FRIDAY 13 APRIL 2018 SPORT 21 What happened to Barca FOOTBALL was never going to happen Real Madrid left CRICKET to us, we’re Real Madrid. back Marcelo, after Indian Premier League: La Liga: Girona vs The champions survive the win over Juventus RCB vs Kings XI Punjab in LIVE ON Real Betis; Budesliga: VfL resistance. Bangalore TUBE Wolfsburg vs FC Augsburg Richards takes gold after Hughes disqualification REUTERS for a first athletics title of the Games finally ended in the 800m Srikanth GOLD COAST: Trinidad and on the fifth day of the Tobago’s Jereem Richards was programme. climbs to No.1 handed 200 metres gold when In the absence of world Zharnel Hughes was disqualified record holder David Rudisha, it in badminton for catching his rival with a fell to Kinyamal to provide it in flailing arm on a dramatic night one minute, 45.11 seconds, even rankings of athletics at the Common- if he almost had the gold medal AFP wealth Games yesterday. snatched out of his hands on the There was no controversy in line by England’s Langford, who the women’s half-lap race with ran a personal best for silver. NEW DELHI: Kidambi Bahamian Shaunae Miller-Uibo Meanwhile, Sam Gaze’s Srikanth (pictured above) holding off Jamaica’s Shericka elation at winning the Common- yesterday became the first Jackson to take the gold in 22.09 wealth Games’ mountain biking Indian to reach number one seconds, Olympic champion gold medal yesterday quickly in the men’s world badminton Elaine Thompson trailing in turned sour after he criticised rankings, surpassing fourth to miss out on a medal. New Zealand team mate and Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen on Kenya’s Wycliffe Kinyamal silver medallist Anton Cooper of his rise to the top. held off surging Kyle Langford poor sportsmanship. The 25-year-old this to win the 800m title in another He later issued an apology week defeated three-time thrilling finish, while 400m for his comments. Olympic silver medallist Lee hurdles prodigy Kyron McMaster Gaze, who finished second Chong Wei in the mixed team gave the British Virgin Islands its behind Cooper at Glasgow four final to earn India their first- first Commonwealth Games gold years ago, reversed the result on ever Commonwealth Games medal in 48.25 seconds. the Nerang mountain bike trails gold in the event. Another packed house (From left) England’s Zharnel Hughes, Trinidad And Tobago’s Jereem Richards and Canada’s Aaron despite having to stop and have “Absolutely thrilled to be enjoyed more Australian field Brown cross the finish line of the athletics men’s 200m final in Gold Coast yesterday. a puncture fixed on the final lap. ranked WORLD NUMBER 1,” success through Kurtis Marschall Cooper, however, continued Srikanth posted on his official in the pole vault and Dani to race and tried to pull away Twitter account. Stevens in the women’s discus when he was told that he had emotion when he heard the I’m doing this to get the speed from the 22-year-old Gaze, who “I would like to thank my but for drama it was hard to beat been scratched from the race for news. work in and it shows I’m on track still managed to catch his com- coach Gopi (Pullela Gop- the penultimate race of the hitting Richards over the last few “Coming down the home for the 400,” she said before patriot and South Africa’s Alan ichand) Sir for believing in me evening on the track. metres. straight, he was ahead, and when receiving her gold medal from Hatherly on the final lap of the and my support staff for England’s Hughes won a Richards was awarded the I started to catch him, his hand Usain Bolt. 32.2-kilometre circuit and win always taking care of me.” photo-finish by the slimmest of gold with Canada’s Aaron Brown came across and he hit me,” said “The double is going to be a by about two bike lengths. He is not the first Indian margins - both were awarded second, while Northern Ireland’s Richards. hard feat to accomplish, and I’m Gaze was not impressed by to become the world’s best, times of 20.12 - and had just Leon Reid was elevated to “I think I was strong enough ready for it. I’ve been training for the fact Cooper had exploited his with Saina Nehwal topping completed his lap of honour bronze, collapsing to the floor in down the straight, I was closing it.” Double Olympic sprint misfortune. In road cycling typ- the women’s chart in 2015. on him really fast but when I got champion Thompson, who made ically the peleton will slow if the Srikanth was the first hit that knocked me back a bit.” a poor start but still just failed to leader has suffered mechanical Indian to win four SuperS- England appealed the disquali- overhaul England’s Dina Asher- difficulties. eries world tour titles in a fication but it was dismissed. Smith for third place, said she “There is good sports- year in 2017, earning him No-one got close enough to was satisfied with her race. manship and there’s not, and I crucial ranking points. England’s Hughes won a photo-finish by the hit Miller-Uibo as, with her dis- “I’m feeling great,” she said. feel like that wasn’t there today,” Badminton legend slimmest of margins - both were awarded tinctive silver hair trailing behind “It’s still early in the season. Gaze said of Cooper’s decision Prakash Padukone -- the first times of 20.12 - and had just completed his lap her, the Olympic 400 metre (Shaunae’s) getting better and to ride away. Indian to win the All England of honour when he was told that he had been champion secured a victory better, she has the strength for “It’s a bit of a shame really, men’s title in 1980 -- was which encouraged her ambitions the 400 and the speed for the I’ve got the utmost respect for the widely regarded as the best scratched from the race for hitting Richards to run the 200-400 double at the 200.” Janieve Russell did win guy, still, even with that move. during his time when the over the last few metres. 2020 Tokyo Olympics. gold for Jamaica in the women’s “That’s racing, you can’t get ranking system was not yet “The 200 isn’t my key event, 400 hurdles while Kenya’s wait along with everyone.” in place. Germany top FIFA Roma inconsistency more world rankings exasperating after Barca win AFP win against Germany as well REUTERS as an easy 3-0 victory over LAUSANNE: With the 2018 World Cup hosts Russia, both World Cup looming, of which they achieved MILAN: AS Roma’s inconsistent defending champions without injured star Neymar. Serie A form has been made to Germany sit atop the FIFA Belgium climb two places look all the more exasperating world standings despite three to third with their multi-tal- by their rousing win over draws and a defeat in their ented line-up, which includes Barcelona as they showed what last four games. Kevin De Bruyne and Eden they can do when they put their Germany drew 0-0 with Hazard, after friendly interna- minds to it. England at Wembley, 2-2 tional wins over Saudi Arabia Roma will barely have time with seventh placed France and Japan. Alexis Sanchez’ to catch their breath after Tues- in Cologne, 1-1 with eighth- Chile climbed one place to day’s memorable performance placed Spain in Duesseldorf ninth and are the only nation before facing neighbours Lazio and were beaten by second- in the top ten who failed to on Sunday in a derby that could placed Brazil in Berlin two qualify for Russia 2018. be pivotal to both teams’ chances weeks ago. When Joachim Meanwhile, Japan’s of reaching the Champions Loew’s youthful outfit, coach said he hopes a return League next season. including just two players to attacking tactics can help Roma’s supporters will be from the 2014 final starting repair the relationship hoping their side can carry on line-up, lost to Brazil it ended between players and staff where they left on in the Cham- a 22-match unbeaten run ahead of the World Cup. pions League quarter-final when dating back to the Euro 2016 The Japanese Football they overturned a 4-1 first leg The players of AS Roma celebrate after the UEFA Champions League quarter-final match against FC semi-final defeat to France. Association hired Akira deficit to win 3-0 and qualify on Barcelona in Rome on Tuesday. The Brazilians have con- Nishino as Blue Samurai boss away goals. solidated second with their this week after the surprise They outmuscled Barca as was followed by a stunning 4-2 drop points at home,” said Roma think everything’s easy but it decision to fire Vahid Halil- they gave the Catalans a tactical success at the then leaders striker Edin Dzeko after Tues- never is. You have to give eve- WORLD RANKINGS (TOP 15) hodzic of Bosnia two months lesson and it was hard to believe Napoli and further wins against day’s game. rything all the time.” Lazio, the before Russia 2018. that it was the same team which midtable Torino and Crotone. “We have seven games left league’s topscorers with 75 goals 1. Germany; 2. Brazil; 3. Belgium (+2) ; 4. “At the time of the this year has suffered home But, in typical fashion, then to play and they’re all important in 31 games, and Roma are joint Portugal (-1); 5.