22 Friday, March 24, 2017 SPORTS SPORTS Friday, March 24, 2017 23 Igualada rench sprinter Nacer Bouhanni won the fourth stage of the Tour of Catalonia on Thursday after Football itF was shortened by 60km due to snow. The 26-year-old beat Italy’s Davide Cimolai and 2018 World Cup qualifying, Daryl Impey of South Africa in a sprint finish as American Tejay Van Garderen maintained his Bouhanni overall lead. Asia zone: China But treacherous conditions on a long descent meant to start the stage resulted in the day’s racing being shortened to just 134km. A short category two climb near to the finish saw the race explode into life as several overall contenders, including France’s Romain Bardet and Alejandro Valverde of Spain, sprints to attacked in a hope of gaining keep some time. Cofidis’ French And while most specialist cyclist Nacer sprinters were dropped from the Bouhanni leading group at that stage, Bouhanni celebrates hung on before comfortably winning the sprint. Spain’s Samuel Sanchez remains in second place, 41 seconds behind his BMC teammate, while Catalonia Syria 1 Uzbekistan 0 dream Britain’s Geraint Thomas of Team Sky is third at 44sec. Three-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome is fifth at 49sec. Friday’s 182km fifth stage is likely to be decisive as it finishes with an 8.4km climb to Lo Port de Tortosa at and average nine percent gradient. stage win alive, Inter Hotel cricket: Domain Hotel win Manama This year’s official he Domain Hotel charity is the Child Wish and Spa edged out Society. T Iraq 1 Australia 1 Qatar the Sheraton by one run Other Results: in the latest matches of The Ritz Carlton 1) Movenpick scored Bahrain Sixth Inter 48/2 in 5.4 (Raja Ram 27 off Hotel Charity Cricket 12, RajaRam 1/3) bt The Ritz- Tournament 2017 at Carlton (B) 42/4 in 6 overs (18 Qatar’s forward (L) Sebastian Soria vies for the the Ritz-Carlton Staff off 9, 1x6, Saleem 1/7) by four ball against Iran’s defender Milad Mohammadi (R) Recreation area. wickets. slump Batting first, The Domain 2) Intercontinental Hotel and Spa scored 47 for Regency (A) 91/4 (Yasir 35 Doha into a play-off series. Lippi, who struck the only goal of the match are second on 10 and Uzbekistan on five in six overs with Rohan off 10, 2x6, 5x4, Azam 1/1) bt arcello Lippi’s China masterminded Italy’s victory at through Mehedi Taremi in the nine, with Qatar right at the bottom (11 off 5 deliveries) top scoring Swiss Bell 22/5 in 6 (Malinga stunned South Korea 1-0 the 2006 World Cup, was hired at 52nd minute after receiving an on four, having lost four of their and Rahul (one for eight) 6 off 2, 1x6, Azhar 1-10) by 69 inM a politically charged World great cost in October and China assist from Karim Ansarifard. games so far. returning the best bowling runs. Cup qualifier yesterday to give were noticeably more solid as they Qatar’s woes were compounded Meanwhile in Group B, Australia figures. 3) Best Western 51/4 in themselves a glimmer of hope of kept South Korea at bay while when Syria scored off a second have much to ponder after their 1-1 In reply, Sheraton missed 6 (Punkaj 21 off 14, 1x6, 2x4, Thailand 0 Saudi Arabia 3 reaching next year’s tournament creating a series of chances of half stoppage time penalty to beat draw against Iraq left them with out scoring 46 for three in six Ritesh 1/3, Mahi 1/3) bt Four in Russia. their own. Uzbekistan in Tashkent. work ahead to secure their spot in overs despite a fine effort by The Domain Hotel and Spa team Seasons 47/6 in 6 (Mahi 14 Yu Dabao stooped unmarked to Following Chinese anger over Igor Krimets fouled Firas Russia. Anoop (26 off 13, 2x6) and an six to help secure victory. playing round-robin group knockout stage with the final off 8, 1x6 balls 1x6) by four head in the game’s only goal on South Korea’s deployment of al-Khatib and Omar Kharbin Matthew Leckie scored five excellent over by Raj (two for 24 teams are in the fray matches followed by the set for 28 March. runs. 34 minutes, prompting rapturous a controversial missile defence converted to give the Syrians their minutes before half-time but celebrations as China registered system, the game was played in second win after they had earlie Ahmad Yaseen’s finish on 76 their first win in the final group front of a heavy security presence. upset China. minutes condemned Australia to a Horce racing: Six races today qualifying stage. But Yu raised the roof at Iran now have 14 points from six fourth draw in six games. Karting set for enticing battles Manama Guard Cup at 4.50pm and the Yu’s goal was China’s first in Changsha’s Helong Stadium when matches virtually assuring them a The Socceroos, now with 10 ix Cup and one support race Silver Cup sponsored by the qualifying since September -- he stole past South Korea’s static spot in Russia, while South Korea points, began the day third in DT News Network on track at 3.45pm, will be the 4.50pm, with the BRMMC Pre- Heading into Friday’s are scheduled today with Rashid Equestrian and Horse spanning some 407 minutes of defence to flick home a corner at Group B behind Saudi Arabia and Manama BRMMC participants in a Free Final at 5.15pm and both will racing, Mohammed Mattar BD16,500S in prize money up Racing Club at 5.15pm. football -- and handed them only the near post. Japan, and level on points with acing is set to intensify Practice session. The SSWS be held over 11 laps. (121 points) holds a narrow for grabs starting from 2.45pm Other races are at 2.45pm for their second win over the Koreans The game opened up in the United Arab Emirates -- who visit at Bahrain International runners follow at 4.10pm as This paves the way for the lead over Hussain Hassan in the 20th race meeting of the the Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad in 32 attempts. second half but South Korea were Sydney on Tuesday. KartingR Circuit (BIKC) today they go straight into qualifying SSWS Final, starting at 5.40pm. (117) in the BRMMC’s Senior season at the Rashid Equestrian Al Khalifa Cup, a support Australia had less to celebrate unable to convert any of their Also in Group B, Japan avenged as the penultimate round of with the BRMMC’s qualifying The BRMMC Final will then be Max categoryafter five rounds and Horse Racing Club in race at 3.10pm, Shaikh Sultan as they were pegged back 1-1 by chances, including Ji Dong-Won’s their first leg defeat to the UAE with the Bahrain Karting Sprint session be held right after at on the track for a 6.15pm start of competition, with Khaled Sakhir. The three richest races bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup at UAE 0 Japan 2 Iraq in Tehran, while Syria beat header which was brilliantly kept a 2-0 victory to jump to second spot Championship (BKSC) takes 4.30pm. The SSWS Pre-Final and both finales are to be held Alsaie (94) a distant third. worth BD3,000 each are for the 3.35pm and Shaikh Khalifa Uzbekistan 1-0 to stay in contention out by goalkeeper Zeng Cheng. behind Saudi Arabia. place in Sakhir. is then scheduled to flag off at over 15 laps. In the BRMMC’s Junior Shaikh Sultan bin Hamad Al bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup at for a play-off spot. Meanwhile, 2022 hosts Qatar’s UAE had scored a shock 2-1 win The BKSC will see battles Max class, Luca Santiago (73) Khalifa Cup at 4pm, National 4.25pm. Fairytale end for Podolski In late games in the Gulf, Iran chances of qualifying suffered a over the Asian giants in the first in both round five of the is in first place, followed by edged Qatar 1-0 to open a four- potentially fatal blow when they leg, but a 13th minute goal by Yuya 2016/2017 Bahrain Rotax Mojo Sulaiman Alkanderi (67) with point lead over South Korea were beaten 1-0 by Iran in Doha. Kubo put Japan ahead in Al Ain. Max Challenge (BRMMC) Anas Lecaillon (62) in third, Newcastle sign Sami Mavinga while Japan beat the United Arab Kubo was in the thick of the and round seven of the while the BRMMC Max London boss Dean Richards while playing Emirates 2-0 to move into an Qatar’s woes deepen action again in the second half 2016/2017 Bahrain SWS Sprint Masters, Anthony Genocchio ewcastle have signed French for Lyon against Newcastle in the automatic qualifying spot. Qatar coach Jorge Fossati had providing the cross for Yasuyuki Championship (SSWS). (90) holds a commanding lead prop Sami Mavinga from European Challenge Cup earlier China had been bottom of Group accused his Iranian counterpart Konno to score from the left of the Competing drivers will have over Mohammed Faqihi, with TopN 14 side Lyon in time for next this season. A and winless after five games, but Carlos Queiroz of making six-yard box. plenty to fight for as only one Faqihi (25) way behind in third. season, the English Premiership “That put him on our radar, they will allow themselves to dream unflattering remarks about the Gulf In Bangkok, Mohammed Al meeting remains before the In the SSWS, Abdulla club announced Thursday.