GOLF | Page 4 TENNIS | Page 7 An and Im Top seed lead as Spieth Tsitsipas in entertains in Washington Greensboro quarter-fi nals

Saturday, August 3, 2019 FOOTBALL Dhul-Hijja 2, 1440 AH Guardiola slams GULF TIMES Klopp over’ fantasy land’ jibe SPORT Page 2

CRICKET / 1ST ASHES TEST Burns’ maiden Test century ‘It was an enjoyable experience. It felt a little bit diff erent to the frustrates Australia Ireland Test... it was something’

AFP Birmingham, United Kingdom Scorecard

AUSTRALIA 1st innings 284 Extras (b5, lb7, w2) 14 ory Burns’ unbeaten ENGLAND 1st innings (o/n 10-0) Total (4 wkts, 90 overs) 267 maiden Test century saw him defy Australia R. Burns not out 125 Fall of wickets: 1-22 (Roy), 2-154 for more than six-and- J. Roy c Smith b Pattinson 10 (Root), 3-189 (Denly), 4-194 (But- a-halfR hours as he led a deter- tler) J. Root c and b Siddle 57 mined England batting eff ort in Bowling: Cummins 21-6-65-1; the Ashes opener at Edgbaston J. Denly lbw b Pattinson 18 Pattinson 17-2-54-2 (1w); Siddle yesterday. J. Buttler c Bancroft b Cummins 5 21-5-43-1; Lyon 28-4-79-0; Wade England were 267-4 at stumps B. Stokes not out 38 1-0-7-0 (1w); Head 2-1-7-0; on the second day of the fi rst Test, just 17 runs behind Austral- ia’s fi rst-innings 284. ing off -spinner Nathan Lyon’s wicket and so feeding him runs Ashes debutant Burns was 125 sharply turning fi rst ball. on the legside. not out, with the Surrey left- The star batsman had an even By the time they went over the handed opener, whose innings luckier break on nine when given wicket to him, Burns was well set. started on Thursday, receiv- out caught behind off Pattinson Nevertheless Burns, whose ing a huge ovation from a crowd only for his review to reveal the previous highest score in eight chanting his name as he walked ball had hit the off stump without Tests was the 84 he made against off . dislodging a bail. the West Indies at Bridgetown in England vice-captain Ben Meanwhile Burns was con- January, still spent 36 balls in the Stokes was 38 not out, having tent to pick off anything loose, ‘nervous 90s’. helped Burns add an unbroken 73. including an over-pitched ball But a quick single off Lyon It was all a far cry from Eng- from Pat Cummins he on-drove eventually saw Burns, the man land’s fi rst innings 85 in their for four. whom England hope will fi ll a Test win over Ireland at Lord’s Root had another moment of position at opener that has be- last week with Burns, twice out good fortune when given out lbw come even more of a problem for for six in that match, telling Sky to recalled paceman Peter Siddle them since their all-time leading Sports: “It was quite an enjoyable on 14. run-scorer Alastair Cook’s inter- experience. But in a match already full of national retirement last year, to “It felt a little bit diff erent overturned decisions, his imme- three fi gures in 224 balls includ- to the Ireland Test. That stand diate review revealed an inside ing 14 fours. rocking, this place going... it was edge. Lyon, one of England’s chief quite something. I’ve got my own Root cashed in as he too, like tormentors during their 4-0 song as well. I didn’t think I was Burns, completed a 110-ball fi fty. Ashes series loss in Australia in going to have one!” But frustratingly for Root, 2017/18, ended the day with a Meanwhile, Australia assistant whose conversion rate of fi fties to wicketless return of none for 79 coach Brad Haddin admitted: “It hundreds is relatively poor — 42 in 28 overs. was a tough day. I thought Eng- to 16 — he fell soon afterwards Earlier, Burns could only watch land deserve credit for the way when he chipped a Siddle slower as Joe Denly and Jos Buttler fell they played.” ball back to the bowler, who took cheaply after tea to leave England Australia’s total had been built a fi ne one-handed catch to end a 194-4. on a superb 144 from Steve Smith second-wicket partnership of 132. But all-rounder Stokes helped in the former captain’s fi rst Test England’s Rory Burns in action on second day of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham, United Kingdom, yesterday. (Reuters) Australia’s pacemen allowed revive the innings and kept the since a 12-month ban for his role the ungainly Burns, who tilts his runs coming even when Australia in a ball-tampering scandal in team-mate Jason Roy on six. Australia at Edgbaston last month. to Smith at second slip, with to lead from the front. head towards the right before took the new ball. South Africa. Roy made a blistering 85 in But he never looked comforta- England then 22-1. every ball in a bid to compensate Australia hold the Ashes but England resumed on 10-0 with eventual champions England’s ble on Friday and, on 10, he edged England captain Joe Root had FORTUNE FAVOURS ENGLAND for a dominant left eye, to settle they have not won a Test series Burns four not out and Surrey World Cup semi-fi nal win over fast bowler James Pattinson low returned to number three in a bid But he was almost bowled leav- by repeatedly bowling around the away to England in 18 years.

COMMENT SELECTION Smith ‘in from the cold’ with epic ton: Aussie media Mohamed replaces

AFP after his 24th Test ton. “He has injured Russell in been through a lot and this had been a long time coming.” Windies T20 squad teve Smith’s heroic cen- ‘TOTALLY EMBARRASSED tury against England was ENGLAND’ AFP hamed into the squad for hailed as one of the all- The Australian’s cricket writer Lauderhill, United States the fi rst two T20 matches time great Ashes hundreds Peter Lalor wrote that it was “like here in Florida. He is a play- yesterdayS by a gleeful Australian he never left” and “it made you er with lots of experience media who declared he had “come wonder how the team ever coped est Indies in all three formats,” said in from the cold” after his ball- without him”. called up Jason interim West Indies head tampering ban. Lalor said he had gone “some Mohamed yes- coach Floyd Reifer. The former captain, playing his way to leaving the past behind terday as cover “It is not easy to the fi ll fi rst Test since a year-long sus- with the magnifi cent innings”, Wfor the injured Andre Rus- the shoes of someone like pension left him shamed and hu- while the Herald Sun sell for this weekend’s two Andre Russell, who has miliated, smashed a superb 144 to was more emphatic, declaring he T20 matches against India dominated T20 cricket all rescue his team on the opening day was “back in from the cold”. in the United States. over the world and helped of the fi rst Test at Edgbaston. “Steve Smith scored one of the Mohamed, 32, has cap- West Indies win the ICC He won plaudits not only for the all-time great Ashes hundreds and tained West Indies in both T20 World Cup on two oc- masterful knock as wickets tum- totally embarrassed England with limited-overs formats and casions. bled around him, but for doing so a day one performance at Edg- returns to the international “We believe Jason is ca- against a barrage of boos by a par- baston that has been immediately fold for the fi rst time since pable of good performances tisan crowd keen to remind him added to Test folklore,” the tabloid July 2018. and we back him to perform of the ‘Sandpapergate’ scandal in wrote. “His passion is well and Russell had originally at this level and win games South Africa. truly back and all of Australia are been selected despite con- as well.” Some English fans even donned better for it.” tinuing his recovery from The first two T20s masks of Smith depicting him Even sections of the English a knee injury that saw him against India will take breaking down in tears last year, media recognised the achieve- leave the World Cup early. place on August 3 and 4 at while others chanted, “We saw ment, with The Guardian saying: He withdrew from the the Broward County Stadi- you cry on the telly”. is airing the Ashes Tests in Aus- proved that true legends of the since Smith last padded up in a “Steve Smith enters as the panto- squad for the India series um in Lauderhill, Florida, “When Australians woke up this tralia, said on its website. game may falter, but never truly Test match 17 months ago, “some mime villain, but departs a hero. after experiencing dis- with the third to be held in morning, eager to check the news “Of an ex-captain who had fall.” things never change”. “The Australian batsman was comfort while playing at Guyana. from the evening, they heard of to fi ght to regain the trust of his The Sydney Morning Herald “The former captain no longer booed on his way to the crease, but the T20 tournament in The two sides will also the ultimate redemption story,” teammates and the Australian said that despite all the upheaval leads this team in name but he is 144 runs later left to applause from Canada. contest three ODIs and two broadcaster Channel Nine, which public, and of an ex-captain who and turnover in Australian cricket once again its backbone,” it said all around the ground,” it noted. “We welcome Jason Mo- Tests. Gulf Times 2 Saturday, August 3, 2019 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT FOCUS Frappart to become fi rst Guardiola slams Klopp female referee to offi ciate UEFA Super Cup

Reuters over ‘fantasy land’ jibe London tephanie Frappart will become the fi rst female offi cial to take charge of ‘Of course it bothers me because it’s not true that we spend £200mn in every transfer market’ a major UEFA competi- tionS match when Liverpool face AFP we had to do it,” he said. “But we can- Chelsea in the Super Cup in Manchester, United Kingdom not spend £200mn every season. For Istanbul on Aug. 14, European example, last season Liverpool spent football’s governing body said more than £200mn, and they cannot do yesterday. anchester City manager it this season, but it’s the same. Frappart, 35, was the fi rst fe- Pep Guardiola has hit back “Today clubs cannot spend a lot male referee to offi ciate a French at Liverpool boss Jurgen of money every single season. I don’t Ligue 1 match when she took Klopp’s claim the Premier know about other clubs, but if they can charge of Amiens against Stras- MLeague champions operate on a trans- do it, they can do it. That’s why there is bourg in April and also became fer “fantasy island”. Klopp named City, fi nancial fair play and if something is the fi rst woman to be named in along with Real Madrid, Barcelona and wrong, clubs that are not correct will be the pool of Ligue 1 referees for Paris Saint-Germain, as teams who can punished. That’s a reality.” next season. carry on spending millions seemingly The Spanish manager led City to an She also offi ciated the wom- regardless of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play unprecedented domestic treble last en’s World Cup fi nal last month, restrictions. season but said it counts for nothing where the United States beat “It looks like there are four clubs in when the new season gets underway. the Netherlands. Her assistants the world who can do it constantly. Ma- “We won almost every trophy (last sea- from that game in Lyon (Manue- drid, Barcelona, City and PSG. What- son), not all of them,” Guardiola said. la Nicolosi and Michelle O’Neal) ever they need, they do,” Klopp had “It was quite remarkable. We know will be on the team of offi cials said. City and Liverpool meet tomorrow each other better now than the fi rst sea- for UEFA’s curtain raiser to the in the Community Shield, the curtain son. That’s easier for our job. We start season. raiser for the English top-fl ight season. from zero now, we start again. But we “The potential for women’s And Guardiola lit the fuse on the are ready to accept the challenge.” football has no limits and I am early clash between the two teams who Guardiola also reserved praise for delighted that Stephanie Frap- are likely to slug it out for the Premier Klopp, having faced him many times part has been appointed to of- League title when he insisted Klopp was in the Bundesliga, too, when he was fi ciate at this year’s UEFA Super wrong to fl oat the idea City only suc- at Bayern and Klopp was at Borussia Cup,” UEFA President Aleksand- ceed because they out-spend everyone. Dortmund. Liverpool ran City close in er Ceferin said. “I hope the skill “It bothers me,” Guardiola told re- a tense Premier League title race last and devotion that Stephanie has porters yesterday. “Of course it bothers season, narrowly fi nishing one point shown throughout her career to me because it’s not true that we spend behind the champions on the fi nal day, reach this level will provide in- £200mn in every transfer market. That but Klopp did later lead his side to their spiration to millions of girls and is not true. This is Liverpool, ‘you’ll sixth European Cup. women around Europe and show never walk alone’ and all that, so it’s not “(He is a) class manager, top man- them there should be no barriers a small team. It’s Liverpool. So of course ager,” Guardiola said. “He played quite in order to reach one’s dream.” I do not like it because it is not true. Last similar in Dortmund an incredible chal- Switzerland’s Nicole Petignat season we had a net spend of £17mn on lenge every time we face his teams and was the fi rst female referee to one player.” his message is always positive. I think offi ciate in UEFA matches when That one individual was Riyad Mah- he’s so good for football. His message she was put in charge of three rez, and his transfer fee of £60mn is always positive, sometimes some ex- UEFA Cup qualifying round ($72.7mn) was dwarfed by Liverpool’s ceptions but most of the time always games between 2004 and 2009. £75mn swoop for Virgil van Dijk and good.” The Super Cup is an annual then world record for a goalkeeper of Guardiola confi rmed goalkeeper match played between the win- £67mn on Alisson Becker. This summer, Manchester City’s head coach Pep Guardiola. (AFP) Claudio Bravo, who missed the majority ners of the Champions League City broke their transfer record with the of last season due to an Achilles injury, and the Europa League. £62mn capture of Atletico Madrid mid- ish giants, with Real and Barca both cepts that his major reinforcements more measured since then. would play in the season’s curtain raiser Liverpool beat Tottenham fi elder Rodri. spending more than £100mn on a sin- were made in 2017 when he signed Kyle “Two seasons ago if we spent a lot tomorrow and that all South American Hotspur in the Champions But that is nothing compared with gle player in Eden Hazard and Antoine Walker, Ederson, Bernardo Silva, Ben- it’s because I took over the team and we players except for Fernandinho were League fi nal last season while the extravagances of the two Span- Griezmann respectively. Guardiola ac- jamin Mendy and Danilo, but it has been had 10 or 11 players over 30 years old, so back in training. Chelsea defeated Arsenal in the Europa League fi nal. MAN CITY WANT BAYERN TARGET SANE TO STAY, SAYS GUARDIOLA

Manchester: Manchester City boss Pep row’s Community Shield match against Liv- club released a statement saying the re- Guardiola said that German winger Leroy erpool. “It’s impossible for me to convince ports “do not correspond to the facts”. Sane has not requested a transfer away any player to stay when he wants to leave The Premier League transfer window from the Premier League club amid interest but the player did not tell me anything. If he closes a day before the season begins on from Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich. says he wants to leave, we will speak to the Aug. 9 and Guardiola said he hoped other The transfer saga has dogged Guardiola club. He didn’t tell me that. We want him to European leagues would follow suit so man- throughout City’s pre-season tour in Asia stay, we have tried to extend the contract agers know the final makeup of their squad and the Spaniard reiterated his stance for more than a year. We were quite close before the first game of the season. that he wants to retain the services of the and now it’s a little bit diff erent but that’s “In many ways England lead in many 23-year-old whose 10 goals and 10 assists the reality, I can’t say any more.” aspects so hopefully the rest of Europe will helped the club defend their league crown. Bayern have been chasing Sane’s signa- follow,” Guardiola added. “I think it’s the “I answered many times this question (on ture but rumours of the Germany interna- best before the first game for the Premier Sane’s future), I know the rumours exist,” tional making the decision to move were League you know exactly what players you Guardiola told reporters ahead of tomor- put to rest on Thursday when the Bavarian will play for the rest of the season.”

PREMIER LEAGUE GERMAN SUPER CUP United agree £80mn Bayern renew battle with Dortmund deal to buy Maguire AFP from Leicester: reports Berlin ayern Munich resume their power struggle with Borussia Dortmund today for the German Super Cup with the Bavarians chasingB Manchester City star Leroy Sane to reinforce their squad. The blockbuster Bundesliga curtain- raiser in Dortmund once more pits Ger- many’s top clubs together after Bayern held off a spirited Dortmund challenge to land a seventh straight league title on the fi nal day of last season. “This is the fi rst title that is important to us,” said Bayern star Thomas Mueller a fortnight before the new Bundesliga sea- son starts. “The game has a certain ex- plosiveness. We want to show that we are AFP 10.5mn euros of add-ons. De ready — we’ll put our all into it.” London Ligt’s compatriot Virgil van Dijk As defender Niklas Suele put it, Bay- cost Liverpool £75mn when he ern “want to give a sign” they remain the moved from Southampton in team to beat in Germany. Dortmund have arry Maguire is set January 2018. Maguire becomes recruited hard, signing wingers Thorgan to become the world’s United’s third summer signing Hazard and Julian Brandt — the latter Bayern held off a spirited Dortmund challenge to land a seventh straight league title on the final day of last season. (AFP) most expensive de- following full-back Aaron Wan- currently sidelined by injury — and luring fender after Manches- Bissaka and Daniel James, who Mats Hummels back from Bayern to beef Pep Guardiola to apologise for recruit- the fi nal of their pre-season tournament. weeks,” moaned Mueller. Hter United agreed to pay Leicester arrived from Crystal Palace and up the defence. And while Bayern added ing Sane aggressively following criticism Frenchman Kingsley Coman, who suf- “This guy Jerome Boateng does us City £80mn ($97mn) according Swansea respectively. Maguire French world champions Lucas Hernan- from Bayern’s senior fi gures. fered a recurrence of a serious ankle in- good,” he added in his team-mate’s de- to media reports yesterday. made 69 Premier League appear- dez and Benjamin Pavard, City winger “We’re all well advised to not talk jury last season, “only” bruised his knee fence. This will be Dortmund’s fi rst The 26-year-old central de- ances for Leicester after joining Sane is the marquee player they crave. about players still under contract,” said against Spurs, Bayern confi rmed. Fellow key test after winning six pre-season fender – coveted by United since from Hull City in 2017 and signed According to reports, Bayern have ta- sports director Hasan Salihamidzic while winger Serge Gnabry is also doubtful with friendlies — including a 3-2 victory over he starred as England reached a new fi ve-year contract with the bled a bid of around 90mn euros ($85mn) chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge also a leg knock, but Kovac indicated both Champions League holders Liverpool last the World Cup semi-fi nals – is Foxes last September. — which would be a club record. They criticised Kovac’s bold statement. On players “will be back soon”. month on their US tour. to undergo a medical at United United’s transfer business is have even reportedly pushed taking the Wednesday, Kovac insisted “what I said It will be interesting to see if Jerome They posted a 4-1 win over St Gallen over the weekend, according to unlikely to stop there with a po- offi cial team photo back to September in was true” as he still believes in the deal Boateng features after coming off the on Tuesday in their Swiss training camp Sky Sports and the BBC. tential swap deal involving Ar- the hope the 23-year-old will have joined with the transfer window to close in a bench against Spurs and missing the cru- with captain Marco Reus scoring their Maguire’s fee out-strips Dutch gentinian striker Paulo Dybala by then. month’s time. cial penalty in the shoot-out. Bayern are fourth. “The Super Cup is very important international Matthijs van Ligt joining them from Juventus and Head coach Niko Kovac initially de- Exactly who will line up for Bayern keen to sell the 2014 World Cup winner, for us all — to start the season well and who in July moved to Juventus Belgian international Romelu clared “I assume we’ll get him” last week- at Dortmund is unclear. Bayern fi elded but the club’s desire to move the 30-year- show fans what we have planned,” said from Ajax for a combined fee Lukaku moving to the Italian end, but Bayern have dramatically dialled mainly reserve team players in Wednes- old on has irritated the squad. Reus. “However, it’s clear neither us nor of 75mn euros ($84.2mn) plus champions. back. Kovac phoned his City counterpart day’s defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in “We’ve been going round in circles for Bayern are at 100% yet.” Gulf Times Saturday, August 3, 2019 3 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT ROUND-UP Zenit sign winger Malcom from Barca Mbappe urges enit Saint Petersburg have signed Malcom from Barcelona after shelling out 40mn euros Z($44.4mn) for the Brazilian winger, the two clubs announced yesterday. The fee is 1mn euros less than Barcelona paid Bor- Neymar to stay deaux for him a year ago. The 22-year-old, who is yet to play for the senior Brazil side, leaves after just one season in Catalonia, during which he played 24 times in all competi- now the general manager, and tions and scored four goals. legendary goalkeeper Rogerio Malcom still had four years left Ceni, are currently fi fth in the with him at PSG on his contract but the arrival of Brazilian championship. Antoine Griezmann at the Camp Nou would likely have reduced MAKELELE JOINS CHELSEA ‘Everyone loves him and I love him so much. I don’t want him to leave the team’ his opportunities. AS MENTOR TO YOUNG STARS Former Chelsea star Claude BRAZIL CAPTAIN ALVES Makelele has returned to the HEADS HOME TO SAO PAULO Premier League club to work After 17 years playing for as a technical mentor to young the top clubs in Europe, Brazil players. Makelele is working captain Dani Alves has de- with Chelsea for the fi rst time in cided to return home, signing a 11 years after the former France three-year deal with Sao Paulo. midfi elder had coaching roles A free agent after his contract at Paris Saint-Germain, Bastia, with French champions Paris Swansea and Belgium’s Eupen Saint-Germain expired in June, since his retirement in 2011. Alves explained his decision on a Makelele made 217 Chel- Twitter video. sea appearances and won two The 36-year-old has been league titles, an FA Cup and two in Europe since he signed for League Cups during his fi ve-year Sevilla in 2002. The right back spell with the club. Meanwhile, went on to play for Barcelona, former Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Juventus and PSG, collecting Cudicini moves into a new role nine national league titles along as loan player technical coach. the way — six in Spain, one in Cudicini formed part of both Italy and two in France. He has Antonio Conte’s and Maurizio collected 40 trophies in all with Sarri’s backroom staff at Chel- club and country including three sea, but while he has not been Champions League titles with retained in Frank Lampard’s fi rst Barcelona and two UEFA Cups team set-up, he will remain at with Sevilla He has also won two the west London club. Copa Americas with Brazil, most Former Chelsea keeper Petr recently in July when he was Cech has already returned to named player of the tournament Stamford Bridge as a techni- as he captained them to victory cal advisor to bridge the gap over Peru in the fi nal at the Ma- between the coaches and the racana in Rio de Janeiro. board, while another ex- Sao Paulo, the former club player Jody Morris is Lampard’s of 1994 World Cup winner Rai, assistant manager.

Baxter quits as South Africa coach aft er Cup of Nations fl op

Johannesburg: England-born overcome minnows Namibia. Stuart Baxter quit yesterday Previously, Baxter had as South Africa coach after a flopped in an 2018 World Cup disappointing Africa Cup of Na- qualifying campaign, losing four tions (CAN) campaign in Egypt of five matches as South Africa during June and July. “I feel that finished bottom of a group won Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar (left) jokes with Kylian MBappe during a training session at the Shenzhen Universiade Stadium in Shenzhen, China, yesterday, on the eve of the I cannot continue to work with by Senegal. The Wolverhamp- French Trophy of Champions match against Rennes. (AFP) the required professionalism ton-born coach had a first stint and passion as I have done,,” coaching South Africa with little AFP ates with the team you can see what he denied, which were dismissed by Bra- I’ve had a full preseason. I’ve done more the 65-year-old said. success a decade ago, failing to Shenzhen, China means to us.” zilian police on Monday for lack of evi- this season than in the past. I am happy Baxter was widely unpopular take the country to the 2006 The 20-year-old Mbappe, who dence. “He is still the same Neymar,” said to be here and looking to give my best at with the South African public, World Cup. He is the ninth smashed 33 goals for PSG last season, also Mbappe of his teammate, who trained every training session. We want to play while the media welcomed coach to quit or be fired since rench World Cup-winner Kylian doused any lingering concerns over his with the rest of the squad yesterday. well tomorrow make a great start to the his decision to leave a job the Cup of Nations ended on Mbappe urged troubled Brazilian own plans after he talked about playing “We all know he is in very special cir- season and keep going and return to Paris reportedly worth 490,000 rand July 19 with Algeria defeating Neymar to stay at Paris Saint- “elsewhere” at the French league awards cumstances. However he is training with with the trophy.” ($33,500) a month. Reacting Senegal in the final. Former Germain yesterday as he apolo- ceremony in May. “I think it wasn’t the us and he is still performing his best “I want to improve each season. I have recently to constant criticism, Dutch star Clarence Seedorf gisedF for sparking speculation about his right place (to say that),” he told reporters which is not unusual and after all he is a to improve every aspect of my game. I’m Baxter said there were “54mn was the highest profile casualty own future at the club. in southern Chinese city. “I’d like to say very good player.” not perfect, I’m not the fi nished prod- national coaches in South Af- with defending champions Mbappe, speaking before the Champi- sorry to the players who were there, be- Mbappe said he hoped to improve on uct, I have still more to discover. I am in rica”, a reference to the 58.7mn Cameroon sacking him follow- ons Trophy against Rennes in Shenzhen, cause I spoiled the party.” his 33-goal tally next season, adding a quality squad that helps me progress population of the country. ing a last-16 loss to Nigeria. China, said Neymar was a key player for It has been a troubled few months for that Qatar-owned PSG also want to take every day and that’s great for me.” Although Bafana Bafana (The Egypt fired Mexican Javier the French league-winners who are des- Neymar, who earned a three-match ban the elusive next step in the Champions On the Champions Trophy match Boys) stunned Cup of Nations Aguirre, Namibia dumped Ricar- perate for success in Europe next season. after an altercation with a fan as Rennes League. “We’re going to try to win the two against Rennes in Shenzhen, Mbappe hosts Egypt in the round of 16, do Mannetti, Guinea ditched “Everyone loves him and I love him so stunned PSG on penalties to win the national trophies, to not leave matches to said: “Most of the players in this squad they made a timid exit against Belgian Paul Put and Tanzania much,” Mbappe said of Neymar, who has French Cup in April. Neymar also missed chance,” he said. “After that there’s the were here last year and the other have Nigeria in the quarter-finals. dropped Nigerian Emmanuel been linked with a return to his former Brazil’s triumphant Copa America cam- Champions League, which everyone’s been made aware of what happened. We They had been even more Amunike after poor campaigns. club Barcelona. “I don’t want him to leave paign on home soil after suff ering an an- looking at... we have to take that step. play them on Saturday with maximum unimpressive at the group French coaches Herve Renard the team, obviously. I want him to stay. kle injury in a warm-up friendly against We’ve found our way blocked the last few intensity. There’s a trophy at stake and stage, losing to the Ivory Coast and Sebastien Desabre left Mo- When you think about his situation and Qatar. And the 27-year-old has been em- years. It’s up to us to fi nd a way to go as far these matches are special. Above all, we and Morocco and struggling to rocco and Uganda respectively. then he plays very well and he co-oper- broiled in rape allegations, vehemently as possible. Perhaps this is the fi rst time want to win.”

SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP Celtic eye ninth straight title as Gerrard bids to lift Rangers

AFP Glasgow

teven Gerrard says Rangers will not let arch-rivals Celtic land a record-equalling ninth consec- utive Scottish Premiership title withoutS a fi ght as the new season gets under way this weekend. Celtic fi nished nine points clear of second-placed Rangers last season after turning the title race into a pro- cession once again. Even the arrival of former Liverpool star Gerrard for his fi rst season at Rangers could not galva- nise the Ibrox club enough to put Celtic under serious pressure. Celtic’s domi- nance of Scottish football is so com- plete that they have won the domestic Celtic’s dominance of Scottish football is so complete that they have won the domestic treble for the past three seasons. (Celtic FC) treble for the past three seasons. Champions for the past eight years, to the top remains in doubt after they ers shared two wins apiece from their Standing in Gerrard’s way is Celtic fi elder does not believe the title race is priorities are getting into the Champi- only twice since 2011 have Celtic fi n- fi nished his debut season without a league meetings last season, with Ger- boss Neil Lennon, who is an old hand a forgone conclusion. “People will say ons League, which would be fantastic. ished fewer than 10 points ahead of the trophy. But ahead of his side’s opener at rard certain his team will be better dur- at the fi ght for Scottish supremacy af- it’s a two-horse race. But the likes of A great sort of foothold in the season,” second-placed team in the fi nal table. If Kilmarnock tomorrow, the 39-year-old ing this campaign after he learned les- ter leading the Hoops to four title tri- Aberdeen, Hibs and Hearts will want to he said. “And then the main priority is Celtic lift the trophy for a 51st time this is adamant he can cope with the pres- sons during his fi rst year at the helm. umphs in his two spells at Parkhead. have a say in it as well,” Lennon said be- the championship, which is the same season they will equal their own record sure of dethroning Glasgow rivals Celt- “I know where we went wrong. I Celtic’s Scottish Cup fi nal victory over fore today’s clash against St Johnstone. every season.” run of nine straight titles (1966-74) and ic. “I knew what I was facing here when came into a big job and thought I knew Hearts in May earned Lennon the job “The league will be very competitive, as the run of Rangers (1989-97). I signed up for it 12 months ago. It will what was coming my way,” he said. “A on a permanent basis after he replaced it always is. We just have to make sure FIXTURES (ALL 1400 GMT) The last genuinely competitive title be the same, if not more, this season, lot of things didn’t surprise me but cer- Brendan Rodgers on an interim basis in we are at the top of it come the end.” Today: Celtic v St Johnstone, Hibernian race came in 2010/11, when Rangers but that’s what I live for,” Gerrard said . tain things did and I had to learn and February following his predecessor’s Lennon’s priorities are more domes- v St Mirren, Livingston v Motherwell, won the most recent of their 54 Scottish “The day I’m not up to that pres- improve. I can’t be putting it all on the move to Leicester. tic success and coming through the Ross County v Hamilton crowns after fi nishing one point above sure, when I’m not up for taking on players here. Together we need to fi nd Under Rodgers and Lennon, Celtic Champions League qualifying rounds Celtic. Whether the inexperienced that responsibility, I won’t be standing better consistency if we want to chal- have sucked all the drama out of the to reach the group stage, which would Tomorrow: Kilmarnock v Rangers Gerrard is the man to lead Rangers back here talking to you.” Celtic and Rang- lenge Celtic in the league.” title race, but the former Hoops mid- be a signifi cant boost to morale. “The (1230), Aberdeen v Hearts (1400 GMT) Gulf Times 4 Saturday, August 3, 2019 SPORT

GOLF BOXING Canelo loses IBF belt aft er An and Im lead as Spieth title defence deal collapses AFP Los Angeles entertains in Greensboro iddleweight world champion Canelo Alvarez has been South Korean duo An and Im card eight-under-par 62 to lead by one stroke stripped of his In- Mternational Boxing Federation Reuters belt after failing to agree terms Greensboro, US on a mandatory title defence, his promoter Oscar De La Hoya re- vealed yesterday. outh Koreans An Byeong-hun Alvarez, who also holds the and Im Sung-jae posted their World Boxing Association and best scores on the PGA Tour to World Boxing Council titles, has share the fi rst-round lead at the been forced to relinquish his IBF WyndhamS Championship on Thursday crown after negotiations for a Im Sung-jae of South Korea plays a shot during as Jordan Spieth displayed a wondrous the second round of the Wyndham Championship fi ght with Ukraine’s Sergiy Der- putting touch to match his lowest score at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, evyanchenko fell through. of the season. North Carolina, on Thursday. (AFP) “We are extremely disap- An and Im, both bogey-free in ide- pointed at the IBF for forcing the al conditions for low scoring, carded world’s best fi ghter to relinquish eight-under-par 62 to head Canadian his world title,” said a furious De Mackenzie Hughes, South Africa-born La Hoya, a multiple world cham- Slovakian Rory Sabbatini and Ameri- pion belt holder himself before cans Patrick Rodgers and Johnson Wag- becoming a promoter. ner by one stroke. “We off ered his (Derevy- But nobody provided more entertain- anchenko’s) team an unprec- ment at Sedgefi eld Country Club than edented amount of money for a three-times major champion Spieth, fi ghter of his limited stature and who made a couple of unlikely bogeys limited popularity, but the truth that complemented six birdies and an is that I’m now certain they nev- eagle in a 64. Spieth sank a 15-foot putt er had any intention of making a to salvage bogey at the par-three 12th deal,” he said. and, suitably buoyed, played the next “But instead they wanted to fi ve holes in fi ve under par. force us to relinquish Canelo’s But the Texan, whose long game this belt. This is an insult to boxing year has been marred by inconsist- and more importantly an insult ency, proceeded to block his drive out- to the boxing fans of the world.” of-bounds at the par-four 18th. Never He said he plans to aggres- mind, he duly sank a 20-foot putt to sively consider all legal actions limit the damage to just one dropped possible. Derevyanchenko’s shot. “Sometimes bogey saves are mas- promoter, Lou DiBella, did not sive. Hopefully, the one on 18 will give comment about what went down some momentum for tomorrow,” said with Golden Boy, only saying: the former world number one. “I can confi rm that we did not “You want putts for birdie. You want reach a deal by the IBF deadline.” to be hitting greens in regulation. I did Alvarez, who won the IBF a pretty good job of that on the back belt in May after beating Daniel nine until the last hole, but really two Jacobs in 12 rounds, had been ex- bad swings today kept it from being my pected to fi ght Derevyanchenko lowest round on the PGA Tour. There’s a in October after recently electing lot of good in that.” to skip his traditional September Spieth is a lowly 67th in the tour’s fi ght date. The Athletic reported FedEx Cup standings and was a late en- yesterday that Derevyanchenko try to the tournament, where he hoped is now set to enter negotiations to improve his position before the start with former champion Gennadiy of the playoff s next week. He acknowl- Golovkin for a potential fi ght for edged that his confi dence was still a the now-vacant IBF belt. work in progress. “I just got real quick (with those bad swings),” he said. “I know they’re still in the bag right now, so I’ve got a little bit of scar tissue left.” The 21-year-old Im, meanwhile, who is also chasing a fi rst PGA Tour win after two victories in 2018 on the Web.com were rolling pure, so I needed to make a had a sense this week that I might play 63 — Mackenzie Hughes (CAN), Rory Andrew Landry, Paul Casey (ENG), Pat- Tour, matched An virtually shot-for- lot of birdies out there,” said the world well,” said the world number 65, speak- Sabbatini (SVK), Patrick Rodgers, ton Kizzire, Bud Cauley 66 — Bill Haas, shot with his 62, which also comprised number 55. ing via an interpreter. South African Johnson Wagner 64 — Josh Teater, Tom Hoge, Roberto Castro, Satoshi eight birdies and 10 pars. Im, who start- “Didn’t miss any short putts. One Ernie Els withdrew on his sixth hole be- Webb Simpson, Brandt Snedeker, Brice Kodaira (JPN), Austin Cook, Kim Si-woo ed on the back nine, birdied two of his good round won’t do it, so I need to keep cause of a back problem. Garnett, Seamus Power (IRL), Ryan (KOR), Chez Reavie, Harold Varner III, fi nal three holes to grab a share of the it up and make a lot of birdies. I’ve been Armour, Ted Potter Jr, Jordan Spieth, Viktor Hovland (NOR), Brady Schnell, lead. playing well the last couple weeks, so I LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA) Alex Prugh, Brian Stuard, Shawn Ste- Co-leader An said it had been impor- like how everything is kind of clicking (par 70; USA unless stated) fani, Cameron Smith (AUS), Collin Mori- together, my long game and putting.” 65 — Martin Laird (SCO), Joel Dahmen, tant to take advantage of calm morning kawa, Martin Kaymer (GER), Charles conditions and greens softened by tor- Im matched An’s score in the after- 62 — An Byeong-hun (KOR), Im Sung- JT Poston, Sepp Straka (AUT), Denny Howell III, Zach Sucher, Cameron Davis rential rain on Wednesday. “The greens noon. “I had a lot of birdie chances. I jae (KOR) McCarthy, Kyle Stanley, Matthew Wolff , (AUS)

FOCUS WOMEN’S BRITISH OPEN International captain Els fails to get Buhai leads by three strokes Reuters jor winner, joining Sally Little, who won the 1980 Milton Keynes, England KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the 1988 a say in Royal Melbourne set-up du Maurier Classic. Shibuno, a JLPGA rookie, is playing in her fi rst major competition outside her Reuters outh Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai remained alone home tour. After opening with a 66 on Thursday, Greensboro, US atop the leaderboard yesterday after the she followed up with a steady four-birdie, one- second round of the Women’s British Open, bogey round of 69. American Lizette Salas stands the LPGA’s fi fth and fi nal major champion- alone in third place at 8 under after fi ring a bogey- nternational captain Ernie Els says he shipS of 2019. For the second straight night and fi rst free round of 67. will have no say in the set-up of Royal time since she turned professional in 2007, Buhai Knotted in a tie for fourth at 7 under are France’s Melbourne for the Presidents Cup but will sleep on the 36-hole lead at a major after card- Celine Boutier (66), England’s Bronte Law (67), still thinks his knowledge of a venue ing a bogey-free 5-under 67 at Woburn Golf Club, Germany’s Caroline Masson (68), Rolex Rankings Iwhere he holds the course record could help located in Milton Keynes, England. No. 2 Sung Hyun Park (70) of South Korea and Eng- his players in their quest for victory. The 30-year-old from Johannesburg had a fl aw- lish star Charley Hull (70), who has been a member The powerful United States team for the less round that featured fi ve birdies, including four at Woburn since age 11. biennial event will clearly be the stronger over a six-hole stretch on the back to extend her Hot on their heels at 6 under and tied for ninth on paper and the Internationals will need lead to three shots and a 12-under-par total of 132 are Englishwoman and defending champion Geor- every advantage they can possibly mus- over Japan’s Hinako Shibuno, who shot 69 and gia Hall (69), Spain’s Carlota Ciganda (69), 2016 ter in December to prevail for the fi rst time stands alone in second place at 9 under. champion Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand (70), since 1998. In the Ryder Cup, the home team Buhai’s best major fi nish came at the 2017 US American Danielle Kang (72) and Rolex Rankings captain dictates the course set-up to favour Women’s Open, where she tied for 27th. A win No. 1 Jin Young Ko (70), who is after her third major his team but in the PGA Tour-owned and would make her just the second South African ma- title of 2019. operated Presidents Cup, the American- based organisation calls the shots both home and away. South African Els said he was able to suc- cessfully negotiate with the tour several things he wanted, including the Interna- tional team being chosen from a points list based over one year instead of two to reward more recent form. Other issues, however, course set-up is out of his control, Els still eight automatic qualifi ers this time. proved non-negotiable. hopes to give his players an edge. Els will also make four captain’s picks to “The course is going to be set up by the “I’ve got a blueprint to play that course take on the Tiger Woods-led Americans. tournament offi cials and that’s a great because I’ve played it so well in the past,” he The International team, comprised of play- shame because it’s such a great course,” he said. “We’re doing a lot of planning and get- ers from outside the US and Europe, have said in an interview at the Wyndham Cham- ting the players into the mindset of the golf won the event only once in its 12 stagings. pionship. “I know it so well. I could have course even before we get there, so they’ll While that was at Royal Melbourne 21 long given my inputs though my years of playing have a good image and a strategy to play the years ago, the Americans also tasted victory down there and... tried to set it up to benefi t golf course. I feel if they can follow that style at the venue in 2011. our players. It would have been a wonderful of play, we’ll be okay.” Even if it comes too late for 2019, Els way to go into these matches but they’ve set As for his team, Els is likely to lead a very plans to keep pushing the tour to relinquish the rules. I did bring it up at our meetings diff erent roster from that which suff ered an more control to allow International teams to but I was voted down and that’s the way it is. all too familiar shellacking at the hands of chart their own future course. “We got a lot It’s not a big issue.” the Americans at Liberty National in New of things over the line (this time),” said Els, Els is not exaggerating when he says he Jersey two years ago. Only fi ve of the 12 play- who has played in the event eight times. “To knows the course well. In 2004 he shot ers on that team — Australians Adam Scott, have our own committee, our own selection 12-under-par 60 on the composite layout Jason Day and Marc Leishman, South Af- process, our own governance so to speak that is made up of 12 holes from the west rican Louis Oosthuizen and Japan’s Hideki under their umbrella, I think that’s the next South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai tees off on the eighth hole during the second round of the Women’s course and six from the east. Even if the Matsuyama — are likely to be among the step of negotiations.” British Open golf championship at Woburn Golf Club, in Milton Keynes, north of London, yesterday. (AFP) Gulf Times Saturday, August 3, 2019 5 SPORT

NBA Warriors’ Thompson dealing with ‘the pain of sports’ Reuters 2019-20 season. “I’ve heard var- overall pick in the 2011 draft out “I could not be more excited New York ying opinions about, especially of Washington State. about the group we’ve assem- medically, I don’t want to rush it He has averaged 20 or more bled,” said Vogel in a news re- ‘cause I want to play until I’m 38, points in each of the past fi ve lease. olden State Warriors 39, 40 years old,” Thompson, 29, seasons, including a 21.5 mark in “Each of these guys brings a shooting guard Klay said in the interview. 2018-19. Thompson, a fi ve-time unique set of skills and experi- Thompson called his “That’s my plan, especially All-Star, has buried more than ences that will greatly impact torn ACL, suff ered in because the way I can shoot the 200 3-pointers in seven consec- the success of our players, as we GGame 6 of the NBA Finals against ball. I would love to see the fl oor utive seasons, as well. look to build a championship- the eventual world champion this season. I don’t know when Thompson made 241 3-point- calibre team.” Toronto Raptors in June, “ob- that is.” ers last season, his third most Kidd joins the Lakers after viously the most tragic part of A few days before he under- behind 276 in 2015-16 and 268 head coaching stints with the sports,” in an in-depth interview went the surgery on his left knee in 2016-17. He holds the single- Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee with ESPN on Thursday. in early July, Thompson agreed game record of 14, set last season Bucks. He was fi red by the Bucks “I knew I did something,” to a fi ve-year, $190 million con- against the Chicago Bulls. in January 2018. Kidd, 46, ended Thompson told ESPN’s Cari tract to remain with the War- his playing career in 2013 and Champion during a promotional riors. LAKERS OFFICIALLY ADD was inducted into the Hall of event in Los Angeles. “The Warriors showed their KIDD TO COACHING STAFF Fame in 2018. He was the second “But I’ve never had the sever- loyalty and their respect for me, Hall of Fame point guard and overall pick by the Dallas Maver- ity of an ACL injury or an injury off ering me that fi ve-year deal,” former NBA head coach Jason icks in 1994. that bad. So me, personally, I Thomson said. Kidd joined the Los Angeles Lak- Hollins, 65, spent four seasons didn’t think it was that bad, “Jumped on that as soon as I ers’ coaching staff , the team an- with the Memphis Grizzlies and initially. My adrenaline was so could, just because the history nounced. replaced Kidd as the Nets’ head high being Game 6, whatever. with this team and the franchise The Lakers formally an- coach after the 2013-14 season. I thought I sprained my knee; it would be so hard to leave. And nounced new coach Frank Vo- He was fi red by the Nets in Janu- that’s all I thought it was. the feeling of, you know, unfi n- gel’s staff on Wednesday, which ary 2016. “But when I went back to the ished business, getting that close also includes former NBA head The Lakers also added Greg locker room, it swelled up a lot, in the Finals, or to the fourth coach . St. Jean, Dru Anthrop and Jon didn’t feel right. It’s just not a championship – tasting it – just Also named as Vogel’s as- Pastorek as player development good feeling when you feel help- being out of reach. sistant coaches are , coaches with additional respon- less and the team’s out there “It’s the pain of sports, but it’s , former Lakers sibilities. competing.” what keeps me motivated.” guard Mike Penberthy and Quin- Los Angeles went 37-45 last He is expected to make a full Thompson has spent his en- ton Crawford. Simon is the only season. The Lakers have not recovery and return to action tire eight-year career with Gold- assistant who was part of former made the playoff s since the during the second half of the en State since being the No. 11 coach Luke Walton’s staff . 2012-13 season.

MLB US hoops World Cup team loses Flaherty on 1-hitter Drummond, Harrell

AFP Boston guard Kemba Walker Los Angeles is the only one seeking a spot on the US team coached by Gregg Popovich. Adebayo, 22, etroit Pistons center scored 8.9 points, grabbed 7.3 as Cards rout Cubs rebounds and passed out 2.2 and Los Angeles assists a game last season for ‘The more time you put the team in a position to win, it’s going to take care of itself’ Clippers forward Miami. Memphis Grizzlies for- MontrezlD Harrell are the latest ward Jaren Jackson was added Reuters NBA players to withdraw from to the second squad that will New York the United States hopefuls’ list challenge the World Cup hope- for the Basketball World Cup. fuls during training camp. USA Basketball confi rmed Other NBA players com- ack Flaherty took a no-hitter into the pullouts Thursday and peting for a US World Cup the sixth inning, allowed one hit added center Bam spot include Sacramento’s in seven outstanding innings and Adebayo to the lineup that will Harrison Barnes, New York’s combined with two relievers on gather Monday in Las Vegas Julius Randle, Utah’s Dono- aJ one-hitter as the St. Louis Cardinals for a fi ve-day training camp van Mitchell, Toronto’s Kyle continued their surge with an 8-0 victory ahead of the global showdown Lowry, of Los over the visiting Chicago Cubs on Thurs- in China that opens on August Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee’s day night. 31. The Americans, whose fi - Brook Lopez and Khris Mid- The Cardinals won for the 17th time in nal 12-man roster will be an- dleton, Denver’s Mason Plum- 25 games and improved to 14-6 since the nounced August 17, will seek lee, Houston’s P.J. Tucker, All-Star break by collecting 14 hits. a third consecutive World Cup Boston’s Jaylen Brown, Mar- Flaherty (5-6) lost his no-hit bid on crown but many top stars have cus Smary and Jayson Tatum, his 81st pitch when Nicholas Castellanos said no to the event. Indiana’s Myles Turner and lined a clean single to right fi eld on a 2-2 LeBron James, Stephen Chicago’s Thaddeus Young. fastball. The right-hander recovered by Curry, James Harden, Anthony Lowry helped the Raptors striking out Kris Bryant and easily breezed Davis and Kawhi Leonard are with the NBA title in June. He through the seventh. among the NBA stars who will and Barnes were also members It was the second time this season Fla- be staying home. Among 11 US of the Rio Olympic gold medal herty took a no-hitter into the sixth or players on NBA All-Star teams, squad. beyond. He also had a no-hit bid for 6 1/3 innings in San Francisco on July 7 before allowing a solo homer to Evan Longoria for the game’s only run. “There are some days where you’re not in line [with the off ense], but it works it- self out,” Flaherty said. “But, then again, winners win. And if I look at myself as a winner, then I need to start getting more of those. The more time you put the team in a position to win, it’s going to take care of itself.” Flaherty struck out nine, walked two and threw 65 of 98 pitches for strikes on a night in which only one Cub reached scoring position against him. Tyler Webb and Mike Mayers pitched a hitless inning apiece to fi nish off St. Louis’ fi rst one-hit- ter since Jaime Garcia against Milwaukee Andre Drummond on April 14, 2016. The Cardinals’ starter walked Castel- lanos two batters in and a wild pitch al- lowed Castellanos to get to second. But after Castellanos walked, Flaherty retired 13 straight before allowing a four-pitch walk to Kyle Schwarber in the fourth. The Cardinals held a 2-0 lead on singles by Jose Martinez in the fi rst and Kolten Wong in the fourth before Flaherty lost St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jack Flaherty pitches against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning of their MLB game at Busch his no-hit bid. St. Louis busted the game Stadium. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports open with a four-run sixth against Jon Lester (9-7) and Derek Holland. A sin- ahead grand slam to help the Los Angeles Los Angeles added another run later in gle by Paul Goldschmidt and a double by Dodgers record an 8-2 victory over the RESULTS the sixth on Matt Beaty’s double into the Paul DeJong put runners at second and visiting San Diego Padres on Thursday right-center fi eld gap. third and an RBI base hit by Yairo Munoz night. Cardinals 8-0 Cubs Bellinger struck for more damage in the knocked out Lester. Cody Bellinger homered and drove in Dodgers 8-2 Padres seventh as his opposite-fi eld shot to left Five pitches later, Matt Wieters lifted three runs for Los Angeles, which is a ma- Rays 9-4 Red Sox eluded Wil Myers and caromed off the Holland’s 2-2 sinker into the right fi eld jor league-best 41-14 at home. A.J. Pol- wall for a two-run double to make it 8-2. seats for a three-run homer to make it lock went 3-for-4 and scored twice. Astros 7-1 Indians Renfroe started the scoring in the sec- 6-0. St. Louis increased its lead to 7-0 Left-hander Clayton Kershaw (10-2) Mets 4-0 White Sox ond inning with a 405-foot shot inside on a sacrifi ce fl y in the seventh by Munoz overcame a season-worst fi ve walks to Phillies 10-2 Giants the left fi eld foul pole off Kershaw. The off Brad Brach and scored its fi nal run in improve to 20-6 all-time against the Pa- homer made him the 14th player in San Stephenson signs with Chinese team the eighth when Lane Thomas scored on dres. Kershaw gave up two runs and six Athletics 5-3 Brewers Diego history to hit at least 30 in a season. a double-play grounder by pinch hitter hits in six innings and struck out fi ve to Blue Jays 11-2 Orioles It is the 20th overall 30-homer campaign Lance Stephenson signed a aging 7.2 points, 3.2 rebounds Rangel Ravelo. Lester allowed fi ve runs on move into third place in Dodgers’ history Marlins 5-4 Twins in club annals. one-year, $4 million contract and 2.1 assists in 16.5 minutes nine hits with six strikeouts and no walks with 2,397. Bellinger knotted the score in the sec- with the Chinese Basketball per game. Stephenson is well Braves 4-1 Reds in fi ve-plus innings. Kershaw passed legendary Sandy Kou- ond by hitting Lucchesi’s sinker 425 feet Association’s Liaoning Flying known for his antics on the The Cubs lost for the seventh time in 10 fax (2,396) when he fanned Austin Hedges off single to Pollock and back-to-back over the fence in right. The homer was the Leopards, according to Yahoo court, most notably blowing games and did not hold a lead for the fi rst for the second out in the sixth inning. Don two-out walks to Bellinger and Tyler 35th of the season for Bellinger, who had Sports’ Chris Haynes. in LeBron James’ ear during time in their 18 games since the All-Star Sutton (2,696) and Don Drysdale (2,486) White. failed to go deep in his previous 12 appear- Stephenson, 28, has spent a game and playing an air break. They also fell to 5-11 in their last 16 are the top two on the team’s list. Right-hander Trey Wingenter entered ances. nine years in the NBA playing guitar after hitting a big shot. road games and 0-9-1 in their last 10 road Hunter Renfroe smacked his 30th hom- and fell behind in the count 2-1 to Smith, Manny Machado delivered a line-drive for seven diff erent teams. His best season came in 2013- series. er of the season for the Padres, who have who was ready for a fastball and drilled single past Kershaw in the third to give the The guard spent the 2018-19 14 when he scored 14.1 points, dropped 13 of their past 18 games. it over the center fi eld fence to give the Padres a 2-1 edge. season with the Los Angeles grabbed 7.3 rebounds and SMITH’S SLAM PROPELS DODGERS San Diego held a 2-1 lead in the bot- Dodgers a 5-2 lead. Lucchesi was charged with four runs Lakers, where he appeared in dished 4.7 assists in 78 starts OVER PADRES tom of the sixth inning when left-handed Smith has six homers and 19 RBIs in 14 and four hits over 5 2/3 innings. He struck 68 games (three starts), aver- with the . Rookie catcher Will Smith slugged a go- starter Joey Lucchesi (7-6) gave up a lead- major league games. out four and walked three. Gulf Times 6 Saturday, August 3, 2019 SPORT

RUGBY PREVIEW Japan and Tonga set for World Cup Pocock returns to test in Osaka

Reuters try against the Fijians. Tokyo JAPAN STRENGTH Fellow winger Kotaro apan face Tonga in the Matshushima keeps his place Australia squad for Pacifi c Nations Cup in for the match against Tonga Osaka today in a further after a brace of tries in Ka- test of their readiness, maishi with the outside back bothJ on and off the fi eld, to department looking to be a host the Rugby World Cup for real strength for Japan at the the fi rst time next month. World Cup. With all eyes on the Sep- “Wings are very com- tember 20-November 2 tour- petitive with Mano (Lemeki), All Blacks test nament, both teams as well as Matsushima and Kenki as our organisers are viewing Satur- three senior wingers, so we Loose forward returns from calf injury, hoping to play in third World Cup in Japan day as a key test of their prep- just want to give those guys arations. an opportunity and see how Reuters Last weekend, Japan fl ew the combination goes,” said Sydney out of the blocks with four Joseph. fi rst-half tries on the way to an Tonga will be hoping for a emphatic 34-21 victory over positive response following oose forward David Pacifi c Nations Cup champi- their 25-17 loss to Samoa in an Pocock returned to the ons Fiji in Kamaishi. Apia mud bath last weekend. Australia squad for next Coach Jamie Joseph was In dire weather conditions, week’s test against New so impressed with his team’s Tonga did not help them- LZealand yesterday after missing performance that he has not selves, having two players sent most of the season through in- made the wholesale changes to the sinbin within minutes jury in a major boost for the Wal- anticipated for today’s match of each other. Coach Toutai labies ahead of the World Cup. with the weakest of the Pacifi c Kefu has brought regular cap- The 31-year-old openside Island nations. tain Siale Piutau back into the fl anker has been sidelined by a Tinkering around the edges centres to instil some much- calf injury since March 8 and was rather than testing out his needed discipline, amongst forced to skip almost the entire squad players, Joseph has made sweeping changes from the season as well as fi ve changes to his starting loss to Samoa. Australia’s fi rst two tests of the side from last weekend as he There is a change in the Rugby Championship against gets closer to his formation for halfback, with scrumhalf So- South Africa and Argentina. the World Cup opener against natane Takulua and fl yhalf The Wallabies play their fi nal Russia on September 20. Latiume Fosita between them match in the competition against “My thinking is I have pre- bringing the experience of al- New Zealand on Aug. 10 in Perth pared a team for the World most 60 tests to the side. with a return Bledisloe Cup test Cup, no more, no less,” Joseph Tonga will return to Osaka’s against the world champions in told Kyodo News. “We have a Hanazono stadium during the Auckland the following week. fair idea on who we think our World Cup for their Pool C Pocock is hoping to play in a best players are, but there are match against Argentina. third World Cup in Japan later some positions where there is With Hanazono set to host this year after being one of Aus- a lot of competition where we four matches at the World tralia’s best players in their run want to give everyone an op- Cup, today’s contest in front to the semi-fi nals in 2011 and the portunity,” added Joseph. of a sell-out crowd of 26,500 fi nal four years later in England. Captain Michael Leitch, should also prove a good test The team said Pocock and who started on the bench for tournament organisers off hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau, who against Fiji as he returns from the fi eld. has had a knee problem, would a groin injury, comes into Chief organiser J Akira Shi- be continuing their rehabilita- the starting side at blindside mazu said on Thursday that tion with the squad but the re- fl anker in place of Kazuki key lessons had been learnt turn of one of Australia’s only Himeno. “We need to get some from the test match in Kamai- genuinely world class players game time,” Joseph said. shi and they would be looking will be a huge fi llip. “Himeno was unlucky not to iron out any further opera- Promising back to stay in the team. He played tional issues in Osaka. was the only un- very well last week but we re- After today, Japan’s meet- capped player in the squad for ally wanted to give Michael ing with South Africa in Ku- the match at Perth stadium as some game time.” magaya on September 6 will coach kept faith The most surprising change be the only opportunity for with the players who beat Argen- is on the wing where Lomano organisers to host a match tina 16-10 in last week- Lava Lemeki replaces fl yer before the tournament begins end. “We were pleased to get the Kenki Fukuoka, who scored a two weeks later. win against Argentina and we years of chopping and chang- White can reprise his perform- win the tournament after the Loto, , , felt we built on some things from ing, Cheika has started to show ance from the last time he faced Springboks and the All Blacks Taniela Tupou, , the previous game against South some consistency in his squad the All Blacks in Australia in drew last week. Rob Valetini, . Cowboys Cooper focused on game, not contract Africa and now we’ll be looking selections as the World Cup ap- 2015, when he came off the Backs: Adam Ashley-Cooper, to build on that,” Cheika said in a proaches. bench to score 10 points in the SQUAD: Forwards: Allan Tom Banks, , The Dallas Cowboys’ Amari October midseason trade news release. , and Joe last 12 minutes in a 27-19 victory Alaalatoa, , Adam , Will Genia, Dane Cooper is entering the final from the Oakland Raiders, has “There’s strong belief in the Powell were the three scrum- in Sydney. White got his fi rst test Coleman, Folau Fainga’a, Haylett-Petty, , year of his rookie deal and 278 catches for 3,908 yards group and it’s showing itself in halves again selected with no start in four years in Australia’s Michael Hooper (captain), Luke , , has reason to note any big and 25 touchdowns in four how hard they’re training and room for the experienced Nick Rugby Championship opener Jones, , , , Christian contracts handed out to other seasons. The 24-year-old has how committed they are to do- Phipps or Jake Gordon, who and although they went down Isi Naisarani, , Leali’ifano, James O’Connor, wide receivers. That defi- three 1,000-yard seasons and ing whatever they need to do to played his only test last year. 35-17 to South Africa in Johan- Tatafu Polota-Nau, , Jordan Petaia, , Matt nitely includes the five-year, three Pro Bowl selections. achieve our goals.” After four Cheika might be hoping that nesburg, the Wallabies could still Rob Simmons, Lukhan Salakaia- Toomua, Nic White. $100mn extension that All-Pro He is due $13.9mn for the Michael Thomas agreed to 2019 season thanks to his with the New Orleans Saints. fifth-year option, and he will Erasmus pleased with Auckland camp ahead of Argentina decider He will become the league’s be due a bump through free highest-paid wide receiver, agency or an extension. He South Africa will leave for Argentina in initially camp before travelling on to South Africa and Argentina. holders New Zealand at the top of the with $61 million of that deal has said he’s not concerned two groups over the weekend with the Salta on Thursday for their potential “And secondly, we had some good team- Rugby Championship table going into the being guaranteed. “I don’t right now with any negotia- Rugby Championship trophy in their championship decider with Argentina on building exercises, while we used the time final round of matches in the shortened follow it, I just have social tions with the Cowboys, and sights as coach Rassie Erasmus declared August 10. together to fit in some extra training time competition this year. media,” Cooper told reporters he didn’t want to speculate their camp in Auckland a success. “We chose to stay behind in Auckland with the squad. Australia and New Zealand play in Perth Thursday when asked about on how Thomas’ deal could The Springboks elected to stay in New mainly for two reasons,” Erasmus told “We have grown into a very tight unit, so in next Saturday’s early match after which Thomas’ lucrative new deal. aff ect his own wallet. “I Zealand after last weekend’s 16-16 draw reporters yesterday. looking back at the past week I think we the Boks will have the chance to claim the “So it follows me.” mean, I don’t know if it will. with the world champions, but will now “Firstly, to cut down on the amount of ticked both those boxes.” trophy for the first time since 2009 with Cooper, in his first camp Hopefully,” Cooper said with head for Buenos Aires, where they will travelling time between New Zealand, The Boks have a one point lead over victory. with the Cowboys after an a laugh.

CYCLING Bernal, Alaphilippe lock horns in San Sebastian Classic AFP the Tour in Paris on Sunday, in- that took out Bernal last year. Madrid cluding a win at the Criterium He is in the line-up along with de Acht van Chaam in the Neth- another big-hitter Alejandro Val- erlands on Wednesday. Accord- verde, who won this race in 2008 our de France winner ing to reports, Bernal is expected and 2014. Egan Bernal will go wheel to travel home to Colombia for a There will also be a challenge to wheel again with Julian hero’s welcome next Tuesday or from Mitchelton-Scott’s Adam Alaphilippe today as the Wednesday. Yates, who won in San Sebastian Ttwo stand-out performers from In the 227.3 km race in the un- in 2015, and his twin brother Si- this year’s race meet in the one- dulating Basque country, Bernal mon. day San Sebastian Classic. will face stiff opposition, notably Dan Martin, Greg Van Avermaet The 22-year-old Colombian in the shape of defending cham- and Bauke Mollema, who missed overhauled Alaphilippe, who had pion Alaphilippe. out to Alaphilippe in last year’s held the yellow jersey for 14 stag- There are seven categorised sprint fi nish, will also be looking es, in the Alps and held on to win climbs – including two category to make up for underwhelming his fi rst Grand Tour. ones – which will suit a puncheur Tours. “We’re excited to be returning like Alaphilippe as he seeks to pull One man who will be missing is to @dklasikoa on Saturday with off a Basque double. Team Bahrain Merida rider Dylan a strong lineup for the tough one The last ascent of Murgil, a Teuns who needed 15 stitches in day race,” tweeted Bernal’s team 2.5km climb at an average of 11.3 a head wound caused by an acci- Ineos. percent, comes seven kilometres dent when driving his tractor. Bernal will not have happy from the fi nish and is perfectly The 27-year-old Belgian, who memories of San Sebastian after placed for an attack. won stage six on the Tour de crashing last year 20 kilometres New this year is the climb that France last month, bashed his (12.4 miles) from the fi nish, suf- takes the riders to the top of cate- forehead on the steering wheel of fering serious facial trauma and a gory one Erlaitz shortly after they the vehicle while gardening at his blow to the head which sidelined take on Jaizkibel, a classic feature home in Halen. him for two months. of the course. This year marks the fi rst occa- Whether the 22-year-old will Movistar were disappointed by sion that the organisers have also fi ght for victory remains to be their performance on the Tour staged a women’s race with time- seen. even though Mikel Landa battled trial world champion Annemiek He has raced in several small hard to fi nish sixth overall. Van Vleuten starting as favourite Colombia’s Egan Bernal (right), wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey rides followed by France’s Julian Alaphilippe (centre) and Spain’s events every day since winning Landa also suff ered in the crash to win the 127.1 kilometre race. Enric Mas during the 20th stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France in Val Thorens, on July 27, 2019. (AFP) Gulf Times Saturday, August 3, 2019 7 SPORT

TENNIS MOTOGP Quartararo sets pace Top seed Tsitsipas in Brno practice AFP Brno, Czech Republic

rench rookie Fabio Quartararo emerged as the quickest in practice yesterday ahead of the in Washington CzechF MotoGP at Brno tomor- row. The 20-year-old, who has Greek 20-year-old will meet French 10th already scored three poles and two podiums in his fi rst season seed Benoit Paire, who ousted US fifth in MotoGP, was a sluggish 18th during the morning session. seed John Isner 7-6 (3), 6-3 However, he came back im- quarters pressively in the afternoon to clock 1 minute 55.802secs, edg- Agencies ing out championship leader Washington, United States Marc Marquez by 0.023 seconds. takes place today morning and Brno marks the tenth race is followed by qualifying in the of the season and the fi rst for a afternoon. orld number six month during which time fi ve- Stefanos Tsitsipas time world champion Marquez COMBINED FREE PRACTICE struggled late but has been sitting on a 58-point TIMES advanced to the lead ahead of Andrea Dovizioso 1. F. Quartararo (Yamaha) 1:55.802 WATP Washington Open quarter- who was fastest under the grey 2. M. Marquez (Honda) +0.023 fi nals on Thursday by defeating skies which accompanied the 3. J. Miller (Ducati) 0.269 Australia’s Jordan Thompson morning session. 4. A. Dovizioso (Ducati) 0.269 6-3, 7-6 (4). The Italian set the pace with a 5. M. Vinales (Yamaha) 0.282 The 20-year-old Greek top time of 1 min 56.919 secs but he 6. A. Rins (Suzuki) 0.423 seed took the only break of the was outdone in the afternoon by 7. F. Morbidelli (Yamaha) 0.617 match to claim the fi rst set and his Ducati teammate Jack Miller 8. C. Crutchlow (Honda) 0.641 after some tense moments won who was third quickest overall. 9. V. Rossi (Yamaha) 0.725 the tie-breaker when Thompson The third practice session 10. D. Petrucci (Ducati) 0.791 netted a forehand after 99 min- utes at the US Open hardcourt tune-up event. “It was kind of tricky at the end,” Tsitsipas said. “I kept do- Qatar Open table tennis a qualifi er ing silly mistakes in the tie- for 2020 Olympics in mixed doubles breaker. I was not happy about it. I made a lot of unforced er- Qatar Table Tennis Association yesterday announced that the rors. ITTF Qatar Open, which will be held between March 3-8, 2020, “I played great to get break has been approved by the International Table Tennis Federation points, then I started thinking (ITTF) as a qualifying tournaments for the Tokyo 2020 Olym- about it. I didn’t identify the pic Games in the mixed doubles Category. The ITTF has also right occasion to come to the assigned the State of Qatar to host the qualifiers for individual net. Just a little lost.” competitions for Tokyo from May 26-29, 2020. China’s Ma Long “I believe I can handle those won the men’s singles title in the past edition of Qatar Open held situations more mature in my in March 2019, while compatriot Wang Manyu won the women’s next matches.” singles title. In the quarter-fi nals, Tsitsi- pas will meet French 10th seed Kvitova withdraws from Toronto, Benoit Paire, who ousted US fi fth seed John Isner 7-6 (3), 6-3. Williams seeded “He’s a very dangerous play- er,” said Tsitsipas of Paire. “He Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece returns a shot from Jordan Thompson (not pictured) on Day Four of the Citi Open at Rock Creek Tennis Center Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has withdrawn has a big backhand. His serve in Washington, DC, United States, on Thursday. (AFP) from next week’s Rogers Cup in Toronto after failing to recover can be dangerous. I’ll have to from an arm injury which has dogged her season, organisers said be careful. He’s very unpredict- shape,” Medvedev said of Cilic. loser Peter Gojowczyk shocked think I can improve many things her erratic serve as fi fth-seeded yesterday. Tennis Canada said in a statement that the 29-year-old able.” “It’s going to show what I’m ca- Canada’s Milos Raonic, the 2014 and that’s why every day I come Donna Vekic prevailed 6-4, Czech star’s withdrawal would mean former world number one Tsitsipas, who beat Roger Fe- pable of this season.” Washington champion, 6-4, to the court.” 6-3 on Thursday in the second Serena Williams is now given a top eight seed. Venus Williams derer in January on his way to Medvedev and Karen Khach- 6-4 to reach the quarter-fi nals. round of the Silicon Valley Clas- will take the available space in the main draw while a wild card the Australian Open semi-fi - anov give Russia two top-10 “Couldn’t make it count when DOUBLES DUTY FOR sic in San Jose. spot would be handed to Svetlana Kuznetsova. Kvitova said nals, seeks his fourth career ATP players for the fi rst time since it was the most important,” MURRAY Azarenka, who is coming in a statement she had pulled out after the left arm injury that title after crowns last October October 2010. Raonic said. “Just a disappoint- Also getting a Montreal spot was off a third round loss at Wim- forced her to withdraw from the French Open flared up again. in Stockholm, last February at “I’m playing good,” Medvedev ing performance.” Britain’s Andy Murray, who will bledon last month, committed “My forearm injury is continuing to cause some problems so, on Marseille and in May at Estoril. said. “I want to back it up with Gojowczyk, who had lost 12 play doubles alongside Span- seven double faults and had her the advice of my medical team, I have made the decision not to Tsitsipas reached the 2018 some more wins.” of 14 prior matches entering the iard Feliciano Lopez as he tries service broken five times in the travel to Canada,” she said. Washington semi-fi nals and a Tiafoe said he will skip next week, replaced Aussie Bernard to make a singles return in two contest. week later became the youngest week’s ATP Canada Masters Tomic, who withdrew with a weeks at Cincinnati. She showed life in the second Halep signs up for inaugural player to ever beat four top-10 Canada after aggravating a foot fi nger injury. Murray, who feared he might set as she seized a 2-0 lead, but ATP players in the same week injury in the loss. The German has made the never play again after January 23-year-old Croatian Vekic had Adelaide International before losing to Rafael Nadal in most of his opportunity by dis- right hip surgery, plays along- her way in the end to set up a the Canada Masters fi nal. TWO LUCKY LOSERS WIN patching Russian Andrey Ru- side brother Jamie in a Washing- quarter-fi nal match with Kristie Reigning Wimbledon champion Simona Halep will play in the Croatian sixth seed Marin Two lucky losers reached the blev, Aussie 12th seed Alex De ton doubles quarter-fi nal Friday. Ahn. inaugural Adelaide International ahead of next year’s Austral- Cilic, the 2014 US Open cham- last eight, including Slovakia’s Minaur and 20th-ranked Raon- In the joint WTA event, Tai- Ahn reached the quarter-fi - ian Open, organisers said yesterday. Adelaide International, a pion, beat Canadian ninth seed Norbert Gombos, a last-second ic. wan’s 31st-ranked Hsieh Su- nals by converting seven break combined ATP and WTA event, replaces the Sydney International Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-4. replacement for South African Next up for Gojowczyk is Brit- wei became the only seed in points to upset third-seeded which was dropped from the tennis calendar to make room for World number 17 Cilic booked fourth seed Kevin Anderson, ish 13th seed Kyle Edmund, who the quarter-fi nals by outlast- Belgian Elise Mertens 6-3, 6-3. the ATP Cup men’s team event. Tennis Australia announced in a last-eight date with Russia’s who withdrew with right knee ousted France’s 70th-ranked Jo- ing Russian qualifi er Varvara Fourth seed American Aman- January that Sydney would host the knockout rounds and final of 10th-ranked Daniil Medvedev, pain. Wilfried Tsonga 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Gracheva 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (6). da Anisimova, a 17-year-old, the ATP Cup, with Brisbane and Perth also hosting earlier rounds who eliminated hometown hero The world number 137 will next Tsonga, who fi red 18 aces, beat compatriot Madison Bren- and Adelaide missing out. World number four Halep said the Frances Tiafoe 6-2, 7-5. face Aussie Nick Kyrgios, who received a wildcard into next VEKIC TAMES AZARENKA IN gle 6-2, 6-2 to reach the next decision to play in the first WTA event in South Australia, which “He’s in great shape. His game fi red 15 aces in eliminating Japan’s week’s event at Montreal. SAN JOSE round matchup with China’s will be held at the Memorial Drive Tennis Centre from Jan 12-18, is strong. We all know what he’s Yoshihito Nishioka 6-2, 7-5. “I can take some positive Former world number one Vic- Saisai Zheng who routed Dan- had been made easier by her fondness for the city. capable of when he’s in good German 122nd-ranked lucky things,” Tsonga said. “I still toria Azarenka paid the price for ielle Collins 6-2, 6-0.

FORMULA 1 Hamilton fastest overall on damp day in Hungary

Reuters Budapest, Hungary Kubica pulls in the Polish fans for Hungary ‘home’ race

Reuters ormula One champion Budapest, Hungary Lewis Hamilton lapped fastest overall for Mer- cedes in Hungarian obert Kubica has just GrandF Prix practice yesterday as one point to show for his rain limited meaningful track ac- Rcomeback season, and tion in the afternoon. even that could be taken away, With soggy fans huddled un- but the Pole can still count on der plastic ponchos and umbrel- more support than most at the las, Red Bull’s Pierre Gasly and Hungarian Grand Prix. Max Verstappen ended the day Tens of thousands of his com- one-two on the timesheets in the patriots are expected to make drizzly second 90 minute session the journey to Budapest to sup- with Hamilton third. port the country’s first and only The Briton’s morning lap of Formula One driver at what is one minute 17.233 seconds was the closest thing to a home race “Every race we’ve been to, the the team), you’ve got to take still the day’s best, with Gasly for the 34-year-old. Polish fans seem to be follow- any positives, haven’t you?” producing a 1:17.854 eff ort on the With Kubica absent from 2010 ing him around the world and Kubica won the 2008 Canadian fastest soft tyres in the afternoon until this year due to a near-fatal bringing their big banners. For us Grand Prix and, hailed as a po- when the track was still suitable rally crash, the Polish flags are at the moment, that’s just a really tential champion, was set for a for slicks. Mercedes’ driver Lewis Hamilton leaves the pit before the second practice session for the Hungarian Grand out in force at the circuit where nice thing to happen,” she added. Ferrari future before he partially Toro Rosso’s Alexander Albon Prix at the Hungaroring circuit in Mogyorod, Hungary, yesterday. (AFP) the Williams driver made his “I’m really looking forward to severed his right forearm in the crashed soon after the fi rst spots debut with BMW Sauber in 2006. this weekend and seeing all his 2011 accident in Italy. of rain, the Thai acknowledging The lost track time was still a second session. ter a dismal performance in Ger- “I knew Robert was popular but fans out there. I think it will be His return to a race seat this driver error after going onto the setback for the Finn, who crashed Hamilton, who had said he many last weekend. I don’t think I quite realised how lovely for him as well. And he year had all the ingredients of a grass at the last corner. out at a wet Hockenheim last could not wait to be back in the Verstappen, the in-form driver popular,” Claire Williams, dep- deserves it. feel-good story until it became The incident brought out the weekend just when he looked car after recovering from a bug of the moment with two victo- uty principal of the last-placed “In a year when the dark clouds apparent that Williams were an red fl ags briefl y. likely to make inroads into Ham- that laid him low in Germany last ries from the last three races, team, told Reuters yesterday. are hanging quite heavy (over age off the pace. Hamilton’s Mercedes team- ilton’s overall lead and ended up weekend, has won a record six was second on the morning mate Valtteri Bottas had to sit out 41 points adrift. times in Hungary including last timesheets but only a thousandth sion, is expected to go well in Gasly was fourth fastest in the dropped to seventh after lunch the opening session while his me- Bottas set his best time on a year from pole. of a second ahead of Ferrari’s Se- Hungary, a track that should suit morning, with Danish driver Kevin on medium tyres, with Australian chanics changed the car’s power medium tyre, while fi ve times The championship leader is bastian Vettel. his car’s characteristics with dry Magnussen fi fth for Haas and Daniel Ricciardo fi fth for Renault unit but returned after lunch to world champion Hamilton used eager to go into the August break The Dutch youngster, who conditions expected at the Hun- Charles Leclerc sixth for Ferrari. and Kimi Raikkonen sixth in an post the fourth fastest lap. the slower hard rubber in the with an eighth win in 12 races af- spun twice in that opening ses- garoring tomorrow. The Monegasque Leclerc Alfa Romeo.

Saturday, August 3, 2019 GULF TIMES SPORT

HORSE RACING Exciting racing action continues at Qatar Goodwood Festival Mohamed bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Attiyah’s Baghdad finished third under Frankie Dettori in Group 3 race

By A Correspondent Goodwood, United Kingdom Leaving Qatari mark on world racing: Hamad bin Abdulrahman al-Attiyah he penultimate day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival restigious race meetings saw some exciting racing at Goodwood have been action with several blac- Pheld for over 200 years, Ttype races, including the Qatar and as Qatar Goodwood Fes- King George Stakes (Group 2), tival it has continued to grow. which was won by Battaash. After five years of partnership The curtains will fall on the between the Qatar Racing and 2019 edition of the Qatar Racing Equestrian Club (QREC) and and Equestrian Club (QREC)- Goodwood Racecourse, the out- sponsored Festival today at come has been positive and has Goodwood, which has been home played a key role in extending for racing for over 200 years. The the partnership to 2024. fi nale of the fi ve-day Festival will Asian and Qatar equestrian fed- be a seven-race card, including erations president and QREC vice six races sponsored by Qatar. chairman Hamad bin Abdulrah- Yesterday, Battaash, with Jim man al-Attiyah played a leading Crowley in the saddle, had a role in concluding the Qatar record-breaking third successive Goodwood Festival sponsorship win in the £312,000 Qatar King agreement five years ago. George Stakes (Group 2). The “Sponsoring races overseas winning margin over the Martyn is very important for Qatar’s Meade-trained Houtzen was just equestrian sport due to the three-quarters of a length, but it Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club CEO Nasser Sherida al-Kaabi (second from left) presented the trophies benefits generated,” he said. was a yet another impressive per- for Qatar King George Stakes (Group 2) at Qatar Goodwood Festival yesterday. PICTURES: Juhaim “It promotes QREC and creates formance from the Charlie Hills- excellent relations between us trained gelding. David Griffi ths- non and jockey Sean Levey. The 1min 35.28s. He fi nished a length and the organisers of races in trained Ornate was third. four-year-old fi lly broke the ahead of the Johnston-trained the countries where we sponsor QREC CEO Nasser bin Sherida Goodwood track record for seven Vale Of Kent. O’Meara-trained races, including the UK as in the al-Kaabi presented the trophy to furlongs in the process in a time Escobar was third. Qatar Goodwood Festival and Battaash owner Sheikh Hamdan of 1min 23.75s. She beat David Homespin’s victory in the France as in the Qatar Prix de bin Rashid al-Maktoum. O’Meara-trained Perfection by £25,000 Unibet Nursery Handi- l’Arc de Triomphe. In addition to Mohamed bin Hamad bin Kha- a neck, with the Stoute-trained cap was a fi fth of the 2019 Qatar the Qatari character associated lifa al-Attiyah’s Baghdad came Jubiloso in third. Goodwood Festival for trainer with such world races, there very close to give the Qatari con- Paul Cole-trained Duke Of Johnston, and means Johnston has is another dimension related tingent a victory yesterday in the Hazzard came from off the pace now trained a record 83 winners at to horse owners, trainers and L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate Glori- under PJ McDonald to beat Roger the meeting in total over the years. jockeys in Qatar who become ous Stakes (Group 3). Varian-trained Turjomaan by Homespin was ridden by James increasingly familiar with the Mark Johnston-trained Bagh- half a length in the £100,000 Doyle and fi nished a length and details in such races and gain dad had led the throughout the Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes a quarter in front of the Richard precious experience.” race but was beaten in the last (Group 3). Roger Charlton- Fahey-trained Dylan De Vega. The Speaking about the nature of few strides as David Simcock- trained Momkin was third. Richard Spencer-trained Born To the Qatari participations in trained Desert Encounter, ridden Beat The Bon’s victory in the Destroy was third. these races, he said, “At the be- by JP Spencer, and Sir Michael dad made it to the frame in third. £150,000 Unibet Golden Mile Varian-trained Aktau, ridden by ginning of this partnership, the Stoute-trained Mirage Dancer, Billesdon Brook, winner of Handicap gave trainer Han- Andrea Atzeni, won the £25,000 participation was strong, but it took the fi rst two spots in the the 2018 1000 Guineas at New- non the second leg of a double TDN Australia Handicap (Class 3). depends on the circumstances £100,000 L’Ormarins Queen’s market, took the £80,000 Theo on the day. The three-year-old The Johnston-trained Sapa Inca of the runners. Horses are not Plate Glorious Stakes (Group 3). Fennell Oak Tree Stakes (Group colt, ridden by Pat Dobbs, broke was second while John Gosden- owned by QREC and participa- Hamad bin Abdulrahman al-Attiyah (right), president of Asian and Under Frankie Dettori, Bagh- 3) for trainer Richard Han- the course record for a mile in trained Harrovian was third. tion depends on how ready the Qatar equestrian federations and QREC vice chairman, with Duke owners are to run their horses. of Richmond at the Qatar Goodwood Festival. “It is well known that we, in Qatar, excel in Arabian racing. in this type of races and we are The presence of other Qatari However, in an event as the confident there will be better horse owners is an honour for Qatar Goodwood Festival, participations in future. us and it adds a local dimension Arabian racing represents just “Al Shaqab Racing have ex- to the event, which is needed 5 percent of the races, where panded their participation in especially as the Festival is the major focus in on thor- races worldwide. They have an sponsored by Qatar. All owners oughbred racing. HE Sheikh active breeding operation, so wishing to run their horses in Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani’s Al their participations will be on a the various races are welcome Shaqab Racing took active part larger scale in the near future. to do so.”

Partnership with Qatar adds to success of world races: Abdulla al-Kuwari

atar Racing and Eques- studs including Umm Qarn, Al trian Club (QREC) Board Shahania, Al Shaqab Racing and Qmember Abdulla bin Qatar Racing always run their Mohamed al-Kuwari has spo- horses overseas whether or not ken about the mark that Qatar the races are Qatar-sponsored. leaves on world racing. We hope we would see more “Qatar has left a clear mark horses run in these races by the in this type of racing,” al- rest of the Qatari owners. We Kuwari said while at the Qatar do realise how tough thorough- Goodwood Festival yesterday, bred races run overseas are and “especially in terms of sponsor- we look forward to Qatari horse ship, promoting racing and owners and trainers being maximising media coverage of present in the coming renew- such events. In fact, partnership als of the Festival because that with Qatar adds more success will be beneficial for all and will and we do have a very success- enhance their professionalism ful experience at the Qatar Prix Talking about the Qatari through the direct contact and de l’Arc de Triomphe and at the representation at the races of first-hand experience at such Jockey Frankie Dettory rides Mohamed bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Attiyah’s Baghdad to third in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate Glorious Stakes Qatar Goodwood Festival.” the Festival, he said, “Major global contests.” (Group 3) at Qatar Goodwood Festival yesterday.

SPOTLIGHT ‘Complete’ Ronaldo above everyone else for India’s Kohli Reuters international player of the year followers across Instagram, Fa- Mumbai, India awards together for a phenom- cebook and Twitter. enal 2018. “I like watching Portugal play The 30-year-old rates former now because they are maximis- ristiano Ronaldo may Real Madrid and Manchester ing their resources along with not be the most popular United Ronaldo as the best he has having a legend in their team,” footballer in South Ko- seen. Kohli added. rea at the moment but he “For me, Cristiano is above “They play with passion and Chas an ardent fan in India cricket everyone else. His commitment belief, so I like watching them. captain Virat Kohli, who changes and work ethic is unmatched. He Otherwise, in terms of pure abil- his club allegiance every time wants it that bad — you can see it ity and impact, France are very, the Portuguese forward is trans- every game,” Kohli told the FIFA very strong. ferred. website (www.fi fa.com). “I support Juventus now be- Lionel Messi and Ronaldo have “In my opinion he has taken on cause of Cristiano. Simple. I sup- dominated the global football more challenges and succeeded port every club at which he plays. landscape for a decade, each win- at all of them. He’s the most He inspires me.” ning the Ballon d’Or fi ve times complete player I have seen and French forward Kylian before Croatia international his work ethic, as I mentioned, is Mbappe, 20, is Kohli’s choice to midfi elder Luka Modric broke unmatched. India’s captain rule the football world after Ron- their stranglehold by claiming “He inspires people. I don’t Virat Kohli aldo and Messi. the coveted award last year. think many people do that. He’s “His sprint in the 2018 World Kohli is arguably the best bats- also a leader and I love that. Ab- has, however, riled up his fans in son tour in Seoul last week. Cup against Argentina is hard to man of his generation across for- solutely love it. He has amazing South Korea who are exploring Kohli, a co-owner of an Indian forget,” Kohli said. “He’s a beast mats and became the fi rst to win belief too.” legal action to seek compensation Super League soccer franchise, and he will defi nitely be at the In this June 9, 2019, picture, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (left) in action the International Cricket Coun- The Portuguese player with a after Ronaldo failed to play in a enjoys cult status in cricket- top of the pile for me. Absolutely during the UEFA Nations League Final against Netherlands. cil’s cricketer, test and one-day huge fan following across the globe friendly during Juventus’ pre-sea- crazy India and boasts 107mn top-class player.”