MONDAY, MARCH 5, 2018 Aussies close in on Test win Wie wins thrilling Singapore title South Africa are still 124 runs short of Michelle Wie drains 40-foot putts on the last ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE Australia despite Markram’s ton PAGE 26 hole to claim first trophy since 2014 PAGE 23 CRYSTAL PALACE VS MAN UTD Gharafa boss expects tough match against Saudi’s Al Ahli The Cheetahs host to Al Jazira to put their first on Sunday. points on the board. Since signing for the four- Al Ahli in the AFC Al Ahli have begun the time QSL champions from CL; Al Sadd face competition strongly, winning French Ligue 1 club Nice, two from two, with goals from Sneijder has scored eight Uzbekistan side Taiseer al Jassam and Mohan- goals in 11 appearances in QSL Nasaf in Qarshi today nad Asseri – his second match- and AFC Champions League winner in as many games – matches. helping the Saudi Arabian side Elsewhere, Al Sadd will IKOLI VICTOR to a 2-1 victory over Al Jazira lock horns against Nasaf of DOHA on Matchday Two. Uzbekistan in their Champi- A third win in a row would ons League Group C match GHARAFA coach Bulent Uy- edge Al Ahli towards knockout on Monday in Qarshi. Coach gun says he expects a difficult stage qualification, while de- Jesualdo Ferreira stressed the match against Al Ahli of Saudi feat would see the sides level importance of the game at the Arabia but will be looking to on points. The last meeting pre-match press conference record back-to-back home between the pair, in the 2013 on Sunday. wins in Group A of the AFC group stage, ended in an en- “We are going to play a cru- Champions League when they tertaining 2-2 draw in Doha. Al Sadd players enjoy a training session before their AFC Champions League match against Uzbekistan cial game and everyone in the welcome table-toppers Al Ahli Speaking at the pre-match Al Gharafa coach Bulent Uygun side Nasaf on Sunday. team knows how important it Saudi FC to Thani Bin Jassim press conference on Sun- is to win because the points Stadium on Monday. day, Bulent Uygun said: “The Bulent said the absence of our fans who will support us Rayyan on Thursday, Bulent contribute to resolution of dis- could get us closer to the next Recent signing Mehdi match will certainly be tough of Mahdi Ali, Thamer Gamal today. There is no doubt that said the win would provide the putes and improves commu- stage of the competition.” Taremi scored his second and difficult against Al Ahli, and Fahid al Shammari, who’s Ahli have distinct qualities but needed boost to the morale of nication between countries. Ferreira alos pointed out and third goals of the current leaders of the Saudi league and serving a five-match ban by despite injuries and absence of the players. Gharafa will rely on the that Nasaf were “a strong campaign in a 3-0 victory over the AFC group. the Asian Football Conedera- some players we will strive to Al Ahli is the first team services of Dutch midfielder side” that was playing at home Tractorsazi Tabriz two weeks “Technically, we have pre- tion, would not deter his play- do our best.” from one of the blockading Wesley Sneijder who retired and that the Wolves had no ago as Al Gharafa recovered pared the players well to record ers from attaining victory. Still basking in their 6-1 countries to visit Qatar and from international foot- doubts about the difficulty of from their opening-day loss another win,” he added. “We will play to the delight QNB Stars League win over Al the coach believes that sports ball after a glittering career the fixture. IAAF World Indoor Athletics Championships Lavillenie seals treble, Pozzi hails Bannister in victory The Frenchman cleared 5.90 for a title to add to his previous wins in 2016 and 2012; Poland set new world indoor 4x400m relay record AFP BIRMINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM FRANCE’S Renaud Lavillenie displayed all his experience to bag a third world indoor pole vault title on Sunday as Briton Andrew Pozzi hailed the late Roger Bannister as the inspi- ration behind his hurdles tri- umph. In a bold show of games- manship, the Frenchman came into the competition at 5.70 metres – which six of the 15-strong field failed to make – passed at 5.80 and went clear at 5.85 and 5.90 after one failure at the latter. With no fewer than nine men owning season’s bests of 5.88m or better, the pressure was on at the business end of a gripping vaulting display. American Sam Hendricks (5.85) eventually took silver from Poland’s Piotr Lisek on countback as a host of rivals fell by the wayside. But world record holder Lavillenie was left punch- ing the air in triumph as he cleared 5.90 for a title to add to his previous wins in 2016 and 2012. Fittingly on the day Ban- nister died aged 88, British team captain Pozzi said his victory in the 60m hurdles had been inspired by the first man France’s Renaud Lavillenie celebrates his victory in the men’s pole to run a mile in under four vault final at the 2018 IAAF World Indoor Athletics Championships at Karol Zalewski, Rafal Omelko, Lukasz Krawczuk and Jakub Krzewina of Poland celebrate winning the men’s 4x400 metres relay and setting a minutes. the Arena in Birmingham on Sunday. (AFP) new world record at the World Indoor Championship on Sunday. (REUTERS) “Roger Bannister was an unbelievable athlete and un- spurt to defend his 3000m There was more Ethio- ahead of Poland and Britain. believable person,” said Pozzi, title with some ease, the pian glory as Samuel Tefera, The time set by the US whose winning 7.46sec edged 20-year-old crossing the line just 18, hared home to win the quartet also including Quan- American Jarret Eaton into in 8:14.41 ahead of teenage men’s 1500m in 3:58.19. era Hayes, Georganne Moline silver. teammate Selemon Barega. A cagey opening saw the and 400m silver medallist “I’m very sorry that he has “During the race I saw first 800m run in an incredi- Shakima Wimbley beat the left us but I read one of his everyone was very confident, bly slow 2:23 before Morocco’s previous record set by Russia quotes before heading down but I was the one controlling Abdelaati Iguider upped the back in 2004 by three-hun- to the track: ‘Every morning in everybody,” said Kejelcha, pace, but Tefera came through dredths of a second. Africa a gazelle wakes up and who said he would now target for gold and Poland’s Marcin The men’s relay went the it knows it must move faster the 5000m world record of Lewandowski snatched silver way of Poland, Jakub Krze- than the lion or it will not sur- 12:37.35 set by his compa- wina anchoring a team com- vive’.” triot Kenenisa Bekele. prising Karol Zalewski, Rafal Two defending track There was no holding Omelko and Lukasz Krawc- champions stepped up to win back in the women’s 800m zuk to a world indoor record successive titles, but there was as Burundi’s Francine Niy- of 3:01.77, smashing the pre- no luck for Brittney Reese, the onsaba also successfully de- vious best set by the USA in American bidding for a fourth fended her title in 1:58.31, Sopot in 2014. world indoor long jump title the fastest time run over the Krzewina overhauled who was pushed into silver by distance this season. ahead of the Moroccan who American Vernon Norwood in Serbian Ivana Spanovic. Niyonsaba held off a spir- won the event in 2012. the final 15 metres for a mem- Spanovic went out to ited effort from Ajee Wilson in Courtney Okolo won a orable victory that shattered 6.96m on her fourth jump to a fast-finishing final lap, the second gold of the world in- the US team’s bid for a seventh beat Reese by 7cm. American winning a second doors as she anchored the US successive title, Belgium win- In a slow tactical race, successive world indoor silver, women’s team to victory in the ning bronze. Britain’s Andrew Pozzi celebrates with the Union flag after his victory in the men’s 60m hurdles final at the Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha pro- with Briton Shelayna Oskan- 4x400m relay in a new cham- SEE ALSO PAGE 26 duced a devastating last-lap 2018 IAAF World Indoor Athletics Championships on Sunday. (AFP) Clarke taking bronze. pionship record of 3:23.85 Sports Monday, March 5, 2018 27 Asian silver for Qatari wrestler Sakandelidze Al Wakrah edge Al Shamal in Qatar Cup Giorgi Sakandelidze (Qatar) with the Asian Wrestling Championship silver medal in Bishek, Kyrgyzstan. He lost the Freestyle 125kg final to Davit Modzmanashvili (Uzbekistan). This was Qatar’s only medal in the championships. Al Wakrah, the QBF League runners-up, contrived a thrilling 84-81 victory in the Qatar Cup Basketball Championship Uzbekistan emerged as the Freestyle champions and Greco-Roman title was won by the hosts Kyrgyzstan. China won in Al Gharafa on Sunday. In an up and down match, Marcus Johnson and Earnest Lee Ross scored 21 each for the win- the overall women’s title. ners. Moses Ehambie led all scorers with 24 for Al Shamal and Dominic James chipped in 22.