Established 1961 25 Sports Wednesday, January 29, 2020 Qatar crowned Asian handball champions for fourth year Japan defeat Bahrain to clinch third spot

The victorious Qatar handball team with the cup. Qatar and South Korean team in action.

By Abdellatif Sharaa Olympic Committee, who represented HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, handed the champion’s cup to the winners accompanied KUWAIT: Qatar tightened its grip on the Asia by Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, President of Qatar Handball Championship title for the fourth consecutive Olympic Committee who attended the final match. time after beating South Korea 33-21 in the final match of the 19th championship held at Sheikh Saad Indoor JAPAN IN THIRD PLACE halls complex. Japan was third in the championship by defeating Performance was level during the first half despite Bahrain 27-26 in a highly exciting and fast match, bear- having Qatar ahead in the score, as Qatari players were ing in mind that both Japan and Bahrain already quali- complying with the strict tactics dictated by their fied for the World Cup finals 2021 in Egypt. Spanish coach, especially in having the 6-0 defence, Japan’s coach said he was satisfied with the per- while not being reckless during fast breaks. formance of his team ending in third place, adding that Qatar’s Francis Mazouro was excellent and scored luck was against them in the second half in the semifinal five goals, and broke the Korean defence which relied against Korea. on the 4-2 defence plan to prevent shooting from out- He said that the bronze medal is a good incentive for side the nine meters zone. the team in preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Meanwhile, Qatar increased its lead in the second as it is still too early to prepare for the World Cup. half to 17-12, taking opportunities of intercepted balls while Qatar’s goalkeeper was at his best, and alternat- ABDELHUSSEIN: BAHRAIN ing goal keepers was also successful, that in addition to QUALIFY FOR WCUP 2021 high concentration. Bahrain’s goalkeeper Mohammad Abdelhussein said he was sad for ending in fourth place, as it was better if FAHAD AL-NASSER HANDS we won a medal. He said the Bahrain team achieved THE CUP TO THE WINNERS what is more important which qualify for the World Representative of the championship patron Sheikh Cup 2021 in Egypt. He hoped the future will be better Qatari fans cheering their players during the match. Fahad Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad, President of Kuwait for Bahrain during the upcoming events. Zimbabwe restrict Stars top Lightning in OT, stop S Lanka to edge Vasilevskiy’s winning streak DALLAS: Dallas’ Jamie Benn ty-net goal for Vancouver. ahead in 2nd Test capped a two-goal night with an overtime tally as the Stars broke MAPLE LEAFS 5, HARARE: Donald Tiripano and Sikandar Raza Tampa Bay goalie Andrei PREDATORS 2 took a wicket each as Zimbabwe reduced Sri Lanka Vasilevskiy’s 10-game winning Rasmus Sandin scored his first to 122 for two in their first innings before bad light streak in a 3-2 victory over the visit- career goal to cap a two-point per- brought a premature end to the second day of the ing Lightning on Monday night. formance as visiting Toronto topped final test at the Harare Sports Club yesterday. Benn stole a clearing pass by Nashville. William Nylander scored Zimbabwe had posted 406 all out in their first Brayden Point in the extra period, a goal in his fourth consecutive con- innings and lead by 284 runs on a wicket that is and he chipped the puck past Point. test and also set up Sandin’s tally for offering little encouragement to the seamers, but He then deked Vasilevskiy for the the Maple Leafs, who posted just providing turn for the spin bowlers, which is likely unassisted winner at 2:07 of the their second win in seven games. to be the key factor in the remainder of the Test. three-on-three session. Denis Zach Hyman collected a goal and an Kusal Mendis (19 not out) and Angelo Mathews Gurianov scored, and Tyler Seguin, assist, Jason Spezza and Auston (four not out), who crafted an unbeaten double ton HARARE: Sri Lanka’s captain Dimuth Karunaratne (L) plays a shot as Zimbabwe’s Brendan Taylor (R) Esa Lindell and Blake Comeau pro- Matthews also scored goals, and looks on during the second day of the second Test cricket match between Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka duced assists for Dallas, which Frederik Andersen finished with 34 SCOREBOARD at the Harare Sports Club in Harare yesterday. — AFP improved to 16-7-2 at home and saves as Toronto avenged a pair of swept the two-game season series shutout loss to the Predators last Brief scores at close of play on the second with Tampa Bay. Stars goalie Ben season. Mikael Granlund and Viktor day of the second Test between Zimbabwe and in the first test, will resume on the third morning put a poor first day behind him as he claimed three Bishop stopped 23 shots. Steven Arvidsson scored for Nashville, and Sri Lanka at the Harare Sports Club Ground with Zimbabwe the happier of the two camps. The of the final four wickets for figures of 4-182. Stamkos notched two goals, Nikita Pekka Rinne stopped 26 shots. yesterday. home side claimed the wickets of both Sri Lanka Zimbabwe will feel well ahead in the game if Kucherov chipped in two assists, Zimbabwe 406 (S. Williams 107, S. Raza 72, openers with their scores on 44. Captain Dimuth they can pick up key wickets in the first session and Jan Rutta and Victor Hedman CAPITALS 4, CANADIENS 2 B. Taylor 62, K. Kasuza 38, C Mutombodzi 33, Karunaratne was trapped leg before wicket by off- today, having made it into the final hour on the R.Chakabva 31; L. Embuldeniya 4-182, D. de added helpers for the Lightning, Jakub Vrana and Tom Wilson spinner Raza before Oshada Fernando edged fifth day of the first test at the same venue earli- who fell to 3-6-3 against the Central each had a goal and an assist, and Silva 3-71, S. Lakmal 2-37). seamer Tiripano to wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva. er this month, only to lose by 10 wickets. It was Sri Lanka 122-2 (D. Karunaratne 44, P. Division. Vasilevskiy made 32 saves. Braden Holtby stopped 31 shots to Fernando 44) Sean Williams top-scored in the Zimbabwe first their return to the international arena having lead visiting Washington over Match situation: Sri Lanka trail Zimbabwe by innings on Monday with a superb 107 from 137 been briefly suspended by the International SHARKS 4, DUCKS 2 Montreal. Vrana now has eight goals 284 runs with eight first innings wickets in hand. balls. With the hosts resuming day two on 352 for Cricket Council last year because of government Patrick Marleau and Stefan to go along with three assists during six, Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya interference. — Reuters Noesen scored two goals each to a nine-game point streak. Travis help San Jose end a three-game los- Boyd and Nicklas Backstrom also ing streak with a win against visiting scored goals for the Capitals, who Australia. Awarded a central contract by the Anaheim. Marleau’s first goal was won their fourth straight game while Verma takes a Indian board earlier this month, Shafali was then his 1,100th point with the Sharks. His improving their road record to an signed up by the same sports marketing company second goal moved him past Rod NHL-best 19-6-1. Jeff Petry and which represents the country’s top badminton Brind’Amour for 50th on the NHL’s Dale Weise scored goals for the short cut to player PV Sindhu and male cricketer Ravindra all-time points list (1,185). San Jose Canadiens, who had a two-game Jadeja. Her father, who runs a small jewellery shop, goalie Aaron Dell made 26 saves. win streak snapped. Carey Price fin- women’s team has been a stubborn supporter of his daughter’s Ondrej Kase scored short-handed, ished with 36 saves. cricket dream but gave her a deadline to realise it. Nick Ritchie scored on a late power NEW DELHI: Shafali Verma’s journey to become “I’d told her, ‘The first 19 years of your life are play, and John Gibson made 27 DEVILS 4, SENATORS 3 (SO) part of the India women’s cricket team began with yours — chase your dream. If you can’t make it saves for the Ducks, who lost for the Kyle Palmieri scored the tying a haircut. Growing up in Haryana, a state well big by 19, you’ll follow what I say.’” fifth time in seven games. goal late in the third period, and known for its male bias and skewed sex ratio, the Verma is well on her way to “making it big” and New Jersey prevailed in a shootout 10-year-old Verma enrolled in the Shree Ram her father is building a gym for her on the first CANUCKS 3, BLUES 1 to snap a three-game skid with a Narain Cricket Academy but was banned from floor of their modest house in Rohtak. With J.T. Miller scored twice as victory at Ottawa. Palmieri, who has playing in the male-only tournaments as organis- women wrestlers from Haryana wining medals at Vancouver extended its home-ice 13 points in 14 games, tied the ers said she might get hurt. the Olympic and Commonwealth Games, Sanjeev unbeaten streak with a win over St score at 3 when he buried a touch Frustrated but undeterred, she had a plan. “It said a wind of change was blowing through the Louis. The Canucks are 9-0-0 in pass from Jesper Bratt off a Shafali Verma was her idea,” her father Sanjeev told Reuters conservative state. their past nine home games, tying rebound with 3:21 left in regulation. from the northern city of Rohtak. “She said, ‘What “The success of Sakshi Malik and the Phogat the fourth-longest home winning Nikita Gusev and Jack Hughes then if I crop my hair? I don’t think anyone would sisters inspired many girls,” he said. “Shafali had “For some reason, parents were not very keen streak in franchise history. The scored in the shootout, and New notice I’m a girl.’” no girl to play with in the locality. Now there are to let their daughters play cricket,” her father streak has powered Vancouver to a Jersey goalie Mackenzie Thankfully for Verma, and Indian cricket, nearly 30 girls in that academy alone.” Manabendra told Reuters. “So Richa had no other 12-3-0 record in its past 15 games, Blackwood stopped attempts by nobody did. “Nobody noticed her among the boys option but to play with boys at a local club.” and to first place in the Pacific Anthony Duclair and Drake and she got important match experience,” said ‘NEVER CHICKENED OUT’ Convinced of her potential, Manabendra took Division. St Louis dropped to 0-2-1 Batherson. Blackwood finished with Sanjeev. “It was an important decision we made. Fellow 16-year-old Richa Ghosh’s story is not his daughter to Kolkata and even before reaching in its past three games. The Blues 35 saves. Marcus Hogberg stopped Her career could have been nipped in the bud.” too dissimilar. Her passion for cricket clashing with her teens she had made the state’s under-19 took their first regulation loss of the a career-high 50 shots for Ottawa, That career has now blossomed, with the 16- cultural expectations, Ghosh lacked opportunities team, eventually earning a place in the senior season (21-1-6) after scoring first in which failed in a bid to win consec- year-old Verma earning a place in the national to play in Siliguri, a bustling town nestled at the side which also had former India captain Jhulan the game. Zach Sanford scored for utive games for the first time since side for next month’s Twenty20 World Cup in foothills of the Himalayas. Goswami. — Reuters St. Louis. Bo Horvat netted an emp- Nov. 19-22. — Reuters