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QATAR OPEN SHOOTING Qatar’s al-Attiyah wins silver, sets sights on Tokyo 2020 ‘It is fantastic to win a silver medal on home range. Today’s win indicates that I am on the right path’

By Yash Mudgal Doha

atar’s Nasser al-Attiyah fi red an early warning for the 2020 Tokyo Games by winning his fi rst Qatar Open medal yesterday. QThe Qatari sports icon, a bronze medallist in skeet shooting at the 2012 London Olympics and also a two-time Dakar Rally winner, won the silver after losing a keenly contested fi nal 58-55 to Frenchman Antony Terras at the Lusail Shooting Range yesterday. Russia’s Anton Asta- khov claimed the bronze. “It is fantastic to win a silver medal on home range. I had promised HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani (President of Qatar Olympic Committee) after we returned from Rio 2016 Games that I will win another Olympic medal for Qatar. Today’s win indicates that I am on the right path,” said al-Attiyah, who was taking part in his fi rst international shooting event after last year’s Olympic Games. Rallying and marksmanship are not easy to combine, but al-Attiyah won the bronze — only the fourth individual medal Qatar have won at the Olympics — in London after only 10 days of practice. He is now looking forward to Tokyo af- ter disappointment at the Rio Games. Qatar’s Nasser al-Attiyah celebrates after clinching a silver medal in the skeet event during the “I have cut down on a number of races to con- Qatar Open shooting at the Lusail Shooting Range yesterday. PICTURES: Nasar T K centrate on shooting for the Tokyo Games,” the 45-year-old added. Frenchman out of the fi ve he competed in. shooting range,” added Terras, who also won the Qatar’s Nasser al-Attiyah (left) on the podium with gold medal winner Frenchman Antony Terras On his participation at the upcoming shoot- “The conditions were diffi cult for shooting. It gold at last year’s Military Shooting Champion- (centre) and Russia’s Anton Astakhov, who claimed bronze. ing World Cup, al-Attiyah appeared up-beat for was quite windy. But due credit to all the shoot- ship at the same venue. the event in the Indian capital of Delhi. “Yes, ers for keeping their focus and getting good Terras is not going to the World Cup in India, spending more time with his family. silver and bronze, respectively. my good showing in the Qatar Open Shotgun scores,” said the Frenchman, who fi nished as which starts tomorrow, on account of funds “I am not taking part in many events this year A function was organised yesterday in which has certainly given me a confi dence boost. I am winner in the skeet event at the same champi- crunch. “I am not going to New Delhi. My feder- as it is not an Olympic year,” the shooter from the Qatar Shooting and Archery Association leaving for India tomorrow,” the ace shooter in- onship in 2013 and last year. ation has no money to pay for my expenses,” said Marseille said. (QSAA) secretary general Majid al-Naimi fe- formed. “I have been to six Olympic Games (At- “This range is very nice, at least for me! It’s the 2008 Beijing Olympics bronze medallist. Great Britain’s Jack Fairclough won the jun- licitated the Qatar national team members who lanta, Sydney, Athens, Beijing, London and Rio) fantastic, I love shooting here. I think I have With the Olympics three years away and no ior men’s skeet gold, with Kazakhstan’s Eduard won medals at the recently concluded Arab and won the bronze in London. It will be a dream developed a special relationship with the Qatar quota issue to deal with, Terras said he will be Yechshenko and David Pochivalov taking the Shooting Championship in Kuwait. for me to (also) compete in Tokyo… It will be my seventh Olympics,” the 12-time Middle East Rally Championship winner said. Al-Attiyah, who just about managed to get past the qualifying stage through shoot-out, came all guns blazing in the fi nal round to fi n- ish second. He made it past the qualifying stage along with Ben Llewellin of Great Britain af- ter Saif bin Futais of UAE got eliminated in the three-way shoot-out. All three fi nished with identical score of 121 in the qualifying round, re- sulting in the shoot-out. In the fi nal round, Terras, al-Attiyah, Asta- khov, al-Muhannadi and Llewellin were in fi ne form in the fi rst round to register a perfect score. But as the competition went ahead, fi rst Qatar’s Khaled al-Muhannadi fl attered, followed by Llewellin, leaving Terras, al-Attiyah and Asta- khov to fi ght for the medals. For hosts Qatar, it was their second silver medal of the nine-day championship which concluded yesterday. In the fi nal round, Terras came with a near-perfect display, missing just two targets in the fi nal round on way to the gold. It was the third gold medal for the 31-year-old Qatar Shooting and Archery Association secretary general Majid al-Naimi felicitated the Qatar national team members, who won medals at the recently concluded Arab Shooting Championship. Qatar’s Nasser and Abdulla aim for success in Dubai Baja

Dubai: Reigning world champions Nasser al- desert from 9-11 March, the event is the first part tion in Dubai will be Khalid Al Mohannadi in a T3 Attiyah and Adel Hussain Abdulla will spearhead of a three-event swing of the Middle East which Polaris buggy. Qatar’s Nasser al-Attiyah will the Qatari challenge in the new Dubai Interna- also includes the Desert Challenge (1-7 April) Among al-Attiyah’s biggest challengers in partner French co-driver Mathieu tional Baja next month, as another fellow coun- and Qatar’s Sealine Cross Country Rally (16-21 the Dubai International Baja, based at the at the Baumel in a Toyota Hilux. tryman aims to make a big impact in the event. April). spectacular Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa, Al-Attiyah enters the second round of this Also carrying the Qatari flag in Dubai will be are Holland’s 2015 Desert Challenge runners-up year’s FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies Mohammed Abu Issa, twice a World Cup winner Erik Van Loon and Wouter Rosegaar in a Toyota partnered by French co-driver Mathieu Baumel in the UAE who returns to action looking to Hilux. in a Toyota Hilux, which they powered to vic- build on his impressive start after a change of Another leading contender will be the UAE’s tory in last year’s Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge direction in top-class motor sport. Sheikh Khalid al- Qassimi who contested the on their way to a commanding FIA World Cup Abu Issa tackles the event alongside French Dakar Rally for the first time in January and will triumph. co-driver Xavier Panseri in the Mini All 4 Racing be looking to underline his presence at the top Abdulla, who captured the World Cup T2 which they took to a splendid 10th place overall level of cross country rallying on home territory production class title for the second time in a in the Dakar Rally back in January. in an Abu Dhabi Racing Peugeot 2008 DKR. row last season, teams up again in the Dubai In- It was the Qatari’s cars debut after switch- With al-Qassimi relying this time on the local ternational Baja with French co-driver Sebastien ing from the quads category where he had knowledge of top Emirati co-driver Khalid al- Delaunay. The same combination also tasted established himself as one of the sport’s top Kendi, his regular partner in World Rally Cham- victory in the Jeddah Rally in November. stars, securing victories in 2013 and 2015 in the pionship events, Ulsterman Chris Patterson, will Organised by the Automobile and Touring Desert Challenge, the UAE’s other FIA World accompany young Emirati Mansour al-Helei in a Club of UAE and running through the Al Qudra Cup cross country event. Another Qatari in ac- T2 Toyota Landcruiser. Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, February 22, 2017 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT Hong Kong’s ‘Beef Ball’ takes bite out of gender gap

AFP men’s league, it will be an honour to face on the Brazilian fi repower of Paulinho, had become a shining light for women Hong Kong Evergrande and their World Cup-win- Ricardo Goulart and Alan. involved in sport across the world. ning manager, Brazil’s Luiz Felipe Scolari. “We need to focus on defence, and “We are proud that Hong Kong has “I never imagined or expected this especially our discipline and attitude provided an opportunity for a female ong Kong’s Chan Yuen- could happen but now we’re going to during the match,” Chan said. “At this coach to operate at the highest level,” ting will smash another hole play against him so I feel excited and moment I don’t want to create extra Sutcliff e said. “I am sure she will act through football’s glass ceil- I’m looking forward to meeting him,” pressure for myself and my players so as an inspiration for women in sport Hing when she makes history she told the Asian Football Confedera- we just want to do our best and try to go across the world,” he said, adding: in the AFC Champions League today tion (AFC) website. “All I need to do is as far as we can.” “(But) let’s not kid ourselves — it’s go- — but it couldn’t be a tougher debut for focus on our team and concentrate on Chan, whose nickname ‘Beef Ball’ ing to be very, very tough.” the trailblazing female coach. the work that we are doing.” refers to her competitive spirit and is Evergrande will be gunning for their Chan, nicknamed ‘Beef Ball’ and just Chan’s ground-breaking 2016 Hong often chanted by Eastern’s fans, fi rst third Champions League title in fi ve 28 years old, will etch her name in the Kong title with Eastern made head- caught the football bug when she was 13 years, and as an added incentive real-es- record books as the fi rst woman world- lines around the globe, and earned her and had a crush on David Beckham. tate billionaire club chairman Hui Kayan wide to lead a professional men’s team the AFC’s coach of the year award and She followed Manchester United has off ered a 300mn yuan ($43.68mn) into continental competition, at the a place in a BBC list of the world’s 100 games on TV and her passion eventu- bonus per win in the tournament. helm of Hong Kong’s Eastern. most infl uential women. ally led her into coaching, despite op- But whatever the result today, the The game is not far from Hong Kong, Eastern then became Hong Kong’s position from her parents. debut of Chan and Eastern will remain a in southern mainland China—but it fi rst club to be handed an automatic “On the pitch I forget my gender as signifi cant moment for women in foot- is against Guangzhou Evergrande, the berth in the Champions League group a woman. I just hope to show my abili- ball, and for the sport in Asia. mega-rich ‘Manchester United of Asia’ stage, thanks to the recent performances ties,” Chan said last year. “I think no “It is a ground-breaking moment for with two Champions League titles and six of the city’s teams in AFC competitions. matter your age or your gender, what football in Asia, for the women’s game straight domestic trophies to their name. Chan said Eastern would concentrate you need is hard work.” and for the global game,” said AFC pres- But for Chan, who last year became on defending on Wednesday — under- Hong Kong Football Association ident Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al- the fi rst female coach to win a top-fl ight standably, against a team which can call chief executive Mark Sutcliff e said Chan Khalifa. “The world will be watching.”

FOCUS Middle finger gesture costs Ancelotti 5,000 euros Bayern Munich coach Carlo Ancelotti will donate 5,000 euros to charity after making an obscene gesture to Hertha Berlin fans after their 1-1 draw on Saturday, the German football Age-defying Casillas, association (DFB) said yesterday. The Italian had raised his middle finger af- ter leaving the pitch at the end of the game and later said he had done it because he had been spat on by the home fans. Bayern scored in the sixth minute of stoppage-time with hosts Hertha left fuming over the length Buff on renew rivalry of added time that was played. The DFB said it had ended an investiga- tion into the incident in return for the Age is just another number for Spaniard Casillas, 35, and his 39-year-old Italian nemesis Buff on. charity payment. “The investigation has ceased in agreement with the Between them they have 334 caps, 275 Champions League matches, 12 league titles, two World Cups, DFB sports court. Linked to that is that the coach of Bayern Munich pays two European championships, three Champions Leagues, a UEFA Cup and a combined age of 74. 5,000 euros to the Sepp-Herberger charity.” The DFB charity is named after the late Germany coach and works on several social projects. Spanish court dismisses Neymar, Barcelona appeal A Spanish court yesterday dismissed appeals from Neymar and Barcelona over alleged fraud and corruption in the Brazilian star’s transfer from Santos in 2013. The decision brings the possibility of the player and club facing trial a step closer. Neymar’s arrival from Brazil’s Santos has been a huge success for the Spanish champions on the pitch but a judicial nightmare off it. The 25-year-old Brazilian striker is being investigated in Brazil and Spain over his headline move to La Liga. Barcelona originally published the transfer figure as 57.1 mn euros ($60.6 mn), with 40 mn euros of that given to the player’s family. But Spanish authorities believe the true transfer figure was at least 83 mn euros. Incredible Hulk blasts Shanghai to victory Brazilian forward Hulk blasted Shang- hai SIPG to a 1-0 victory over FC Seoul but the big-spending Chinese giants needed to survive a penalty and a AFP red card before winning their AFC Rome Champions League opener yesterday. Hulk’s rocket of a strike on 53 minutes got Andre Villas-Boas’s team off to a oalkeeping icons Iker Casillas winning start in Group F, where they (right) and Gianluigi Buff on lie second on goal diff erence after (top) will renew a rivalry going Urawa Red Diamonds’ 4-0 demoli- back almost two decades when tion of Western Sydney Wanderers. GPorto host Juventus in tonight’s Cham- In Group E, Kashima Antlers beat pions League last 16. Ulsan Hyundai 2-0 and Brisbane Roar Age is just another number for were held to a 0-0 home draw by Spaniard Casillas, 35, and 39-year-old Thailand’s Muangthong United. SIPG Italian nemesis Buff on. have splashed out 60 mn euros on Between them they have 334 caps, Brazilian midfielder Oscar, among 275 Champions League matches, 12 other buys, in their bid for glory after league titles, two World Cups, two Eu- they reached last year’s quarter-finals ropean championships, three Cham- under Sven-Goran Eriksson. But a pions Leagues, a UEFA Cup and a com- speculative eff ort from Hulk and an- bined age of 74. other shot way over the bar from the The clash at Porto’s Dragon Sta- Brazilian were the closest SIPG came dium will be the 17th in their storied in a tepid first half in front of a noisy careers. Before kickoff the sparring Seoul crowd. between the pair had already begun on Twitter. Blackburn Rovers “What do you think about it? For sack Coyle as manager me, you’re the best,” wrote Casillas of a UEFA poll on the world’s leading Blackburn Rovers sacked their goalkeepers. “I’m not choosing. We’re manager Owen Coyle yesterday, the best,” replied Buff on. two days after the team’s 2-1 FA In fact, both were peerless in the Cup defeat by Manchester United. early 2000s and Buff on remains with- “Blackburn Rovers wish to an- out a doubt the top goalkeeper in Italy. nounce that manager Owen Coyle Last season was one of the most bril- has left his role at Ewood Park by liant of his career. mutual agreement,” a club state- Two uncharacteristic slips at the ment said. Rovers have been caught start of this season — against Lyon with in a spiral of decline since winning Juventus and Spain with the national the Premier League in 1995 and are side — were quickly overshadowed by currently second from bottom of the several top class performances. Championship, in danger of relega- His mind remains sharp and his 2015 was complicated, with what he conceded. their early years. “I am lucky enough to ure. He is a player who is known and tion to English football’s third tier for hands as hard as the marble of his termed “some blunders”. A sign of his return were two incred- be three years younger than Gigi. I was admired all over the world and he is the first time since 1980. Blackburn’s hometown Carrara, with no sign of “Maybe I didn’t reach the level I ible last-gasp saves against Sporting 14 when I started and he was 18; I was part of the history of this game.” problems have not been confined to weariness as he targets a fi rst Champi- wanted last year, I didn’t feel com- Lisbon earlier this month. able to see and appreciate his style and In club clashes, the pair have three the pitch, with supporters regu- ons League title and a fi nal World Cup pletely comfortable,” Casillas said in “I don’t know how I reached those personality,” said Casillas. wins each with Buff on’s Juventus best larly protesting against the owners, in 2018 in Russia. an interview with UEFA.com. balls, I still have a sore back,” joked “As I grew up, I looked up to him and in the Champions League semi-fi nals Indian company Venky’s, which By contrast, Casillas has fared less But the three-time Champions Casillas following a performance then we evolved together and we’ve in 2003 and 2015. bought the club in 2010. Coyle is the well. The man dubbed ‘San Iker’ lost League winner with Real Madrid has which prompted Spain coach Julen had similar careers. But Casillas has had the better 10th manager to be sacked in the his place in the national side and had regained his spark this season, basking Lopetegui to state the door “was not “Ours is a healthy, positive rivalry: record for Spain with three victories 24-team Championship since the to leave Real Madrid for Porto after 25 in glory as he oversees the most solid closed to Iker Casillas”. we really appreciate each other and to only one for Buff on’s Italy including start of the season. years. His fi rst season in Portugal in defence in Europe with just 11 goals Their respectful rivalry goes back to playing against him is always a pleas- Spain’s victory in the Euro 2012 fi nal. Gulf Times Wednesday, February 22, 2017 3 FOOTBALL

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SPOTLIGHT Sampaoli targets Potent new Juve Leicester amid Barcelona links AFP said. “Common sense would say Seville, Spain that someone who achieved so much from a team with so little can turn the situation around, face Porto acid test evilla coach Jorge but time waits for no one, not Sampaoli insisted his even someone as good as Ranieri focus is solely on making who won the Premier League.” Juventus are en route to a record sixth Serie A crown and remain many pundits’ history in the Champions By contrast, Sevilla are fl ying SLeague despite increasing spec- in third in La Liga behind only favourites to challenge the likes of Real Madrid for the trophy in Cardiff in May ulation the Argentine could take Real Madrid and Barcelona. How- charge of Barcelona next season. ever, Sampaoli warned his side The Europa League holders against over-confi dence given host struggling English cham- Leicester won their group ear- Juventus players during pions Leicester City in the fi rst lier in the campaign in their debut a training session in leg of their last 16 tie tonight season in the Champions League. Turin on the eve of their hoping to reach the quarter- And the Argentine also high- Champions League match fi nals for the fi rst time in the lighted a 4-2 win over Manches- against Porto. (AFP) Champions League era. ter City in December as a warn- However, Barcelona’s 4-0 ing that Leicester are still capable Champions League hammering of raising their game on the big at the hands of Paris Saint-Ger- occasion. “They went through main last week has put Sampao- comprehensively as winners of li’s name at the head of the queue their group and in a tie of two should Barca boss Luis Enrique games they will be a very tough not have his contract renewed at test for us,” added Sampaoli. the end of the season. Leicester striker Jamie Vardy “At the moment the only scored a hat-trick in that vic- thing that appeals to us is to live tory over City, but the England in the present,” Sampaoli said international hasn’t netted in yesterday. “This game is the nine games since. However, most important thing for us, to Sampaoli believes he still poses be among the best eight teams the major threat to Sevilla’s in the most important tourna- chances of reaching the quar- ment in the world, and to think ter-fi nals for the fi rst time in about anything else for me the Champions League era. would be irresponsible.” “Vardy was decisive last year Barca’s interest allied to a and his lack of goals explains fi ne debut season at the Sanchez Leicester’s current problems. Pizjuan with Sevilla also riding When Vardy starts scoring we will high in third in La Liga has even once again see the Leicester that seen club reportedly set to off er are extremely dangerous,” he said. Sampaoli an improved deal to Leicester’s disastrous form stay in Seville. continued with an embarrass- However, he believes the ing 1-0 defeat to third tier Mill- pressure now being put on wall in the FA Cup on Saturday. Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri However, Ranieri is set to recall just months after achieving the a host of fi rst team regulars af- seemingly impossible in winning ter making 10 changes with the the Premier League is a sign that likes of Vardy and Riyad Mahrez he can’t get carried away with set to return. the plaudits coming his way. And German goalkeeper Ron “We live in the present and Robert Zieler is hoping Leicester maybe in two weeks this (praise) can take advantage of their sta- won’t happen because it has to tus of underdogs against a side do with momentaneous suc- with far more European pedigree cess. There has to be a much having won the Europa League wider analysis,” added Sampao- in each of the last three season. li. “But the fact that the club has “We’ll be underdogs, espe- the intention to think about a cially how we’re not performing new contract pleases us and we to the levels that we want to,” will evaluate it.” Zieler told Leicester’s website. Sampaoli believes Ranieri’s “For a few people, we are the position at Leicester will un- underdog, but that doesn’t have doubtedly come under pressure to be bad for us. unless results drastically im- “Sevilla have not only done prove. “Now no one talks about well this season, they have been the team that won the league in fantastic in Europe over the last an incredible and historic way, couple of seasons. They’ve got but of the present when they a lot of quality players in their AFP Porto president Pinto da Costa was quoted — are all available for the left and right- at the season but they’ve come bounc- are not playing well and fi ght- squad, but that’s what you ex- Milan as saying in Corriere dello Sport. back positions. ing right back in impressive fashion. They ing against relegation,” Sampaoli pect in the Champions League.” “But Roma were also favourites against “Unless some strange things happen in have some great young players and they’ll us, and in the end we won 3-0.” the meantime, we will deploy a 4-2-3-1 in will playing with the mentality that they potent new attacking formation Allegri’s decision to ditch his tried and Portugal,” Allegri said. nothing to lose. If we want to stay in Eu- that has sent Gonzalo Higuain trusted 3-5-2 for a more attack-minded Both Rugani and Lichtsteiner were rope, we’ll need a great performance on towards another top scorer’s 4-2-3-1 has seen Higuain, thanks to sup- completely rested for Friday’s 4-1 win over the night,” Bonucci added. award faces the acid test tonight port from Juan Cuadrado, Paulo Dybala Palermo, in which Dybala hit a brace and Porto have hit 14 league goals in their whenA Juventus take on Porto away in the and Mario Mandzukic, pull level with Ro- Higuain hit one. Mario Mandzukic was past fi ve league games, all wins, and last 16 of the Champions League. ma’s Edin Dzeko at the top of the Serie A also completely rested, suggesting he is a former Portugal defender Jorge Andrade, Juventus, beaten 3-1 by Barcelona in the charts on 19 goals so far. defi nite starter. who played for both clubs, says scoring an 2015 fi nal, are en route to a record sixth Se- But while the Juventus frontline is fi r- Allegri’s two holding midfi elders are away goal will be crucial for the Italians. rie A crown and remain many pundits’ fa- ing on all cylinders, Porto have reason to likely to be Miralem Pjanic, the side’s free- “The most important thing for Juven- vourites to challenge the likes of Real Ma- be targeting a makeshift Juve defence that kick specialist, and Germany midfi elder tus will be to be vigilant in Oporto, and to drid for the trophy in Cardiff in May. could be missing key components in And- Sami Khedira. Italy international Claudio score a goal,” he said. Massimiliano Allegri’s Serie A league rea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini. Marchisio, also on target against Palermo, “In Portugal people can’t wait for this leaders head to Porto’s Estadio do Dragao Both remain doubtful due to recent in- is expected to start on the bench. match. Don’t forget that Porto have won as favourites, but aware that they also end- jury niggles, meaning either Daniele Ru- Porto might not be considered title win- the competition twice. Their key player ed Roma’s hopes of even qualifying for the gani or Mehdi Benatia could partner Leon- ners, but Bonucci has done his homework. will be (Tiquinho) Soares.” competition in clinical fashion last sum- ardo Bonucci in central defence. “Maybe Porto aren’t among the favourites Soares has hit four goals in three games mer. Allegri’s switch to a fl at back four means for the quarter-fi nals, but we will be giv- since joining Porto last month and will be “Juventus are a top side who have made Stephan Lichtsteiner, Dani Alves, Kwadwo ing them maximum respect,” the Italy de- looking to make his mark in a game fea- it to the fi nal of the Champions League re- Asamoah and Alex Sandro — who are all fender said. turing two legendary goalkeepers in Iker cently, so they will be a challenge for us,” adept as wingbacks in a fi ve-man midfeld “They went through a diffi cult period Casillas and Gianluigi Buff on.

BOTTOMLINE Monchi’s magic leads Sevilla into Europe’s elite AFP Spanish and European football.” “If we compare it to last year, there is the biggest impact. Monchi’s Sevilla Seville, Spain That consolidation among the elite only one important diff erence and that has not only the scouting network to can take one step further this week is the absence of (N’Golo) Kante.” pick up hidden gems, but increasingly when struggling English champions If anyone knows how to deal with is also becoming a stage for fallen stars here are few football clubs where Leicester City visit the Sanchez Piz- the task of replacing departed stars to rediscover their form, as in the case the star is the sporting direc- juan for the fi rst leg of their Champions and maintaining success it is Monchi’s of Manchester City loanee Samir Nasri. tor, but Ramon Rodriguez League last 16 tie. Sevilla. Yet, even by his standards, the “We thought that if Nasri is happy, Verdejo, or ‘Monchi’ as he is For all Sevilla’s success in the Europa reconstruction job carried out in pre- he won’t have forgotten how to play betterT known, has been the architect of League, Europe’s second tier competi- season was a remarkable one. football. We have tried to make sure the Sevilla’s most successful era by far. tion, they have never reached the quar- Paris Saint-Germain poached coach person feels good so that the footballer Since taking over as sporting direc- ter-fi nals of the Champions League un- Unai Emery and key midfi eld cog Grze- can appear,” Monchi said. tor in 2000, the former goalkeeper has der Monchi’s watch. gorz Krychowiak, whilst last season’s All good things must come to an end, guided the club from Spain’s second di- “There is a tremendous excitement, top scorer Kevin Gameiro joined Atleti- though, and there is a growing sense that vision to fi ve Europa League titles. atmosphere and an ambition to take co Madrid. Monchi himself had doubts after 30 years at the club he loves, this Moreover, Monchi has done so whilst that long-awaited step into the best that the project was sustainable. season may be Monchi’s last at Sevilla. raking in hundreds of millions of euros eight teams in the Champions League,” The club refused to accept his res- If so Serie A giants Roma look best- as the likes of Dani Alves, Sergio Ram- he adds. “It would be another step in ignation and so he set about bringing placed to inherit his magic touch in the os and Ivan Rakitic headed for greener the growth of the cub, growing our in Argentine coach Jorge Sampaoli and transfer market as he believes the cash rich pastures and replacing them at a frac- brand, the confi dence in the project and assembling a very diff erent squad to the nature of the Premier League wouldn’t al- tion of the cost. a reaffi rmation of what we are doing.” one required by Emery. low him the autonomy he craves. “We are more a business now than The sides couldn’t come into the “It was the most diffi cult (summer) for “I have said many times that France a football club and on the fi eld we have game in more contrasting fashion with many reasons. For personal reasons, but and Italy are the models that are per- achieved incredible feats that we never Sevilla riding high in La Liga, whilst, fundamentally because there was a very haps the leagues that attract me most dreamed of,” Monchi told AFP in an ex- just a year on from producing one of the sudden change of coach with plans hav- because the fi gure of sporting direc- clusive interview. greatest stories in the history of foot- ing already begun. A new coach means a tor has more weight. There are other He said that Sevilla never saw the ball, Leicester face a relegation battle new plan. It put our department to the leagues like England, which is very at- success it deserved in the past but “I just to remain in the Premier League. test and I think we reacted well,” he said. tractive, but perhaps the role of sport- am happy that the club... has managed “It surprises me because I think they Eleven new players were signed, but ing director doesn’t fi t because there is to consolidate itself among the elite of have a good squad,” Monchi continues. it was the last of them that has made a diff erent type of model,” he signed off . Gulf Times 4 Wednesday, February 22, 2017 FOOTBALL

FOCUS EUROPA LEAGUE Mourinho eyes changes Walcott scores 100th for St Etienne second leg AFP goal as Arsenal dash Paris ose Mourinho will likely ring the changes again as Manchester United look to wrap up their progress to the Europa League last 16 Jaway to Saint-Etienne tonight. A Zlatan Ibrahimovic hat-trick led them to a 3-0 victory in last week’s Old Traff ord fi rst leg Sutton’s FA Cup dream and barring an alarming meltdown, the English giants should comfortably see out the second leg in France. Mourinho made seven changes to his side for ‘It was a dream to watch my team play against Arsenal. I’m very, very proud. This Sunday’s FA Cup victory over Blackburn and will likely keep his squad rotating with the Eng- was our cup final and these players will go down in history at the end of the day’ lish League Cup fi nal against Southampton to come this Sunday. Just juggling his team enough to keep it fresh for every match is keeping Mourinho busy. United would play at least 65 matches this sea- son if they reached the Europa League and FA Cup fi nals as well as the League Cup. “I have to play Saint-Etienne, I have to play the (League Cup) fi nal, I have to play, hope- fully, another game in the Europa League, I have to fi ght for a top-four position in the Pre- mier League. So I have so many things to think about,” the Portuguese coach said after his side beat Blackburn 2-1. St Etienne have not given up hope of causing a shock but their 2-1 defeat at Montpellier on Sunday has dragged them into a tight dog-fi ght in the battle to qualify for next year’s Europa League, leaving them level on points with Mar- seille and Bordeaux, and four behind local rivals Lyon. That will likely now prove their priority. St Etienne coach Christophe Gautier had said following the Old Traff ord match: “We must respect the competition and the people who come to the stadium.” But following the Montpellier defeat he had admitted that he has “some choices to make for the next matches”. St Etienne aren’t the only side facing a daunting prospect in the second leg with Vil- larreal and Sparta Prague trailing respectively Roma, for whom Edin Dzeko bagged a hat- trick, and Rostov by four goals following last week’s fi rst legs. Lyon and Schalke 04 also have one foot in the Arsenal’s Theo Walcott celebrates his goal against Sutton United with teammates Nacho Monreal, Lucas Perez and Gabriel Paulista in their FA Cup fifth round clash on Monday night. (Reuters) last 16 after three-goal victories over AZ Alk- maar and PAOK respectively. AFP credit because every error we made at the end of the day.” one to nestle in the bottom-left corner. But if Arsenal thought their second But for Tottenham Hotspur, progress re- London they took advantage of on this pitch. Wenger will continue to face ques- Briefl y, Arsenal threatened to goal would put the game to bed, they mains very much in the balance following last They played very well.” tions about his future but, for now at make their experience count, with were mistaken as Sutton produced week’s 1-0 defeat at Gent. South London club Sutton had least, his dream of winning a record Nacho Monreal drawing a smother- their best spell of the game. Tottenham’s European form this season has heo Walcott scored his hoped to emulate their famous 1989 seventh FA Cup remains intact. ing save from Sutton goalkeeper Ross Maxime Biamou shot straight at been dire, winning just two of seven matches so 100th Arsenal goal as Arsene win over Coventry City, FA Cup win- He made seven changes to the team Worner and both Walcott and Alex Ospina, captain Jamie Collins pow- far and suff ering the ignominy of being knocked Wenger’s side ended non- ners 19 months previously, but there humiliated by Bayern in the Cham- Iwobi going close. ered a header over the bar at a corner out of the Champions League group stages, and league minnows Sutton Unit- was no disgrace in defeat in their fi rst pions League, with only goalkeeper But Arsenal’s over-confi dence at and Deacon, the ex-Arsenal trainee, thus parachuting down into the Europa League. ed’sT FA Cup fairytale with a 2-0 vic- ever fi fth-round game. David Ospina, Shkodran Mustafi , the back twice almost gifted Sutton cracked a shot against the crossbar But a hat-trick from England striker Harry tory in the FA Cup on Monday night. Arsenal were given several uncom- Granit Xhaka and Alex Iwobi keeping an equaliser. from distance. Kane gave Spurs a 3-0 FA Cup win at Fulham on The England forward added to fortable moments on the 3G pitch their places. Rob Holding nearly had his pocket The closing stages yielded the sur- Sunday, which Belgian defender Toby Alder- Lucas Perez’s opener as Arsenal re- at Sutton’s 5,000-capacity Gander For all the international players in picked on the edge of his own box real sight of Arsenal’s Chilean star weireld hopes can inspire his side at Wembley turned to winning ways following Green Lane ground, which was full to Arsenal’s ranks, there was no distinct and shortly before half-time Ospina Alexis Sanchez, one of the world’s tomorrow. their 5-1 drubbing by Bayern Munich bursting with fans in yellow Sutton gap in quality between the sides in the passed the ball straight to Sutton’s most feared forwards, making his en- “We’re looking forward to (the second leg), last week and set up a home quarter- T-shirts, hats and scarves. early exchanges as the visitors slowly Adam May, who fi red wide with his trance as a replacement for Iwobi. to change the game we played last Thursday, get fi nal with another non-league team, The home supporters almost had a got to grips with the unfamiliar surface. left foot. “Who are ya?” chanted Sutton’s a good result and get to the next round,” he said. Lincoln City. goal to cheer as well, but Roarie Dea- Arsenal’s fi rst shot, a Mohamed An overhit Holding back-pass that fans, their sense of mischief intact Things are tight also for Fiorentina, who de- But the narrow margin of victory con, who began his career at Arsenal, Elneny eff ort that sailed miles off - sent Ospina scrambling had Arsenal’s until the end. fend a 1-0 lead at home to Borussia Moencheng- belied the 105 places that separate the saw his 25-yard eff ort cannon back target, drew hoots of derision from fans holding their breath again within ladbach, and Athletic Bilbao, heading to APOEL two teams in England’s football pyra- off the bar in the second half. the home fans, but in the 26th minute seconds of kick-off in the second half. FA Cup quarter-final draw in Cyprus with a slender 3-2 lead. mid, with Sutton currently 17th in the “It was a dream to watch my team the visitors went ahead. They gave themselves breathing Chelsea v Manchester United; Russians Krasnodar hold a 1-0 advantage fi fth-tier National League. play against Arsenal. I’m very, very Perez swapped passes with Xhaka space in the 55th minute, however, Middlesbrough v Huddersfield/Man ahead of their trip to Fenerbahce while Sha- “We did the job,” Arsenal man- proud,” said Sutton manager Paul and then cut in onto his left foot from when Monreal crossed low from the City; Tottenham Hotspur v Millwall khtar Donetsk have a single goal lead ahead of ager Wenger said. “It was not an easy Doswell. “This was our cup fi nal and the right fl ank before sending in a left and Walcott turned in his mile- Arsenal v Lincoln the reception of Celta Vigo. game at all. We have to give them these players will go down in history skidding low cross that evaded every- stone goal from close range. (Ties to be played March 10/13th) Wenger relieved to get past ‘astonishing’ Sutton

rsenal manager Arsene we would have gone out tonight disappointed me at the end,” he good season. If we finish 18th, with Wenger said his team would because they produced quality. They said. “They don’t support Sutton. what’s happened (in the cup)... Ahave faced FA Cup humili- kept going and we were never really Absolute idiots.” “It’s a remarkable thing that’s ation against non-league Sutton in a position where we could aff ord to Nevertheless, he said it had been happened. Everything inside, all the United had they shown less applica- have a little breather in the game.” “a dream” to watch his players play toilets, everything you’d want your tion in their fifth-round victory. Wenger made seven changes against Arsenal and professed him- house to look like, we’re going to Arsenal won 2-0 in Monday night’s from last week’s 5-1 drubbing by self “very, very proud” of their eff orts. put our house in order. It won’t be tie at Sutton’s 5,000-capacity Gander Bayern Munich in the Champions Sutton had previously overcome spent on players.” Green Lane ground, but they were League, which has left his long-term Cheltenham Town, AFC Wimbledon Arsenal have pledged to put given a real run for their money by a future at the club in doubt. But the and second-tier Leeds United, all of £50,000 towards two community team ranked 105 places below them blending of several full internation- whom are ranked above them. classrooms, which Doswell said in the English league system. als with a handful of fringe players The club estimate the cup run was “an amazing gesture”. Wenger, Goals from Lucas Perez and betrayed his eagerness to avoid yet has been worth £1mn ($1.27mn, meanwhile, said Sutton’s humble Theo Walcott, his 100th in Arsenal’s more negative headlines. 1.18mn euros) to them, which will be ground had put him in mind of colours, earned the visitors victory, “We couldn’t aff ord to go out used to renovate the Gander Green his formative football years at the but Sutton pushed them until the tonight. We can never aff ord it,” Lane clubhouse. tiny village club of Duttlenheim in end, even hitting the bar through said Wenger, whose team will host First and foremost, however, northeastern France. ex-Arsenal trainee Roarie Deacon. another non-league side, Lincoln Doswell wants to make sure his “I come from a club that is Asked if it had merely been a case City, in the quarter-finals. side, currently ranked 18th in the smaller than that, so it reminds me of ‘job done’, Wenger replied: “Yes, A bottle appeared to be thrown fifth-tier National League, avoid slid- of my childhood,” said the French- against a side that was astonishing. towards the dug-outs at the final ing even further down the English man. “The changing rooms for me It is basically division five and they whistle, as fans launched a mass football pyramid. were fantastic. The closer you are, are 17th out of 24. I will never go pitch invasion, but Wenger played Asked what the cup run meant to the more united you are when you down there (to manage) because it down the incident. “I don’t know Sutton, he told reporters: “A legacy go out there. is too diff icult! if it was at me or someone else or for the club, that allows them to “When you are too far from each “We had to keep our focus. I must the referee, but there was a bottle go and put right all the things they other in the dressing room with give credit to the players who were thrown, yes,” he said. wanted to put right.” everybody having a chair, it is not professional and kept their focus. If Sutton manager Paul Doswell “We’ve got to get safe in the Na- so good. I prefer that — much more we had come here in a relaxed mood, condemned the unruly scenes. “It tional League to have really had a together,” he added. Sutton keeper may have bitten off more than he can chew

aughter turned to tears for Sut- loss to Arsenal in their FA Cup fifth cause he was hungry after missing a a costly one on his part. He was in ton's reserve goalkeeper Wayne round clash on Monday had been so meal during the day. tears and crying down the phone." LShaw as he left the club after it friends of his could win a bet. However, Sutton manager Paul An FA spokesperson said: "We are emerged yesterday the football Asso- The portly 46-year-old—a former Doswell told Sky Sports that Shaw— investigating to establish whether ciation had launched an investigation Southampton youth team-mate of who was also involved in the club's there has been any breach of The into whether their betting rules had England icon Alan Shearer—told the disabled team—had left the club FA rules relating to betting." The been breached. Daily Mail that while he had not placed with immediate eff ect. "He's left as of Gambling Commission has also The FA and the Gambling Com- a bet at odds of 8/1 of him being now with a heavy heart on my part," opened an enquiry as to whether mission launched their separate caught on camera eating a pie, several said Doswell, a good friend of Shaw, the bookmaker has "met its licence inquiries over claims Shaw's eating of his friends had. He subsequently known as 'the roly poly goalie'. requirement to conduct its business of a pie in the final minutes of the 2-0 told BBC Radio he had eaten it be- "He's made an error of judgement, with integrity". Gulf Times Wednesday, February 22, 2017 5 SPORT

TENNIS SPOTLIGHT Federer commits to keep playing in Kerber survives as Basel till 2019

AFP Paris

oger Federer may be Mladenovic stuns 35 but he showed re- tirement is far from his mind by commit- tingR to play at the Swiss In- doors for another three years. The Basel native won his 18th Grand Slam title in an epic fi nal against Rafael Nadal at the Pliskova in Dubai Australian Open last month, ending a fi ve-year wait to add to his tally. ‘It was a tough match again against Domi. Like always, we have three sets’ He has claimed more than $100mn (95mn euros) in prize money during his career but is defending champion Sam AFP showing no sign of letting up, Querrey advanced on a retire- Dubai with Swiss Indoors organisers ment. revealing on Tuesday that Fe- Edmund, ranked 49th, fi red derer is booked in for the next fi ve aces and faced only one hree of the top fi ve seeds three editions of the event, break point in a 6-3, 6-0 vic- were bundled out of the starting in October. tory over France’s Adrian Man- Dubai Tennis Cham- “I can hardly wait to step narino, while Lu, ranked 63rd, pionships yesterday out again in front of my home rallied from a set and 0-3 down Twith US Open fi nalist Karolina crowd in autumn. To play in to defeat American Bjorn Fra- Pliskova among the victims. Basel is always one of the high- tangelo 4-6, 7-5, 6-4. The Czech second seed, lights of the year,” said Federer, “It was a tough feeling in this weekend Doha WTA winner, a seven-time winner of his moment,” Lu said. “I just tried was dumped out of the second home tournament who missed other things. I changed the round in straight sets by France’s last year’s event due to injury. game plan, trying to come into Kristina Mladenovic 6-2, 6-4. This year’s tournament will the net more and put the pres- Number three Dominika Ci- run from October 21-29. sure on him. I had nothing to bulkova fell victim to Russian It is all the more of a coup lose. I just tried to play a diff er- Ekaterina Makarov. as the Swiss Indoors is only ent way and see how he reacts. The Russian who knocked an ATP 500 event, the fourth It worked pretty well after that.” Cibulkova out in the Melbourne category behind Grand Slams, Fourth seed Querrey ad- third round used lessons learned World Tour Finals and Mas- vanced 6-2, 2-1 when Israeli in Australia to repeat the feat ters 1000 tournaments. Event rival Dudi Sela retired with a against the third seed, winning president Roger Brennwald back injury. The 35th-ranked 6-2, 4-6, 6-2. added: “We are in the privi- American improved to 14-7 at “It was a tough match again leged position of having been Delray Beach. against Domi. Like always, we able to secure the participation In a showdown of 19-year- have three sets,” the winner said. of Roger Federer in our tourna- old prodigies, American Tay- “I started really good with ag- ment for a further three years.” lor Fritz defeated Japan’s Akira gressive tennis. Federer will be 38 by the time Santillan 6-4, 6-4. Fritz next “In the second set, maybe I he plays in the 2019 edition of faces either compatriot Donald started to think that I’m play- the Swiss Indoors. Young or Croatian second seed ing so good or she’s missing Ivo Karlovic. too much. I knew that she is a Lu, Edmund among Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka fi ghter and she will never give winners at Delray Beach ousted Belgium’s Kimmer up, and she will fi ght and run British eighth seed Kyle Ed- Coppejans 6-3, 6-3, send- and hit. mund and Taiwan’s Lu Yen- ing him into a second-round “Beating her at the Open Hsun booked a second-round match against either US fi fth helped a lot, I was believing matchup Monday at the ATP seed Steve Johnson or Ameri- more and I knew what to do, how Delray Beach Open while US can wild card Stefan Kozlov. to play, where to go, yeah, I was believing that I can beat her.” Roland Garros champion and US Open qualifi er to be played in Canada fi fth seed Garbine Muguruza lasted for less than 30 minutes Canada will host a local quali- fying process every year, with on court, retiring at 1-4 in the fying event for the US Open players advancing from local fi rst set with a foot injury in her for the first time, the US Golf to 36-hole sectional qualifying second round match against Ka- Association announced Tues- events. For the 13th consecu- teryna Bondarenko of Ukraine. day, with Beacon Hall north of tive year, Japan and England The physio called it an ankle Toronto getting the nod. will host international sec- problem while Muguruza in- In all, 114 18-hole local qualify- tional qualifying events, both sisted it was an Achilles tendon ing events will be conducted scheduled in late May. Ten US worry left over from last week in Karolina Pliskova dumped out of the second round in straight sets by France’s Kristina Mladenovic 6-2, 6-4. in 44 states and Canada from sites will stage qualifiers on Doha. May 2-18 for the 117th US Open, June 5. Beacon Hall, located “It’s not ankle, that’s ridicu- winner, beat Belgian Elise Earlier Ekaterina Makarova against Domi. Like always, we believing that I can beat her.” to be played June 15-18 at Erin in Aurora, Ontario, opened for lous. The doctor said maybe it’s Mertens 6-3, 6-2 to progress to followed up on her January up- have three sets,” the winner said. The morning start had been Hills in Wisconsin. play in 1988. The outward nine just infl ammation. I have to do the third round. Elena Vesnina set of Dominika Cibulkova with “I started really good with ag- delayed two hours due to light “We are pleased to conduct an is lined by stands of pine trees an MRI,” Muguruza said. doubled up the day’s Russian another defeat for the Slovak in gressive tennis. rain amid cooler temperatures international local qualifier for while the inward nine features “I don’t think it’s something victory count, beating Misaki Doi a rain-delayed second-round “In the second set, maybe I than normal. the first time in Canada as we fescue and waste bunkers. big, but it’s very irritated and it’s of Japan 6-2, 7-5 while Olym- match at the Dubai tennis started to think that I’m play- Cibulkova, seeded third be- continue to expand qualify- Last year, there were 9,877 really bothering me every time pic gold medallist Monica Puig Championships on Tuesday. ing so good or she’s missing too hind Angelique Kerber and ing opportunities around the entries for the US Open at I have to run on the court,” the accounted for French 15th seed The Russian who knocked much. I knew that she is a fi ghter Karolina Pliskova, held a 3-1 globe,” said Stuart Francis, Oakmont, where new world 2015 semi-fi nalist said. Caroline Garcia 6-1, 4-6, 6-2. Cibulkova out in the Melbourne and she will never give up, and edge over Makarova in their ca- USGA championship com- number one Dustin Johnson “Every time you walk, to kind Tenth seed Caroline Wozni- third round used lessons learned she will fi ght and run and hit. reer series before the match. mittee chairman. Thousands of the United States won his of have a pain there. It’s kind of acki beat Swiss Viktorija Golubic in Australia to repeat the feat “Beating her at the Open The Slovak was playing the of professional and amateur first major title. A record 10,127 new one, honestly.” 6-4, 6-2 and Ana Konjuh elimi- against the third seed, winning helped a lot, I was believing event for the sixth time but Golfers worldwide take part in entries were received for the Fourth seed Agnieszka Rad- nated Australian 12th seed Sa- 6-2, 4-6, 6-2. more and I knew what to do, how had never passed the third the two-tiered US Open quali- 2014 US Open at Pinehurst. wanska, the 2012 tournament mantha Stosur 6-4, 6-3. “It was a tough match again to play, where to go, yeah, I was round.

GOLF McIlroy plays with Trump, tunes up for comeback

Reuters Miami Royal St George’s to host British Open London: Royal St George’s will host the 149th British orld number three Rory McIlroy, eyeing a Open in 2020, the tournament’s organisers announced on comeback next week from injury, continued Monday. his tune-up with a round with US President The Kent venue, which voted to admit women members Donald Trump in south Florida on Sunday, it two years ago, will stage the Open for the 15th time and Wwas reported. the first since Darren Clarke’s memorable victory in 2011. The Clear Sports & Entertainment company posted a Northern Ireland’s Clarke held off Phil Mickelson and picture on its Twitter feed of Trump with McElroy, former Dustin Johnson to lift the famous Claret jug on the course New York Yankees baseball player Paul O’Neill and Clear in Sandwich, south-east England. Sports Chief Executive Garry Singer. “It was an unbelievable feeling to lift the Claret Jug “He probably shot around 80. He’s a decent player for and know that my name was displayed on the trophy a guy in his 70s,” McIlroy was quoted saying of Trump by alongside so many of the greatest players ever to play the nolayup.com game,” Clarke said. The round reportedly took place at Trump International “The Open is what it is all about for me as a golfer and it is Golf Club in West Palm Beach. the championship I always dreamt of winning from when I Trump spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said on Monday: first took up the game as a kid. “As stated yesterday, the president played golf. He intend- “I have so many wonderful memories from that week at ed to play a few holes and decided to play longer.” Sandwich and I will be thrilled to go back there for The Nine days ago, he and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Open in three years’ time.” Abe played with South African pro golfer Ernie Els, and The 2020 Open will be played from July 16-19, with play- Trump previously had a round with Tiger Woods. ers looking to follow in the footsteps of other Open win- Northern Irishman McIlroy made it clear during last ners at Royal St George’s including Harry Vardon, Walter year’s US presidential campaign that he did not want to be Hagen, Henry Cotton, Bobby Locke, Sandy Lyle and Greg drawn into any public support or otherwise of any of the Norman. Martin Slumbers, chief executive of the R&A, candidates. said: “We are very much looking forward to the return of McIlroy, 27, has been out of action since early January, The Open to Royal St George’s in 2020. The Open is a true nursing a rib stress fracture. celebration of sport and the global spotlight will fall once He plans to return next week at the WGC Mexico again on Sandwich. Championship in Mexico City. “Royal St George’s has produced a series of outstand- The four-time major winner needs to win the Masters ing champion golfers over the last 120 years and it is a in April to become just the sixth man to complete the thrilling prospect for golf fans to see the greatest players modern Grand Slam, after Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, competing on one of the world’s finest links courses.” Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen. Gulf Times 6 Wednesday, February 22, 2017 SPORT

NHL Panthers down Blues on Trocheck’s last-second goal In Atlantic Division, Panthers leapfrog over Leafs and Bruins into third place, before starting 4-game homestand today

By Harvey Fialkov behind St. Louis’ net. He whipped a be- Sun Sentinel (TNS) hind-the-back pass to an alert Jonath- an Marchessault, who somehow snuck the puck off the post and squeezed it in ot since Thelma and Louise for a 1-0 lead at 10:40. has there been a more mem- Marchessault’s billiard shot was his orable road trip. 17th goal of the season and it came in N In a much happier end- his 100th NHL game. Bjugstad has fi ve ing, the Panthers, led by red-hot goalie points (2-3) in his last six games. James Reimer and a last-second goal “It’s been a good road trip for us to by Vincent Trocheck, completed the kind of realise what we have,” Bjug- franchise’s fi rst 5-0 road trip with a 2-1 stad said. “I think we have a little bit gem over the St. Louis Blues on Monday more than we thought a month ago, night at Scottrade Centre. so it’s good that guys are getting more Reimer notched 26 saves and is 8-1-2 confi dence and we’re coming together. in his last 12 appearances (1 no-deci- We got to keep playing this hard-body sion). type style we’ve been playing and good The Panthers, winners of eight of things will come. nine, topped their 4-0 trek from Nov. “We can’t let this trip make our heads 29-Dec. 4, 2015. The Blues and Preda- too big. We’ve got to take the positives tors were also victims on that trip. But and keep moving on. There’s still plenty that sweep couldn’t compare in degree of work to be done as far as the points of diffi culty as after their 7-4 defat of column and win column, so it’s going to the Predators, the Panthers had success be a fun little month and a half.” in California, knocking off the Sharks When things are going good, teams (6-5), Ducks (4-1) and Kings (3-2) in get the breaks and the Panthers got one succession for the fi rst time ever in a when Colton Parayko’s wrister cleanly single season. No other NHL team has beat Reimer only to clang off the cross- pulled off the West Coast trifecta this bar, allowing the Panthers to maintain a season. 1-0 lead after one. In the bunched-up Atlantic Divi- As early in the second another Blues’ sion, the Panthers leapfrogged over the blast caromed off the end boards and idle Leafs and Bruins into third place, nearly went in off the stick of an una- before starting a 4-game homestand ware Reimer. today against Connor McDavid and re- The Panthers’ third-ranked pen- surgent Edmonton Oilers. alty kill, led by Derek MacKenzie and Trailing 1-0 after two periods and Colton Sceviour, smothered the Blues’ coming off a 3-shot frame, Blues’ coach sixth-ranked power play, allowing just Mike Yeo fi red up his charges. They two benign shots on two extra-man op- stormed Reimer until Kyle Brodziak portunities. whipped in a rebound of Scottie Up- Clogging up the neutral zone all shall’s backhander from the slot to night, the Panthers held the Blues to make it 1-1 at 2:54. three paltry shots in the scoreless sec- The Jaromir Jagr, Aleksander Barkov, ond period. Florida had nine takeaways Jonathan Huberdeau line put on a daz- Florida Panthers’ Vincent Trocheck (left) celebrates his match-winning goal with teammates during the NHL game against St. Louis Blues on Monday. (USA TODAY Sports) and just one turnover through the fi rst zling display of puck control for a 1:29 40 minutes. shift while peppering Jake Allen with been reunited, the trio was kept off the controlled the puck in the fi nal minute tling for a gritty one-point eff ort, the ing at their fi ve-game bye break, came six Grade-A scoring chances only to scoresheet for the fi rst time. until Trocheck fi red a straightaway Panthers outshot the Blues 18-11 in the out strong, but Reimer held them at bay RESULTS be denied. After scoring 11 goals and Then the second-line trio of Tro- slapper past Allen with 4.6 seconds left fi nal period. until Nick Bjugstad stripped the puck Arizona 3 Anaheim 2 21 points in the six games they had check, Jussi Jokinen and Reilly Smith in regulation for his 21st goal. Not set- The Blues, knowing they were look- from defenseman Kevin Shettenkirk Florida 2 St. Louis 1

NBA SPOTLIGHT Divac says Kings LeBron’s Cavs, Warriors set traded Cousins sights on Finals rematch aft er better off er

AFP fore, exactly what it takes. Having been Washington on the losing side, we know how thin the line is between winning and losing. That’s what it’s all about.” eBron James resumes his bid for Curry has had to share a scoring spot- a seventh consecutive NBA Finals light with fellow 3-point sharpshooter appearance tomorrow while the Klay Thompson and forward Durant, but LGolden State Warriors plan their after early struggles the combination has third consecutive fi nals trip and Russell come together in devastating fashion. Westbrook takes aim at history. “Whether we shoot a lot of jumpers or And with the NBA trade deadline to- fi nd other ways to score, everybody is just morrow along with the resumption of focused on winning. It doesn’t matter play following the mid-season NBA how you characterize it,” Curry said. All-Star Game break, the championship Durant has adapted to his new team- chase swings into high gear. mates and the results have been impres- Only six players have reached the fi nals sive and at times overpowering. more consecutive years than James, who “It has been fun,” Durant said. “It led the Cleveland Cavaliers over the War- has been a great season. We’re winning riors last year in the greatest comeback in games. Chemistry is good. City is nice. NBA Finals history after the Cavs lost to Coaches are cool. It’s pretty simple.” Golden State in 2015. And Golden State’s defense, sparked by James, who also guided Miami to two forward Draymond Green, has found top NBA crowns in four fi nals appearances, form despite losing key players in order to says being the player others measure fi nd salary cap money to sign Durant. themselves against feeds the hunger for “I wouldn’t necessarily say anything more success. really surprised me other than how fast “It’s motivating. It’s great. this team has really come together,” Green “To know that everyone is trying to said. “We just play within the fl ow of the build their team or wanting to get their game and let everything fi gure itself out.” team to try to get to where you are and try When it comes to winning a title, to knock you off , it’s a motivating factor,” Golden State is mindful that Cleveland James said. might be the last obstacle once again. “It’s also a humbling factor that to “I know who’s at the top of their game know that I’ve been in this position for and who you potentially have to go through so long. I want to continue to work my to win a championship,” Curry said. “We’ve Reuters “When I realised this was habits, train my body, train my mind, and had two good battles against Cleveland the Los Angeles going to be the best off er now work on my game every day to put me in a last two years. Who knows how this year moving forward I had to pull the position to be successful.” will play out. It’s a diff erent year. trigger,” Divac said. “Most likely The Cavaliers are 39-16, three games “(LeBron) is playing well. There are acramento Kings gen- we would get less (if we waited), ahead of Boston atop the Eastern Confer- guys in the Western Conference that are eral manager Vlade Divac because I had a better deal two ence with Washington fi ve back. playing well that we know we’re going said on Monday that the days ago.” James is playing nearly 38 minutes a to have to beat to get back the fi nals. The Steam moved quickly to Divac declined to go into de- night and starters JR Smith and Kevin way I approach it, worry about our team trade All Star DeMarcus Cous- tail about other potential trade Love are sidelined by injuries, but James and getting back to the fi nals and who- ins after receiving a better off er scenarios, but there were reports has faith the team can keep improving ever we play, we will be ready for them.” two days earlier. that the Kings also discussed po- even without trade deadline moves. Cousins learned shortly after tential deals with multiple teams “As the leader of the team, I’m fi ne A TRIPLE DOUBLE SEASON? Sunday’s All Star Game that he including the Los Angeles Lakers with what we have, and we’ll continue to Oklahoma City star Westbrook could be- had been shipped to New Orleans and Boston Celtics. push forward,” James said. come only the second NBA player to av- in a fi ve-player blockbuster deal Cousins, 26, is averaging 27.8 “I’m comfortable with whatever coach erage a triple double for an entire season that left many scratching their points and 10.6 rebounds but wants me to do out on the fl oor. Whatever after 1960s legend Oscar Robertson. He heads at Sacramento’s decision. comes with baggage and leads he gives me to do, I can fi gure it out. ‘THIN LINE’ TO NBA TITLE ahead of San Antonio atop the Western is averaging an NBA-best 31.1 points, 10.5 The combustible big man had the NBA with 17 technical fouls. “We haven’t been healthy pretty The Warriors like their chances as well Conference. rebounds and 10.1 assists over 57 games. an up-and-down relationship “We want to have a diff erent much all season, but I feel like if I’m after adding superstar Kevin Durant to “Win a championship. That’s it. That’s “Finish the All-Star break right and with Kings management but the culture in the future and try to in the lineup and I’m healthy, I’m feel- the core of a squad that went an NBA- why we play, to realise that dream,” two- come back and do good things,” West- franchise had vowed not to trade win games,” Divac said. “Unfor- ing good, then we’re going to have a record 73-9 last season. Golden State is time NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen brook said of his plans for the fi nal 25 Cousins in recent days before tunately, (this) was a thing we chance.” off to a 47-9 start this season, four games Curry said. “We know, having won be- games of the campaign. changing course. had to do.” Gulf Times Wednesday, February 22, 2017 7 SPORT

SUPER RUGBY COMMENT Lions should pick Threat of extinction NZ-born Solomona for tour: Healey hangs over Aussie Reuters London rule to fi ve years in an attempt to coun- ter the growing problem of nationality swapping. ale’s Auckland-born winger Solomona’s international allegiance Denny Solomona has been has never been entirely clear. Last year, tipped for a place on the Brit- when asked while still playing rugby Super Rugby teams ish and Irish Lions’ tour to New league for Castleford about his future, ZealandS by former England back Austin he said “my heart’s not here, it’s not for Healey. England”. ‘There’s acknowledgement that the 18-team structure as it is now is not optimal’ The 23-year-old has been drawing Solomona told reporters he hoped rave reviews in England’s Premiership New Zealand “came calling” before Reuters since switching from rugby league and settling to play for Samoa, where his Melbourne scored a fi rst-half hat-trick of tries for grandparents were born. Sale against leaders Wasps on Sunday. But his 42 tries in 2016, a Super Healey told the Mirror that Solomo- League record, hastened a contentious lready awash with red ink na was “the best fi nisher in the league” switch to rugby union and reignited the and battling a talent drain, and should be picked to play against the nationality debate in another code. up to three of Australia’s Su- land of his birth”. England already have four New Zea- per Rugby teams will com- “He’s very physical and positionally land-born players — Dylan Hartley, peteA this season knowing there is an sound and he scores tries in confi ned Mako Vunipola, Teimana Harrison and outside chance it could be their last as spaces that other wingers wouldn’t fi n- Ben Te’o — in their squad, all in conten- organisers mull sweeping changes to ish,” said Healey. tion for the 10-match Lions tour. the tournament’s format. “People will say ‘give him time to The tour opener is on Jun. 3 against The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) fi nd his feet in union’ but why? I al- a Provincial Union. The fi rst of three will meet with its New Zealand, South ready think he’s good enough to make tests is in Auckland on Jun. 24. (Re- Africa and Argentina counterparts in the Lions squad. porting by Neil Robinson) London in March to try to thrash out a “Who better is there to match new formula for the sprawling largely against New Zealand wing Julian LAKAFIA REPLACES INJURED southern hemisphere competition. Savea? I accept he’s an outside bet in CHOULY FOR IRISH CLASH Expanded to 18 teams last year and terms of experience but Jason Robinson Stade Francais back rower Raphael split into three conferences with the had hardly any in 2001 and that didn’t Lakafi a was called up on Monday to re- commencement of a new deal with go too badly. place the injured Damien Chouly ahead broadcasters, the tournament broke “Personally Solomona and Wasps’ of France’s Six Nations trip to Ireland new ground with the debuts of Japan’s hooker Tommy Taylor would be my two on Saturday. Sunwolves and Argentina’s Jaguares. Lions bolters.” France’s rugby federation said But the highly convoluted format Solomona’s selection would be con- Chouly, 31 with 45 caps, had suff ered was condemned by former players and tentious since Sale have yet to register a sprained ankle in training in Nice on pundits for lowering the standard of him as an English-born player although Monday morning. the competition, and the tournament he should be will be qualifi ed under rug- Lakafi a, 28 with four caps, made his could be shaken up yet again following by’s residency rule on March 8, the three- France debut against Ireland in 2011 in a strategic review commissioned by year anniversary of arriving in England to a World Cup warm-up. governing body SANZAAR. play for London Broncos. Both Ireland and France won one and “There’s a general acknowledge- Speculation has been growing in the lost one of their opening two Six Na- ment that the 18-team structure as it British media that he is primed for a tions games and a victory is vital to stay is now is not optimal,” Greg Peters, a call up even though World Rugby will in the hunt to win this season’s cham- former chief executive of the tourna- vote in May to extend the residency pionship. ment’s governing body SANZAAR, said last week. “We’re hearing that from fans, players and media as well as admitting that ourselves.” The participating unions are ex- The entry of the Melbourne Rebels to the competition in 2011 was seen as a triumph for Australian rugby. pected to discuss proposals to reduce the competition to 16 or even 15 teams New South Wales and Queensland. year of board-room strife. has mobilised its rank and fi le. at the March meeting, with Australia “Ring the chief executives of the But the club, which has struggled to “To cut a team would be not only and South Africa seen as most vulner- New South Wales Waratahs and break even over the past decade, in- hampering the competition (for Wal- able in a cull. Queensland Reds, they’ve had their sists it is in better fi nancial health than labies spots) and it would be restrict- The entry of the Melbourne Rebels budgets for community rugby slashed its Australian rivals. ing the pathway for juniors to play to the competition in 2011 was seen as dramatically by the ARU,” former “We have to prove we are viable fi - Super Rugby, too,” Wallabies Bernard a triumph for Australian rugby, with Wallabies captain Simon Poidevin told nancially and we can stand on our own Foley told Sydney’s Daily Telegraph the country’s fi fth Super Rugby team Reuters on Tuesday. two feet,” Brumbies chief executive newspaper. grabbing a foothold in the nation’s “It’s gone to prop up the new teams. Phil Thomson told state broadcaster “That is Australia’s elite level of Australian Rules football heartland. “The current fi nancial model in Su- ABC. rugby and the more players you have But both the Rebels and the Perth- per Rugby is not stable, it’s damaging “The ARU aren’t in a position to playing at the elite level the better.” faced Western Force, who joined in Australian rugby. bail any more Super Rugby teams out. Although the current season is set 2006, have proved a heavy fi nancial “At the end of the day, Australian They’ve might it quite clear we have to in stone, decisions taken at the March burden for the ARU, even with in- Super Rugby sides have underper- stand on our own two feet.” meeting could be introduced in time creased revenues from the new broad- formed at the last couple of years.” The ARU has been reluctant to make for next year. SPOTLIGHT cast deal. its position clear, with chairman Cam- With the four rival rugby unions Far from being celebrated as hardy VULNERABLE eron Clyne only revealing on Monday holding disparate and competing pioneers holding down vital territorial The Canberra-based ACT Brumbies, that the union would head into the agendas in what is eff ectively a joint gains, the new franchises have fuelled which won championships in 2001 SANZAAR meeting in March prepared venture, and a broadcast deal that Land Rover dumps Carter resentment in Australia’s established and 2004, have also been seen as vul- with “multiple options”. runs until 2020, a lack of any decision rugby heartland, the eastern states of nerable in a contraction following a Australia’s players’ union, however, could ultimately be the outcome. over drink-drive case BOTTOMLINE Matured Kolisi ready to be a leader for Stormers

Reuters Cape Town

tormers loose forward Siya Kolisi admits he has had some growing up to do since burst- Sing onto the Super Rugby scene four years ago but feels he is now ready to play a key leadership role in guiding them to glory this season. AFP driving licence or, if the case goes to The fl anker made an instant impact Wellington court, a fi ne of 4,500 euros ($4,800) or when he came into the Stormers side even a two-year jail sentence. in 2012, but when his career did not Carter posted over the weekend that take off the way many had predicted ew Zealand legend Dan he was back in New Zealand and still it took a few home truths from coach Carter revealed yesterday refl ecting on what he had done. Robbie Fleck to spark a change in at- that luxury car maker Land “(It) was supposed to be a fun pre titude and focus. Rover has dropped him as a planned holiday,” he wrote on Face- Advice heeded, the 25-year-old Nbrand ambassador after he was caught book. says it is time for him to live up to the drink-driving in Paris last week. “Seeing the family again puts fresh expectations that come with being one The two-time Rugby World Cup perspective on just how big a mistake I of the senior players in the team. winner, who plays for defending French made. #dontdrinkanddrive.” “I had a conversation with the coach champions Racing 92, has already ad- Carter, a three-time World Player last year and he told me I had to grow mitted “a massive error in judgement” of the Year, is regarded as one of the up, basically,” Kolisi told Reuters in an over the incident. sport’s fi nest fl y-halves and was a interview. “Since that day I haven’t Carter said he had been holding World Cup winner with the All Blacks looked back. meetings with sponsors to discuss his in 2011 and 2015. “It’s not been easy, it’s been tough. I actions. He is also the sport’s record inter- won’t lie, I had to mature a lot. “Not surprisingly, Land Rover, who national scorer with 1,598 points in 112 “Obviously now I’m a leader at for good reason have zero tolerance to- games. home as well, I have got three kids wards drink driving, have ended their Carter began his second playing stint that I must be a role model for. I had to relationship with me,” he posted on in France after the 2015 World Cup, but change a lot of my ways.” Facebook. it has not been a smooth ride. The Stormers have lost a number of “I understand this completely and After his man-of-the-match per- key players in recent seasons but Koli- Last year, they reached the quarter- they face a more challenging path to win Super Rugby, so be it.” am disappointed I put them in this po- formance in the Top 14 fi nal in June, he si, who has collected 16 Springboks fi nals having played only South Afri- the play-off s in 2017, meeting New Kolisi is convinced that the Storm- sition.” tested positive for corticosteroids, along caps since making his debut in 2013, can and Australian teams, as well as Zealand teams at an earlier stage ers, who start their season with a The 34-year-old has long been re- with fellow former All Black Joe Roko- says their presence is still felt. the debutant Sunwolves from Japan. would benefi t them in the long run. bruising North-South derby at home garded as the most marketable athlete coko and Argentine winger Juan Imhoff . “I have learnt a lot from those guys They were given a sharp reminder of “It means we won’t get to a playoff to the Bulls on Saturday, are genuine in New Zealand and been used to sell All three Racing players and the club that have gone, Schalk (Burger), Duane just how far ahead New Zealand sides like we did and get shocked. When you title contenders this season. everything from underwear to credit were later cleared of any wrong-doing (Vermeulen) and Jean (De Villiers),” he are in the competition with a 60-21 play them early in the competition it’s “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think cards and air conditioners. by a French Rugby Federation medical added. thrashing in the playoff s by Waikato perfect,” he said. that, I wouldn’t have worked this hard Carter was tested at the roadside in commission. The Cape Town-based side have a Chiefs at Newlands. “But you have got to be ready men- in pre-season if I didn’t think we have Paris last Wednesday night and a police But the players have now been sum- challenging fi xture list that will see Kolisi said the competition format tally. the squad to do it,” he added. source said his alcohol level was meas- moned to appear before the French them take on New Zealand’s fi ve Super left the Stormers under-prepared for “We are not afraid because we have “And I know my teammates believe ured at 0.8 grams per litre of blood. Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) over the Rugby teams this season. that game and added that although to play them. If that is what it takes to it too.” He could face penalty points on his incident. Gulf Times 8 Wednesday, February 22, 2017 SPORT

CYCLING FOCUS Sample re-tests from Sochi Olympics to Froome has become run to 2022: IOC

Reuters Berlin

he re-testing of samples from the 2014 Sochi winter Ol- ‘statesman for the ympics in Russia to identify any cheats who had compet- ed there will last another fi ve years to 2022, the Interna- tional Olympic Committee said. TThe IOC is re-testing thousands of samples from the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 summer Games as well as the Vancouver 2010 and Sochi winter Olympics to root out any doping off enders. More than 100 have so far seen their sample test positive from Beijing and London alone, with dozens of medals having been sport’: Boardman stripped so far. In addition a total of 28 Russian athletes who took part in So- chi, face disciplinary proceedings over possible manipulation of ‘He’s clear on what he thinks and doesn’t contradict himself. Froome has handled himself well’ their urine samples from the Sochi Games. The IOC had said in December there was “evidence of manipu- lation of one or more of their urine samples” collected in Sochi. This follows publication late last year of the second and fi nal part of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s independent McLaren report into Russian doping. It found more than 1,000 Russian competitors in more than 30 sports were involved in an institutional conspiracy to conceal positive drug tests over the course of fi ve years. “The IOC has an ongoing programme of reanalysis of all stored samples from Sochi, Vancouver and London,” an IOC spokesper- son said on Tuesday. “The reanalysis from Sochi of samples from athletes from many diff erent sports and countries will continue through to 2022,” the offi cial told Reuters. “We have no specifi c timeline. The IOC will continue to com- municate on a case by case basis as soon as disciplinary proce- dures are completed.” The IOC stores samples from past Games for a decade to re- test them at a later date using newer methods or searching for substances that were unknown to anti-doping offi cials at the time of the competition. The McLaren report into systematic state-backed doping in Russia over the past years, including during Sochi, has triggered two IOC investigations into the aff air and a re-testing of samples. Russian athletes were partly banned from competing at last year’s Rio de Janeiro Olympics while a decision on their par- ticipation or not at the 2018 winter Games in South Korea’s Pyeongchang has yet to be taken.

Russian athletes await IAAF neutrals verdict Some three dozen Russian athletes are awaiting an IAAF deci- sion on whether they can compete as neutrals, Moscow said Tuesday, as time ticks down to the European indoor champi- onships. Russia’s track and field team has been banned from competition over state-sponsored doping since 2015, but world athletics authorities have ruled individuals can compete as neutrals if they are proved to be drug-free. Russian athletics federation chief Dmitry Shlyaktin said that 33 athletes have so far asked the IAAF to compete, and another 11 were considering putting in applications. “For the time being we’re still awaiting the IAAF decision,” Sh- lyaktin told journalists. “Hopefully we will understand what the situation is in the near future.” Russia’s athletes — who were forced to miss the Rio Olympics due to the ban — are hoping that IAAF approval comes in time for them to compete at the March 3-5 European Indoor Champi- onships in Belgrade. Reuters brought a sour postscript to a Wiggins’s use of TUEs af- ter. “I think people are going to chairman. We don’t need more The 2015 world high jump champion Maria Kuchina insisted that London stellar career and is part of an ter leaked World Anti-Doping have to come up with answers,” cyclists (in the organisation). after more than a year on the sidelines of international competi- ongoing UK anti-doping inves- Agency (WADA) data revealed he he said. “I’m not 100% about What we need are experts in tions the Russian athletes were ready and willing to compete as tigation in the sport. injected corticosteroid triamci- what I’m looking at and how I managing people and big busi- soon as they get the green light. hris Froome has Yet despite the controversies, nolone ahead of his 2012 Tour de feel about that.” ness.” “We have done a huge amount of work to achieve this result,” emerged as a shining Froome’s reputation has been France win to treat asthma. With Brailsford battling to up- Of far greater concern to Kuchina, who performed the season’s best mark of 2.03m at Rus- light from the anti- enhanced, according to former Froome also reportedly dis- hold Team Sky’s reputation and Boardman is safe cycling in Brit- sia’s indoor championships, said. doping controversies British Cycling technical advisor tanced himself from Dave Brails- the British Cycling reeling from ain and making cycling part of “We’re ready to go at any time. We all continue practising and thatC have engulfed Team Sky Boardman, who wore the yellow ford after the Team Sky boss was the resignations of head coach everyday life. are waiting for the answer.” and British Cycling over the past jersey in three separate Tours. grilled by British lawmakers in Shane Sutton, CEO Ian Drake It is a subject especially close The IAAF ban led to Russian athletes missing the Olympics in year, former Olympic champion “What I’ve found interesting December about the contents of and chairman Bob Howden in to his heart after his mother was Rio and the world athletics governing body ruled to extend the Chris Boardman says. about the last few months is that the package delivered to Wig- the space of nine months, the knocked off her bike and killed. punishment earlier this month. Team Sky, with whom Froome Froome has become more of a gins. sport is facing testing times. “We have stalled,” he said. IAAF president Sebastian Coe said that Russia could not be has won three of the last four statesman for the sport,” Board- “I think people have tried to Boardman said there was too “The government says it wants reintegrated into the sport before November. Tour de France races, has been man told Reuters at the London infer things, spin what (Froome) much negativity though. to double the amount of cycling In his latest report released in December, Canadian doping dogged for months by a row over Cycle Show. said, which I think is unfair,” “Over the past two Olympic by 2025. Well that’s two % to four investigator Richard McLaren claimed that 1,000 Russians were Therapeutic Use Exemptions “He is more comfortable in Boardman said of a perceived cycles the sport has been the % which is hardly ambitious. involved in a doping system organised by the Russian sports (TUEs) and a package that was that role now. He’s clear on what cooling in the relationship be- most successful for Britain,” he “They are ignoring it. There ministry over several years. delivered to Froome’s former he thinks and doesn’t contradict tween Froome and Team Sky. said. “Half the medals are com- are 10mn people in London and The Russian government however has repeatedly denied any team mate Bradley Wiggins in himself. I think Chris Froome “But what he has said has been ing from women. Yet everyone they have to move around. Cy- involvement in doping. 2011. has handled himself very well.” bang on.” seems willing to shoot at it. cling is a logical solution but the Last month RusAF said it fully approved and supported the IAAF Wiggins consistently denied Froome has insisted “there Boardman said the sooner “People are riding bikes, it’s acid test is providing spaces to decision to give athletes a chance to compete as neutrals. any wrongdoing but the episode are questions” to answer about questions are answered the bet- on mainstream TV. I like the new ride that are attractive and safe.”

SPOTLIGHT OCA chief tentatively backs dual host city awards

AFP events. “The IOC executive board The region is set to stage the Sapporo, Japan have to decide and until they put it next three Olympics in succes- on the table we won’t comment,” he sion: the 2018 Winter Olympics in said. Pyeongchang in South Korea, the sia’s most powerful sports “But as OCA president, we prac- 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo offi cial has given tentative tised this for (the) 2022 and 2026 and the 2022 Winter Olympics in support to the notion that Asian Games. At FIFA we also prac- Beijing. the International Olym- tised to have two World Champion- And Sheikh Ahmad said Asia picA Committee (IOC) should award ships: Russia in 2018 and Qatar in would be willing to step and host the the host cities for both the 2024 2022.” 2026 Winter Olympics if needed, and 2028 Olympics later this year, The spiralling cost of hosting the with Sapporo planning to bid. an idea which appears to be gaining Olympics has seen a reduction in the “Asia will be ready to host the Ol- momentum. number of cities bidding to host it. ympic Winter Games again,” he said. The idea has not been formally There are just three candidates in “If there is a lot who bid (for 2026), proposed by the IOC, and with the the running for 2024, Paris, Los An- we will have to evaluate the situa- 2024 host set to be decided in Sep- geles and Budapest. tion, but if not, then we have a good tember, time is running out for what There are growing concerns about chance. would be a radical change. Budapest’s bid after the city mayor “We are ready to host a third Ol- But top-ranking Olympic offi - mayor Istvan Tarlos announced last ympic Winter Games.” cials, including the IOC president week that he meet Hungarian Prime The OCA president also fl agged Thomas Bach, have not ruled it out. Minister Viktor Orban to review the the possibility that Oceania nations The Olympic Council of Asia bid. including Australia could be allowed (OCA) president Sheikh Ahmad If Budapest joined Boston, Rome to compete in the Asian summer al-Fahad al-Sabah, who also holds and Hamburg by pulling out, the Games from 2022. a key position on soccer’s world gov- IOC would be left with just Paris and Australia and New Zealand both erning body FIFA, gave his views on Los Angeles. But because both cities accepted invitations to compete at the subject during a press confer- presented strong cases, speculation the Asian Winter Games, but on ence yesterday at the Asian Winter is mounting that the IOC could give condition they would not be al- Games in Japan. the 2024 games to one and the 2028 lowed to win medals. The next Asian Sheikh Ahmad said he could not event to the other. Games will be held in Indonesia in comment on the prospects of such The struggle to fi nd Olympic 2018 but Sheikh Ahmad said 2022 a change in the Olympics but it hosts has been an unexpected boon was a more likely starting date for had happened with other sporting for Asia in recent years. Oceania participation. Gulf Times Wednesday, February 22, 2017 9 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT FORMULA 1 Renault aims for fi ft h place in 2017 Lankan ‘Eddie the championship Eagle’ plunges into snowboarding ‘When I got to the starting gate, I was so scared and I fell over straight away. I fell over like four times and although I missed one of the gates I still made it to the finish’ The newly unveiled Renault Sport Formula One car for 2017, the R.S.17, is seen during a launch event in London yesterday.

Reuters London

enault unveiled their 2017 Formula One car yester- day and said it targetted fi fth place in the cham- pionshipR and possible podium fi n- ishes after struggling among the backmarkers last season. The former world champions, who returned as full construc- Renault Special Advisor Alain tors in 2016 after taking over the Prost during the launch. failing Lotus team, fi nished ninth out of 11 last year with drivers Kevin Magnussen of Denmark and Briton Jolyon Palmer. Magnussen has since left for U.S-owned rivals Haas F1 and been replaced by experienced German Nico Hulkenburg from Force India. Russian Sergey Sirotkin re- tains the role of development driver. Renault Sport Formula One The team, whose engine plant is drivers Nico Hulkenberg (L) and in France and main factory in Eng- Jolyon Palmer during the launch. land, have invested heavily in add- ing headcount and infrastructure “We are hungry for the po- over the past year with the aim of dium, hungry for success,” said returning to the top by 2020. Stoll. “We expect to be fi fth in the Renault Sport F1 managing championship,” Renault Sport director Cyril Abiteboul, who Racing President Jerome Stoll told has eff ectively been running the the audience in a central London team since the departure of prin- hall before the black and yellow cipal Frederic Vasseur in January, RS17 car was presented to pound- said the key word for the year ing music and strobe lights. ahead was ‘integration’.

This file photo shows 16-year-old snowboarder Azquiya Usuph of Sri Lanka posing with her board in the snow at Sapporo Teine resort in western Sapporo in Japan.

AFP swimmer than a snowboarder — was dis- challenges. age-group title in backstroke. Sapporo, Japan qualifi ed after missing a gate. The fi rst time she saw snow was in “When I got to the starting gate, I was ‘NOT EVERYONE CAN BE WINNERS’ 2015, when she was packed off to South so scared and I fell over straight away,” “This is just the beginning,” said Nation- Korea to learn how to snowboard. ollowing in the traditions of Usuph told AFP, after becoming the fi rst al Olympic Committee secretary general “I actually learnt to snowboard really plucky triers such as Jamaica’s Sri Lankan woman to compete at the Maxwell de Silva. fast, in a span of 14 days, which was kind bobsledders and British ski jump- Asian Winter Games. “You will see in time that we will be of surprising,” said Usuph, who has no er Eddie ‘the Eagle’ Edwards, a Sri “I fell over like four times and although a force to be reckoned with because we plans to take up the sport seriously. LankanF snowboarder has overcome her I missed one of the gates I still made it to have people with very good sporting Usuph also spent time at a training nerves and a glaring lack of experience to the fi nish,” added the unlikely pioneer. backgrounds,” he added. camp in Slovenia and regularly surfs to Gold Cup favourite Thistlecrack out blaze a trail at the Asian Winter Games. “My main goal was to complete the “Not everyone can be winners but improve her balance and turns. Despite “freaking out” — and then race. I’m actually very happy because I’m we’re sending a message that Sri Lankans She confessed, however, that when she for season falling — at the start line, 16-year-old new to snowboarding.” are capable of doing anything if given the climbed the mountain in Sapporo and Trainer Colin Tizzard’s stable Tizzard, though, still has an Azquiya Usuph took off and hurtled Sri Lanka is better known for produc- right training and opportunities.” stared down the steep slope, the nerves star Thistlecrack’s hopes of imposing hand in the Gold down a mountain at breakneck speed in ing cricketers than skiers, but the sun- At the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics, kicked in. landing the blue riband of Cup — which takes place on the women’s snowboarding in Sapporo kissed South Asian island is developing a tropical Jamaica made headlines by en- “I was freaking out a bit,” said Usuph. “I jump racing the Cheltenham March 17 bringing the racing on Sunday, crashing several times. winter sports programme. tering the bobsleigh competition, inspir- even thought about calling my dad to say Gold Cup this year are over as festival to a climax — with While most of her rivals fearlessly Usuph’s brave foray came as part of a ing the 1993 comedy “Cool Runnings”. that I couldn’t do it. But this was a chance an injury yesterday ruled him his impressive Welsh Grand charged down the icy course in a desper- drive to promote winter sports across the Britain’s Edwards shot to fame at the in a lifetime so I just had to go for it.” out for the rest of the season. National winner Native River ate attempt to win a medal in the giant entire Asian region, which will host Win- same Games with his celebrated attempt Her real ambitions lie in the pool, The nine-year-old, who went the new favourite. Tizzard also slalom, Usuph’s modest ambition was to ter Olympics at Pyeongchang and Beijing at ski jumping, a story which was immor- however. “Swimming’s really my sport,” down to his first defeat in five has the veteran Cue Card — make it to the bottom in one piece. in 2018 and 2022. talised in last year’s “Eddie the Eagle”. smiled Usuph. “I would love to go to the starts over fences last time who was well beaten by his And though she achieved that goal, the Sri Lankan Olympic offi cials insist Usuph, a similarly improbable con- Tokyo Olympics as a swimmer and this out to Many Clouds who then younger stablemate Thistle- schoolgirl — who saw snow for the fi rst Usuph won’t be the last woman from her tender, was selected because she is a tal- has shown me that I can do anything if I collapsed and died, was found crack in the prestigious King time in 2015, and admits she is more of a country to take on similarly hair-raising ented swimmer, having won a national train hard enough.” to have a slight tendon tear. George VI Chase — on course “The vet scanned him this for another tilt at a race which morning and it’s a slight ten- saw him come to grief three BOTTOMLINE don tear,” said Tizzard. fences from home last year “We’ve seen it at every yard when in line for a million and it happens every year.” pound bonus had he won it. Former Kentucky Derby winner Charismatic dead at 21 Red Bull seeking engine gains Former Kentucky Derby and metres) to go but he took an Reuters world champion Nico Rosberg to “What excites us most Preakness Stakes winner awkward step and fractured London win races in 2016. about 2017 are the Charismatic died unexpect- his left foreleg as Lemon Drop The rules have been rewritten opportunities that arise edly over the weekend. Kid swept by to win. this year, with cars expected to from these new regulations. Charismatic, whose bid for Charismatic finished third. ed Bull are hoping Re- lap signifi cantly faster on wider It’s going to be fascinating the 1999 Triple Crown ended The chestnut horse retired nault’s revamped en- tyres. to see who’s got it right and when he fractured his leg near with a record of five wins gine will give them the As with any change to the sta- who’s got it wrong” the finish line in the Belmont in 17 starts and earnings of power to take on cham- tus quo, Horner saw a develop- Stakes, died Sunday at a $2,038,064 before starting his pionsR Mercedes in a new-look ment battle stretching out from challenge in F1 this year.” thoroughbred retirement farm stud career in 2000. Formula One this season. the start of the season in Aus- Red Bull will show off their in Kentucky. “Right now, everyone is pretty “It’s a brand new engine this tralia on March 26 all the way to new car on Sunday with testing Charismatic was found dead much inconsolable,” Old year, a change of philosophy,” Abu Dhabi on Nov. 26. starting in Barcelona next Mon- in his stall at Old Friends farm Friends founder and president team principal Christian Horner “What excites us most about day. near Georgetown. Michael Blowen said in a state- said in a pre-season interview 2017 is the opportunities that Horner said former champi- The cause of the 21-year-old ment. conducted by the team. “They arise from these new regula- ons Red Bull were on schedule, stallion’s death was not imme- “(Saturday night), at 6:30, (Renault) have had a big winter. tions.It’s going to be fascinat- proceeding like a swan while diately known but a necropsy he was fine. He was a really “We’re hoping for a step up in ing to see who’s got it right and paddling frantically beneath the will be performed. tough horse and he deserved performance and if that’s deliv- who’s got it wrong,” said the surface. “We are devastated. CHAR- a much longer retirement... ered then hopefully we can really Briton, whose team were run- “It’s an exciting moment, to ISMATIC 1996-2017 died Everyone at Old Friends takes be a challenger team this year ners-up last year. see the car break cover,” he said. unexpectedly this morning. solace from the few great and give the Mercedes and Fer- “You’ll see big increments “People get sucked into who’s do- Our hearts are broken for all months that this great cham- raris a hard time.” early on because the regulations ing what times, which fuel loads, who loved him,” Old Friends pion gave us.” Red Bull’s Renault engines, are pretty immature. I think who’s doing race runs etcetera... Farm tweeted. Lukas, a Hall of Fame trainer, branded as Tag-Heuer, powered there is going to be low-hanging It’s all irrelevant in reality. Charismatic, who was born in visited Charismatic in Decem- the team to two wins last season fruit early on to make sizeable “You have to focus on your own 1996 and trained by D. Wayne ber. with Dutch teenager Max Ver- steps. programme, put the blinkers on, Lukas, was named the Eclipse “He looked good enough stappen and Australian Daniel “That’s going to push every get through your programme of Horse of the Year as the best that you probably could have Ricciardo. department in the whole team to work and the developments you of 3-year-old in 1999. tacked him up and galloped They were the only drivers try and outwit, out-smart, out- want to look at – because it’s all At the Belmont, Charismatic him,” Lukas said Sunday. “He apart from Mercedes’ Lewis develop and out-produce our going to change by the time you led with about a furlong (200 looked terrific.” Hamilton and now-retired File picture of Red BUll team prinicpal Christian Horner. rivals. That’s going to be a stellar get to Melbourne anyway.” Gulf Times 10 Wednesday, February 22, 2017 CRICKET

SPOTLIGHT Australia renew rivalry with top rated India in Test series Former players are predicting another whitewash for Australia, who have a miserable record in the sub-continent

AFP Mickey Arthur. Team spirit has get even better,” said Warner. Pune, India recovered under Smith’s cap- Nevertheless, Smith wants his taincy, but they were thrashed players to get in the face of the 3-0 last year in Sri Lanka when Indians, telling reporters: “If teve Smith’s Australia their shortcomings against spin they want to get into a battle ver- have the chance of halt- were exposed along with their bally then, if that gets the best ing India’s Test jugger- lack of a match-winning slow out of them, go for it”. naut in a series between bowler. While their former pace- Ever since Harbhajan was ac- theS world’s top two sides starting man Glenn McGrath used to cused of calling Andrew Sy- this week which promises to be be notorious for getting up the monds a “monkey” in the 2008 yet another feisty encounter be- opposition’s nose by forecast- Sydney Test, matches between tween the arch rivals. ing clean sweeps, Australia have the sides have never been far After India stretched their been getting a taste of their own from boiling point. Harbhajan unbeaten run to 19 Tests this medicine. showed he has lost none of his month, several former stars are India’s ex-captain Sourav abililty to stir things up by dis- even daring to predict another Ganguly has predicted a 4-0 win missing the 2017 vintage as a pale whitewash against Australia who for the hosts while veteran spin- comparison to its predecessors. have a miserable recent record ner Harbhajan Singh has called “In my opinion, looking at the on the sub-continent. Australia Smith’s team the weakest ever composition, this is the weak- meanwhile have been unusually Australian squad. Indian confi - est Australian side to tour In- respectful of their opponents in dence is largely founded on the dia. I don’t think this team has the build-up but Smith expects form of skipper Kohli who has hit the wherewithal to cope with a his team to greet India with a bar- four double centuries since July. quality Indian side in the Indian rage of sledging when the contest They also possess the current conditions. It can again be 4-0,” begins in Pune tomorrow. best bowler in the world in Ravi- Harbhajan said. “The guys are in a great frame chandran Ashwin whom Mc- The last series between the of mind, we’re ready to go. We’re Grath’s old captain Steve Waugh two sides ended in a 2-0 victory pumped,” vice-captain David recently branded the “Bradman for Australia Down Under but Warner said after Australia drew of Bowling”, the ultimate compli- their humbling at the hands of a weekend warm-up against In- ment by an Australian. an unfancied Sri Lanka is likely dia A. Australia have a chance of Kohli’s recent form has also to weigh heavily on their minds. knocking India off the top of the drawn comparisons with the late Much will depend on whether Test rankings but Virat Kohli’s Donald Bradman, who averaged the spinners Nathan Lyon and men have won their last six series 99.94 in Tests, but never played Steve O’Keefe can have an im- and are overwhelming favourites in India. And Warner, not one to pact. They claimed four and to continue that run. shirk from an onfi eld confronta- three wickets respectively in the Australia’s last tour of India tion, has warned his teammates tourists’ only warm-up match in 2013 under captain Michael not to wind up Kohli. in Mumbai are expected to play Clarke was a disaster as they “Virat Kohli is one of those in Pune. India are expected to went down 4-0 and four of the players, if you niggle at him, it stick with the line-up that com- team were sent home after refus- either makes him better or if you prehensively beat Bangladesh in ing to do homework set by coach get under his skin, he’ll probably Hyderabad earlier this month. FACTBOX ON FOUR-MATCH TEST SERIES FIXTURES match home series HEAD TO HEAD: (all start at 0400 GMT): Beat West Indies 2-0 in four-match Total: 90 1st Test — Feb. 23-27, Pune away series Australia wins: 40 2nd Test — March 4-8, Bengaluru India wins: 24 3rd Test — March 16-20, Ranchi AUSTRALIA Draws: 25 4th Test — March 25-29, Dharamsala Test ranking: 2 Tied: 1 Coach: Darren Lehmann IN INDIA: INDIA Captain: Steve Smith Total matches: 46 Test ranking: 1 Squad: Smith (captain), David India wins: 19 Captain: Virat Kohli Warner, Matt Renshaw, Usman Australia wins: 12 Coach: Anil Kumble Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Peter Draws: 14 Squad: Kohli, Murali Vijay, Lokesh Handscomb, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Tied: 1 Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Maxwell, Matt Wade, Mitchell LAST EIGHT TESTS Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha (wick- Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Jack- Sydney Jan, 2015 Drawn etkeeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, son Bird, Nathan Lyon, Stephen Melbourne Dec, 2014 Drawn Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, O’Keefe, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Brisbane Dec, 2014 Australia won Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Swepson by four wickets Yadav, Karun Nair, Jayant Yadav, Adelaide Dec, 2014 Australia won Kuldeep Yadav, Abhinav Mukund, Recent form: by 48 runs Hardik Pandya Beat Pakistan 3-0 in three-match Delhi March, 2013 India won by six home series wickets Recent form: Lost to South Africa 2-1 in three- Mohali March, 2013 India won by Beat Bangladesh in one-off home match home series six wickets test Lost to Sri Lanka 3-0 in three- Hyderabad March, 2013 India won Beat England 4-0 in five-match match away series by an innings and 135 runs home series Beat New Zealand 2-0 in two- Chennai Feb, 2013 India won by Australia’s captain Steve Smith (left) and vice-captain David Warner during the three-day practice match against India ‘A’ at the Brabourne Beat New Zealand 3-0 in three- match away series’ eight wickets stadium in Mumbai last week. Australia will play a four-match Test series against India, with the first Test starting from tomorrow. (AFP)

ROUND-UP Sri Lanka’s Dickwella gets two-match ban for another misconduct

Melbourne he was ignored for Bangladesh’s recent defeat Reuters in a one-off Test against India, meaning there are fi ve pacemen in the squad. “We would re- quire an extra pacer in testing conditions in Sri ri Lanka opener Niroshan Dickwella Lanka,” said chief selector Minhajul Abedin. has been banned for two limited-over Opening batsman Imrul Kayes was not named in matches after his latest breach of ICC the squad after he failed to recover from a thigh code of conduct, the International injury. Abedin said he could be called up for the CricketS Council said yesterday. second Test if he regains fi tness. Dickwella was found guilty of “showing dis- Bangaldesh squad: Mushfiqur Rahim (capt), Tamim sent at an umpire’s decision” during the second Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Mominul Haque, Mahmudul- Twenty20 International against Australia in lah Riyad, Shakib Al Hasan, Sabbir Rahman, Liton Geelong on Sunday, for which he received two Das, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Kamrul Islam, Mus- demerit points and was fi ned 30% of his match tafizur Rahman, Mehedi Hasan, Mosaddek Hossain, fee. If a player accumulates four to seven demer- Subashis Roy and Rubel Hossain. it points within a two-year period they are con- verted into two suspension points, which brings NO SAMUELS IN WEST INDIES a ban for one test or two one-day internationals ODI SQUAD FOR ENGLAND SERIES or Twenty20s. West Indies all-rounder Marlon Samuels has Dickwella was given a 50% fi ne and three been left out of their 15-man squad for the up- demerit points in the fourth ODI against South coming One Day International (ODI) series Africa in Cape Town on Feb. 8, and the two ad- against England. The batsman last played for ditional demerits means he has exceeded the West Indies against Pakistan late last year but threshold of four demerits in a two-year period. was then left out of the squad for the tri-series The 23-year-old will accordingly miss the in Zimbabwe that followed. third Twenty20 International against Australia Samuels, who also bowls part-time off -spin, in Adelaide on Feb. 22, and Sri Lanka’s fi rst ODI was cleared by the International Cricket Council against Bangladesh on March 25, the ICC said. to bowl again last week after serving a 12-month Dickwella was adjudged to have shown dis- ban for an illegal action. He received the ban in sent when he “kicked the turf and looked at his December 2015 after picking up two suspen- shoulder for a prolonged period of time” after Sri Lanka batsman Niroshan Dickwella (left) will miss today’s final match in the T20 series at Adelaide Oval. (AFP) sions in two years for the same off ence. pausing to view the replay following his dis- The 36-year old has played 71 tests and 187 missal in Geelong, the ICC added. Sri Lanka have already wrapped up the ongo- Lanka after his prolonged injury lay-off . The are due to play two Tests against the Sri Lankans ODIs for West Indies. The teams will play two Australia wicketkeeper Tim Paine was also ing series Down Under after winning the fi rst 21-year-old has not played a Test since his debut — one in Galle from March 7-11 and another in ODIs on Antigua (March 3/5) followed by a third fi ned 15% of his match fee and given one demerit two Twenty20 Internationals. series against South Africa in 2015 after suff er- the capital Colombo which starts on March 15 contest in Barbados (March 9). point for a related incident in the same game. ing a series of injuries. He underwent surgery on and will be their 100th Test match. West Indies squad: Jason Holder (Captain), Deven- Paine was found guilty of “using language, ac- BANGLADESH RECALL MUSTAFIZUR his shoulder last year. They are then scheduled to play three 50- dra Bishoo, Carlos Brathwaite, Kraigg Brathwaite, tions or gestures which disparage or which could FOR SRI LANKA TESTS While he made a brief return to the limited- over ODIs before facing off for two Twenty20 Jonathan Carter, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich, provoke an aggressive reaction from a batsman Bangladesh yesterday recalled their left-arm overs side against New Zealand at the turn of the international matches at the tailend of the tour, Shannon Gabriel, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Evin upon his/her dismissal during an International fast bowler Mustafi zur Rahman in a 16-man year, he was not deemed fi t enough to withstand which wraps up on April 6. The selectors also Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Ashley Nurse, Kieran Match,” the ICC added. squad for the upcoming two-Test series in Sri the rigours of a fi ve-day Test match. Bangladesh handed fast bowler Rubel Hossain a recall after Powell, Rovman Powell Gulf Times Wednesday, February 22, 2017 11 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT Qatar team for 2017 Asia Rugby Sevens trophy announced By Sports Reporter Doha Fift h edition of Qatar he Qatar national rugby sevens men’s Squad for this year’s Asia Rugby TSevens Trophy at Aspire Rugby Stadium in Doha has been announced. MXGP promises more The Qatar squad will partici- pate at the ARST tournament that will be hosted by the Qa- tar Rugby Federation at Aspires Warm Up and Rugby Stadium on the weekend of 3 -4 March 2017. The squad includes players from across the country (locals and ex- excitement than before pats) who have been selected after impressing at various tourna- The past four years have seen intense, top-level racing with every year producing a diff erent winner ments, events and other opportu- nities during the last 12 months. in the premier class. Recent rains mean that the track could be unpredictable, ensuring more action Selected players have each refi ned their skills at the Qatar By Sports Reporter Rugby Sevens, Dubai Sevens and Doha XV’s Domestic League. The team is set to face Philippines and Ne- pal on the opening day. he 2017 MXGP season is set to This biggest rugby event in begin for the fi fth year in suc- the history of Qatar consists of cession at the circuit of Losail only one leg making it even more in Qatar this weekend. Just important for teams to win the Tlike in the past years the race is set to tournament. The winner of the take place Saturday evening on the ARST 2017 will be promoted with man-made circuit under lights. All a chance at qualifying for the races, including the qualifying races RWC7’s in San Francisco in 2018. on Friday, will be available LIVE and QRF president Yousef al-Ku- OnDemand on www.mxgp-tv.com wari congratulated all the play- The track will most likely be unpre- ers on their achievement and the dictable this year as the track has seen hard work they had put in during rain for the last week, despite the in- the last 12 months. credibly dry climate and will most likely Al-Kuwari said: “We have a set up diff erently again — we will see great team of dedicated men who which riders will gel with it and excel. sacrifi ced so much to get this far. We are a strong outfi t with big ACTION-PACKED powerful forwards and equally Over the past four years we have seen as big and fast out wide. I believe intense, unexpected, and top level rac- come fi nals time we will be there”. ing here in Losail, which has left us “We lost a few vital players from yearning for more. We have had a dif- last season but managed to bal- ferent winner each year in the premier ance their loss with quality players class. In 2013, when MXGP fi rst tore including Ford, Amit and Ward. up the hard packed soil of Qatar, it was They are big boys with plenty of Clement Desalle on the top step of the hunger and rugby experience”. podium. Followed by Gautier Paulin, rising above the competition to claim “We have a great team of the fi rst red plate of the year in 2014. dedicated men who have Then in 2015 it was dominated by Max sacrifi ced so much to get Nagl who rode at an untouchable level, this far,” said al-Kuwari and last year the eventual champion Tim Gajser started his season in win- “We also have veterans al- ning form at Qatar. Malki, al-Muhannadi and Feath- This year, once again, it’s anyone erstone, who have played years guess who could win, it’s a gamble. of rugby and their experience at With that said, the fi rst rider to come this level will be vital to the team. to mind is of course the defending We will be expecting them to take MXGP world champion, Team HRC’s Schedule charge and lead the way”. Tim Gajser who put together an amaz- Al-Kuwari paid tribute to Asia ing and surprising rookie season last SCHEDULE Rugby for having the confi dence year. The young Slovenian set the Friday: in the QRF to take on such a chal- world on notice in his debut appear- 2016 world champion Tim Gajser in action during the 2016 Qatar MXGP. MX2 Free Practice 3:15pm lenge and thanked ARST partners ance in the MXGP class here in Losail MXGP Free Practice 3:45pm and sponsors. “I wish to pay trib- last year. to forget, as he has made changes in TOUGH TO PREDICT IN MX2 the potential to fi nish amongst the top MX2 Time Practice 5:15pm ute to our partners and sponsors This weekend the 84 of Jeff ery Her- the off season. Now racing for Rock- Since the defending MX2 champion fi ve. MXGP Time Practice 6:00pm of the event in particular Asia lings will also be lining up for his 450 star Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Jeff ery Herlings, along with Max An- Other notable riders will be Petar MX2 Qualifying Race 8:00pm Rugby, Aspire, Aspetar, The Cof- debut fresh off of an injury. Although he comes in to Qatar with a renewed stie, have jumped up to the premier Petrov as he will continue to race for MXGP Qualifying Race 9:50pm fee Brewer, Nandos, WOQOD, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing did state energy. Also changing teams is the class, most don’t know where to place Monster Energy Kawasaki after his nu- IEC, Nada and Amwaj. that he will be healthy and fi t to race. number 24 of Shaun Simpson, who their bets. Red Bull KTM Factory Rac- merous top 10 fi nishes in 2016, Brent Saturday: The national squad will be 2015 Champion, Febvre will be lined up will be racing for Wilvo Yamaha MXGP ing has placed their hopes on Pauls Van doninck, who reached the podium MX2 Warm up 2:30pm coached by Fijian Usaia Biumai- in hopes to regain the FIM Motocross Offi cial Team. Simpson fi nished just Jonass and the MX2 Rookie Jorge Pra- in 2016 at Assen, racing alongside Ke- MXGP Warm up 3:00pm wai and assisted by Qatari, Talal World Champion Title but against stiff outside the top 5 at Qatar in 2016 with do Garcia who have now taken over mea Yamaha teammate Paturel, and MX2 Race 1 5:15pm Mualli. competition such as Antonio Cairoli a 6th place, a result he looks to change Herlings’spot. the Italian TM Racing Factory Team’s MXGP Race 1 6:15pm The Asia Rugby Sevens Trophy who will be just as motivated. Cairoli for the better this weekend. Meanwhile, Team Suzuki World Samuele Bernardini who fi nished 8th MX2 Race 2 8:10pm is the most popular & prestigious has claimed the Championship eight Arnaud Tonus returns to the MXGP MX2’s Jeremy Seewer has his heart set in the Championship points last year. MXGP Race 2 9:10pm event organized by the Asia Rug- times but has gone the last two years series after being absent since rac- on doing better than the fourth place New faces to MX2 are those of HRC by’s Executive Committee. without it. This trend could change by ing MX2 in 2014, a year where he had he got last year. Seewer fi nished sec- MX2’s Michele Cervellin & Chihiro LAST YEAR’S RESULTS The Asia Rugby Sevens Trophy a solid performance at the opener this some success fi nishing 6th in the ond in the championship last year and Notsuka and Australian Hunter Law- MXGP is an annual series of regional weekend at a venue where the Sicilian MX2 points. Joining the list of rid- is one of the favorites to win this time rence for Team Suzuki World MX2. 1. Tim Gajser rugby seven’s tournaments run has never won. ers to watch is Valentin Guillod riding around. While Kemea Yamaha Offi - No matter how you look at it the 2. Romain Febvre by Asia Rugby featuring the best Another rider to look out for is the forTeam Honda Red Moto Assomo- cial MX2 Team’s Benoit Paturel will be MXGP of Qatar at Losail Motocross 3. Evgeny Bobryshev Asia Rugby Sevens teams. The 777 HRC Honda of Evgeny Bobryshev tor, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory also be looking to get on the box after Track should once again be a excit- Asia Rugby Sevens Trophy fol- who in 2016 performed well at the MXGP’s Jeremy Van Horebeek, Team struggling last year. ing and diffi cult opener to the MXGP MX2 lows the sport program of World Qatar opener placing 3rd overall. The Suzuki World MXGP’s Kevin Stribos, The Americans of Rockstar Energy season. Make sure you keep up with all 1. Jeff ery Herlings Rugby and its regions, which re- Russian veteran looks to improve on and another MXGP rookie Max Anstie Husqvarna Factory Racing’ Thomas the action being with LIVE on Friday 2. Dylan Ferrandis fl ect the diverse sporting culture his position on the podium in 2017. riding the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Covington and Monster Energy DRT & Saturday night. You don’t want to 3. Pauls Jonass of the continent. Meanwhile Gautier Paulin is one not Factory Racing FC450. Kawasaki’s Darian Sanayei also have miss it.

QATAR STARS LEAGUE Gharafa defeat Rayyan 102-82; Shamal defeat Sadd 68-59 Shahaniya face Kharaitiyat By Sports Reporter cial to his sides upturn in ing to a high average of Doha fortunes since joining the 3.12 goals per QSL game. side in January. The former Whilst the league has Umm Salal player has been seen 393 assists registered ound 22 of the inspirational in attack in so far this season. Inter- season will see a the last few weeks, regu- estingly, 68 of the goals spotlight match larly creating chances for scored have come from Rbetween two his team-mates. Tursunov strikes outside the box. sides that are battling for will have to be at his very The QSL season, has survival in the QSL. Al best if Kharaitiyat are to seen over 3,793 shots tak- Shahaniya welcome an break down the stubborn en by players in the league in-form Al Kharaitiyat Shahaniya backline. with 1,751 of these shots side to Al Arabi stadium It certainly promises to fi nding their target. This on Saturday knowing that be a fascinating relegation means that 46.1% of all only a win will be enough, battle when Al Shahaniya shots in the league found with time running out for take on Al Kharaitiyat in their target so far this sea- Igor Štimac’s side. the QSL spotlight match son. A total of 91 penalties Last time out, Al Sha- for round 22. have been awarded his haniya took the lead twice season to date, 75 of which against bottom of the ta- NUMBER SPEAK found the back of the net ble Al Wakrah only to be File picture of a QSL match between Shahaniya and Kharaitiyat. Round 21 of the QSL season which means a conversion Action from the Qatar Basketball League men’s match between pegged back thanks to two has seen plenty of action, rate of 82.4%. Gharafa and Rayyan. PICTURE: Ramachandran Sreedharan penalties. Shahaniya have season, they will need Ira- all three points. ing their impressive 2-1 win and in our regular feature we The season has seen registered the most draws nian striker Rahim Zahivi As for Al Kharaitiyat, over El Jaish. have a look at the key statis- over 587 yellow cards, Gharafa produced a strong per- match, notching up 29. But his of any other side in the QSL to be on top form on Sat- they seem to have been The all-important win tics to date in the QSL. All of whilst 28 players have formance in the fourth quarter eff ort went in vain. this season with 11 so far. urday evening. The former fi nding their form at ex- saw the Thunders pull our data has been provided been sent off over this to register a comfortable victory Shamal’s Reginald Lamont The Oryxes are currently Esteghlal Khuzestan at- actly the right time as they out of the relegation zone, by STATS, the offi cial sta- season so far. in the end. Ndoye Hassino was Hamilton was the top scorer of in twelfth place in the QSL tacker grabbed a brace last beat to beat the drop into and give the side renewed tistical partner of the Qatar Goalkeepers have reg- the top scorer for Gharafa the match with his 28 points but standings, and fi ve points time out against Wakrah, the Qatar Gas League. Ah- hope of beating relegation Stars League. istered 67 clean sheets, with 24 points while Rayyan’s could not prevent Sadd, who away from safety. and his goal scoring prow- mad al-Ajlani’s side have for another season. In terms of goals, the whilst the average dis- Shabazz II Jamal Abdulrahman relied on a collective team eff ort, If Shahaniya are to grab ess will be needed again if now registered back to back Uzbek winger Sanzhar season so far has seen 458 tance covered per player scored the most points in the from winning the game. only their third win of the the Oryxes are to pick up wins in the league, follow- Tursunov has been cru- goals, in 147 games lead- in a game is 10,547m. Wednesday, February 22, 2017 GULF TIMES SPORT

SPOTLIGHT Top riders to feature in fi ft h edition of CHI Al Shaqab This year’s event holds special significance for Al Shaqab, as it marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the world-class equestrian centre. Around 160 riders and 240 horses from 32 countries will be in action for three days

By Sports Reporter Schedule of Events Doha Thursday, 2nd March 9:30 am: Jumping CSI 3*, outdoor op international riders will be arena in action at the fi fth edition of 10:30 am: Para-Dressage CPEDI 3*, the CHI Al Shaqab, which will indoor arena be held at the magnifi cent Al 12:30 pm: Jumping CSI 3*, outdoor TShaqab from March 2nd to 4th. arena CHI Al Shaqab, sponsored by Exx- 3 pm: Jumping CSI 5*, outdoor onMobil Qatar, is one of only four in- arena ternational annual equestrian compe- 5:45 pm: Jumping CSI 5*, outdoor titions that showcases three or more arena equestrian disciplines in one event. The prestigious competition will see Friday, 3rd March top-ranking local, regional and in- 8:45 am: Para-Dressage CPEDI 3*, ternational riders compete in Show indoor arena Jumping CSI 5* and 3*, Dressage CDI 5*, 9:30 am: Jumping CSI 3*, outdoor and Para-Dressage CPEDI 3*. arena This year’s event holds special sig- 2:45 pm: Jumping CSI 3*, outdoor nificance for Al Shaqab, as it marks arena the 25th anniversary of the establish- 3 pm: Dressage CDI 5* Grand Prix, ment of the world-class equestrian indoor arena centre. Around 160 riders and 240 4:45 pm: Jumping CSI 5*, outdoor horses from 32 countries will be in arena action for three days. 7:30 pm: Jumping CSI 5*, outdoor The members of the public will get a arena chance to celebrate Qatar’s rich equine heritage during the event, which was Saturday, 4th March held for the fi rst time in 2013. 8:30 am: Dressage CDI 5* Grand Alongside the equestrian compe- Prix Special, indoor arena tition, visitors to Al Shaqab will be 9:00 am: Jumping CSI 3*, outdoor treated to a host of entertainment and arena cultural activities that aim to promote 10:30 am: Para-Dressage CPEDI 3*, a legacy of appreciation for the sport. indoor arena Speaking at a press conference yes- 11:30 am: Jumping CSI 5*, outdoor terday, Omar al-Mannai, event direc- arena tor of CHI Al Shaqab, said: “In just fi ve 2:15 pm: Jumping CSI 3*, outdoor years, CHI Al Shaqab has established arena itself as one of the top events on the 2:45 pm: Dressage CDI 5*, indoor international equestrian calendar, arena attracting equine enthusiasts from 4:30 pm: Jumping CSI 5*, outdoor across the globe. The event attracts arena a great deal of international interest, which sheds a light on Qatar as a nation with a sporting legacy we can be proud event to the community, Sheikha As- of,” he said maa al-Thani, CHI Al Shaqab Mar- “We look forward to hosting top rid- keting Director, said: “In addition to ers, members of the business commu- Omar al-Mannai (left), Event Director of CHI Al Shaqab, Saleh al-Mana (centre), Vice-President, Government & Public Aff airs of ExxonMobil Qatar and Qatari rider Sheikh being a notable sporting event, CHI Al nity and public, who will be given an Ali bin Khalid al-Thani at a press conference yesterday at Al Shaqab. Shaqab is an invaluable event for the opportunity to learn more about Qa- wider community in Qatar. It is an op- tari culture and traditions and the rich bright young students reach their full (France), currently ranked fi fth in the portunity to discover a sport to those Arabian equine heritage,” al-Mannai potential. Initiatives such as this one world. who are not familiar with it, become added. are the key to building a confi dent and Patrik Kittel (Sweden) won both the enthused about horses capabilities, Al-Mannai also said the event will skilled generation, one that will sustain Grand Prix and the Freestyle test at Al and enjoy an array of additional ac- give an opportunity for young local the future knowledge-based society Shaqab last year, and he will look to tivities which will be available during riders to rub shoulders with the elite that His Highness The Emir envisions repeat the feat in 2017. Other dressage these remarkable three days.” internationals and gain from the ex- for Qatar.” riders to watch include Carl Hester Machaille al-Naimi, Qatar Foun- perience. Like last year, second leg of Top ranked riders will be competing (United Kingdom), the world’s number dation President for Community De- the Doha Tour will also be held con- at Chi Al Shaqab including Sheikh Ali fi ve, and Inessa Merkulova (Russia), velopment, said: “Al Shaqab off ers a currently with the CHI Al Shaqab. The al-Thani, who represented Qatar and ranked sixth. platform for the community to en- three star competition will mainly see was placed sixth in show jumping at Several riders will be defending their hance their knowledge and creativity riders from Qatar and the GCC region. the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, 2016 crowns in para-dressage, includ- by providing information about Qatari A number of high profi le guests will Brazil. He also carried Qatar’s fl ag in ing 1b winner Nicole Den Dulk (Neth- traditions and cultural heritage. CHI Al attend the much-anticipated eques- the opening ceremony. erlands), II winner Rixt van der Horst Shaqab, one of Qatar’s fl agship events, trian event, including members of the Sheikh Ali said: “Al Shaqab has at- (Netherlands), and Philippa Johnson- provides opportunities for the Qatari Qatari royal family, and local and in- tracted the best global horse riders in Dwyer (South Africa), who won the III. community to participate in a variety ternational VIPs within the equestrian show jumping and dressage through- Visitors to the CHI Al Shaqab can of cultural and equestrian activities.” sport and business world. out its previous editions. This has a look forward to number of exciting There are several ticketing options “ExxonMobil Qatar is delighted to positive impact and ensures that we activities and an assortment of food for interested spectators. Adult gen- sponsor CHI Al Shaqab for the fi fth year, portray this prestigious championship, and beverages in the Spectator Plaza. eral admission is QR35, and QR15 for and to help promote Qatar as a premier particularly given that the equestrian The dedicated entertainment zone will children. VIP tickets include VIP seat- sports event destination with our part- sport has a very special place within feature something for the entire fam- ing on the second fl oor of the arena, ner Al Shaqab. The event has positioned the local community in Qatar.” ily including interactive video games, complimentary all-day 5-star cater- itself as a fl agship international equine Other top-ranked riders who will virtual reality sets, F1 and horse simu- ing, exclusive entrance, and VIP valet event with its world class facilities and be competing in the show jumping lators, face painters, illusionists, pony parking. Single day VIP tickets start support from the highest levels in the events include world number one Dan- rides and a daycare centre for toddlers. from QR1,000 for adults and QR500 country. Year after year, attendance at iel Deusser of Germany. Deusser, who A range of cultural activities will also for children. CHI Al Shaqab has grown, inspiring This year’s event holds special significance for Al Shaqab, as it marks the 25th fi nished second in last year’s Grand be on off er, including henna painters, Three-day VIP packages are also residents in Qatar as well as attracting anniversary of the establishment of the world-class equestrian centre. Prix at Chi Al Shaqab, will be joined falcon handlers and traditional food to available, at QR2,500 for adults and riders and equestrian enthusiasts from by second-ranked Christian Ahlmann enable visitors to experience true Qa- QR1,250 for children. across the globe,” said Alistair Routledge, onMobil Qatar. our support for the Al Shaqab Equine (Germany), who fi nished third in the tari hospitality. Tickets can be purchased at www.q- President and General Manager for Exx- “We are also very proud to continue Education Center, which is helping 2016 Grand Prix; and Simon Delestre Speaking about the value of the tickets.com.

AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Rayyan defeat UAE’s Wahda 2-1 in opener By Sports Reporter Key Results Doha GROUP C Al Ain (UAE) 1 (Ismail Ahmed 76) oals from South American Zobahan (IRI) 1 (Jerry Bengtson 57) duo Gonzalo Viera and Victor Caceres ensured Al Rayyan’s GROUP D quest for a fi rst-ever place in Persepolis (IRI) 1 (Mohsen Mosalman Gthe AFC Champions League knockout 68) Al Hilal (KSA) 1 (Carlos Eduardo phase got off to the best possible start 82) as they defeated Al Wahda 2-1 in their Al Rayyan (QAT) 2 (Gonzalo Viera 13, Group D opener on Tuesday. Victor Caceras 60) Al Wahda (UAE) 1 Uruguayan defender Viera handed (Rin Chang-Woo 35) Al Rayyan the lead on 13 minutes after heading in from a corner but Korean all three points on the night. GROUP E full-back Rim Chang-woo restored Rayyan will be happy to have kick- Brisbane Roar (AUS) 0 Muangthong parity ten minutes before the half-time started their AFC Champions League United (THA) 0 break after volleying home from anoth- campaign with a win. They have never Kashima Antlers (JPN) 2 (Kanazaki er set-piece. made it out of the group stage in their 64, Suzuki 82) Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) Michael Laudrup’s Qatari champions previous seven appearances. They had 0 were not to be denied the three points also lost 11 of their 14 AFC Champions in front of their fans, though, as from League games going into this match. GROUP F yet another dead ball situation – this Having played under the burden of Western Sydney Wanderers (AUS) 0 time a free-kick wide on the right – that many negative records, Laudrup Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) 4 (Koroki the ball eventually reached Paraguay will be proud of his boys having deliv- 56, Lee 58, Makino 68, Silva 86) midfi elder Caceres who headed past Al ered this result and will be hoping that FC Seoul (KOR) 0 Shanghai SIPG Wahda goalkeeper Rashed Ali to give Al this will be time that they will progress (CHN) 1 (Hulk 53) Rayyan the lead on the hour mark and Rayyan coach Michael Laudrup. Rayyan players celebrate after scoring a goal yesterday. PICS: Noushad Thekkayil from the group stages.