TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2016 SPORTS

France’s Slimani pens Kuwait Olympic committee to Joshua can stun Clermont deal until 2020 hold sports gala on Saturday Klitschko: Trainer KUWAIT: The Kuwait Olympic Committee (KOC) will be putting LONDON: Anthony Joshua can stun Wladimir Klitschko to become the PARIS: France prop Rabah Slimani has signed a three-year together a national sports day on Saturday, KOC Deputy undisputed world heavyweight champion, according to the British fighter’s contract with Clermont, the Top 14 leaders confirmed yester- President Duaij Al-Otaibi announced yesterday. Speaking in a trainer Rob McCracken. Former Olympic gold medallist Joshua linked up day. Slimani, 27, will join Clermont from Stade Francais next press conference, Al-Otaibi, who is President of the Kuwaiti and with McCracken on a full-time basis before beating Eric season and his deal also includes an option for a fourth Arab Shooting Federations and heads the organizing committee Molina in a second successful defence of his IBF heavy- year. The front-rower is the club’s second major recruit for for this sporting extravaganza, said that the event at the Jaber Al- weight title on Saturday. McCracken looked on as 2017 after also signing Scotland captain and scrum-half Ahmad International Stadium will feature participation of a myri- Joshua stopped Molina within three rounds at ad of sports clubs and federations. Moreover, he said that the Greig Laidlaw from Gloucester in the English Premiership. Manchester Arena, with promoter Eddie Hearn swiftly “It’s a big change, but I know the club and the area will event which is sponsored by Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Salem Al-Humoud announcing a deal had been struck for the Briton bring me a lot personally and from a sporting per- and Klitschko to meet in a unification showdown at spective,” Slimani told Clermont’s website. Al-Sabah, will give Kuwaiti youth the opportunity to compete to help propel the sports sector to new heights. On activities includ- Wembley Stadium on April 29. Convinced Joshua, Slimani won the Top 14 title with Stade in 27, can topple giant Ukrainian Klitschko, who will be 2015 but announced his departure at the ed in the event, he noted that the sports run the gamut from soc- cer and basketball to powerlifting and martial arts, adding that a 41 by the time the fight takes place, McCracken told start of this season, with Raphael BBC Radio Five Live: “Klitschko’s beaten big punchers Lakafia, Geoffrey Doumayrou, Hugo number of governmental booths will be set up before festivities kick off at 7 PM Saturday. Meanwhile, Al-Otaibi also highlighted before, but I think Anthony’s more than a big punch- Bonneval and coach Gonzalo that the Kuwait Disabled Sports Club (KDSC), which has recently er. “Anthony can box, can move well, has great bal- Quesada all since revealing they amassed several regional and international accolades, will be ance. Speed is the key as well - when you too will leave the Paris-based among the participants in the event as part of efforts to assimi- have his speed, they don’t see the outfit. —AFP late this segment of the population into society. — KUNA punches coming. —AFP

Magnificent seven for Katinka Hosszu at Short Course Worlds

MONTREAL: Katinka Hosszu brought the Paltrinieri, who clocked 14:21.94 for silver curtain down on a week of dominance at and Poland’s Wojciech Wojdak, who took the Short Course World Swimming bronze in 14:25.37. Championships on Sunday by clinching her Elsewhere Sunday, South Africa’s 2012 seventh gold medal of the meet. The Olympics breaststroke champion, Cameron Hungarian swimming star, affectionately van der Burgh, won gold in the 50m disci- known as the “Iron Lady” surged to victory pline. Van der Burgh took the title in in the 100m butterfly to cap a superb cam- 25.64sec, finishing ahead of Peter Stevens paign at the championships in Windsor, of Slovenia (25.85) and Brazil’s Felipe Lima Ontario. Hosszu touched the wall 55.12sec, (25.98). But there was more disappoint- taking gold ahead of Kelsi Worrell of the ment for US teenager Lilly King. King, one United States (55.22) and Japan’s Rikako of the rising stars of US swimming who Ikee 55.64. The 27-year-old Hosszu had won gold in the 100m breaststroke at the already stamped her class on the champi- Rio Olympics, finished outside the medals onships with wins in the 100m, 200m and in the 200m breaststroke. King, pipped for 400m medley as well as the 200m butterfly gold in the 100m breaststroke on Saturday, and 100m and 200m backstrokes. finished fourth in a race won by Britain’s Sunday’s final win at the WFCU Centre Molly Renshaw, who clocked 2:18.51. completes a phenomenal 2016 for Hosszu, Canada’s Lauren Wog took silver in 2:18.52 who also lit up the Rio de Janeiro Olympics while another Briton, Chole Tutton, won with three gold medals. There was more bronze with a time of 2:18.83. gold too on Sunday for South Korea’s Park Triple Olympic champion Ranomi Tae-Hwan, who added the 1,500m title to Kromowidjojo meanwhile won gold in the the 200m and 400m crowns won earlier in 50m freestyle. The Dutch sprinter, who win- the week. The win ensured Park finishes ner of Olympic gold in the 4x100m the year on a triumphant note after a freestyle relay in the 2008 Games before a tumultuous season which saw him battle to 50m/100m double in London four years lat- compete in Rio after serving a drugs ban er, took first in 23.60sec. Italy’s Silvia Di only to come away from Brazil empty- Pietro won silver in 23.90 with Madison handed. Park finished well clear of his rivals Kennedy of the United States bronze in in 14:15.51, ahead of Italy’s Gregorio 23.93. —AFP

DETROIT: Philadelphia Flyers left wing Michael Raffl (12), of Austria, cannot control the puck as it gets past Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard (35) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Detroit, Sunday. — AP Schenn scores to back Stolarz, Flyers win ninth straight

WINDSOR: Gold medalist Katinka Hosszu of Hungary shows off her medal along with DETROIT: Brayden Schenn scored 2:44 into time win against Chicago on Friday, got his earned an assist on a goal by Justin Williams silver medalist Ella Eastin, left, and bronze medalist Madisyn Cox during medal cere- overtime and Anthony Stolarz got his first sixth career shutout and improved to 8-1-0 with just under 15 minutes left. Tom Wilson monies for the women’s 200-meter individual medley at the FINA World Swimming shutout in his second career start, lifting the with a 1.65 goals-against average in 10 starts scored into an empty net with 52 seconds Championships short-course in Windsor, Ontario. — AP Philadelphia Flyers over the Detroit Red Wings this season. Cory Schneider finished with 25 remaining to seal the Capitals’ fourth straight 1-0 on Sunday night for their ninth consecu- saves for New Jersey, which lost its third victory. Washington killed five Vancouver tive win. Stolarz made 28 saves, helping straight. The Devils had an early goal disal- power plays to complete a two-game season Philadelphia outlast Jimmy Howard and the lowed after a review and another didn’t count sweep. Holtby was rarely tested in his 25th England gatecrash South Red Wings. Howard made 34 saves in his first because it came after a whistle. career shutout, the second this season. start since Nov. 23. Schenn cut in from the left Africa’s sevens party wing, skated across the top of the crease, BLACKHAWKS 3, STARS 1 WILD 3, BLUES 1 faked a backhand shot and then slid the puck Marian Hossa, Artem Anisimov and Artemi Matt Dumba, Nino Niederreiter and Mikael : England stunned South In a tense finale, Norton was sin-binned in for his eighth goal of the season and fourth Panarin scored to lead Central Division-lead- Granlund scored, Devan Dubnyk made 22 Africa 19-17 to win the Cape Town Sevens in the last minute and Kok pounced to in two games. Howard stopped Pierre- ing Chicago over Dallas. Chicago’s Scott saves and Minnesota held on to beat St. Louis on Sunday after the hosts missed a last- score in the corner. However, Geduld Edouard Bellemaire from the bottom inside Darling made 23 saves in his fifth straight start for its fourth straight win. Dumba scored for gasp conversion. missed the tricky conversion to give edge of the right circle 1:53 into overtime. while No. 1 goalie Corey Crawford recovers the second straight game in the second peri- scored a try in the final sec- England the win. from an appendectomy. Darling has permit- od and Niederreiter got his eighth goal about onds while England were down to six men, “We played well in Dubai and made the OILERS 3, JETS 2 ted just seven goals during the stretch, but seven minutes later. Granlund added an emp- but couldn’t convert as final in Cape Town, although we’re very dis- Patrik Laine shot the puck into his own net the Blackhawks have scored only nine while ty-net goal. Vladimir Tarasenko scored his England claimed a first World Series win appointed that we could not win this for midway through the third period, costing going 2-2-1. Devin Shore scored for Dallas, 14th goal of the season for St. Louis. Jake since Tokyo in 2015. “It was a tough tourna- the wonderful local supporters,” said South Winnipeg in a loss to Edmonton. Edmonton’s which lost its second straight and third in four. Allen stopped 22 shots for the Blues, who had ment,” said England captain Tom Mitchell, Africa coach . whose side finished third at the season- “We have won 11 of our 12 matches in Mark Letestu was credited with his second Dallas’ Kari Lehtonen blocked 24 shots while won five of their past seven games. opening Dubai Sevens last weekend, which the last two weeks and that is something goal of the game when Laine fired the making his fifth straight start. The 37-year-old South Africa won. we are proud of and pleased about. We did rebound of Letestu’s slap shot directly into his Hossa scored his team-leading 15th goal and DUCKS 5, SENATORS 1 “We trained all summer and this makes not play well enough in the final though own wide-open goal. Captain Blake Wheeler has three in three games. Blackhawks captain Antoine Vermette and Corey Perry each it all worth it. We were a bit disappointed and England managed to close our space put an arm around Laine to console him when Jonathan Toews missed his ninth game and had a goal and an assist and Anaheim scored last weekend and we wanted to put it right. down.” South Africa made the final on the Finnish rookie returned to the bench. The defenseman Brent Seabrook his second with a season-high three power-play goals to beat It’s been a bumpy road, but it always is.” Sunday with a 14-7 win over New Zealand 18-year-old ranks third in the NHL with 17 upper-body injuries. Ottawa. Joseph Cramarossa, Nick Ritchie and Chris Dry outpaced Mitchell to the line while England swept past Scotland 33-14. goals and is an early front-runner for the Sami Vatanen also scored, and John Gibson for the first try of the match before Richard England are now second in the World Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s top CAPITALS 3, CANUCKS 0 made 21 saves. Ryan Dzingel scored for the de Carpentier hit back to give England a 7- Series standings on 39 points, two behind rookie. Oscar Klefbom also scored and Cam Alex Ovechkin scored a power-play goal in Senators, who lost their second straight game 5 lead. Dan Norton added another try for South Africa. Talbot made 29 saves for the Oilers. Mathieu the first period and Braden Holtby made it in Southern California. Mike Condon made 10 England for a 12-5 lead at the break. But Olympic and World Series champions Perreault and Chris Thorburn had goals for the stand up, stopping 20 shots to help saves before being removed for Andrew drew the Blitzboks level Fiji are third with 32 points while Scotland Jets, who have now lost four straight games. Washington beat weary Vancouver. Hammond in the second period. Hammond early in the second half before man-of-the- and New Zealand have 27. The third leg of Connor Hellebuyck stopped 27 shots. Washington nursed a 1-0 lead until Ovechkin stopped 16 shots. —AP match Ruaridh McConnochie restored the tournament takes place in Wellington England’s lead. on January 28-29. —AFP AVALANCHE 3, MAPLE LEAFS 1 Semyon Varlamov made 51 saves, helping Colorado rebound from a miserable loss with NHL Results/Standings a victory over Toronto. The Avs lost 10-1 to Edmonton 3, Winnipeg 2; Chicago 3, Dallas 1; Colorado 3, Toronto 1; NY Rangers 5, New Jersey 0; Minnesota 3, St. Montreal on Saturday night but rebounded Louis 1; Philadelphia 1, Detroit 0 (OT); Washington 3, Vancouver 0; Anaheim 5, Ottawa 1. on the back of their Russian goaltender. Mikko Rantanen, Nathan MacKinnon and Blake Western Conference Ottawa 16 11 2 70 78 34 Comeau scored, helping last-place Colorado Central Division Boston 15 12 2 69 70 32 get its second win in nine games. Antoine WLOTLGFGAPTS Tampa Bay 14 13 2 81 81 30 Chicago 18 8 4 81 70 40 Florida 13 12 4 70 77 30 Bibeau made 26 saves in his first NHL start, St. Louis 16 9 4 79 79 36 and Jake Gardiner scored for Toronto. The Minnesota 15 8 4 75 56 34 Detroit 13 12 4 70 77 30 Leafs, who won 4-1 in Boston on Saturday, are Winnipeg 13 16 3 82 96 29 Toronto 11 11 5 79 84 27 now 0-5-1 in the second half of back-to-backs Nashville 12 11 4 78 78 28 Buffalo 10 11 6 56 72 26 this season. Dallas 11 13 6 75 96 28 Metropolitan Division Colorado 11 15 1 60 86 23 NY Rangers 20 9 1 105 70 41 Pacific Division RANGERS 5, DEVILS 0 Anaheim 15 9 5 81 75 35 Pittsburgh 18 7 3 97 84 39 J.T. Miller and Brady Skjei scored 3:50 apart Edmonton 15 11 5 93 85 35 Philadelphia 18 10 3 101 94 39 late in the second period, Antti Raanta Calgary 16 13 2 81 86 34 Columbus 17 5 4 87 56 38 stopped 19 shots for his second straight San Jose 16 11 1 68 61 33 Washington 17 7 3 72 59 37 shutout and New York beat New Jersey. Chris Los Angeles 14 11 2 71 70 30 New Jersey 12 10 6 69 82 30 Vancouver 12 15 2 67 86 26 Kreider had a goal and an assist, and Brandon Carolina 11 11 6 69 76 28 Arizona 9 13 5 62 83 23 MONTPELLIER: Montpellier’s Fijian Timoci Nagusa (L) runs with the ball next to Pirri and Jimmy Vesey also scored to give the Eastern Conference NY Islanders 11 11 5 71 81 27 Castres’ Afusipa Taumoepau during the European rugby champions cup match Rangers their first three-game winning streak Atlantic Division Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the between Montpellier and Castres on Sunday at the Altrad stadium in Montpellier, since Nov. 12-15. Raanta, starting for the third Montreal 19 6 3 91 62 41 standings and are not included in the loss column (L) southern France. — AFP time in four nights and coming off a 1-0 over-