CCRICKETRICKET | Page 3 NNBABA | Page 5 Australia end Clippers rally Afghanistan from 21 points run in U-19 down to top World Cup Pelicans Tuesday, January 30, 2018 GOLF Jumada I 13, 1439 AH Aussie Jason Day GULF TIMES clinches Torry Pines title in playoff SPORT Page 2 FOOTBALL/ AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Confi dent Gharafa take on Pakhtakor in playoff today ‘Pakhtakor are a top side but we are fully focused on our job, which is to qualify for the group stage of the Champions League’ By Sports Reporter are fully focused on our job, which is Pakhtakor have at the helm Shota Doha to qualify for the group stage of the Arveladze, who was one of Georgia’s Champions League, said their Turk- top footballers, holding the record of ish coach Bulent Uygun who replaced the nation’s all-time top goal scorer. As l Gharafa are hoping their lat- Frenchman Jean Fernandez barely two a manager, he spent most of his career est acquisitions Wesley Snei- months ago. in Turkey, before joining Pakhtakor in jder and Mehdi Taremi can fi re Fernandez himself lasted only a few June 2017. them to a spot in the group months after he took over from Pedro The club have lost their top goal Astage of this year’s AFC Champions Caixinha who moved to Scotland to scorer from last season, Igor Sergeev, League when they take on Uzbek giants manage the Rangers. who joined Al Dhafra in the UAE Pro Pakhtakor in their West Zone playoff at Uygun was not concerned about League. Brazilian striker Tiago Bezerra the Thani bin Jassim Stadium tonight. what happened in the League against will be tasked with fi nding the goals The match begins at 8pm. Al Sadd last week. “Those were diff er- that can propel Pakhtakor through to The Cheetahs reached the quarter- ent circumstances. We have analysed the next stage. fi nals of the lucrative continental tour- our mistakes and have taken corrective Arveladze also predicted a tough nament in 2010, but since 2012 have not measures,” he added. match. even qualifi ed for the event much to the Uygun said Gharafa would aim to re- “Both teams are equally determined disappointment of their fans. peat their 2010 feat when they qualifi ed to qualify for the group stage and I ex- They fi nished fi fth in the Qatar Stars for the quarter-fi nals at Pakhtakor’s pect them to be at their best,” he said. League last season and their latest match expense. But he expressed displeasure over the last week also left them grappling with “Of course, our ambition remains the one-game playoff . a few home truths after they suff ered a same. Al Gharafa have great pedigree. “We are not here to speak about this. 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Al Sadd. We have won several titles in the past Suffi ce is to say that both teams will be It was their fi fth defeat in 14 matches before losing our way a bit, but with the under pressure because of that. I agree in the league so far, leaving them with new signings we have a balanced side,” with the general opinion that one game a great deal of catching up to do if they the Turk claimed. does not do justice to the teams par- are to fi nish in the top four and chal- Almahdi Ali, who also attended the ticipating in this stage of the competi- lenge the best in the Cup events. press conference, said the team were tion.” Their immediate concern, however, briefed on the strengths of the Uzbek He also congratulated the Uzbek U23 is how to tackle Pakhtakor, who have giants. side for winning the Asian Champion- appeared in all but two editions of the “We know how they play and we are ship last week in China. Champions League ever since it was well equipped to deal with them,” said “I think this win will have a great im- re-launched in its current format in Ali, who was with the Al Sadd squad pact on football in Uzbekistan. We hope 2002-03. when they won the Champions League to build on it and become a force to be “Pakhtakor are a top side but we in 2011. Al Gharafa’s Turkish coach Bulent Uygun watches his players (R) in action during a training session yesterday. reckoned with.” BOTTOMLINE FFedererederer planningplanning MMelbourneelbourne rreturneturn iinn 22019019 Reuters would be in Dubai in late February had Melbourne yet to be made. “We were in talks with them (Dubai or- ganisers) but when the (Australian Open) ustralian Open champion Roger tournament started, I just said ‘look, if it’s Federer is set to continue defying okay, I’d like to decide after the tourna- Father Time after announcing ment’,” he said. Ahe will return to defend his title “That’s an ideal scenario for me. After next year, the Swiss said yesterday. the tournament, I’ll know how I feel... did The 36-year-old notched up his 20th I come out injured or not? grand slam title and sixth at Melbourne “So now we know what the situation is. Park on Sunday with a 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-3, “I also have to decide on the claycourt 3-6, 6-1 victory over Croatia’s Marin Cil- season so all these things are kind of in- ic, but initially forgot to say whether or not terlinked. he planned to defend the title. “But it’s possible I’ll play something, “Yeah, I’d love to come back. I know but it’s also possible that maybe I just I forgot to say that after the match,” a don’t play anything (for a while).” bleary-eyed Federer told reporters yes- Federer said he would make the decision terday. “But I hope I come back again next about his schedule after spending some year.” time with family at home in Switzerland, Federer equalled the record of six Aus- where he hoped the fact he had won the tralian Open men’s titles, held by Novak Australian Open title again would fi nally Djokovic and Roy Emerson, and emulat- sink in. ed Ken Rosewall’s feat of claiming three “This year seems more surreal, I can’t grand slam titles after the age of 35. believe I was able to defend my title after His longevity has in part been put down all these years, that I could do it again,” to the careful management of his playing he said. “To reach number 20, number six schedule. here, it’s just a lot trying to take it in. Despite being fully fi t, he skipped the “Last year was a lot more straightfor- entire claycourt season last year to con- ward, just disbelief that I won and there I centrate on Wimbledon, a decision that was waking up with the trophy. paid off with his eighth title on the south- “But, I don’t know, this year feels more west London grass courts. surreal. I can’t believe that I was able to He reiterated yesterday that he would defend my title, that after all these years I continue to manage his schedule tight- could do it again. ly and despite being within sight of “It’s super special, one of the great mo- the world’s top ranking, a decision on ments in my career, and maybe this one is whether or not his next tournament going to take longer to sink in.” Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, January 30, 2018 SPORT GOLF SPOTLIGHT American Lincicome Day clinches Torrey defends Pines title in playoff LPGA title ‘It’s special because I worked very hard in the off -season to get back in this position’ AFP gey before Day’s victory tap-in. La Jolla, United States “We just had to stay patient,” Day said. “My goal is to get to number one and this is a start in the right direction. ustralia’s Jason Day sank an “I’ve just got to take it in right now. I 18-inch birdie putt on the was up all night thinking about trying sixth playoff hole Monday to to get that 11th win.” defeat Sweden’s Alex Noren World number 14 Day’s US title total, Aand win the US PGA Tour’s Farmers In- topped by his 2015 PGA Champion- surance Open. ship title, also includes the 2015 Tor- Noren found the water with his sec- rey Pines crown, putting him along- ond shot of the morning while Day Jason Day of Australia side such two-time winners as Arnold placed his third inches from the cup to poses with the trophy Palmer and Tom Watson. seal their fates. after the sixth playoff Only Phil Mickelson with three wins Darkness halted their duel after fi ve on the 18th hole to win and Tiger Woods with eight have won extra holes Sunday at Torrey Pines the Farmers Insurance more often at the famed California South Course after each fi nished 72 Open at Torrey Pines course. Woods continued his latest holes on 10-under par 278. South in San Diego comeback from nagging back injuries It was Day’s 11th US PGA victory and yesterday. at the event, sharing 23rd. his fi rst since the 2016 Players Cham- World number 19 Noren’s runner-up pionship. fi nish was his best in a US event. “It has been a long time coming,” “I like playing over here.