TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017 SPORTS AUB announces participation in a Walk- A-Thon in support of autism stricken KUWAIT: Ahli United Bank (AUB) announced its par- eral and the facilities it accords to its clients from ticipation in a Walk-A-Thon in the Avenue Mall recent- this category. ly. The activity was organized by Autism Partnership Ahli United Bank added that it is keen to partici- Center - Kuwait, designated for individuals suffering pate in such events which aim at making a noticeable from autism. A large number of individuals participat- and serious change in the lives of affected children ed which had a great impact on creating awareness through promoting society awareness of the nature with the problem of autism. of Autism and the necessity of having early and accu- On this occasion, Ahli United Bank issued a state- rate diagnosis and how to provide timely assistance ment expressing its happiness with providing the nec- to affected individuals to enable their integration in essary support for the success of this Walk-A-Thon the society. which aims at educating the society about autism and Ahli United Bank expressed its gratitude to the reflects efforts of solidarity with Autism stricken indi- Autism Partnership Center - Kuwait, where their viduals and their families. efforts have contributed to the awareness with the Ahli United Bank’s support came in line with its problem of Autism. social responsibility towards the various categories For more information on Ahli United Bank’s prod- of the society especially the more needy ones who ucts and services, customers are invited to visit any of deserve support. It also conforms to the Bank’s con- the Bank’s branches or call the customer service, or cern with the individuals with special needs in gen- log on to the Bank’s website www.ahliunited.com.kw RUGBY Lions look to continue momentum against Chiefs WELLINGTON: British and Irish Lions Wales and Scotland’s Finn Russell and Allan coach Warren Gatland has called on his Dell, all of whom have been named on the midweek lineup to continue the momen- bench against the Chiefs. The larger squad tum gained with last weekend’s win over should keep to a minimum the number of the New Zealand Maori in today’s tour players having to play twice in a week. match against the Chiefs at Hamilton. But Gatland has been heavily criticized Gatland believes the 32-10 win over a by some British coaches and former play- strong Maori side has given the Lions new ers. England coach Eddie Jones said impetus ahead of Saturday’s first test Gatland has resorted to selecting players against New Zealand. While today’s team on the basis of “geographical proximity” contains few, if any, of the players who will rather than ability. face the All Blacks at Eden Park, Gatland Former Lions coach Ian McGeechan said says the midweekers will play a role in Gatland’s decision to add six players to his keeping the Lions’ confidence high touring party “strikes the wrong note.” approaching the three-test series. “I can understand why Warren Gatland Saturday’s win in Rotorua was by far the has done what he has,” McGeechan said. “I Lions’ best performance in five tour match- have got no issues with protecting the test es to date, improving their record to three team by calling up some extra cover for wins and two losses and providing the best midweek. “But why not call up the players showcase yet for the style of play they will who just missed out on selection in the first adopt throughout the test series. place? The ones who deserve to be there, A strong set piece, contestible kicking, who would give their right arms to be and a good kick-chase backed up by solid there, rather than some players purely work at the breakdown and sound defense because they happen to be in the right set the platform for the win over the Maori. geographical location.” Gatland will hope to see that continue Gatland appears to be impervious to BROOKLYN: Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Cars 3/Target Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup against the Chiefs. such criticism but appears more sensitive Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday in Brooklyn, Michigan. — AFP Today’s match against the Chiefs will to barbs from his native New Zealand, have little impact on the Lions’ test prepa- where the Lions are being dismissed in MOTOR RACING ration, unless they suffer a third midweek some quarters as “one trick ponies.” defeat which will affect the mood in the New Zealand commentators have con- touring camp. demned the Lions as boring and have criti- cized the one-dimensional nature of their Larson outlasts Elliott at CRITICIZED game plan. The tactic of using scrumhalf Gatland has clearly divided his squad Conor Murray to repeatedly kick into the into test and midweek lineups and it was box worked against the Maori on a dewy for that reason he called on six players - night in Rotorua but is thought less likely to Michigan Speedway again four from Wales and two from Scotland succeed against the All Blacks. While the who are currently playing in the South Lions had 75 percent of possession in the BROOKLYN: Three times, Kyle Larson needed to the August race comfortably before a yellow flag HIS TYPE OF TRACK Pacific - to bring up his current comple- Maori match, including 90 percent in the outrace the rest of the contenders on late gave Larson a boost. This time, there were three Larson’s three Cup victories have all come at ment to a full 46 players, the equivalent of second half, they scored only one try from restarts. That’s a task he’s proven he can handle at cautions toward the end. The first was for debris, 2-mile tracks, although there are some differ- two match-day 23s. general play. Otherwise, they relied for Michigan International Speedway. Larson took and Larson beat Kyle Busch on the inside for the ences between racing at MIS and Fontana. He has called on Gareth Davies, Cory their win on a penalty try and six penalties control on a restart with five laps remaining and lead on the restart with 15 laps to go. Then Clint “Michigan and Fontana are very, very similar Hill, Tomas Francis and Kristian Dacey from from fullback Leigh Halfpenny. — AP held off Chase Elliott on Sunday Bowyer went into the wall, bringing out another in shape and size, but the racing surface is way for his second NASCAR Cup Series victory of caution flag. Larson was first off that restart too, different,” Larson said. “Fontana’s rough and the season. The finish was similar to the race at only to be slowed by another caution after a bumpy, and it’s wore-out surface - you have to Michigan last August, when Larson took the lead multicar incident on the backstretch that includ- really, really take care of your tires and move on a restart with nine laps left en route to his first ed Danica Patrick being knocked off the track around, find different lanes that work. Here at Cup win. and into the wall. Finally, with five laps remain- Michigan, your tires don’t wear out quite as bad, Larson won this year at Fontana and has five ing, the race restarted, and Larson took the lead not nearly as bad, and your line doesn’t move second-place finishes. He also was second in the on the outside. around a ton, but it’s really fast, got a lot of grip. All-Star race, which doesn’t count in the stand- He won by 0.993 seconds in his No. 42 “They’re both a lot of fun.” ings. “We’ve been so close to so many other wins,” Chevrolet. Martin Truex Jr. won the first two the 24-year-old Larson said. “This is our second stages of the race but finished sixth, ceding the FROM THE FRONT Cup win of the year, but we’ve had six second- points lead to Larson. Truex has 10 stage victories This was the fifth time in the past eight place finishes. All in all, it’s a good season so far this year. Nobody else has more than four. races at Michigan that the pole winner also and we’ll continue to keep building on what Truex and Larson were 1-2 in the points stand- won the race. It has happened three times in we’ve got.” It was the third Cup win of Larson’s ings coming into the race, and Truex was second the Cup Series this year - Larson also did it at career and 14th by Chip Ganassi Racing. Elliott to Larson in qualifying Friday . Their dominance Fontana, and Stenhouse pulled it off at was second in both Michigan races last year, and carried over to the race Sunday, at least at the Talladega last month. again this time. He’s winless in 56 career Cup start. They were the only drivers to lead during Still, Larson didn’t feel he had the dominant races, but he’s fifth in points in 2017. the first half of the 200-lap, 400-mile race. car Sunday. “We had a couple of opportunities to get the Denny Hamlin, who won Saturday’s Xfinity “The 78 (Truex) was by far the class of the lead, and unfortunately, it just didn’t work out, event, finished fourth Sunday, followed by Jamie field, I thought,” Larson said.