Sports43 FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015 Kuwait’s shooters grab gold, bronze

By Abdellatif Sharaa

KUWAIT: Kuwait shooters participating in the Grand Prix being held in Gabala, have increased their cache of medals. Shooter Hamad Al-Afasi won the gold medal in the Double Trap event; Ahmad Al-Afasi won the bronze medal during the third day of competi- tion. Sarah Al-Hawal grabbed the bronze medal during the first day of competi- tion, while shooter Abdelrahman Al- Faihan won the bronze in the Trap Eng Duaij Al-Otaibi event. Meanwhile the president of Prime Minister and Information Minister, Kuwait and Arab Shooting Federations State Minister for Youth Affairs Sheikh Eng Duaij Khalaf Al-Otaibi praised their Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al- achievements which he dedicated to HH Sabah. Al-Otaibi lauded the high spirits the Amir, HH the Crown Prince, HH the shown by the national team shooters. Equestrian, curling, tennis join SportAccord’s exodus LONDON: The international federations of equestrian, curling and table tennis cut ties with SportAccord yester- day, the latest round of walkouts after its president sharply criticized the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Some 17 Olympic federations have already with- drawn their membership of the umbrella organization, which represents about 100 Olympic and non-Olympic sports bodies, after its president Marius Vizer criticized the IOC last month. “The FEI (International Federation for Equestrian Sports), alongside many other international sports feder- ations... will seek full clarity regarding SportAccord’s role and mission, including a review of SportAccord’s gover- nance and management,” FEI president Ingmar De Vos said in a statement yesterday. The World Curling Federation (WCF) and the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) also suspended their membership yes- terday, with curling officials saying Vizer’s comments did not represent their federation. Vizer told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday he had proposed a meeting with IOC president Thomas Bach to clear the air and said membership withdrawals from ATLANTA: Cleveland Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova (8) and Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague (0) SportAccord were the result of pressure from the IOC on chase a loose ball during the first half in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA basketball play- the federations. “I had expected more solidarity from offs on Wednesday, May 20, 2015. —AP international federations, specifically from summer Olympics federations, because I spoke out in the favor of the sport,” Vizer said. “I did not attack Bach or the IOC. But it is up to the federations to decide what they consid- Cleveland top Atlanta er the best for their situation and their sports communi- ty.” Bach, however, said in a written response seen by ATLANTA: LeBron James and the he defended and that he got eight Brotherhood Reuters that he would first have to consult his executive Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the top-seed- rebounds.” Jeff Teague scored 27 points to lead board as well as other stakeholders before committing to ed Atlanta Hawks 97-89 on Wednesday to Four-time NBA Most Valuable Player Atlanta, but the Hawks lost starting forward a meeting with Vizer. The executive board next meets in open the NBA Eastern Conference finals. James scored 31 points, pulled down eight DeMarre Carroll to a left leg injury in the in June. With a berth in the NBA championship rebounds and handed out six assists for fourth quarter. Carroll, who appeared to finals on the line in the best-of-seven the Cavaliers. He said defense was the key hyperextend his left knee when he planted Pressure mounts series, JR Smith set a Cavaliers club record to the victory. “We’re the number one his foot to take a shot, crumpled to the floor However, time is of the essence for Vizer as the mem- for three-pointers, draining eight from defensive team in the playoffs. In order for in pain. Rival James gave him some encour- bership suspensions mount and pressure on the interna- beyond the arc. His 28 points accounted us to win, ultimately we have to defend,” aging pats as Hawks personnel helped him tional judo president grows exponentially. On for all of the scoring by Cleveland reserves. said James, who is playing in his fifth from the court. “At the end of the day, we’re “I was just trying, if anything, to take good straight Eastern Conference finals after all a brotherhood,” James said. “You never Wednesday, the international rowing federation as well shots,” Smith said. “I got in a rhythm early four appearances with Miami. “Tonight want anyone to get injured, even in com- as modern pentathlon and volleyball pulled out of and just stayed aggressive.” we shot 44 percent from the field, but we bat.” Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said SportAccord. Since Vizer’s scathing attack on the IOC, in Smith’s long-range bombs came in defended. We gave ourselves a chance. Carroll would have an MRI exam on which he claimed the Olympic body was dated, not trans- bunches, including three in the first two When you defend at a high level you’re Thursday to assess the severity of the injury. parent enough and blocking new initiatives, a string of minutes of the fourth quarter as he helped going to give yourself a chance to win “At this point, I think the doctors are saying federations have pulled out of his organization. The Cleveland build an 18-point lead. He broke every night.”James has won two titles with it’s a knee sprain,” Budenholzer said. “We’ll departures already include athletics, boxing, archery, James’s prior Cavaliers record for three- the Heat and returned to his home state know tomorrow.”The Cavaliers will try to triathlon, taekwondo, wrestling, shooting, canoeing, pointers in a playoff game by one. James and first NBA team the Cavaliers, vowing strengthen their grip on the series in game hockey, bobsleigh and weightlifting. Several sports have made three against Washington in game to bring Cleveland a championship. He two on Friday. The winners of the series will four of the 2006 Eastern conference quar- sealed Wednesday’s victory with a thun- take on the Western Conference champions also pulled out of the 2017 World Combat Games organ- ter-finals. “Those who know J R know dering dunk in the final minute. Tristan in the NBA Finals. Golden State, the best ised by SportAccord, leaving the event with just two of when he gets hot, he gets smoking hot,” Thompson added 14 points and 10 team in the regular season, leads Houston 1- the initial six Olympic sports along with 10 other non- said Cavaliers coach David Blatt. “He was rebounds in the win and Kyrie Irving had 0 in the Western Conference champi- Olympic sports. —Reuters terrific. Probably overlooked is how well 10 points and six assists in 27 minutes. onships.—AFP