SPORT Thursday 1 December 2016 PAGE | 28 PAGE | 29 Swing king Hamilton one of AAkramk to train the best but no Sri LLankana pacers friend: Rosberg LaLiga to use Soccerex Asian Forum to showcase international development The Peninsula the Champions League, where they reached the quarter-finals occerex institutional part- and kept consistency to achieve ners LaLiga will use the mid-table LaLiga finishes. S upcoming Soccerex Asian Jose will speak during a ses- Forum to showcase their activi- sion about sponsorship ties in the Middle East and the activation, and will give his growth of LaLiga across the thoughts on what is required to region and the rest of Asia. successfully activate sponsorship A delegation from the LaLiga across multiple territories. Barshim named international office in Dubai Both Jose and Fernando Sanz including Managing Director of have been instrumental in the International Development, growth of LaLiga in the region Vicente Casado, Head of Business during recent years, and will Development - Middle East and share their insight into the North Africa (MENA), Jose Maria progress of development for Athlete of the Year Arrabal and General Director for delegates. MENA and International Projects, Also present at the Asian Fernando Sanz will all be attend- Forum will be Malaga owner and ing at the event. President Sheikh Abdullah Bin LaLiga will also sponsor the Nasser Al Thani, who took con- Soccerex VIP Lounge, rebranded trol of the club back in 2011. Since The Peninsula the more it drives me towards to the LaLiga Lounge, as well as then, he has invested heavily in Barshim excels achieving higher. The experi- taking a stand on the exhibitor the squad and helped the club atar's most cherished Qatar's most ences I have been through in life floor to better engage with the establish area close connection track and field athlete cherished track and have been the driving force Awards are like a delegates in attendance. with the Middle East. Mutaz Essa Barshim field athlete received behind me. I’ve been though a fuel to me. The Vicente will deliver an exclu- Hosted with the support of reached another level the Athlete of the lot and getting this far has not sive presentation on the success the Supreme Committee for Q in his career when he been easy, but these encounters more I win the of LaLiga and the future of Span- Delivery and Legacy and the Year award at the received the Athlete of the Year and events have definitely made more it drives me ish football, in terms of growth Aspire Zone Foundation, the award, at the Esquire Man At His Esquire Man At His me who I am today." and development. Forum will feature expert Best Awards 2016 ceremony, in Best Awards 2016 “I draw inspiration from towards achieving With previous success at the insights from the top of the foot- Dubai on Tuesday. ceremony, in Dubai. everything around me. There’s higher: Mutaz Essa Spanish Football Federation ball industry alongside high-level The Red Bull athlete, so much to learn. My word of starting in 2005, Vicente also has networking opportunities for Barshim was honoured for his Mutaz became the advice to young people looking Barshim experience working for LaLiga delegates, giving them a chance triumph at the 2016 Summer first Qatari to win the for a future in high jumping is: club Malaga as Head of Devel- to connect and mix with some of Olympics in Rio de Janeiro this award given away by train wisely and keep in mind opment and Business from 2011 the key decision makers in the year, when also brought in Esquire Middle East. three important points - Victory where he managed to restruc- business. Qatar’s first-ever Olympic sil- is the result of hard work, ded- ture the club, helping wipe out The Forum will be held in ver medal. high-achieving individuals who ication and patience. There are history by beating Javier all debt and guiding the team into Doha on December 5 and 6. Besides this glorious win, were recognized by Esquire no shortcuts. I am deeply moti- Sotomayor’s record of 2.45m, the nation's most cherished ath- Middle East, the men’s lifestyle vated by my fans and in turn, I to become the highest jumper lete has also gone down the magazine, at a glittering cere- am honoured to inspire them. I of all time. annals of history as the Asian mony studded with prominent want to thank all those who By winning this award, record holder with a best mark people and regional cultural support me; my family, friends, Barshim joins the ranks of illus- of 2.43m. icons. fans and supporters always trious businessmen, outstanding He is also the reigning The awards were pre- motivate me to aim higher," the humanitarian leaders and cul- World Indoor champion. The sented to highly proficient gravity defying high jumper tural stars from the region - true recent honour at the sixth individuals who have not only said. role models who are among the annual Esquire Man At His Best achieved exceptional triumphs Mutaz who is currently the winners of the award, every Awards marked another proud and accomplishments, but highest active jumper in the year. moment, as Mutaz became the have also been an inspiration world, with a record of 2.43m, Awards were given out in first recipient from Qatar to win to society. is a true inspiration and role various categories ranging from the prize given away by Esquire Referring to his win a jubi- model for commitment, deter- fashion, comedy, humanitarian Middle East. lant Barshim said, “Awards are mination and hard work. He is services, athletics, and culinary Barshim was among 19 like a fuel to me. The more I win on a mission to rewrite world abilities. Qatar team leaves for Dubai 7's The Peninsula QATAR SQUAD FOR DUBAI 7'S are expected over the course of the tournament. Entertaining he Qatar National Rugby Abdulaziz Al Dosari, Abdulkarem Al Mu- the crowds will be the world’s Sevens Team left for hannadi, Saad Al Abdulla, Ibrahim Has- finest international sevens T United Arab Emirates to san, Iliesa Rakabu, Isireli Biumaiwai, teams including reigning cham- take part in the Emirates Dubai Jope Tikoilepanoni, Orisi Sareki, Pita Be- pions Fiji. 7's rugby tournament The Dubai Sevens isn’t just racibi, Rakan Al Mutawaa, Sandisiwe Dy- yesterday. the World Rugby Series, on the The Camels will compete in wili, Ahmed Al Masry, Talal Mujali pitches surrounding the sta- the Men’s Open International dium, 250 teams from around Division - the third toughest years the Dubai Sevens has the world compete in invita- category in Pool D. gained reputation as one of the tional, open, veterans and The prestigious Dubai 7's is highlights of the UAE’s sport- women’s competitions. an annual rugby union sevens ing calendar. There's also the Rugby Vil- tournament and will host the The Sevens stadiums can lage, where fans can expect to first leg of the World Rugby host over 40,000 fans per day find an array of shops, bars, Sevens Series. Over the past 40 and crowds of over 100,000 cafes and children activities. SPORT 1 DECEMBER 2016 THURSDAY 27 Antetokounmpo leads night of NBA upsets Los Angeles NBA missed seven straight shots in a score- AFP less four minute, 10 second spell in the The star of the night was fourth quarter. iannis Antetokounmpo led a Antetokounmpo, who is one It was Orlando's first win over San night of upsets in the NBA on of the highest paid players in Antonio in 11 meetings dating back to Tuesday with 34 points as the the NBA with $25m per 2010. Milwaukee Bucks stunned season salary. Spurs star Kawhi Leonard led the LeBron James and the Cleve- scoring for the home side with 21 points Gland Cavaliers. Sean Kilpatrick was the hero with LaMarcus Aldridge adding 16 points Antetokounmpo, 21, also grabbed 12 for the Nets, finishing with a and Manu Ginobili chipping in with 13. rebounds and contributed five assists as career-high 38 points as The Los Angeles Clippers fell to 14-5 a Cavs side featuring both James and Brooklyn defeated Clippers. against the Brooklyn Nets in New York, Kyrie Irving failed to fire. with the underdogs improving their Greek international Antetokounmpo "We let our guard down a little bit," record to 5-12 after a wild 127-122 win was ably supported by Jabari Parker (18 James said. "They pushed up the tempo in double overtime. points) and Michael Beasley (17) as the and we didn't get stops. I came out of the Sean Kilpatrick was the hero for the Bucks scored a win which improves their game when we were up 10 and we let Nets, finishing with a career-high 38 points season to 8-8. them go on a quick run to end the quar- -- 31 of them coming after the third quar- The Cavs loss saw the champions fall ter. From that point on they got into a ter -- as Brooklyn reeled in the Clippers to 13-3 for the season. James finished with rhythm and they're a rhythm team." who at one stage had led by 18 points. 22 points to lead the scoring for the Cavs, The Bucks' upset win was the biggest A stormy contest saw Clippers coach ahead of Irving with 20 points at the BMO shock of the day as various in-form teams Doc Rivers ejected after an angry out- Harris Bradley Center.