6 January 10, 2018 Federer Eyes Fresh Moradi Nominated for ‘Fairytale’ as Slam IWF’s Lifter of Year Rivals Struggle TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Iranian Mendez (85kg) and Georgian La- weightlifter Sohrab Moradi has sha Talakhadze (+105kg) will also been nominated for the Lifter of the vie for the award. Year 2017. The voting will be closed on Moradi snatched a gold medal January 31st. at the 2017 International Weight- The winners will each receive lifting Federation (IWF) World a Jenő Boskovics Lifter of the Championships Year Trophy. It’s named after the Moradi, who won gold in Rio Hungarian weightlifting journal- last year, also broke two world re- ist who worked as the Press Chief cords in winning the 94 kilogram and Spokesman of the IWF for class. several decades and served as the Colombian Francisco Mosquera editor-in-chief of World Weight- Valencia (62kg), Egyptian Ihab lifting Magazine from 1980 until Roger Federer is coming off an extraordinary 2017, when he won a Mahmoud (77kg), Chilean Arley Iranian weightlifter Sohrab Moradi his death in 2010. fifth Australian Open title and a record eighth at Wimbledon. MELBOURNE (AFP) - The played for six months. Timberwolves Trounce Cavs, Warriors and Raptors Win prospects of an unprecedented World number one Ra- 20th Grand Slam victory have fael Nadal withdrew from LOS ANGELES (AFP) - The Minnesota in over-time that put the Raptors up 114-113. strengthened for ageless won- his first tour event of 2018, Timberwolves humbled LeBron James and the Spencer Dinwiddie, who led the Nets with a ca- Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, leading by as reer-high 31 points, had a last chance for the hosts der Roger Federer as his main in Brisbane, with continu- many as 41 points en route to a 127-99 triumph but missed a driving layup in the final second. rivals flounder ahead of the ing knee problems, and is in Minneapolis. The Raptors lost Kyle Lowry in over-time Australian Open. seeking match practice in a Andrew Wiggins scored 25 points to pace a as the guard went down hard on a frightening The 36-year-old is coming Melbourne exhibition event Timberwolves team that led from start to fin- fall in which he was sandwiched between two off an extraordinary 2017, ahead of the January 15 start. ish against a Cavs team that went to the last Nets players and landed on a hip. when he won a fifth Austra- The 2014 winner Stan three NBA Finals, winning the title two sea- He got to his feet, but quickly crumpled to lian Open title and a record Wawrinka, who hasn’t played sons ago. the court again clutching his lower back and Karl-Anthony Towns -- the only Timber- was finally carried off by two teammates. He eighth at Wimbledon, and since last year’s Wimbledon wolves starter to play in the fourth quarter -- was diagnosed with “an acute back spasm” there could be yet more glory and subsequent knee surgery, added 19 points with 12 rebounds and Wolves the Raptors said. with a depleted field of top has had little warm-up work forward Taj Gibson added another double- Brooklyn saw guard Allen Crabbe depart contenders in Melbourne. and is no longer with his four- double of 16 points and 13 rebounds. with an apparent left ankle injury in the fourth Andy Murray and Japan’s year coach Magnus Norman. Jimmy Butler flirted with a triple-double, quarter. Kei Nishikori are already out Yet amid it all Federer amassing 21 points with nine assists and eight The reigning champion Golden State War- of the year’s opening Grand keeps going, winning all his rebounds while playing a key role in limiting riors shook off an injury scare for superstar Slam with injuries, while 12- matches at the mixed-teams four-time NBA Most Valuable Player James Stephen Curry to beat the Denver Nuggets to 10 points, eight rebounds and five assists. 124-114 in Oakland, California. time major champion Novak Hopman Cup in Perth this James and the rest of the Cavs starters also Curry left the game briefly after a hard fall, Djokovic is troubled by an month and seemingly injury- sat out the fourth quarter -- although for Isa- but returned with his left knee taped to score elbow complaint and hasn’t free. iah Thomas that absence came courtesy of his 32 points. third-quarter ejection. Warriors forward Draymond Green scored Thomas was tossed when he reached out DeMar DeRozan’s 35 points included a 23 points with 10 assists and five rebounds Zidane Named French toward a driving Wiggins and caught the three-point play with 26.1 seconds remaining and guard Klay Thompson chipped in 19 Minnesota forward under the chin. Assessed in over-time that put the Raptors up 114-113 points as Golden State again coped admira- a flagrant-2 foul, Thomas was immediate- over the Brooklyn Nets. bly with the absence of Kevin Durant, who Coach of Year ly ejected, although he said he was merely The Cavaliers fell to 26-14. They’re third missed his third straight game with a strained reaching in for a steal. in the Eastern Conference behind Thomas’s right calf. Thomas was playing his third game for the former team, the Boston Celtics, and the To- Denver’s Nikola Jokic notched a triple-dou- Cavs after a hip injury had sidelined him since ronto Raptors -- who edged the Nets 114-113 ble of 22 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists. he joined the team in a pre-season trade. in over-time in a bruising encounter in Brook- In Los Angeles, C.J. Williams drained the In his first two games back, the Cavs aver- lyn. game-winning three-pointer with 9/1 seconds aged 129 points a game, but they never fired DeMar DeRozan’s 35 points included a left to lift the Clippers to a 108-107 victory on Monday. three-point play with 26.1 seconds remaining over the Atlanta Hawks. Hodgson Praises VAR System After English Debut LONDON (AFP) - Crystal Palace confusion among players, fans at as such or use the pitchside VAR a decision to be made. At the time manager Roy Hodgson praised the the ground and TV viewers over monitors contributed to the confu- I wasn’t aware some thought it was video assistant referee (VAR) system whether VAR had had any influ- sion, and Hodgson said: “We had handball.” after its debut in English competitive ence on the decision. suspicions. The people close to it The VAR system is currently be- Real Madrid’s French coach Zinedine Zidane attends a training ses- football following initial confusion According to Hodgson and Brigh- seemed to be incensed, and from ing trialled in Italy and Germany sion at Valdebebas Sport City in Madrid on January 9, 2018. around Brighton’s winning goal. ton manager Chris Hughton, match our angle it looks as if he’s guided and was employed for the first Brighton’s Glenn Murray scored referee Andre Marriner had been the ball in with his arm. time in an official game in Britain PARIS (AFP) - Real Madrid know how to do that. So things a late winner in the home side’s in contact with fellow official Neil Hughton said he was “under the during the international friendly may have ended the year badly, will sort themselves out in the 2-1 FA Cup third-round defeat of Swarbrick, working with VAR from impression that VAR was used. between England and Germany in but Zinedine Zidane has been end,” Zidane said. Palace on Monday but, with sug- a London studio, about the goal. That’s what I am led to believe: November, when it was not called named French coach of 2017 for “Some people may think that gestions of handball, there was That Marriner did not indicate that it was used and there was not on. leading the club to a Liga and everything is always easy for Champions League double. me, that I do everything from Mancini Open to Italy Coaching Job “I want to show that I can instinct, but that’s not true! also be a good coach in tough Whether it is as a player or as MILAN (AFP) - ZENIT Saint-Petersburg coach Roberto Mancini said circumstances,” Zidane said in a coach, I’ve always worked,” Tuesday he was open to taking over the vacant job as Italy national football an article published Tuesday said Zidane. coach. Mancini, 53, is being touted along with Chelsea manager Antonio Conte in France Football magazine, “I’m not protected by what and former Bayern Munich coach Carlo Ancelotti to take the reins of the which gives the award. I achieved as a player for this demoralized four-time World Cup winners. Real are going through a bad club. Zinedine Zidane is no lon- Giampiero Ventura was fired as coach last November days after Italy’s run. They are fourth in La Liga, ger a Real player. That Zidane shock failure to reach the World Cup final for the first time in 60 years. 16 points behind leaders Barce- does not exist any more. Now Finding Ventura’s successor has been complicated because the Ital- lona, and they ended 2017 with it is the coach Zinedine Zidane ian Football Federation (FIGC) has to elect a president to replace Carlo Tavecchio who was also forced to resign. a crushing 3-0 defeat at home in who must create a career,” he “Before choosing a new coach it seems to me that we have to choose the Clasico.