SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2016

Murray shock for Nadal Kohli sets records with a ton Andy Murray defeats Rafael Nadal to RCB skipper Virat Kohli scores unbeaten PREMIER LEAGUE make it to Madrid Open final PAGE 30 century to set two new IPL records PAGE 31 MANCHESTER CITY VS ARSENAL Attiyah sweeps all stages for grand 10th Jordan win O Abdullah al Kuwari wins MERC 2, fights back in Rally 2 to take second overall positionO Husam Salem retires near the end TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK “We are surrounded, here DEAD SEA (JORDAN) in Jordan, by war and political problems, but we NASER Saleh al Attiyah may want to see sport thrive have eased his pace over the in the region. We are closing stages of the Jordan Rally, but the Qatari was still keen for the WRC to in inspired form and a white- return here.” wash of each of the 19 special HRH Prince Feisal stages was enough to give the Skoda Fabia R5 driver a stag- al Hussein, Chairman, gering winning margin of Jordan Motorsport. 18min 18.4sec. A 10th victory in the RESULTS Hashemite Kingdom and a 63rd in his FIA Middle East 2016 JORDAN RALLY – POSITIONS Rally Championship (MERC) AFTER SPECIAL STAGE 19 career was never really in (UNOFFICIAL) doubt once eventual runner- 1. Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QAT)/ up Matthieu Baumel (FRA) Skoda Fabia R5 Lebanon’s Rodolphe As- 2hr 42min 02.2sec mar was sixth, Jordan’s Ihab 2. Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari (QAT)/Killian Duffy Al-Shorafa finished seventh (IRL) Skoda Fabia R5 3hr 00min 20.6sec and Qatar’s Rashed Al-Nuami 3. Abdullah Al-Kuwari (QAT)/Adel recovered from a second stage Hussein (QAT) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X crash to collect points for eighth 3hr 07min 40.9sec overall. Only eight of the original 4. Khalid Al-Suwaidi (QAT)/Giovanni 15 cars reached the end. Bernacchini (ITA) Ford Fiesta R5 3hr “Motor sport has a rich tra- 21min 14.5sec dition here in Jordan from the 5. Khaled Juma (JOR)/Faris Al-Tal (JOR) legacy of King Hussein. King Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII 3hr 23min Abdullah is also keen on motor 55.9sec sport and we work as a team to 6. Rodolphe Asmar (LEB)/Joseph Matar promote the sport,” said HRH (LEB) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 3hr Prince Feisal al Hussein, chair- 37min 14.4sec man of Jordan Motorsport. 7. Ihab Al-Shorafa (JOR)/Hazem Attiyat “We are surrounded, here (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 3hr in Jordan, by war and political 45min 19.2sec problems, but we want to see 8. Rashid Al-Nuami (QAT)/Nicola Arena sport thrive in the region. We (ITA) Subaru Impreza 4hr 14min 42.6sec are keen for the WRC to return Note: FIA Middle East Rally Championship here and want to see what the standings remain provisional and unoffi- promoter requires for this to cial pending the outcome of fuel sam- progress. I am delighted with ples taken at the Kuwait Rally. the work done this week by my The top three winning drivers and their navigators at the Jordan leg of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) near the Dead Sea in Jordan on Saturday. THE SUPER SATURDAY SHOW: AS IT HAPPENED AT THE DEAD SEA AREAS IN TREACHEROUS JORDAN RALLY

• Front-end crash damage for second place and the win gap for day two and the roads lot of over steer. It is not easy cars from the international set dictated that Khalifa al Attiyah in MERC 2, but the Jordanian will be clean now.” when you don’t want to push out for a repeat run through the was not able to rejoin the ac- national champion headed to and you want to finish the rally. four stages. tion under Rally2, but five of the the 14.86km of Shuna with a • Kuwari had overtaken Abdul- “We changed all the dampers, other six retirements from leg comfortable outright lead. As- lah al Kuwari, Salem and Juma the hubs and the brakes after • Attiyah slowed his pace over one were permitted to start the mar was an impressive fourth on successive stages to snatch the crash on Friday. The team the remaining four specials, but final eight stages on Saturday. quickest, as Lina Hadadi retired second place and Salem did a great job. I broke the two still continued to set fastest Turkey’s Vidat Diker suffered with mechanical issues. stormed into the MERC 2 lead wheels on the left and steered times, although the re-run of terminal mechanical problems. when Juma’s Mitsubishi Lancer the car off the mountain so that Rawda accounted for Meshari • Attiyah continued to cruise spluttered to a halt at the water we did not roll and we did less al Thefiri’s Mitsubishi with drive • Attiyah led the field in the into the distance through splash and the Jordanian lost damage. We were lucky.” shaft issues. opening Rawda stage with a Shuna and Karamah, as Salem 17 minutes, slipping to sixth massive lead of 11min 164sec. chiselled into Juma’s MERC 2 overall. “The car is fine now. • “I was waiting for this rally from • Salem lost five minutes on Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari restarts in advantage. By the end of the We managed to fix with the 45 last year,” said Nuami. “I broke the penultimate stage and that fifth overall, 1min 36.8sec be- Baptism special and the return minutes at service yesterday,” the engine on the third stage last opened the door for Abdullah al hind fourth place, while Khalid to the Dead Sea for the mid-day said Salem. time and I am happy to be back Kuwari to slip through into third Al-Suwaidi was eighth at the service, Attiyah’s outright ad- on the stages. The crash on the place and snatch maximum start of the 10.64km opener. vantage over Kuwari was 17min • Abdulaziz al Kuwari was in first stage yesterday was bad MERC 2 points. It also deprived Nasser clocked a time of 7min 06.8sec. “It was a good run, positive mood after climbing luck. I had a mistake.” the host nation of a second 50.4sec through Rawda and it no problems,” said Attiyah. “We from fifth to second. “We were successive podium finish after was comfortably quicker than tried to keep a good pace. We just cruising. You cannot com- • A crash accounted for Rakan one of the most dramatic ral- the time set by any of his rivals. try to win the seven points for pare the Group N cars really. I al Rashed and a timing belt fail- lies in recent regional history. Salem clawed 10.7 seconds leg two. I keep the same pace have a small misfire in most of ure brought about Asem Aref’s To add insult to injury, Salem THE MID-DAY BATTLE: The moment when Husam Salem passes back from Juma in the battle this afternoon. We have a good the stages and we still have a demise before service. Only 10 retired before the last stage. Khaled Juma to claim the MERC 2 lead.

Al Rayyan thrash Kharaitiyat for a place in Emir Cup semis

to the dismay of Rayyan fans. Al Rayyan began the second shaking off his marker. QSL champions RESULTS Two minutes later, Caceres half the way they ended, contin- It was all Al Rayyan as the bounce back from Al Rayyan 3 (Rodrigo Tabata had a clear sight of goal only uing their assault on Kharaitiy- game progressed with Garcia 45’, Sergio Garcia 51’, for his shot to sail harmlessly at’s post. Pascua Jesus beat his dragging his shot wide in the winless run over Ahmed Abonora’s post. man on the left with a dazzling 59th minute. Sebastian Soria 63’) bt Two minutes from time, run, but his cross was cut out Soria finally got his goal AYENI OLUSEGUN Al Kharaitiyat 0; Al Sadd 3 Al Rayyan defender Mousa by the defence with no Rayyan just after the hour mark. The (Baghdad Bunjah 8’, Haroun Awdowah was lucky player in sight. big Qatari striker latched on to to not have gotten his match- Sergio Garcia made it two a defence splitting ball, skipped AL Rayyan once again re- Hassan Al Haydos 40’, ing orders from the referee for Al Rayyan six minutes into past his marker and rounded minded other teams that their Baghdad Bunjah 64’) bt after a wreckless tackle. the second half with a stun- goalkeeper Abonora and slotted (QSL) suc- Gharafa 2 (Mostafa Abdulla Kharatiyat from the result- ning strike from just inside home to take Al Rayyan’s win- cess was not a fluke as they ant free kick thought they had the box. Mousa Awdowah ning lead to three. thrashed Al Kharaitiyat 3-0 in 41’, Vladimir Weiss 75’) gone one up when a player played a lovely diagonal pass Substitute Parou Sadeeqi the quarter-final of the Emir bundled in the ball only for the from the right side of the pitch added pace and creativity to Cup on Saturday. referee to cancel the goal. which Garcia beautifully con- Rayyan’s attack as Kharaitiyat’s Goals from Rodrigo Taba- for it in the early stages. Kharaitiyat were made to tolled on his chest, beating his defence began to tire. Sadeeqi ta, Sergio Garcia and Sebas- Al Rayyan’s Rodrigo Tabata after pumping in the first goal against The Kharaitiyat defence rue their chance seconds later as marker in the process. He then played a lovely pass-and-go with tian Soria were enough to see Kharaitiyat at Grand Hamad Stadium on Saturday. (HANSON K JOSEPH) kept thwarting all efforts on- QSL top scorer Rodrigo Tabata unleashed a belter that curled Tabata but Abonora rushed out the Lions through against a goal. Rayyan then came close coolly chested down a cross in away from the stretching quickly to keep the score at 3-0. hapless Kharaitiyat team that up a win since they lifted the chances as he headed wide in the 39th minute when vic- the Thunders box finishing with hands of goalkeeper Abonora. SUNDAY’S FIXTURES offered little in attack. Falcon Shield. from good deliveries from Ro- tor Carceres failed to connect his left foot to the right side of Soria again had a chance to QUARTER-FINALS The Lions have lately But they showed the pas- drigo Tababa. from inside the box which the onrushing Abonora. The first put his name on the scoresheet AL Sailiya vs Lekhwiya (6.30 been criticised to have lost sion pressing for a goal all With Tabata pulling the defence cleared for a corner half ended with Al Rayyan one in the 57th minute but his pm; Lekhwiya Stadium) their enthusiasm after their through the first half. Soria strings, the Lions kept their at- kick. Carceres headed wide up, but Kharaitiyat will rue their header from Tabata’s corner AL Ahli vs El Jaish (9pm; QSL triumph, failing to pick was guilty of missing two good tack on but with little to show from the resultant kick much cancelled goal. kick was high and wide after Lekhwiya Stadium) 30 Sunday, May 8, 2016 Sports Lorenzo takes pole for French MotoGP AFP LE MANS, FRANCE

DEFENDING world cham- pion Jorge Lorenzo will start Sunday’s French Grand Prix from pole position having set a new lap record to top quali- fying times on Saturday. Yamaha rider Lorenzo, who turned 29 on Wednes- day, was 0.441sec faster around the Bugatti circuit than fellow Spaniard Marc Marquez (Honda), the cur- rent series leader after vic- tories in Argentina and the United States. Italian Andrea Iannone, on a Ducati, will start in third having overcome an early crash in qualifying. Lorenzo shattered the lap record at Le Mans, his fastest effort of 1min 31.975sec bet- Britain’s Andy Murray returns a ball to Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal during the men semifinal of Madrid Open tournament at the Caja tering Marquez’s 1:32.042 Magica (Magic Box) sports complex in Madrid on Saturday. (AFP) set in qualifying in 2014. The fastest racing lap record was set by Valentino Rossi in 2015 (1:32.879). The Spaniard’s pole was Murray stuns Nadal his first in Le Mans and his 37th in MotoGP action. “From the beginning, the first practice on Friday, everything went very well al- to reach second ready with our first setting,” said Lorenzo, the winner at Spain’s rider Jorge Lorenzo competes on his Movistar Yamaha MO- the French track in 2009, TOGP N99 and clocked the Pole position during the qualifying session 2010, 2012 and 2015. of the MotoGP, ahead of the French motorcycling Grand Prix in Le “Little by little and prac- Mans, northwestern France on Saturday. (AFP) straight Madrid final tice by practice together with the whole team we improved the weather on Sunday could Nine-time world cham- broke in the 12th game with a an event at Indian Wells in small details in all the corners be key. pion Valentino Rossi, the The win marked only the second for down the line return winner to March of last year, back to a top to create a bike that allowed “I was able to set a good winner at the Spanish Grand secure the set after more than five ranking. me to keep a constant pace. lap today, but it wasn’t per- Prix last time out, qualified the Brit over Nadal on clay an hour. “This is the happiest day of “I didn’t expect to set such fect,” said the Honda rider. in seventh on his Yamaha, In the second, Murray saved my life,” the winner said. “I’m an unbelievable lap time, but “At first with the new 0.854sec behind Lorenzo. DPA ing to serve out the win in the three break points in the first very very pleased for this. sometimes the lap time sur- tyre I found it hard to get the “Unfortunately I made a MADRID previous game and losing his game - two of them with aces - “It’s a special day for me and prises you and I’m very hap- same feeling I had with used lot of mistakes because we serve. and took a 4-2 lead on a break. a special feeling. It was so im- py with the pole position and tyres and the bike moved had different strategies that ANDY Murray muscled his way Murray had trailed Nadal Nadal fought hard in the pe- portant for me to win this event, the lap record and especially about a lot when I tried to didn’t work and I was stuck into a second straight final at 6-17 in their career series be- nultimate game to save a Mur- I have more confidence and I with the work we did with the push more. in traffic, I lost time,” admit- the Madrid Masters on Satur- fore taking to the court at the ray match point from the Scot’s believe in myself more now.” whole team on the bike.” “I think the pace that I ted Rossi whose only win in day with a 7-5, 6-4 defeat of Ra- Caja Magica. The win marked backhand error and broke Mur- Slovenian Cibulkova, win- Behind the top three have isn’t bad, and in the last France was back in 2008. fael Nadal, ending a spring win only the second for Murray over ray for 4-5 before losing his own ner of of three comeback come Pol Espargaro, And- free practice I felt comfort- “I had one chance at the streak for Spain’s king of clay. Nadal on clay, in addition to the serve to end it a game later. matches this week at the Caja rea Dovizioso and Bradley able, although I’m still not end to improve my lap time, The win in two hours, 11 2015 final. Magica, entered the final with Smith, while Rossi, Maverick quite as fast as Jorge. because my potential was a minutes cut short Nadal’s Fighting back his disap- Joyful Halep celebreates a 3-1 lead in the series with the Vinales and Cal Crutchlow “We’ll see what weather little bit faster and I could 13-match victory run, which pointment, Nadal said: “I had first Madrid WTA title seventh-ranked Romanian. complete the third row. we have tomorrow and what have stayed in the top five, I had led the nine-time French another positive week, I made Simona Halep won her first With their last meeting al- Two-time world cham- the track temperature is for think, but I made a mistake Open winner to trophies last it to the semi-finals. I think I’m WTA title in more than a year as most two years ago, history was pion Marquez, the winner at the race, and try to manage on braking in turn six and month in Monte Carlo and Bar- very consistent every week. This the Romanian beat Dominika re-written as Halep won for the Le Mans in 2014, admitted things as best we can.” went outside the track.” celona. is good news. Cibulkova 6-2, 6-4 on Saturday first time in four years against Nadal lost the Madrid final “Today mentally I was okay. in the final of the Madrid Mas- her 38th-ranked opponent. to Murray a year ago in a shock I fought a lot until the end. ters to claim her 12th career Halep’s victory, sealed by to Spanish tennis. He handed I tried to look for solutions, trophy. drilling an ace down the middle Murray a second match point and I think I did that; it wasn’t The victory in 80 minutes on match point, improved her So Yeon Ryu shoots 65 to take at this edition as he snuffed an enough. I just missed a little bit. will send Halep, who last won Madrid record to 11-5. overhead smash into the net. “I’m on a positive path, I feel “Obviously it’s not easy, happy competing. I’m comfort- LPGA Tour lead in Alabama not loads of players have won able. When I train, I train with against Rafa on clay through- a lot of joy. I want to continue in AP said. “It was a bit windy, but we “I think I just want to do what I out his career,” Murray said. this way.” PRATTVILLE, ALABAMA played with a lot of wind the last did today, just focus on my ball “To beat him in Spain on a clay Murray is bidding for a third few weeks, so it wasn’t really and focus on each shot, focus on court is obviously a big, big Madrid title; he also won when SO Yeon Ryu birdied five of her like really big difference. I think the moment.” challenge for any player. the event was played on hard last eight holes for a bogey-free I was good at reading the wind Minjee Lee, Morgan Pressel “I’m very pleased to have court. 7-under 65 and a two-stroke as well, especially happy with and Ryann O’Toole were tied beaten him this year. It’s a big Murray had 26 winners, lead on Friday in the windy having a bogey-free round and for second. step for me from where I was going for his shots with 35 un- Tire LPGA Classic. having seven birdies under my Lee closed with a bogey for four or five weeks ago. I’m go- forced errors. Nadal was dismal Ranked 10th in the world belt really feels good.” a 70. The 19-year-old Australian ing back in the right direction on break points, converting on but sixth in the race for the four The 2011 US Women’s won last month in Hawaii for again.” only two of 13 chances and com- spots on South Korea’s Olympic Open champion had a 9-under her second LPGA Tour title. Murray took a big step in mitting 30 unforced errors. team, Ryu made three straight 135 total on the links-style Sen- “I think the wind direction holding onto his world number In the first set, Murray se- birdies on Nos. 2-4 and added ator Course at the Robert Trent was a little bit different,” Lee two ranking, but will need to lift cured a 5-2 lead over the fifth- two more on the par-4 sixth and Jones Golf Trail’s Capitol Hill said. “I feel like I had more, a repeat title on Sunday in order seeded home hero, but saw the par-5 eighth. complex. maybe crosswinds and not as to make sure he can stay clear of margin start to evaporate as “Yesterday my shot was re- “I heard it’s not going to be many downwind holes, so it Roger Federer. Nadal broke for 4-5. Simona Halep all smiles as she lifts the trophy after defeating ally great, but I couldn’t make this windy on the weekend, so makes it a little more trickier. The 28-year-old earned vic- But Murray held his nerve Dominika Cibulkova in the Madrid Open women’s final on Saturday. a lot of putts, but today I pretty I think the course is going to But all in all, I think I played tory as he broke Nadal after fail- with gutsy shotmaking and (REUTERS) much made everything,” Ryu feel slightly easier,” Ryu said. pretty solid.”

END-OF-THE-SEASON HORSE AUCTION HELD

The end-of-the-season horse auction concluded successfully at the Qatar Equestrian Federation Arena on Saturday. The Arabian horses were auctioned today, while Friday was reserved for the Thoroughbreds. Sports Sunday, May 8, 2016 31 BACK IN THE SADDLE Mickey Arthur is NOBLE CAUSE OFF THE Pakistan’s head coach KKR players meet FIELD Pakistan has appointed South African Mickey Arthur as head coach of their Natl cancer-affected kids cricket team, replacing Waqar Younis.

A win on Red-hot Kohli sets records home turf delights with match-winning knock RCB fans IANS BENGALURU

Slams unbeaten 108 to become the first to hit two centuries in the IPL; Also the first captain to score over 500 runs FRENZIED fans of Royal Chal- lengers Bangalore (RCB) are IANS earned him man of the match finally relieved after their team BENGALURU award and another award for beat Rising Pune Supergiants maximum sixes by a player in (RPS) in an Indian Premier ROYAL Challengers Bangalore the game at the Chinnaswamy League (IPL) tie at the M. Chin- (RCB) skipper Virat Kohli set stadium. naswamy Stadium here on Sat- two new records in the Indian urday to end their losing streak. Premier League (IPL) crick- Scoring 541 in eight With only three wins, in- et tournament on Saturday games RCB played cluding one over Sunrisers when he played a match win- so far this season, Hyderabad on April 12 here ning knock of 108 not out to and RPS on April 22 at Pune, beat Rising Pune Supergiants Kohli surpassed RCB are languishing at the (RPS) by seven wickets here. maestro Sachin seventh position in the eight- Apart from being the only Tendulkar’s record of team IPL table with six points. batsman to hit two centuries 553 in 2011 and 618 RCB have lost five of the in a single edition of the IPL – in 2010 in IPL’s two eight games they have played he hit an unbeaten 100 against editions as captain of so far. Ahead of Saturday's Gujarat Lions at Rajkot on Mumbai Indians. clash against RPS, Bangalore April 24, Kohli is the only cap- fans were on the verge of los- tain to score 500 plus runs in Kohli’s 634 in 2013 is ing patience with the team and three IPL editions, including also a record as the were desperately hoping that 505 in 2015 and 634 in 2013. the hosts will not disappoint “Scoring 541 in eight most runs scored by a them again. games RCB played so far this captain in IPL. “I am a great fan of RCB as season, Kohli surpassed maes- it is led by in-form Indian Test tro Sachin Tendulkar’s record captain Virat Kohli and has big of 553 in 2011 and 618 in As RCB captain for a hitters like Chris Gayle and AB 2010 in IPL’s two editions as record seven editions, Kohli de Villiers who entertain us with captain of Mumbai Indians,” was also involved in two glorious shots. After a promis- cricket statistician H.R. Gopa- partnerships, including 94 ing start in the first game on the la Krishna told IANS here after in 67 balls for the first wicket home turf, the team has let its the match. with local lad K.L. Rahul and fans own, losing last two games Kohli’s 634 in 2013 is also 52 in 25 balls for the unbro- here and three away,” lamented a record as the most runs ken fourth wicket till the Murali Krishna, 43, a marketing scored by a captain in IPL. stipulated 20th over. executive with an Indian multi- Though Kohli's unbeaten 100 national. in 63 balls went in vain at Ra- SCORES The fans were also upset jkot as RCB lost to Gujarat by with explosive West Indies six wickets, 108 not out, lit- Royal Challengers opener Chris Gayle for failing tered with seven mighty sixes to score big this time and treat and eight fours in 58 balls, Bangalore 195 for 3 (Kohli them to his trademark shots as steered the home team to vic- 108*) bt Rising Pune in the past. In the earlier IPL tory in a must-win game, after Supergiants 191 for 6 (A. editions, Gayle had demoralised a hat-trick of losses. bowlers of all teams with mighty As an opener too, Kohli's Rahane 74, M. Tiwary 52, S sixes and lofty fours all over the scintillating batting and super- Watson 3-24) by 7 wickets. ground, especially on home turf. lative drives to the fence and BATSMAN IN BENGALURU: Royal Challengers Bangalore’s captain Virat Kohli celebrates his century during the IPL 2016 match against the Rising According to cricket stat- over it not only guided RCB Pune Supergiants at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday. (PTI) istician H.R. Gopala Krishna, to the winning post, but also the Jamaican southpaw had hit a record 135 sixes in all the T20 games he played in 2015, including IPL-8 and is the only Gujarat batsman to have scored 1,000 announce KXIP’s death bowling helps them stay alive runs in the last five calendar years from 2010-15, a feat Green Park four overs fetched just 23 - to But the pressure of having unparalleled in Twenty20. Keep Daredevils build a solid base with a 70- faced three dot balls off Mohit as their new run opening stand in 7.5 overs. resulted in an uncharacteris- at bay for crucial De Kock's enterprise - he tic swipe from Nair, but was home ground nine-run win raised his fifty off just 27 balls shelled at wide long-on by - allowed Sanju Samson the David Miller. Three balls later, AGENCIES opportunity to milk the runs Miller redeemed himself to IANS MOHALI as Kings XI suddenly started dismiss Nair with a tumbling NEW DELHI to wilt under the pressure. catch at long-off, leaving Dare- AN outstandin display of Samson showed the first devils needing 48 off 27 balls. INTEX Technologies-owned end-overs bowling by Marcus signs of attack immediately af- A deflated unit suddenly Gujarat Lions on Saturday an- Stoinis, Sandeep Sharma and ter a strategy break, by launch- lifted themselves, with Vijay nounced the city of Kanpur as Mohit Sharma saw Kings XI ing KC Cariappa over long-off in bringing his strike bowlers their new home ground for the Punjab breathe life into their the 10th over as Daredevils went back. While there was brief remainder of the ninth edition flagging campaign with crucial a into the second half needing 91 panic when Brathwaite mus- of the Indian Premier League. nine-run win (their third in nine with nine wickets in hand. cled a four and six in the 18th The Suresh Raina-led side matches) over Delhi Daredevils Marcus Stoinis (centre) of Kings XI Punjab celebrates the wicket Delhi As the ball got older, there over to bring the equation will now move to Kanpur for at the PCA Stadium in Mohali Daredevils batsman Quinton de Kock in Mohali on Saturday. (PTI) was grip and a hint of bounce s down to 29 off 14, his dismiss- their remaining two home on Saturday, reports Cricinfo. the ball hit certain areas on the al to a well thought-out short- games this season. Actually 54 runs off 36 leg-cutters interspersed with a Quinton De Kock did the pitch. Suddenly, runs didn't ball trap - he holed out to deep Announcing this, Keshav balls with eight wickets in few quick short balls. Kings XI early running in a superbly- flow as freely as they did until midwicket - brought about an Bansal, Director, Intex Tech- hand should have been a defence of 181 for 5 was all the timed 30-ball 52. Neither the that point, leaving Nair and air of inevitability to the chase. nologies and Gujarat Lions cruise for Daredevils but the more remarkable because they asking rate nor the fact that Samson to manufacture shots. SCORES: Kings XI Punjab 181 owner said, “Fans in Rajkot KXIP bowling undid them. had to battle the dew as well. he was left out of the previous With the surface slowing for 5 (Stoinis 52, Saha 52, Morris Cheerleaders perform during have been our strength and we Carlos Brathwaite and Chris Daredevils finished with 172 for match had little effect on his down a touch, Kings XI had 3-30) beat Delhi Daredevils 172 the IPL match between Kings XI are overwhelmed with the love Morris, capable of lusty hitting, 5 to go down for the second time approach as Daredevils over- a semblance of opportunity for 5 (Quinton de Kock 52, Sam- Punjab and Delhi Daredevils in and support we have received were bested by a train of slow in three nights. came a slow start - the first going into the last six overs. son 49, Stoinis 3-40) by 9 runs. Mohali, India, on Saturday. (AFP) from them. It is our honour and privilege to now bring IPL to the state of Uttar Pradesh and play our remaining home matches at Kanpur. We are very excited and enthused by Mathews hopes to gain from Mahela’s England knowledge our performance thus far and we are confident of receiving “There’s no problem with we play to our potential. We've the same love and affection Former Lanka captain Jayawardene guys like that working with got some fearless players in our from fans in Kanpur.” other countries," said the all- side and that can be a plus for Gujarat will take on Kolk- was England’s batting consultant rounder. us. We'll have to play really good ata Knight Riders and Mum- “They have the freedom to cricket to beat England though. bai Indians at the Green Park AFP of the start of a three-Test se- go anywhere and work and we “The 2014 series is one Stadium in Kanpur on May 19 ries at Headingley on May 19. have the luxury of asking them moment we'll cherish for the and 21 respectively. But according to Mathews, and inviting them to come rest of our lives. We'd never After an impressive debut SRI Lanka captain Angelo he will be close at hand for ad- and help us out as well. So it won a Test series here before, in the cash-rich league, the Li- Mathews hopes to utilise Ma- vice in his new role as a televi- doesn't really matter.” so to do that was fantastic. ons are currently at the second hela Jayawardene's inside sion commentator. Such is the ebb and flow of “If we can repeat that once spot in the table. knowledge of the England set- Mathews could also tap coaches in modern international again it would be ideal.” up when the two teams meet in into the experience of another cricket that both England boss The first task for many of a Test series later this month. Sri Lankan batting star in Ku- Trevor Bayliss and assistant Mathews's squad will be ad- Jayawardene, one of Sri mar Sangakkara, no longer on Paul Farbrace have previously justing to the unpredictable Lanka's greatest batsman but re- the international scene but enjoyed spells with Sri Lanka. English climate. tired from international cricket now playing for London-based It was at Headingley two Early season Tests in Eng- since last year's 50-over World county side Surrey. Sri Lanka’s cricket team captain Angelo Mathews during a press con- years ago, on the back of a com- land can often take place in bit- Cup, recently acted as a batting “When it comes to interna- ference in London on Saturday. The three-Test series against England manding century by Mathews, terly cold conditions although consultant to England includ- tional cricket there are no se- begins at Headingley on May 19. (REUTERS) that Sri Lanka sealed their first as Mathews was speaking ing at the World Twenty20 in crets to be honest,” Mathews Test series win in England af- temperatures on a sunny day India where his 'adopted' team told reporters at Lord's, where they are up to and the plan for Cricket president Thilanga ter a thrilling match went all in London topped 23C (73F). reached the final. Sri Lanka were training ahead this, and we get to know it. Sumathipala criticised Jaya- the way to the penultimate ball Asked if he realised some Jayawardene, who is due to of this weekend's tour opener “But there might be a cou- wardene when he started his on the last day. county matches in England have a stint playing for county against Essex. ple of tactical ideas that Ma- second stint with England at “We don't have Sangakka- had been interrupted by side Somerset in English do- “I think we have a lot of hela can predict. the World Twenty20. ra and Mahela anymore, but snow last week, Mathews re- Gujarat Lions will take on KKR and mestic cricket's Twenty20 video footage, they have video “I’m pretty sure that guys But Mathews was far more we've got to move on, we've plied: “Yes! We’ve brought a Mumbai Indians at the Green Park competition later this season, footage of us as well, so there like Mahela and Sangakkara relaxed about his former got to take on the challenge,” lot of jumpers. It’s absolutely Stadium in Kanpur on May 19 and no longer has any official role are no real secrets. When you will always come and help us.” team-mate working with a ri- said Mathews. brilliant to have this weather 21 respectively. (AFP) with the England set-up ahead get on the park you know what Earlier this year, Sri Lanka val nation. “I believe we can still win if (the sunshine).” 32 Sunday, May 8, 2016 Sports

Grizzlies fire coach Dave Joerger Major League Baseball scraps Puerto Rico Angels ace Garrett Richards likely after three playoff seasons series amid Zika concerns needs major elbow surgery MEMPHIS The Memphis Grizzlies already faced a lot of decisions NEW YORK Zika virus concerns have forced the Pirates-Marlins ANAHEIM If Friday night’s loss to the Tampa Bay Rays was any indica- NEWS that could reshape their roster this offseason - now add a coach- series out of Puerto Rico, with the two games instead shifted to Miami tion as to how much the Los Angeles Angels’ rotation will handle the IN BRIEF ing search to the list. The Grizzlies fired Dave Joerger on Saturday this month. Major League Baseball and the players’ union made the loss of Garrett Richards for the rest of the season, they are in for a in a surprising move after three seasons and three straight playoff announcement on Friday. Pittsburgh and Miami will meet May 30-31 long summer - Mike Trout or not. Richards was placed on the 15-day appearances. A team battered by injuries finished the regular sea- at Marlins Park. The union had asked Commissioner Rob Manfred to disabled list before the Halos’ 5-2 defeat and is expected to need son at 42-40 before being swept in the first round by San Antonio. relocate the games after several players expressed fears. surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right elbow. San Antonio hang on against Thunder to grab 2-1 series lead

NYT roaring at point guard Tony OKLAHOMA CITY Parker, unhappy with the defensive coverage as he IN the latest chapter of a bas- stalked onto the court to call ketball series that has fea- a timeout. The ceaseless ar- tured a surplus of technical tificial noise pumping from sophistication and individual the speakers inside the arena skill, back-and-forth tactical — during every possession, scheming and prolonged pe- every stoppage, in turn trig- riods of loud noises, the San gering crowd noise — added Antonio Spurs got the better to the mania. The Spurs had of the Oklahoma City Thun- shot atrociously to start Game der, surging to a 100-96 vic- 2 on Monday night, plunging tory on Friday night at Chesa- themselves into an early hole. peake Energy Arena to take a “We spotted them 13,” 2-1 lead in their Western Con- Popovich said of Game 2. ference semi-final series. But they were sharp to start Amid all the high-level the game Friday — making play, it was a pair of turnovers their first four 3-pointers — in the final two minutes from and finished the first quarter the Thunder’s two biggest ahead, 27-20. The Thunder stars, Russell Westbrook and hit a scoring drought from Kevin Durant, which helped the first to the second quar- sink Oklahoma City. ters that lasted 7 minutes, 24 With 1 minute, 55 seconds seconds. remaining, Westbrook lost Westbrook was aggres- control of his dribble near sive, but his jump shot was midcourt, allowing Kawhi erratic, and he made just 6 of Leonard to coast to the other his 17 shot attempts in the first end for a dunk that gave the half as the Thunder entered Spurs a five-point lead. Then, the intermission trailing, 47- on the Thunder’s next pos- 42. The Spurs struggled as session, Durant tried to find a team from the free-throw Westbrook with a crosscourt line. Leonard, who shot 87.4 pass and instead he flung it percent from the line during out of bounds. David West re- the regular season and made sponded with a running shot 21 of his 24 foul shot attempts off the backboard that put the in the playoffs before this Spurs ahead by seven. “Those game, went 10 for 14 from the definitely hurt us,” Thunder line, missing shots early on. coach Billy Donovan said of The Spurs shot 24 for 34 the turnovers. “It gave them from the line overall. But some runouts. It allowed them Leonard made the two most to score.” important ones — with 2.7 The game was essentially seconds left in the game to secured when Leonard pulled give the Spurs a 100-96 lead down an offensive rebound — and was a force of nature in with 23.9 seconds remain- other aspects. ing, with the Spurs protect- The building grew deafen- ing a two-point lead. Leonard ing when the Thunder cut the scored 31 points to go with 11 lead to 61-60 with less than rebounds. five minutes to go in the third LaMarcus Aldridge added quarter. But on the Spurs’ Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (centre) drives to the basket between San Antonio Spurs center Tim Duncan (left) and Kawhi Leonard during game three of the 24 points for the Spurs. next possession, Leonard second round of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena in New York on Friday. (USA TODAY SPORTS) Westbrook had 31 points ducked into a crowded paint, for Oklahoma City, but he then sprung out of the mass shot just 10 for 31 from the of bodies for a two-handed Kane, Crosby, field. dunk, quieting the crowd. Durant added 26 points. Spurs were ahead, 72-69, Garrison’s OT goal lifts Lightning Benn voted Game 4 is on Sunday night going into the final quar- in Oklahoma City. The teams ter. Serge Ibaka drained a Hart Trophy were meeting after a three- 3-pointer from the left corner to 2-1 win over Islanders day break. After the Spurs with 7:55 left in the fourth to finalists took Game 1 in a blowout, give the Thunder a 78-77 ad- a tense Game 2 ended with vantage, their first lead since ues to amaze. Pretty impres- “At this time of year it’s not REUTERS a madcap 13.5-second se- the first quarter. The Lightning is one win away from sive.” about playing well and losing,” NEW YOTK quence in which the Thunder After a miss by the Spurs Ben Bishop made 27 saves he said, “you got to win. It scrambled to protect a one- on the other end, Westbrook reaching the conference finals for Tampa Bay, including 15 in doesn’t matter if you play bad FORWARDS Patrick Kane of point lead after turning the — who had been shooting 7 for the first period. and win, play good and win. the Chicago Blackhawks, Sid- ball over on an inbounds play. 25 to that point — drained a AP over to me, on a screen I think, Kyle Okposo scored early You got to find a way to win ney Crosby of the Pittsburgh The atmosphere on Fri- step-back 3-pointer to stretch NEW YORK and I was able to find the back in the first for the Islanders, the game and we just didn’t do Penguins and Jamie Benn of day night was intense from the lead to four. of the net,” Garrison said. and Greiss stopped 20 shots. it tonight.” the Dallas Stars are the three the start. Less than a minute Westbrook stomped to THE Tampa Bay Lightning “That’s a nice feeling. Any goal New York came out ag- Game 5 of this best-of-sev- finalists for the 2015-16 Hart after tip-off, Westbrook stole midcourt, biceps curled, hit- again withstood an early push in the playoffs is big, obviously gressive at home for the sec- en series is Sunday in Tampa, Memorial Trophy. The NHL the ball at midcourt and ac- ting his chest and yelling, from the New York Islanders an overtime one is definitely a ond straight game, but again Florida. made the announcement Sat- celerated across the floor for before San Antonio called a and pulled out another big sigh of relief.” gave up a lead in the third pe- There was a delay at the urday for the award given an- a breakaway dunk. He flexed timeout. But his bravado was overtime victory. Nikita Kucherov, who tied riod and is now loss from be- start of the third period to nually to the player who is most and roared at the crowd. deflated as the Thunder fum- Jason Garrison scored the score with 38.4 seconds ing eliminated. repair boards damaged by valuable to his team during the Four minutes later, Spurs bled the ball away down the 1:34 into the extra period to left in regulation in Game 3 on “The last two games have the Zamboni during the sec- regular season. Members of the coach Gregg Popovich was stretch. give the Lightning a 2-1 victory Tuesday night, evened this one been good hockey games,” Is- ond intermission. When play Professional Hockey Writers over the Islanders on Friday at 7:49 of the third for his NHL landers coach Jack Capuano resumed, 31 minutes had Association submitted ballots night for a 3-1 series lead. leading eight of the playoffs said. “That’s how close these elapsed since the end of the for the Hart Trophy at the con- Garrison took a pass from for Tampa Bay. He took a pass two teams are.... We gave up second period. clusion of the regular season, Andrej Sustr and fired a slap from Tyler Johnson and fired five shots in the third period, Okposo got the Islanders with the top three vote-getters Hawks succumb again to shot from the right faceoff a slap shot from the left faceoff maybe one chance, and they on the scoreboard less than designated as finalists. circle past goalie Thomas Gre- dot past Greiss’ blocker. tie the game. You can’t ask our five minutes into the game. The winner will be an- Cavaliers jinx iss. The Lightning won two “He’s proven he’s not a guys for too much more.” With Tampa Bay’s Mike Blun- nounced on June 22 during the straight overtime games in one-hit wonder,” Lightning Okposo, who had a chance den off for roughing, Okposo 2016 NHL Awards at the Hard REUTERS the back of James’ dominance Brooklyn to move them one coach Jon Cooper said about for a second goal midway took a pass from Nikolay Ku- Rock Hotel & Casino in Las CLEVELAND as he averaged 30.1 points, 11 re- win away from reaching the Kucherov, who had 10 goals through the second but was lemin from behind the net, Vegas. Kane, 27, won the 2016 bounds and 9.3 assists. conference finals for the sec- and 12 assists during the stopped in close by Bishop, settled it just to the right of the Art Ross Trophy as the league’s THE Atlanta Hawks keep find- This time around the Hawks ond straight year. team’s run to the Stanley Cup didn’t take much solace in the left faceoff circle and fired it leading scorer, finishing the ing new ways to lose to the have seen Cleveland’s support- “Sustr made a nice play finals last year. “Just contin- team’s strong effort. past Bishop at 4:20. 2015-16 regular season with a Cleveland Cavaliers and they ing players outplay them. career-high 106 points. seem to have no clue how to ar- Sharpshooters J.R. Smith It marked the first time in rest their free-fall. and Channing Frye have caught NHL history that a player born in Time and again, whether by fire in this series foiling Atlanta’s the United States led the league blowout or late-game heroics, defensive game plan. in scoring. The Buffalo native re- at home or on the road, Atlanta “If you make a small mistake corded career highs in goals (46) have managed to end up on the they can make you pay,” said and assists (60) while skating in wrong end of the scoreboard. Atlanta coach Mike Budenholz- all 82 games of his ninth NHL After dropping Friday’s con- er. “If somebody is open they season. test to the Cavs 121-108, to fall find him. Right now that guy is Crosby, 28, finished third into a 3-0 best-of-seven series shooting it at a high percentage.” in the NHL with 85 points (36 hole, Atlanta have now lost 10 The Cavs rained down an goals, 49 assists) in 80 games, consecutive games to the LeB- NBA-record 25 three-pointers including a league-best 58 points ron James-led side. in a Game Two rout, after which (27 goals, 31 assists) during the The Hawks exited their Hall of Famer and television an- calendar year in 44 games played home Philips Arena still scram- alyst Charles Barkley suggested to guide the Penguins to their bling to find answers against the Hawks should “take out” one 10th consecutive postseason Cleveland. “At this point, we of Cleveland’s players to send a berth. Crosby is a Hart Trophy have to make some changes, physical message. finalist for the fifth time, winning because what we’ve done hasn’t Atlanta did not take that ap- the award in 2006-07 and 2013- worked,” Atlanta big man Al proach in Game Three but they 14. Horford told reporters. did make a lineup adjustment Benn, 26, ranked second The problem is that the by starting Thabo Sefolosha in- in the NHL with 89 points and Hawks have made changes but it stead of Kyle Korver, hoping for third with 41 goals -- both career has only taken them on a differ- a spark. highs -- in 82 games to lift the ent route to the same result. The result was that the Stars to their first division title When the Cavs swept past Hawks lost a fourth-quarter since 2005-06 as well as their Atlanta in last year’s Eastern lead, just as they did in the series (From left) Andrej Sustr, Ondrej Palat and Jason Garrison of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrate Garrison’s overtime game winning goal against first conference crown since Conference Finals it came on opener, and were again doomed. the New York Islanders in Game Four during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs in New York on Friday. (AFP) 2002-03. Sports Sunday, May 8, 2016 33

NEWS Espanyol eye pricking IN BRIEF Russia have one goal ahead of FIFA 2018: More hotel rooms Barca’s bubble again MOSCOW Hotel rooms and not goals are on top of the mind for Russia, which hosts the FIFA World Cup two years from now. With hotel rooms in chronic short supply across all its major cities and a large chunk of existing properties not making the cut, Russia is on an overdrive looking for foreign investments in the hospitality sector to cater to the hundreds of thousands of soccer fans who are expected to descend on the former Soviet state. “Overall we have a strong deficit of decent hotels. This is a problem. If you want to categorise hotels available now, may be half the hotels that are called hotels, won’t pass the test be- cause they are of a lower category,” Valery Korovkin, head of the International Development division of Russia’s Federal Agency for Tourism told IANS. Korovkin’s department is tasked with monitor- ing of hotel construction and availability of rooms and transpor- tation for one of the biggest sporting events in the world.

Middlesbrough promoted to Premier League after draw with Brighton LONDON Middlesbrough were promoted back to the Premier League on goal difference after drawing 1-1 with 10-man Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday. The teams entered the game level on points in the Champi- onship with Boro needing just a draw to join already-promoted Burnley in the top tier next season. Cristhian Stuani gave Boro the lead after 19 minutes before Dale Stephens equalized in the second half. Stephens was then sent off for a foul on Gas- ton Ramirez. “I’ve been coach for two and a half years,” Boro manager told Sky Sports. “When I arrived here, some people said I was crazy when I said my aim was to take this club back to the Premier League. Two and a half years later, we are in the Premier League.” Boro last appeared in the Premier League in 2008-09, while Brighton is trying to get there for the first time.

Juventus Asamoah says this Serie A win was greatest FC ’s Ivan Rakitic (centre) in action against Betis’ German Pezzella (right) during the Spanish Liga Primera Division match at the Benito Villamarin stadium, in Sevilla, TURIN Juventus midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah singled out this Spain, recently. (EPA) football season’s triumph as the greatest and the “hardest” of his four consecutive Serie A titles. Juventus struggled in the AFP come more popular than even reply in their three games since. tie as they clung on despite a Casemiro are doubts having initial period of the Serie A season 2015-16. They were in 12th MADRID the goals he hit to land the club “We don’t fear a Tamudazo. 2-1 defeat to Bayern missed the 1-0 win over Man- place after a loss to Sassuolo in week 10 in October, having their last two trophies in the With the fans behind us we ex- on Tuesday to qualify on away chester City that sealed their started the season with just three Serie A wins, three draws ESPANYOL travel to La Liga Copa del Rey finals of 2000 and pect to get the job done,” said goals. place in the Champions League and four defeats. That was followed by 25 wins in 26 rounds, leaders Barcelona on Sunday 2006. Barca defender Jordi Alba. Coach Diego Simeone at final on Wednesday. plus a 0-0 against Bologna on February 19, helped them get a aiming to repeat their feat of de- After a 1-0 win over Sevilla “We never thought the least has a fully-fit squad to Valencia have endured a fifth consecutive Scudetto. They are 12 points clear of second nying their bitter local rivals the last weekend to move to the league was won. It is very tight, choose from for their visit to al- horrible season to finish out- placed Napoli with two games left. Juventus’ poor start was title in 2007. brink of mathematically sealing our rivals aren’t slipping up and ready relegated Levante. side the European places, but also due to the several personnel changes the club witnessed Barca hold the slenderest of their survival in the top flight, it is in our hands.” However, Atletico haven’t have drawn at the Bernabeu in the summer. “It was a very special moment for me, winning advantages in the title race with Espanyol fans chanted “we Barca boss Luis Enrique won in their last five trips to in each of their last four visits my fourth Scudetto on the spin. Enjoying this much suc- two games remaining as they want another Tamudazo” whilst is expected to make just one Levante, including a 2-0 defeat in La Liga. There are also huge cess takes a lot of hard work and I’m proud of what we have lead Atletico Madrid thanks the players celebrated. change from the side that start- when they were going for the ti- clashes at the bottom with four achieved,” the Ghana player told juventus.com. to their better head-to-head “I am dreaming about that,” ed the 2-0 win over Real Betis tle in 2014. teams realistically fighting to record with Real Madrid a point said Espanyol striker Felipe last weekend with Marc-Andre “Levante are professional avoid joining Levante in the sec- behind in third. Caicedo when asked about the ter Stegen replacing the injured and will be playing for pride,” ond division next season. Zidane won’t protect Ronaldo for In eerily similar circum- possibility of repeating Tamu- Claudio Bravo in goal. said Atletico defender Filipe The two currently in the rel- Champions League final stances Barca were embroiled do’s strike. In contrast to Atletico and Luis. “I have bad memories of egation zone face each other as in a three-way title race with “We know the difficulties of Real, Barca also have the ad- that stadium and I hope to settle Getafe host Sporting Gijon. MADRID Real Madrid coach insists he won’t Sevilla and Real when Espanyol playing there, but I am a striker vantage of having had a free the score. “Winning that match Rayo Vallecano therefore wrap Cristiano Ronaldo in cotton wool for the Champions travelled to the Camp Nou on and I live to score. midweek to prepare, whilst and next week means we will need to get at least a point to League final while the Spanish title is on the line. the penultimate day of the sea- “The dressing room is the sides from the capital were have done our part.” avoid slipping into the bottom Three-time World Player of the Year Ronaldo returned after son nine years ago. thinking about mathematically busy booking their places in the Real Madrid have bigger three when they visit Real So- a three-game absence due to a thigh injury as Real sealed Then a last minute equaliser securing survival. If we achieve Champions League final. injury concerns as the in-form ciedad. their place in the final against local rivals Atletico Madrid from Raul Tamudo snatched that the consequence will be However, only a Barca win Gareth Bale has been ruled out Granada are a point outside on May 28 in Milan with a 1-0 win over Manchester City on the title from Barca’s grasp and taking the title from Barcelona.” allied to an Atletico defeat and for Valencia’s visit to the San- the drop zone, but are also in Wednesday. Real trail La Liga leaders Barcelona and Atletico allowed Real to be crowned However, Barcelona have Real dropping points will allow tiago Bernabeu with a sprained desperate need of a win away to Madrid by just a point with two games remaining. And with the champions the following week- recovered from their alarming the Catalans to be proclaimed knee joint. Sevilla because they host a Bar- in-form Gareth Bale missing for Sunday’s visit of Valencia to end. Tamudo’s strike has gone dip of three consecutive league champions on Sunday. Goalkeeper Keylor Navas is celona side going for the title on the Santiago Bernabeu due to a knee injury, Zidane said he down in Espanyol folklore as defeats last month to stay on Atletico were involved in also out with an achilles prob- the final day of the season next has no reason to rest Ronaldo. “I think he is going to play. I the “Tamudazo” and has be- top by scoring 16 goals without a far more intense European lem, whilst Karim Benzema and weekend. think he is in perfect shape,” Zidane said on Saturday. “You are talking about preparing for the Champions League final, but the best way is to think about the games we have remaining.” Romania to probe into Cameroon’s Ekeng tragedy

AFP The 26-year-old Ekeng been made to resuscitate the YAOUNDÉ had been on the pitch for only player in the ambulance. seven minutes after his intro- “It’s not the first time that THE tragic death of Patrick duction as a second-half sub- such an incident has happened Ekeng in Romania on Friday stitute for his club Dinamo on a football pitch. The causes has replunged Cameroon foot- Bucharest when he collapsed can be many and they will be ball into mourning, 13 years af- in the centre circle. revealed by tests which will be ter Marc-Vivien Foe’s passing. He could not be resusci- carried out later,” Pandrea told “The sad images of this drama tated. Agerpres. brought back another -- that Prosecutors in Bucharest The news of the player’s of June 26, 2003 at Gerland,” announced on Saturday they death was met with disbelief in wrote Cameroon star Samuel had opened an enquiry into his home country. Eto’o on his Facebook page, Ekeng’s death, amid criticism “We’re devastated. Words recalling Foe who collapsed of the treatment he received. can’t express my sadness,” the and died on the pitch in Lyon An autopsy will be per- president of Cameroon’s Foot- during a Confederations Cup formed on Monday with Ro- ball Federation (FECAFOOT) semi-final against Colombia. mania’s Interior Minister Tombi A Roko Sidiki told AFP. “Like a broken record of also announcing that a probe Dinamo’s Patrick Ekeng of Cameroon lies on the pitch after collapsing “(Cameroon has lost an- sadness and tragedy, Patrick would be carried out into the during a league game in Bucharest, Romania, on Friday. (AP) other) promising young foot- Ekeng passed away, struck private ambulance company baller,” he said, adding they dead,” continued Eto’o, who which transported the player norms and staff were suffi- drea, a doctor in the Bucharest had been counting on Ekeng Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo watches a tennis match be- said he was “completely dev- to hospital, to determine if ciently qualified. hospital just beside the Dina- for the 2019 African Cup of Na- tween Rafael Nadal v Joao Sousa in Madrid on Friday. (REUTERS) astated”. equipment complied with According to Cristian Pan- mo stadium, no attempt had tions hosted by Cameroon. Manchester City hope on knife-edge as Pellegrini bows out three-year Etihad tenure, with Arsenal have won their last sponsibility of being profes- Wenger says the future of Arsenal Premier League success in two league games against City sional is to prepare the future,” 2014 and two League Cup tri- and a third victory on Sunday said the Frenchman, whose depends on this encounter umphs -- in 2014 and this year will secure a third-place finish side finish their campaign at -- offset by modest returns in at the very least, taking Arsene home to long-relegated Aston AFP hold on the fourth and final Europe and this year’s listless Wenger’s men into the Cham- Villa. “The future of Arsenal LONDON Champions League berth is league campaign. pions League for the 19th sea- Football Club depends on this tenuous and defeat by third- On the prospect of his 57th son running. game. PEP Guardiola’s plans for place Arsenal could leave Guar- and final home league match as Wenger faced protests from “We have regrets because Manchester City in next sea- diola facing the ignominy of a manager, Pellegrini said: “Of his own fans during last week- we had the chance to finish top son’s Champions League are Europa League campaign in course it is a very special game end’s 1-0 win over Norwich of the league, but apart from at stake on Sunday as his pred- his first season at the Etihad because we finish at home after City, but also received voluble that it is difficult to compare ecessor Manuel Pellegrini fac- Stadium. very intensive years. backing from the majority of with City, you know. es a make-or-break final home Pellegrini was criticised “But as a manager you must the Emirates Stadium crowd. “They are a team who is ex- game against Arsenal. for resting several players in try to dominate your emotions. While the title has gone to pected to win the league every City limped out of the last weekend’s damaging 4-2 Of course I have feelings, but I Leicester City, Arsenal can still year with the investment they Champions League in the defeat at Southampton, but he don’t want to show them in an pip Tottenham Hotspur to sec- have, so they must be in a simi- semi-finals on Wednesday said: “I think it is very, very im- external way.” ond place and although his side lar position.” after an insipid 1-0 defeat at portant to arrive to the Cham- Ahead of the weekend’s were top of the table on Janu- Wenger revealed on Friday Real Madrid that emphasised pions League next year. fixtures, City trail Arsenal by ary 1, Wenger suggested that that midfielder Alex Oxlade- why the club’s hierarchy were “I finish my contract here, three points, with Manchester City’s lavish investing meant Chamberlain’s season has so eager to acquire Guardiola’s but that is not a thing I am wor- United and West Ham, who missing out on the title should been ended by a knee injury services. ried about.” face off at the Boleyn Ground be an even bigger disappoint- and centre-back Per Merte- But with Manchester The 62-year-old Chilean on Tuesday in their game in ment for them. sacker will also not play again United and West Ham United has experienced soaring highs hand, four and five points fur- Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure during the UEFA Champions League “It is still a very important this term due to a hamstring snapping at their heels, City’s and shattering lows in his ther back respectively. semi-final match at Santiago Bernabeu, in Madrid, recently.(REUTERS) game because part of the re- problem. 34 Sunday, May 8-, 2016 Sports Leicester party in grand style as Sunderland out of drop zone

Leicester City players with the Premier league trophy after winning the English Premier League and match against Everton at King Power Stadium in Leicester, England, on Saturday. (AFP)

AFP ing at an already ecstatic King time but that did little to ease Borini though turned in van Gaal’s fifth-placed side gave Crystal Palace a come- LONDON Power Stadium before Leices- the growing pressure on Ever- Patrick van Aanholt’s cut-back EPL RESULTS close to within a point of local from-behind 2-1 win at home ter stalwart Andy King, who ton manager Roberto Mar- in the 67th minute and Defoe rivals Manchester City, who to Stoke City that secured JAMIE Vardy scored twice to played for the Midlands club tinez. made it 3-2 when he seized on Norwich 0 -1 Man Utd currently occupy fourth spot the FA Cup finalists Premier lead Leicester City’s on-field when they were a third-tier Earlier, Sunderland came a cross into the box. Sunderland 3-2 Chelsea and the last qualifying posi- League status. party as they marked lifting side, made it 2-0 in the 33rd from behind to beat Chelsea Chelsea’s defeat was com- tion on offer to English clubs Meanwhile Swansea beat the Premier League trophy minute. 3-2 at the Stadium of Light. pounded when skipper John Aston Villa 0-0 Newcastle for next season’s Champions West Ham 4-1 to all but end with a 3-1 win at home to Vardy scored his second The Black Cats were 2-1 Terry was sent off late on. Crystal Palace 2-1 Stoke League. the London club’s hopes of Everton on Saturday, while and Leicester’s third from the down against last season’s Victory saw Sunderland go Norwich’s defeat meant Champions League qualifica- Sunderland climbed out of the penalty spot in the 65th minute champions, before two goals a point in front of Newcastle, West Ham 1-4 Swansea they had lost four league tion. relegation zone. to draw level with fellow Eng- in three second-half minutes who have played one game Bournemouth 1-1 WBA games in a row -- all without They were 3-0 up inside Leicester, 5,000/1 outsid- land striker Harry Kane on 25 from Fabio Borini and Jer- more than their north-east scoring a goal. 51 minutes at Upton Park ers in pre-season, had already goals in the race to be crowned main Defoe transformed the rivals and could only manage Leicester 3-1 Everton City, looking to bounce thanks to goals from Wayne been crowned champions of the Premier League’s top scor- match. a goalless draw with already- back from their Champions Routledge, Andre Ayew and Ki England for the first time in er this season. Sunderland fell behind relegated Aston Villa on Sat- manager Sam Allardyce told League semi-final defeat by Seung-Yeung. their 132-year history after Minutes later, in the only when Chelsea striker Diego urday. Sky Sports. “It will be difficult Real Madrid in midweek, play Stephen Kingsley’s 68th- second-placed Tottenham slight disappointment of a Costa opened the scoring in If Sunderland win at home but we have an opportunity to third-placed Arsenal at East- minute own-goal gave the Hotspur could only draw with joyous day for Leicester fans, the 14th minute. to Everton on Wednesday, achieve it, let’s hope we can.” lands on Sunday. Hammers hope before Swan- Chelsea on Monday -- a match Vardy missed out on a hat- But they were level four they will stay up and relegate Second-bottom Norwich “I am indeed a Gunners sea’s Bafetimbi Gomis scored many of the Foxes squad trick and the chance to go past minutes before the break when both Newcastle and Norwich moved closer to the drop after fan tomorrow. After losing to in stoppage time. watched at former non-league Tottenham Hotspur’s Kane Tunisia’s Wahbi Khazri struck City in the process. a 1-0 loss at home to Manches- Real Madrid, it is not easy for Bournemouth and West forward Vardy’s house. when he blasted a second pen- a brilliant 20-yard volley. “Our destiny is in our ter United, with Juan Mata’s Manchester City to revive,” Browmich Albion, both safe It took Vardy, returning alty over the crossbar. However, Chelsea still re- hands and a win against Ever- 72nd-minute goal proving de- United manager Louis van from the drop, shared the from a two-game ban, just Kevin Mirallas pulled a gained the lead before half- ton will secure our Premier cisive at Carrow Road. Gaal told BT Sport. points in a 1-1 draw at Dean five minutes to open the scor- goal back two minutes from time through Nemanja Matic. League future,” Sunderland United’s victory saw Louis Dwight Gayle’s two goals Court.

Icardi hobbles off as Inter RECORD TITLE HAUL FOR BAVARIANS beat Empoli 2-1 in Serie A Bayern clinch fourth straight title

AFP top of the table for the first half MILAN of the season, Mancini’s men Bayern are the first team to win four took their foot off the gas fol- MAURO Icardi’s Serie A season lowing the winter break. league titles in a row and now have could be over a week early after Their faint hopes of return- 26 overall the striker hit the ing to Europe’s premier club opener in a 2-1 win over Em- competition were ended by a DPA Munich would have even poli on Saturday, then hobbled 2-0 defeat at Lazio last week, BERLIN clinched the title with defeat off with a right thigh injury. where Icardi was among In- as second-placed Dortmund Inter’s San Siro victory ter’s misfiring players. BAYERN Munich clinched a lost 1-0 at lowly Eintracht secured fourth spot in Italy’s The Argentine hobbled off record fourth straight Bun- , their first 2016 de- top flight and direct entry to just after the hour on Saturday desliga title with one game to feat in the league. Dortmund next season’s Europa League, with a knock that is expected spare on Saturday, with Rob- remained on 77 points - a haul with Ivan Perisic scoring what to sideline him for next week’s ert Lewandowski scoring both good enough for the title in 16 proved to be the winner before trip to Sassuolo, a match goals in a 2-1 victory at Ingol- of the past 20 seasons. half-time after Manuel Pucci- keeper Samir Handanovic stadt. Number three Bayer arelli’s equaliser. and winger Perisic will miss Lewandowski raised his Leverkusen (57) lost 2-1 In what is coach Roberto through suspensions after league-leading tally to 29 at fourth-placed Borus- Mancini’s second spell at the picking up late bookings for with his first-half brace as sia Moenchengladbach (52) club, Inter began this season time-wasting. Bayern shook off the disap- who are all but assured of the with big ambitions to clinch a A brief statement from pointment of another Cham- fourth Champions spot three place in the Champions League Inter said Icardi “suffered a pions League semi-final exit points ahead of Mainz, Hertha after a five-year absence. muscle flexor injury in his right in mid-week, against Atletico Berlin and Schalke. But despite challenging thigh that will be evaulated in Madrid. Hertha crashed 2-1 against Napoli and Fiorentina at the the coming days.” Bayern are the first team Darmstadt, Mainz won 3-1 to win four league titles in a at second last VfB Stuttgart, row and now have 26 overall, and Schalke were held 1-1 by 25 of them in the Bundesliga Augsburg. Wolfsburg won 1-0 era which started in 1963-64. at SV Hamburg, Cologne and Klopp urges ticketless The streak started in Werder Bremen produced no treble-winning 2012-13 un- goals and Hanover beat Hof- fans to head to Basel der Jupp Heynckes, with Pep fenheim 1-0. Guardiola guiding them to the Stuttgart (33) visit Wolfs- other three during his reign burg in the last game and ap- Bayern Munich’s Rafinha (centre) and his teammate celebrate with a paper mock up of the Bundesliga IANS can’t change the stadium. It’s which ends after the season pear all but doomed to the trophy after a Bundesliga match at the Audi Sportpark in Ingolstadt, , on Saturday. (AFP) LIVERPOOL a wonderful stadium and won- as he moves on to Manchester first drop since 1975. Their derful city. It’s worth going City and Carlo Ancelotti takes only realistic chance to reach Ingolstadt’s Moritz Hart- ing on the stroke of half-time Stuttgart fans invaded the pitch LIVERPOOL head coach Ju- even if you don’t have a ticket, over. Bayern, who started the the play-off spot is if third-last mann pulled one back on anoth- and headed against the bar right after the game. rgen Klopp on Saturday said to enjoy the city,” Klopp was campaign with a record 10 Bremen (35) lose a showdown er penalty before the break, but after the restart. “I am sorry for the fans,” fans should not complain quoted as saying by the Guard- wins in a row, can win a do- at home against fourth bottom Bayern hung on to win which “We did quite well but it was defender Kevin Grosskreutz about the football club’s mea- ian. “We can’t think about the mestic double as they play the Frankfurt (36). started the celebrations with difficult to keep Dortmund away said. gre ticket allocation for the size of the stadium. If you ask cup final on May 21 against Hamburg, Darmstadt, from the goal. The key was to get Mainz, Schalke and Hertha Europa League final and has who wants to see this final you Borussia Dortmund. “I want to Augsburg and Hoffenheim are “I want to share this title the three points,” Aigner told hold the Europa League spots asked the ticketless fans to will find 30 million people so share this title with Jupp Hey- safe now. with Jupp Heynckes. We Sky. behind Gladbach who handed travel to Basel on May 18. there is no chance. It’s like nckes. We achieved something Guardiola rested Jerome Frankfurt are one point Leverkusen a first loss after Liverpool and Sevilla this.” very special,” Guardiola said. Boateng and had Arturo Vidal achieved something very ahead of Bremen who after a seven wins from Andre Hahn’s will each receive only 10,236 But European football gov- Thomas Mueller, who out injured as Munich attempt- special,” Guardiola said. Monday 6-2 drubbing of Stutt- double. Hertha continued to tickets for the final at the St erning body UEFA has advised failed to convert a penalty ed to overcome the European gart got another point in Co- run out of steam when Darm- Jakob-Park, having qualified the Liverpool fans who would against Atletico, told Sky TV exit at their Bavarian rivals In- special t-shirts with the printed logne ahead of the two-or-die stadt’s Jerome Gendorf and with triumphs over Villarreal be there without a ticket to they played “a brilliant season. golstadt. slogan “4ever”. showdown with Frankfurt. Sandro Wagner, who was sent and Shakhtar Donetsk respec- stay away from the stadium. It’s extraordinary, we don’t Lewandowski opened the Frankfurt got a third In Stuttgart, captain Chris- off late, reversed Hertha’s lead tively on Thursday. “We advise anyone without need to play it down.” scoring in the 15th from the straight and very vital win over tian Gentner put the hosts from Vladimir Darida. Schalke The stadium has a capac- tickets not to approach the Bayern have an unassail- penalty spot after Marvin Mat- Dortmund from Stefan Aigner’s ahead early on but Mainz re- had to swallow a last-minute ity of 35,000. “What I learned stadium on the day of the fi- able lead with 85 points and ip brought down Franck Ribery, 14th minute header. But they sponded from Yunus Malli, equalizer from Augsburg’s in life is what I can’t change I nal since safety and security will get the trophy after the and grabbed the second offa were lucky because Dortmund Jhon Cordoba’s 54th-minute Daniel Baier after Klaas-Jan don’t think about. It’s a won- measures will be very tight,” league finale on May 14 against defense-splitting pass from Xabi captain Mats Hummels was header and Karim Onisiwo’s Huntelaar put them ahead in derful opportunity and we said a statement. relegated Hanover. Alonso. wrongly ruled offside after scor- tap in the 77th, and frustrated the 82nd. Sports Sunday, May 8, 2016 35 Taleb Group bag Workers’ Cup The winners survive penalty shoot- out to win the title on debut

TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA it was Taleb Group that held their nerves and clinched the THE 2016 Workers’ Cup Foot- trophy, resulting in ecstatic ball Tournament drew to a celebrations among the play- spectacular close on Friday ers and fans. evening at a near-capacity Al SC & DL Secretary-General Ahli Sports Club Stadium with Thawadi handed over the win- Taleb Group claiming the title ners’ trophy and said: “The fi- in a penalty shoot-out 3-1 vic- nal was an amazing event. The tory over Gulf Contracting. passion of the players, fans and The regulation time did not the coaches was incredible. produce any goal and it was left This tournament is an example to the drama of the shootout to of how football brings people decide the victors. Amidst wild together. scenes of celebrations, Taleb He continued: “It was a Group received the trophy privilege to see these players from Supreme Committee for enjoy themselves and com- pete so fiercely and I hope the experience will live with both “In the penalty shootout, I the winners and runners-up thought we were going to for a long time. There is no lose it but then to go and question this has been the lift the trophy – in our first most successful Workers Cup appearance in this tourna- to date and we look forward to making it bigger and better ment, is something that I next year.” will never forget. We will QSL CEO Hani Ballan be back next year, looking also congratulated the win- to defend our trophy for ners, saying: “The QSL is sure,” Taleb Group captain proud to have played such an Kenneth Boafo said. important part in the contin- Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy Secretary-General Hassan al Thawadi and QSL CEO Hani Ballan with the players of Taleb Group, who won the Workers’ Cup Football ued success of the Workers’ Tournament with a 3-1 penalty shootout victory over Gulf Contracting in Doha on Friday. Cup. I hope the players have Delivery & Legacy (SC) Secre- enjoyed just a small taste of tary-General Hassan al Tha- what our players experience wadi and Qatar Stars League every day. Football is for eve- (QSL) CEO Hani Ballan. ryone and this tournament In the presence of the am- demonstrates the importance bassadors, heads of mission of the sport across all com- to Qatar of Bangladesh, Ger- munities in Qatar.” many, India, Nepal, Sri Lan- Kenneth Boafo, the cap- ka, the UK, the USA, deputy tain of the winning team, was head of mission of the French jubilant and said while lifting embassy, a host of other dig- the trophy aloft, “ “This has nitaries and officials from the been an incredible achieve- country’s football commu- ment for our team and we’d nity, including renowned five- like the thank the organisers time World Cup coach Bora for putting on such a fantastic Milutinovic, both teams had tournament. chances to win the match in “In the penalty shootout, I normal time. thought we were going to lose Though the closely-fought it but then to go and lift the tro- final was barren in 90 minutes, phy – in our first appearance in it was entertaining through- this tournament, is something out, keeping the supporters of that I will never forget. We will both the teams elated. be back next year, looking to In the ensuing penalties, defend our trophy for sure.” (Left) Taleb Group players dance after winning the final and (right) a big group of fans watching the Workers’ Cup final. 12 world leads as Doha kicks off Diamond League

Four meeting records rewritten at the Qatar Sports Club Stadium

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TORI Bowie’s impressive vic- tory in the 100m and an un- expectedly strong triple jump duel between Catherine Ibar- guen and Yulimar Rojas were the key highlights at the 2016 Doha meeting as the IAAF Diamond League series kicked off in the Qatari capital for the seventh straight year on Fri- day. The pair produced two of the 12 world leading perform- ances set during the evening’s nearly ideal conditions on a night when four meet- ing records and six national records also fell. Tori Bowie (second right) dashes to her 100m victory during the Diamond League in Doha on Friday. Catherine Ibarguen in triple jump action. The women’s 100m, one of the meeting’s marquee 14.77m, but the rapidly im- Olympic champion Olga to finish second with Katerina Ethiopian Habitam Alemu take over the world lead. events, lived up to expecta- proving Rojas took command Rypakova was a distant third Stefanidi of Greece third with Third win for Kiprop (1:59.14) and Kenyan Eunice Elsewher on the infield, tions with Bowie, the US with a 14.79 Venezuelan at 14.61m. 4.73m, an outdoor best. Despite the strong fields, the Sum (1:59.74). 2012 Olympic silver medallist champion, topping a solid record in the third round. In the men’s competition, middle and long distances Conseslus Kipruto kept Erik Kynard of the US nabbed field in 10.80, a meeting After fouling in the fourth, Christian Taylor won his sec- Webb, Merritt top sprints were largely solo exhibitions the Doha 3000m steeplechase his first Doha high jump vic- record and world lead. Ibarguen retook the lead in ond Doha crown with 17.23m, Ameer Webb made it a short beginning with Asbel Kiprop’s crown firmly in Kenyan hands tory at 2.33m, another world Running even with Daf- the fifth with a 15.04m leap, a also a world lead. dash double for the US with third Doha 1500m victory. with his impressive 8:05.13 vic- lead. China’s Zhang Guowei ne Schippers and Veronica world-leader that set the early “I had higher expecta- his convincing victory in Just 800 metres into the tory, another world lead. The was second at 2.31m. Home Campbell-Brown with about season bar exceptionally high. tions, but it’s important to the 200m. The 25-year-old race, the three-time world two-time World championships hero Mutaz Barshim bowed 25 metres remaining, last But Rojas, unfazed, came close stay healthy,” said Taylor, clocked a 19.85 career best, champion found himself silver medallist edged compa- out early with three misses at year’s World Championships with her fifth attempt, a wind- whose primary focus remains to break the meeting record alone with the pacesetter. Ki- triot Jairus Birech (8:08.28) by 2.29m to finish a distant sev- bronze medallist pulled away assisted 14.92m (+2.6) before on defending his Olympic set four years ago. Alonso prop was way out in front by more than three seconds. enth, but said he wasn’t con- to edge Schippers by a scant fouling on her final jump. title later this summer. Bin Edward of Panama was a the bell and never challenged Tia Brooks got her Dia- cerned. “It’s an Olympic year, 0.03 to equal her personal “I'm happy I started the Dong of China, the world in- distant second at 20.06 with over the final lap to win in mond League campaign off and I’m taking things slow. It’s best set in 2014. season with a jump over 15 door champion, was second at Qatari Femi Ogunode (20.10) 3:32.15, another world leader. to a strong start with a domi- all part of the plan,” he said. “I gave the race my every- metres," said the Colombian 17.07m. third. Teammates Elijah Manangoi nant victory in the shot put. Back on the track, Eilidh thing and the win was mine,” star, whose leap was the far- LaShawn Merritt was (3:33.67) and Silas Kiplagat The 25-year-old American Doyle, the European 400m said Bowie, who displayed thest ever recorded in the Morris equals record pleased with his victory in (3:33.86) followed. reached 19.48m –her second hurdles champion, won her confident composure in the month of May. "I will keep Meanwhile, Sandi Morris the 400m, a convincing one Almaz Ayana’s victory in personal best of the night— in specialty in 54.53, also a race’s closing metres. “I feel on working hard and I will was the class of the women’s in 44.41. Clearly ahead at the 3000m was even more the third round to win over world leader, comfortably that I’m a much better runner definitely try to break the pole vault field. The 23-year- midway, he slowed down the dominant. The reigning world Hungary’s Anita Morton by clear of Bahraini Kemi Ade- than I was last season.” world record. It has stayed old American topped 4.83 to final straight, but managed 5000m champion from Ethi- 26cm. koya (54.87), the world in- Two-time Olympic 200m untouched for over 20 years." equal the Diamond League to fight off a two-flank attack. opia was never threatened Piotr Malachowski out- door 400m champion. champion Campbell-Brown That’s something Rojas, record and take command of On his inside Machel Cedenio and closed with a 65-second duelled Philip Milanov to And finally, there was a clocked 10.91 in third, also just 20, may have in the back the world lead. of Trinidad and Tobago was final lap to win in 8:23.11. take top honours in the discus home victory early in the pro- under the previous meet of her mind as well. “I’m really proud of my second in 44.68 with Qatar’s Another world leader throw. The pair exchanged gramme as Abubaker Abdalla mark. “I will continue improv- performance here,” said Mor- Abdalelah Haroun, to his out- came courtesy of former the lead through all but one of held off Kenyan Nicholas In the women’s triple ing,” said Rojas, who en- ris, who topped 4.95m in- side, third in 44.81. world champion Caster Se- the first four rounds, with Mi- Koech to win a regional 800m jump, Ibarguen, the world tered the competition with a doors in March. “After a 20- In a race that laid waste to menya in the 800m. Running lanov taking control in round contest 1:45.28 to 1:45.56, champion outdoors defeat- 14.69m career best set during hour flight, I had only a little more than a dozen barriers, sixth at the bell, the South five with a 67.26m heave, a a career best for the Qatari. ed Rojas, the world indoor the indoor season. “Fifteen time to rest. Having been able Omar McLeod won the sea- African was third midway Belgian national record. Mala- Two-time world indoor cham- champion, in the finest infield metres are so close now, I am to put up such a performance son’s first high level face-off in through the final turn before chowski, the reigning world pion Abubaker Kaki struggled duel of the evening. But it sure I can make it. I will save is incredible.” the 110m hurdles, edging his taking the lead for good at the champion, countered with a throughout and was never took a 15-metre jump to do it. the best for the Rio Olym- Nichole Buchler raised the Jamaican compatriot Hansle top of the home straight. She 68.03m toss with his final at- in the hunt. The Sudanese Ibarguen led early at pics.” Swiss national record to 4.78m Parchment 13.05 to 13.10. clocked 1:58.26, well clear of tempt to seize the victory and reached the line last in 1:49.97. 36 Sunday, May 8, 2016 Sports We want to make history with El Jaish: Lamouchi

AYENI OLUSEGUN “Last year, we played in have made me and the club portant for us because we DOHA proud. have not won it. As a team it two finals and we lost “El Jaish are on a high is important for us to win this HIGH-FLYING El Jaish are them and now we have right now after winning the Cup and we’ll start with the hoping to continue their im- played in one which we , so it is going to be a game against Sailiya. pressive run in the domestic won. We are definitely difficult match for both sides.” “This season has been events and as they clash with under a little pressure and On his team’s expecta- hectic for us. We have so Yousef Adam’s Al Ahli Club Al Ahli are a good team. tions for the match, Adam many players involved in in the prestigious Emir’s Cup said, “We are not a weak side, the national team, we have football quarter-final on Sun- Yousef Adam has done a we have performed well so far suffered from injuries to day. The army team, crowned really good job with the and we don’t expect to lose.” our players at certain stages Qatar Cup champions after squad and they are play- Adam also dismissed the and we are also in the Asian defeating Lekhwiya in the fi- ing really well lately and I alleged management crisis in Champions League. It has nal recently, are riding high on congratulate him for that,” the club, saying his concen- been a bit difficult for us to their achievements and confi- Sabri Lamouchi said. tration right now is on the get the results when we need dence. match against Jaish. them. But we will focus on the Coach Sabri Lamouchi In the day’s other match, game against Sailiya and not believes his players live for win this Cup some years ago, Lekhwiya will take on Sami think of our loss to El Jaish in the big occasion and are so I know first hand how im- Trabelsi’s Al Sailiya, who ad- the Qatar Cup final.” ready for this match despite portant it is to the players, vanced to the quarter-finals The Red Knights have had a heavy toll of playing in the club and fans. by beating Al Wakrah 2-1 in a torrid season so far, and Asian Champions League, in “I think the players are El Jaish coach Sabri Lamouchi (left) and Al Ahli Club coach Yousef Adam during press conference in Doha the last round. For Lekhwiya, only picked up late to finish which they have qualified to ready for the game and we are on Saturday, ahead of their Emir’s Cup football quarter-final match. after coming from a heart- fourth in the League. “Sailiya clash with rivals Lekhwiya in playing a strong Al Ahli team breaking defeat in the Qa- are a tough team to beat and the Round 16. “We are lucky which have been playing well which we won. We are defi- ever, ready to fight and play made it to this stage of the tar Cup final to El Jaish and they are a very organised side to play important games. We for the past few months,” he nitely under a little pressure against a good team. My competition all deserved to failing to defend the League as well. We have played so are not tired of playing and added. and Al Ahli are a good team. players know that if we want be here. “We all know the title, winning their maiden many games, but I prefer that are motivated to make his- Lamouchi also added that Yousef Adam has done a re- to make history, we have to value of this Cup. Every team Emir’s Cup remains the main to us resting. In our last game tory in the club. We are just El Jaish are a bit under pres- ally good job with the squad win because there is no other here deserves to be here. We goal. Djamel Belmadi rued in the Champions League, we so excited. sure just like any other team. and they are playing really choice,” he added. are well prepared and I am his team’s participation in so tried to rest some players, “This competition is really “Last year, we played in two well lately and I congratulate Al Ahli coach Adam, paid proud of my players. Their many competitions and in- but I think we are fresh and a big one and I am excited to finals and we lost them and him for that. compliments to El Jaish also work ethic got us to sixth po- jury woes this season. ready for the game,” Belmadi play in it. I was fortunate to now we have played in one “My players are how- adding that the teams that sition in the league and they “This competition is im- added. Al Arabi, Al Rayyan win opening playoff in Emir’s Cup v’ball

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DEFENDING champions and 21-time winners Al Arabi Club proved more than a match for Police and won the opening Emir’s Cup Volleyball Cham- pionship semi-final playoff in straight sets on Saturday. At the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena, Al Arabi dished out a compact game and post- ed a dominant 25-17 25-18 25-21 victory in one hour and eight minutes. In another match, which saw numerous ups and downs, runners-up and 11-time cham- pions Al Rayyan went ahead first. Then they trailed 1-2 be- fore overcoming El Jaish 25- 21 12-25 22-25 25-18 17-15 in two hours and five minutes. Police, who have played four finals but never crossed the finish line, could not han- dle the onslaught launched by Al Arabi’s Ivan Zaytsev, Yoan- dry Leal Hidalgo and middle Tine Urnaut of Al Rayyan spikes the ball against El Jaish during the Emir’s Cup Volleyball Championship player Ibrahim Mohamed. Kennedy Chigbo of Police is being blocked by Al Arabi players during their semi-final playoff at the Ali Bin semi-final playoff in Doha on Saturday. (PHOTOGRAPHS: RAFEEK PALAYOOR) Police began crumbling Hamad Al Attiya Arena on Saturday. under the barrage of spikes 1-0 lead in the prestigious Camejo and Dokic se- place in the final. and they finally collapsed after his service. For Police, Wil- El Jaish revived some of the Qatar Open final. Al Rayyan event on the QVA calendar. cured 19 points each for Po- 68 minutes. liams Padura Diaz was the glowing memories of their had a good start but El Jaish Trentino Diatec star Tine lice. Simon could post only RESULTS AL RAYYAN CLUB BEAT EL JAISH 25-21 12-25 Zaytsev led the scoring and lone fighter. The Brazilian recent Qatar Cup final and replied strongly through Rob- Urnaut and Wilfredo Leon 18, a little below than his 22-25 25-18 17-15 IN TWO HOURS & FIVE collected 19 points, with 16 of earned 11 of his 12 points from both the teams had their erlandy Simon, Oreol Camejo Venero were instrumental. usual game. MINUTES them coming from smashes. his spiking ability. Their other chances to win the opener and Bojan Dokic. With their entertaining net All the four teams will AL ARABI CLUB BEAT POLICE 25-17 25-18 Hidalgo netted 10 of his 13 professional Silmar Antonio tonight. After Al Rayyan pulled off play, Urnaut notched up 26 clash again on Monday during 25-21 IN ONE HOUR & EIGHT MINUTES from his superb net play and de Almeida could manage only It was however Al Rayyan, the fourth set, the tie-break set points, while Venero got 22 the crucial second playoff and MONDAY’S FIXTURES veteran Ibrahim smashed nine five. who managed to script the was enforced and they scraped for Al Rayyan. Mubarak Dahi it looks like that Al Arabi may 4:30 PM – AL ARABI CLUB VS POLICE winners and got two points off Both Al Rayyan Club and win, just like they did in the the win to take a spirit-lifting Waleed also got nine. be the first one to book their 6.30 PM – AL RAYYAN CLUB VS EL JAISH Komoriya, Lazarevic make splashes in ‘Swim for a Cause’ TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA

KAITOL Komoriya and Ale- ksandar Lazarevic emerged the winners in the ‘Swim for a Cause,’ an open water swim- ming challenge organised by Sharq Village & Spa at its beach on Friday. A large number of swim- ming and sports enthusiasts turned up to support the event, which was held in collabora- tion with Six Senses Spa, H2O, Red Bull and Qatar Charity. Komoriya won top hon- ours in the 1,000m event, while Lazarevic was unbeaten in the 500m category. Emiro Goossen and Enis Kefi finished second and third in the senior class. Lazarevic was followed by Ivan Savchuk and Andrea al Hourani in sec- ond and third spots, respec- tively, in the 500m race. Winners of 1,000m and 500m events after the prize distribution of the ‘Swim for a Cause’, organised by The main objective of the Sharq Village & Spa in Doha on Friday. ‘Swim for a Cause’ is to pro- vide safe drinking water to Parents and swim trainers Recreation Manager at Sharq conducted a Water Safety Pro- people who do not have ac- also took part in the race while Village & Spa. gram on the occasion, in which cess to it in many developing others came to support their Jayaweera also added water safety education was im- countries. children who were contesting Sharq Village & Spa has parted to children. An aware- “The response to our event in the races. The age of the planned many such events ness programme was also con- was quite heartening and en- participants varied and we’re which aim at promoting a ducted to help parents know couraging. Various commu- delighted to say the youngest healthy lifestyle among the what to do if there is a crisis nities staying in Qatar were participant was aged seven,” residents of Qatar. situation during an open water well represented in the event. commented Asela Jayaweera, Sharq Village & Spa also swimming or in a pool.