Established 1961 13 Sports Monday, March 5, 2018 ‘New Bolt’ Coleman sprints to 60m glory, Dibaba bags double Maslak wins gold after top two disqualified BIRMINGHAM: Christian Coleman confirmed his sta- competition in the women’s pole vault saw Morris clear tus as the most exciting young sprinter in the post- 4.95m for victory ahead of Anzhelika Sidorova, the Usain Bolt era when he stormed to 60m glory on Russian competing as a neutral athlete (4.90m). Saturday as Ethiopian track legend Genzebe Dibaba Greece’s Katerina Stefanidi, the reigning world, bagged a golden world indoor brace. European and Olympic champion, took bronze (4.80) Coleman arrived in Birmingham, , fresh from in what was a totally gripping event as Morris finally having set a new world indoor record of 6.34sec for converted her world outdoor and indoor silvers into the sprint and the 21-year-old American made no mis- gold. There was more of the same from 100m hurdles take when taking his first steps in the global arena in world record holder Harrison, who scorched home in the absence of the now-retired Bolt. 7.70sec in the shortened form, the third fastest time Starting in lane four, ever run. Coleman enjoyed an electri- fying start and powered US MEDAL RUN through the line in a champi- US teammate Christina onship record of 6.37sec Manning took silver as ahead of Su Bingtian of I have to make Courtney Okolo also led a China, who lowered the Asian US 1-2 with Shakima record to 6.42sec when he sure I keep Wimbley in the women’s took silver. Coleman’s US 400m while there was more teammate Ronnie Baker working to American gold in the triple claimed bronze. stay on top jump as multiple world and “I have a good chance to Olympic medallist Will Claye lead the sport in the post- soared out to 17.43m for his Bolt era but like I’ve told so many others, loads of guys second world indoor title, having previously won in have the talent,” said Coleman. “I have to make sure I Istanbul in 2012. keep working to stay on top and when I get the oppor- Poland’s Adam Kszczot also finally won a global title tunity to take gold medals you take them.” after two world outdoor silvers in the 800m, adding Serial world record holder Dibaba once again gold to the silver and bronze he has previously won BIRMINGHAM: US athlete Christian Coleman (L) wins ahead of China’s Su Bingtian (R) during the men’s 60m final at demonstrated her imperious form in winning her sec- indoors with a dominant display in the four-lap race. the 2018 IAAF World Indoor Athletics Championships at the Arena in Birmingham on Saturday. — AFP ond indoor 1500m title, just two days after winning her The Pole looked untroubled as he clocked a winning third consecutive 3000m gold. Dibaba looked com- 1min 47.47sec, with American Drew Windle taking sil- pletely unruffled as she led the same two athletes on to ver and Saul Ordonez of Spain bronze. win in a championship record time of 44.92sec, and ours to his outdoor decathlon title when he edged the podium as she had in the 3000m, this time Briton Controversy again struck the 400m as more dis- Dominican Luguelin Santos were both disqualified. Canada’s Damian Warner by just five points at the end Laura Muir taking silver ahead of Ethiopian-born qualifications for lane infringements marred the race. “The guys were stronger than me and I do not know of two days of competition. After a disastrous showing Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan. Czech Pavel Maslak eventually became the first athlete what went wrong for them,” said Maslak. “They would in his favoured pole vault, Mayer left Warner with an In an outstanding night for US athletes, there were to win three consecutive world indoor titles when he have beaten me anyway so even if it is gold, it will have opportunity: to beat him by three seconds in the final also championship records set by Coleman’s team- was bumped up into first spot from third after Spain’s a bronze flavour for me.” event, the 1,000m, but the Frenchman bundled over the mates Sandi Morris and Kendra Harrison. A thrilling Oscar Husillos, who was initially accredited with the France’s Kevin Mayer added indoor heptathlon hon- line with half a second to spare for the win. — AFP

Sheikh Jaber Burgan Bank Al-Abdallah wishes ‘Tareq shooting tourney Al-Qallaf’ success concludes in Fencing Classic By Abdellatif Sharaa KUWAIT: As one of the highest con- KUWAIT: Sheikh Jaber Al-Abdallah Al-Jaber tributors to society and a dedicated Al-Sabah shooting tournament concluded on sponsor to one of Kuwait’s most cele- Saturday in the presence of the representa- brated athletes, Tareq Al-Qallaf, Burgan tive of the patron Sheikh Abdallah Al-Jaber Bank extends its best wishes to the Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, President of Arab and globally acclaimed player for the Kuwait Shooting Federations Eng Duaij upcoming contest taking place in Khalaf Al-Otaibi, Assistant Secretary of Columbus, Ohio, USA between March 2 Kuwait Shooting Sports Club Eng - March 4, 2018. Competing in several Mohammad Al-Ghurba. The tournament con- competitions this year, Al Qallaf is now tinued for three days during which shooters poised to represent Kuwait at the competed in the Olympic 10m air pistol and Arnold Fencing Classic, a part of the rifle, 50m pistol and rifle and archery. Arnold Sports Festival which is the Eng Mohammad Al-Ghurba delivered the largest multi-sport festival in the world. club’s speech and said the tournament Sponsoring for four consecutive attracted a large number of shooters from the years, Burgan Bank remains committed club and National Guard, and had good and to the growth and success of the home promising results. grown Fencing titleholder as he prepares He said the shooting club is keen on to compete in the fifteenth Arnold organizing this annual tournament in appreci- Fencing Classic followed by the ation of Sheikh Jaber Al-Abdallah’s contribu- Pennsylvania Championship at the World developed its technical abilities and now have Namshan. tions to the development of the shooting Club in May, the US Open in September the best referees and technical staff in the 10 m Air Pistol women: sport since its begining. and New Jersey Copa in October. world. Eng Al-Otaibi said KSSC is keen on Huthama Al-Baghly, Amira Al-Murdhi, Meanwhile, President of Arab and Kuwait Held for 3 days, the prestigious organizing this annual tournament in recogni- Israa Bahman Shooting Federations President Duaij Al- Arnold Schwarzenegger Sports Festival tion of Sheikh Jaber Al-Abdallah’s contribu- 50 m Riffle men: Otaibi said, we are pleased to organize the will be featuring over 50 sports and Tareq Al-Qallaf tion to the development of the shooting sport Khalid Al-Majid, Majid Al-Zafiri, Abdallah Sheikh Jaber Al-Abdallah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, events with an expected 180,000 spec- in Kuwait. Al-Harby as he is among the first supporters to the tators, and 19,000 athletes. Considered a 50 m Pistol Men: establishment of the sport of shooting in our unique event with medals unlike other affecting every segment of the society Results of the tournament were as follows: Hamad Al-Namshan, Ali Al-Mutairi, Saad country Kuwait. contests in the world of fencing, 2018 by promoting social welfare through 10 m Air Rifle men: Al-Ajmi He said Kuwait Shooting has become due brings the return of Wheelchair fencing educational, cultural and health driven Abdallah Al-Harby, Mohammad Adel, Olympic archery men: to the support it receives from HH the Amir to the Arnold Fencing Classic. initiatives. Burgan Bank’s approach to Sultan Al-Osaimi Abdallah Al-Harby, Abdallah Taha Faisal Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Burgan Bank’s support of this initia- ‘ENGAGE’ begins with a vital principle 10 m Air Rifle women: Al-Rashidi HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al- tive falls under its dynamic full-fledged that as a leading Kuwaiti financial insti- Zahraa Al-Saffar, Mariam Erzouqi, Heba Compound Archery men: Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and the govern- community program entitled ‘ENGAGE’ tution, its conduct and policies should be Erzouqi Salem Al-Saeed, Abdallah Yacoub, Mislim ment, a prominent sport and made many - Together to be the change. This pro- aligned with the needs and interests of 10 m Air Pistol men: Ibrahim. international and Olympic achievements, and gram sheds light on important aspects the community. Ali Al-Mutairi, Saad Al-Ajmi, Hamad Al-

“But beyond that, he was part of that pioneering “I met him several times throughout my career and Coe, Cram salute the spirit which seemed to exist in the 1950s - with a new he was always humble, supportive and encouraging. He Queen on the throne, Everest being conquered, the new was an inspiration to so many.” At the world indoor TV age and the idea that you could do anything you championships in Birmingham, the news cast a sad great Bannister who put your mind to in barrier-breaking. shadow over the final day of events on Sunday as the “The four-minute mile stood out. Someone was IAAF prepared a special tribute to Bannister’s life and paved their way going to break that barrier and it turned out to be him. times to be screened to the crowd in Arena What a great period that must have been to be alive.” Birmingham. To Cram and Coe, the man who now runs the sport as Coe, who had only just learned the news before the BIRMINGHAM: ’s death at the age of the IAAF president, Bannister’s three minutes 59.4 sec- launch of a new IAAF Heritage initiative designed to 88 prompted a host of emotional tributes to athletics’ onds run at Iffley Road, Oxford, was the almost mythi- showcase the sport’s former greats like Bannister, great barrier breaker yesterday with the sport’s senior cal tale which underpinned their own youthful athletics explained: “This is a day of intense sadness both for our figure, , saluting him as the “man who days. “The first book I read was (Bannister’s book) The nation and for all of us in athletics.” made the impossible possible”. Four-Minute Mile, my coach (Jimmy Hedley) used to Coe told his audience: “On May 6, 1954, Roger made Coe and , who followed in the spike get me to sit and watch that grainy film in the days the impossible possible. Just one year after the corona- tracks of the sport’s first sub-four minute miler to also before YouTube,” said Cram. “I got to meet him after I tion of the young Queen Elizabeth II and the conquer- become world beaters, emphasised that, while got selected to go to the when I ing of Everest, he ran the first sub four-minute mile with Bannister had been their running hero, he meant so was 17 and he was a big part of my early athletics the help of Christopher Chataway and . much more to the life of his home nation. career development, as the biggest hero in our sport, “The world’s best runners, such as Paavo Nurmi, Jack To Coe, another British world record holder at the especially for a 1500 metres runner like me. Lovelock, Arne Andersson, Gunder Hagg and mile, Bannister’s landmark achievement in 1954 “tran- “I was completely awe-struck when I met him but he Roger Bannister Bannister’s personal hero Sydney Wooderson had been scended sport beyond athletics”. Cram, who broke the was a gentleman, an engaging personality who put you seriously attempting the four minute mile for a quarter mile world record in 1985, told Reuters in Birmingham: at your ease.” inspired by Bannister’s legacy. , the greatest of a century. “Bannister really started off that great British tradition British distance runner of all and one of the finest in the “It was as much a psychological as it was a physical of great middle distance runners which people like Seb IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE sport’s annals, tweeted on Sunday: “I’m so sorry to hear barrier and Bannister’s success allowed mankind to (Coe), Steve (Ovett) and myself were able to continue. Cram felt the next generation of athletes were just as the sad news about Roger Bannister. enter a new world filled with possibilities. — Reuters