p17 2_Layout 1 12/9/14 9:19 PM Page 1 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014 SPORTS Romania Cup 25 Basketball Tournament KUWAIT: The British Academy of Sport and the Romanian Embassy in Kuwait organized the first International Basketball Tournament between Embassies from Kuwait on the occasion of the celebration of the 25th anniver- sary of the Romanian Revolution. A total of eight teams represented their countries: Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China, Greece, Jordan, Lebanon, Romania and Russia. The opening cere- mony saw the teams parade with their flags and mascots dressed in national costume past the reviewing stand of VIPs including the patrons of the event, BSK Director Madame Vera Al Mutawa MBE, and the Romanian Ambassador Vasile Sofineti. The captains drew the numbers, the games began and the spectators from the various communi- ties spurred on their teams with great national pride. Semifinals were played between Greece against Lebanon and Russia against Jordan. The winners of the “Romania Cup 25” were the Lebanese Team who cleared three rounds includ- ing the final game against the Jordanians. GulfRun 24HR Karting Endurance 4 kicks off By Nawara Fattahova family event. “Visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy more activities. KUWAIT: Motorsports lovers are wel- There will be a mini market, games for comed to Sirbb Circuit to watch the kids, and many others,” Al-Mudhaf added. enthusiastic 24 hours Karting Endurance. Waleed Al-Khashti, PR and 19 teams - including 180 drivers will be Communications Manager at Zain (the participating in this race, which is an main sponsor of GulfRun 24HR Karting entertaining event for the whole family. Endurance) said that Zain always sup- Entrance is free of charge. GulfRun -pow- ports young Kuwaitis in sports and is ered by Zain-season is back as they kick always sponsoring the motorsports as off with GulfRun 24HR Karting well as other events. “We aim to spread Endurance 4. The event will take place on awareness in the community about safe Friday and Saturday, December 12 - 13 at driving,” he stated. the SIRBB Circuit in Shuwaikh. The GulfRun Karting Endurance Race GulfRun and Pro-Vision Sports follows international regulations and cer- Management announced this during the tified marshals will be coming from the press conference held yesterday at the UK to regulate the race - in accordance Sirbb Circuit. Ahmed Al-Majed, of Pro- with the FIA regulations. 19 teams com- Vision Sports Management said, “We prise of 4 to 12 drivers per team who have a record number of teams compet- drive a maximum stint time of roughly 2 ing and we look forward to an exciting hours, after which they switch drivers, race. We witnessed a record-breaking and keep going for 24 hours of non- stop turnout last year, and have many exciting racing. events planned on and off-track this The GulfRun Karting Endurance Race year”. According to Al-Majed, the Karting was launched in 2011 to create an excit- endurance is the first step or stage to ing competition in Kuwait that aligns reach the world racing Formula 1. with GulfRun’s objective - to promote “We aim to train and prepare the ama- automobile racing and training in a safe teurs to become professional drivers and and secure environment. Karting is one participate at international races. This is of the pillars of motorsports. GulfRun’s the fourth year for this event. This is the and Pro-Vision Sport Management team first year to have a complete female extend their gratitude to the continuous team. In the previous years we had support by Kuwait’s private sector, which mixed teams. All participants in the 24HR acknowledges the important role sport GREEN BAY: Packers’ Clay Matthews sacks Atlanta Falcons’ Matt Ryan during the second half of an NFL football game. —AP Karting Endurance are residents plays amongst Kuwait’s youth. GulfRun (Kuwaitis and expatriates),” he concluded. 24HR Karting Endurance Race is support- “We have lots of activities this season - ed by a wide range of sponsors: Title we starting off with GulfRun 24HR sponsorship by Zain; GR Karting Pace Packers down Falcons Karting Endurance 4. Also, we will be cel- Car: Mercedes-Benz; Platinum Sponsors ebrating our milestone (10 years and 20 Algida, Jashanmal, Consolidated events) in January. This year embodies Contractors Co. and Gulf Cable; Gold LOS ANGELES: The Green Bay Packers produced a completed the half by blocking a Falcons field left to once again get within 10 but a failed two- several great milestones for us, of which sponsorship by Slider Station, Costa near flawless first half before holding on for a 43- goal attempt. Jones opened the second half with point conversion kept the pressure valve off the we are ecstatic to have achieved,” Ahmed Coffee, and Dealership sponsors: Al- 37 home win over the Atlanta Falcons to cement a 79-yard reception to set up an Eric Weems Packers. Crosby added his third field goal for Al-Mudhaf of GulfRun noted. The Bisher & Al-KazemiCo, Ali Al-Ghanim and their place at the top of the NFC North division on touchdown before traded field goals took the some insurance points and while Harry Douglas GulfRun 24HR Karting Endurance 4 is a Sons Co. Monday. The Packers scored points on all five of score to 34-17. A 22-yard catch and score for scored the Falcons fourth second half touchdown their first half scoring drives, including four touch- Jones pulled the Falcons to 34-24 but Rodgers with just over two minutes remaining but they downs, to open up a dominant 31-7 lead before connected with Nelson for a 60-yard touchdown failed to get another look at the football. Ryan fin- stifling a Falcons fightback to improve to a joint- soon after to extend the lead again. ished with four touchdowns and 375 yards in a NFL best 10-3. Roddy White scored with just over six minutes losing effort.—Reuters Atlanta wide receiver Julio Jones notched up 259 yards and a touchdown as the Falcons rallied NFL standings to within six points in the fourth quarter, but his side fell to 5-8 and into a tie at the top of the woe- American Football Conference National Football Conference ful NFC South with the New Orleans Saints. AFC East NFC East Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers amassed W L T OTL PF PA PCT Philadelphia 9 4 0 0 389 309 .692 327 yards and tossed three touchdowns, wide New England 10 3 0 0 401 267 .769 Dallas 9 4 0 1 343 301 .692 receiver Jordy Nelson had two TDs and 146 yards Miami 7 6 0 0 314 260 .538 NY Giants 4 9 0 0 293 326 .308 and running back Eddie Lacy scored twice and Buffalo 7 6 0 0 281 241 .538 Washington 3 10 0 0 244 346 .231 had 106 all-purpose yards to send the side to a NY Jets 2 11 0 1 214 349 .154 NFC North fifth straight win. AFC North Green Bay 10 3 0 0 423 304 .769 Cincinnati 8 4 1 0 281 289 .654 Both teams traded opening drive rushing Detroit 9 4 0 0 265 224 .692 Pittsburgh 8 5 0 0 362 319 .615 touchdowns for an early 7-7 scoreline before the Minnesota 6 7 0 0 263 281 .462 Baltimore 8 5 0 0 356 255 .615 Chicago 5 8 0 1 281 378 .385 Packers exploded. Lacy opened the second quar- Cleveland 7 6 0 0 276 270 .538 ter with a one-yard touchdown run and Mason AFC South NFC South Crosby knocked over a field goal to push the lead Indianapolis 9 4 0 0 407 307 .692 Atlanta 5 8 0 0 328 342 .385 to 17-7 before Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan Houston 7 6 0 1 314 260 .538 New Orleans 5 8 0 2 333 359 .385 threw a critical interception. Tennessee 2 11 0 0 220 374 .154 Carolina 4 8 1 0 269 341 .346 Morgan Burnett pulled the wayward pass Jacksonville 2 11 0 0 199 356 .154 Tampa Bay 2 11 0 2 237 348 .154 down and returned the ball 32 yards to the red AFC West NFC West zone, setting up field position for Lacy to score Denver 10 3 0 1 385 293 .769 Arizona 10 3 0 0 275 238 .769 again. San Diego 8 5 0 0 293 272 .615 Seattle 9 4 0 0 322 235 .692 Kansas City 7 6 0 0 291 241 .538 San Francisco 7 6 0 0 244 268 .538 Nelson added a 10-yard touchdown reception Oakland 2 11 0 0 200 350 .154 St. Louis 6 7 0 0 285 285 .462 late in the second quarter before the Packers Lara: Lack of unity could cost West Indies at WCup SYDNEY: West Indies batting great Brian Lara squad, which will be cut to 15 before the tourna- Indies board (WICB) during his playing days, said expects the side to struggle at the World Cup if ment starts on Feb. 14, but fusing them into one he hoped the BCCI would not pursue their com- they are unable to forge a unified team, the for- team with a united purpose was going to be the pensation claim too ruthlessly and that the row mer skipper insisting a split between players and key to any success, according to Lara. would prove a “watershed” in West Indies cricket. administrators was just one of their problems. “We will have problems in terms of unity, in “The fine is one thing, there is other intricate Caribbean cricket was plunged into crisis terms of performance,” the 45-year-old, who stuff we need to sort out to get back to being a when a player revolt over money led to West retired after the 2007 World Cup, told reporters competitive nation,” he said.