mentality in the last few weeks. In their previous home game, Mainz fence ten minutes from the whistle. routed Leipzig 4-1 to win the German “When we have to, we are capable of pulled off a shock 2-1 win over Bayern There was still time for Quaison to Cup in midweek, cannot fi nish outside great things.” Munich, who have since been con- become his club’s all-time top scorer in of the Bundesliga’s top four. Dortmund’s purple patch has ex- fi rmed Bundesliga champions, but Germany’s top fl ight. Mainz striker Robin Quaison claimed tended to the German Cup, winning Dortmund allowed no such repeat. his 30th Bundesliga goal by netting a Thursday’s fi nal after Jadon Sancho and Dortmund took the lead when Guer- Dortmund’s Raphael Guerreiro (right) 90th-minute penalty. Erling Braut Haaland both scored twice reiro unleashed an unstoppable shot celebrates with teammate Mahmoud Qualifying for Europe caps a re- in Berlin. from the edge of the area on 23 minutes. Dahoud during the Bundesliga match markable turnaround by Dortmund Qualifying for Europe also reduces The visitors kept up the pressure and against Mainz 05 yesterday. (AFP)