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Thursday, April 5, 2018 Rajab 19, 1439 AH
GULF
TIMES
SPORT
GOLF
Masters in the grip of Tiger mania
He owns four Masters green jackets, but hasn't even teed it up in the stately confines of Augusta National in two years as back trouble threatened to end his career
FOOTBALL
Ronaldo lauded after bicycle-kick goal buries Juventus
Page 2
CRICKET
Smith and Bancroft
won't contest bans
AFP Sydney
Former captain Steve Smith said yesterday he desperately wants to play for Australia again but will not be challenging a 12-month ban for a ball-tampering scandal that rocked cricket.
Opening batsman Cameron Bancroft echoed similar sentiments, saying he was determined to earn back the trust of the Australian public.
Cricket Australia last week suspended Smith and David Warner from all international and domestic cricket for a year, while Bancroft was suspended for nine months over the incident during the third Test in South Africa.
All three players have admitted what they did was wrong and a wave of sympathy has been growing for Smith since his public apology, during which
he broke down in tears. The trio had until today to tell Crick-
et Australia whether they accepted their punishment or would opt for a hearing, as is their right.
Warner has yet to comment but Smith, a golden boy who is compared to Donald Bradman for his batting exploits, took to social media to make clear he would do his time.
"I would give anything to have this behind me and be back representing my country," he tweeted, in his first comments since the emotional press conference on his return to Australia last Thursday.
"But I meant what I said about taking full responsibility as captain of the team. I won't be challenging the sanctions. They've been imposed by CA to send a strong message and I have accepted them."
Smith -- the world's number one Test batsman -- was charged with
knowledge of the potential ball-altering plan, while Warner was charged with developing the plot and instructing Bancroft to carry it out.
Since the scandal erupted, Smith has lost a lucrative Indian Premier League contract and has been dumped by sponsors.
Bancroft, who used sandpaper to scratch the surface of the ball, said he had informed Cricket Australia he would serve his ban.
"Today I lodged the paperwork with Cricket Australia and will be accepting the sanction handed down," he said on Twitter.
"I would love to put this behind me and will do whatever it takes to earn back the trust of the Australian public."
The Australian Cricketers' Association on Tuesday called for the bans to be reduced, arguing the punishment was disproportionate to previous balltampering cases.
Tiger Woods of the United States looks on during a practice round prior to the start of the 2018 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
AFP Augusta
Tiger mania has blossomed along with the azaleas at Augusta National, but 14-time major champion Tiger Woods is just one of the contenders at a Masters that promises to be a classic.
"I don't think there's one clear-cut favourite," said Woods, who is vying to pull off a comeback that would rate among the greatest in sport.
His quest to better Jack Nicklaus's record of 18 major titles stalled after he grabbed number 14 at the 2008 US Open.
He owns four Masters green jackets, but hasn't even teed it up in the stately confines of Augusta National in two years as back trouble threatened to end his career completely.
Pain free at last after spinal fusion surgery last April, Woods has ignited expectations with one runner-up finish and a tie for fifth in five official PGA Tour starts this year -- his best finishes since 2015.
Woods himself is at a loss to explain the impressive swing speed and driving distance he never expected to see after having vertebrae in his lower back fused.
"For some reason it has come back," he said. "All of a sudden I have this pop and my body and my speed's back and my timing."
He'll need all of that, and his vaunted short game and solid putting, on the course famed for the difficulty of its fast, undulating greens.
"This golf course is something
else," Woods said. The course, however, isn't the only
obstacle standing in Woods's way, and he knows it.
Former Masters champions Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson signalled their intentions with recent wins, Mickelson ending a near five-year title drought in March and Watson halting a two-year dry-spell at Riviera before hoisting another trophy at the WGC Match-Play.
"I think there's so many guys playing well at the same time. I think that's what is making this year's Masters so exciting, that there's so many guys," Woods said.
Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, vying to complete a career Grand Slam with a first green jacket, boosted his confidence with a victory at Bay Hill in March.
"I feel like I found something with my putting over the past few weeks, and in good time, because obviously you need to putt these greens very well," McIlroy said. "I'm looking forward to see what the week holds."
World number one Dustin Johnson comes in on a mission, having missed the Masters last year thanks to a freak fall on the stairs that halted the hottest streak of his career in its tracks.
Johnson opened the year with a USPGA Tour Tournament of Champions win, but three players have a shot at toppling him from number one with a victory this week.
Justin Thomas, 24, heads that list, and arrives at the Masters buoyed by a win at the Honda Classic, a runner-up finish at the WGC-Mexico Championship and a fourth-placed finish at
the WGC-Match Play. Should Thomas falter, Spain's
third-ranked Jon Rahm or world number four Jordan Spieth -- Masters champion in 2015 -- could conceivably overtake Johnson this week.
"I think there's a lot of players, a lot of the top quality players, young and old, are playing some of their best golf, and I think that's going to lead to one of the most exciting Masters in years," Mickelson said.
Spain's Sergio Garcia faces a tall order in seeking to join Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo as the only players to successfully defend the Masters title.
England's Justin Rose insists his runner-up finish to Garcia last year left him not demoralised but determined.
The age range of the players tipped to contend is astonishing.
"There are guys from their early 20s to Phil at 47 that have all played well," Woods noted.
Among that younger crew, Woods is an inspiration and, to those who have played on US match play teams he has helped shepherd in the past two years, a mentor.
"It's flattering, it's nice," Woods said. "But I still want to compete and I want to beat these guys and hopefully this will be a good week."
McIlroy, for one, thinks it's not too farfetched to think it could happen this week.
"Any time Tiger Woods is healthy and in this sort of form, he's dangerous at any golf tournament," McIlroy said. "But given his history here, I think even more so."
2 Gulf Times Thursday, April 5, 2018 FOOTBALL
SPOTLIGHT
Sevilla curse their luck after letting lead slip
AFP Seville, Spain
Sevilla ended their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Bayern Munich wondering what might have been, just as they had against Barcelona three days earlier.
They had chances and were the better side for large spells of their 2-1 defeat at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, but Bayern, like Barcelona, needed only a moment to strike.
Vincenzo Montella said afterwards his players had not had luck on their side and there was some truth in that.
Franck Ribery's cross was heading wide until Jesus Navas dangled out a foot and Thiago Alcantara's header would probably have been saved had it not been diverted by Sergio Escudero.
But for all their energy, verve and aggression, Sevilla have shown this week they still lack the control to manage matches against elite opposition.
Against Bayern, they led for only six
Bayern Munich's Thomas Mueller (L) celebrates with Rafinha after the match against Sevilla.
REACTION
Ronaldo lauded
after bicycle-kick
minutes, allowing their opponents to reach half-time level when they could easily have been two goals down as Pablo Sarabia, Sevilla's scorer, had planted an earlier, easier chance wide.
"With that opportunity it was a pity," Sarabia said. "I tried to adjust it to the maximum and I did not hit the target."
Against Barcelona they had conceded twice after holding a deserved 2-0 lead with just two minutes to go.
"We were a little lacking this side of experience... how to talk to the referee, and to be focused on small details," Sevilla striker Wissam Ben Yedder said.
"We know that it will be very complicated because now we have to (score) two goals there but we know that everything is possible."
Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes said he believed the timing of his side's equaliser, just before the break, was a psychological turning-point.
Scoring twice at the Allianz Arena next week is not beyond Sevilla, who can take heart from the numerous occasions they broke through Bayern on
Tuesday -- but it is hard to see them keeping a clean sheet.
After the second leg, they play Celta Vigo and Villarreal in La Liga before a reunion in the Spanish Cup final with Barcelona, who this time are likely to have Lionel Messi for 90 minutes.
If they are knocked out by Bayern and lose to Barca, Sevilla will be relying on their league position to qualify for Europe next season -- they currently sit seventh, only two points ahead of Girona.
Bayern, meanwhile, know they will have to improve with striker Robert Lewandowski, whose name continues to be linked with Real Madrid, virtually anonymous.
It was the 34-year-old Ribery who made the difference. "In the first half we were not well organised," Ribery said.
"We did not play in front, at the break the coach gave us a telling off. Seville is a very good team who plays very well in football, but we reacted well after the 1-0.
"We must not believe that we are already in the semi-finals."
TRAGEDY
Former England captain Wilkins dies aged 61
goal buries Juve
`Cristiano does things sometimes that only he can do. It can be said that it is one of the most beautiful goals in the history of football'
AFP Turin
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a record-breaking goal and a stunning overhead bicycle kick to bury Juventus 3-0 on Tuesday in a rematch of last year's Champions League final.
Ronaldo became the first player to score in 10 consecutive Champions League games after just as Real Madrid beat Juventus 3-0 in the first leg of the quarter-finals in Turin, but it was his second goal that everybody will remember.
The Portuguese superstar surpassed himself with a breathtaking overhead hit from inside the box to help put holders Real Madrid closer to the semi-finals.
"One of the most beautiful goals in the history of football," said Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane.
It took him only two minutes and 47 seconds to open the scoring in Turin, flicking in Isco's cross.
But the jeers of the home fans turned to applause and earned him a standing ovation after 64 minutes when Dani Carvajal crossed back into the area where Ronaldo connected with an outrageous bicycle kick.
Ronaldo responded by putting his hand to his heart and giving a slight bow of gratitude to the crowd. "The applause for Cristiano says it all," said Carvajal.
"Cristiano does things sometimes that only he can do," said Zidane. "It can be said that it is one of the most beautiful goals in the history of football.
"It's maybe not as beautiful as mine in Glasgow," joked Zidane of his goal against Bayer Leverkusen in 2002 that gave Real their ninth Champions League title.
"I'm the coach but I'm also a football fan, when I see something like that... that's why Ronaldo is different from others because he can do that kind of thing.
"I'm happy for him and happy to have him on our team."
Ronaldo has been on a goalscoring streak of 19 goals in his last nine games for Real -- 28 in 2018 -- a feat which even Zidane has said makes him jealous.
He has now scored 16 goals in his past 10 Champions League games -- 14 goals this season and a double in last year's final against Juventus.
He holds the record for Champions League goals scored with 119.
"The Juventus fans applauded Ronaldo but also for his team," said Zidane. "It's beautiful. You don't see that everywhere."
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri admitted he was amazed by his ability to change his style of play in his thirties to adapt to losing some of his once-searing pace.
"I don't know if Ronaldo's goal is the best in football history, but it's really an extraordinary goal, you can only congrat-
Cristiano Ronaldo (C) scores with an overhead bicycle kick during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg football match against Juventus at the Allianz Stadium in Turin on April 3.
ulate him on what he's doing at present," said Allegri.
"The applause is a beautiful lesson from the Juventus fans to the whole world, football is a show, when you have 22 or 30 high level players and you see a shot like this one it's good to applaud."
The five-time world footballer of the year has now scored in his last six matches against veteran Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, netting nine in total.
"We saw what Ronaldo is and always has been -- a player of an extraordinary level who along with Leo Messi is achieving the greatest heights," said Buffon.
"This means they can be compared to Maradona and Pele for the way they ultimately are able to decide matches and trophies won by their teams."
"When you play against one of the best players in the world, like Cristiano Ronaldo, you need perfection, if you leave
Ronaldo thanks Juventus fans for applause
Cristiano Ronaldo has thanked Juventus fans for their generous applause for his overhead bicycle kick which helped Real Madrid gain a three-goal advantage over the Italians in the Champions League. "For me it was an unbelievable moment," said Ronaldo, who scored two goals in the two-time holders' 3-0 Champions League quarterfinal, first-leg win in Turin. "I have to say thank you a lot -- grazie -- to all the Juventus supporters. What they did for me was amazing," Ronaldo told , having taken his goal tally against the Italian champions to nine in six games. "It (ovation by rival fans) had never happened to me in my career before." Juventus shares fell by nearly five % on Thursday as the Turin club's hopes of reaching the last four were severely compromised going into the second leg in Madrid on April 11. "It was a great goal, fantastic," continued the 33-year-old who became the first player to score in 10 successive Champions League games, with his tally 14 goals this season and 119 in total. "Step by step," he warned of talk about a third straight Champions League title. "I think we should think about the second leg. Anything is possible in football, so let's think about that second leg and let's see what happens."
space he punishes you, and then he invented a goal that will remain in history. It's a pity that he did it to us," lamented defender Andrea Barzagli.
Not only was the world of football talking about Ronaldo's goal, NBA star Lebron James published a photo on Instagram of the action and world MotoGP champion Marc Marquez, a Barcelona fan, tweeted: "Bufff what a great goal for CR7!!!".
"Cristiano Ronaldo can now leave the Earth and start playing against the Martians, he has done everything here!" tweeted the Real Madrid defender Alvaro Arbeloa.
"Seen a lot of great goals in my time but that is absolutely breathtaking from Ronaldo," said former England player Gary Lineker.
"The opposing fans in the stadium applauding the great @cristiano after the bicycle kick and rightly so. Keeps on upping the ante -- relentless!" tweeted Rio Ferdinand.
In this file photo taken on May 5, 2009, Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins is pictured during a training session at Stamford Bridge in London. Ray Wilkins, the former England captain and Manchester United and AC Milan midfielder, died yesterday following a heart attack last week.
Reuters London
Former England captain Ray Wilkins died yesterday in a London hospital at the age of 61 following a heart attack.
The ex-Chelsea and Manchester United midfielder suffered a cardiac arrest on Saturday and was admitted to St George's Hospital, where he had been put in an induced coma.
"It is with great sadness we announce that Raymond Colin Wilkins passed away this morning," his family said in a statement on the St George's website.
"We would like to thank St George's staff for the amazing work they have done to care for our beloved Ray.
"We would also like to say thank you for the many goodwill messages we have received from Ray's friends, colleagues, and members of the public."
Wilkins won 84 caps for England between 1976 and 1986.
He also played more than 150 times for each of Chelsea, Manchester United and Queen's Park Rangers, with shorter spells abroad for AC Milan and Paris St Germain.
"Everybody associated with Chelsea Football Club is devastated to learn of the passing of our former player, captain and assistant coach, Ray Wilkins. Rest in peace, Ray, you will be dreadfully missed," the west London club said in a tweet.
In a 20-year coaching career Wilkins also managed QPR, Fulham and the Jordan national team. He was assistant manager in two spells at Chelsea where he started out as a player.
Wilkins came through the youth ranks at Chelsea and made his senior debut aged 17 against Norwich City in 1973.
He joined United after Chelsea were relegated in the 197879 season and won the FA Cup with the Old Trafford club in 1983.
Wilkins made his England debut aged 20 against Italy in a tournament in the United States and was a fixture in the England side for the next decade, captaining the team 10 times.
England striker Gary Lineker wrote on Twitter that no team mate was as "helpful and supportive" as Wilkins.
"Deeply saddened to hear that Ray Wilkins has passed away," Lineker said. "A wonderful footballer and a delightful man. It was a pleasure to have played alongside him with England."
AC Milan, for whom Wilkins made more than 70 appearances between 1984 and 1987, will honour him later on Wednesday when they face city rivals Inter in a Serie A match.
"Goodbye Ray, you will be missed: tonight we're gonna fight like you taught us!" Milan said in a tweet.
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand also offered his condolences and paid tribute to Wilkins the man and player.
"Always so humble and softly spoken whenever I saw him. Genuine lovely guy," Ferdinand said in a tweet. "Watched him... at Loftus Road many times for QPR. What a great passer and teacher of the game for any young kids who watched him."
Wilkins is survived by his wife Jackie and their two children and grandchildren.
EUROPA LEAGUE
Arsenal, Atletico face quarter-final home tests today
Gulf Times Thursday, April 5, 2018
3
FOOTBALL
ASIA FOCUS
Ulsan storm into Champions League last 16 on good night for Korea, China
AFP Hong Kong
South Korea's Ulsan Hyundai FC powered into the knockout stages of the AFC Champions League yesterday with a 6-2 demolition of Melbourne Victory, who crashed out.
Ulsan will finish second in Group F behind Shanghai SIPG, who drew 1-1 at home to Kawasaki Frontale.
And on a great night for South Korean football, the 2016 winners Jeonbuk also clinched their berth with a 2-0 Group E win at Kashiwa Reysol in Japan.
China's Tianjin Quanjian left it late to join them in the last 16 from Group E with the only goal against Kitchee in Hong Kong coming in the 89th minute from 30mn euro French import Anthony Modeste.
Ulsan were gifted a comical opening goal before the floodgates opened against the ALeague side.
Just 12 minutes had elapsed when striker Junior Negrao threw out a hopeful boot to block a clearance from Melbourne goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas, who was mortified to see the ball ricochet back over his head from the Brazilian and into the empty net.
Lim Jong-eun got the second with a cool left-foot volleyed finish and Mislav Orsic thumped home a third before half-time to put the home side in complete control.
Kim Seung-jun made it 4-0 for Ulsan 10 minutes after the break and Junior bagged his second before a brief fightback from Melbourne.
The visitors scored twice in two minutes through Kenny Athiu and Kosta Barbarouses. But any fleeting hopes of an
against-the-odds fightback were snuffed out when the Croatian Orsic thumped in his second to make it 6-2.
Jeonbuk were grateful to another Brazilian striker, Ricardo Lopes, who got them up and running in front of a vociferous Kashiwa home support with a scrambled finish in the 16th minute.
Hugely popular veteran Korean striker Lee Dong-gook sealed qualification with a cool finish in the 77th minute.
The 38-year-old had been on the pitch for just 10 minutes when he sweetly struck a left-foot shot past Kazushige Kirihata to leave Kashiwa's qualification hopes at that stage dangling by a thread.
Kashiwa needed Kitchee to defeat the big-spending Tianjin in the later match but the Chinese Super League side broke Japanese hearts in the 89th minute when Modeste nodded in from close range to knock out both Kitchee and Kashiwa.
Tianjin are two points behind the Korean side and will play Kashiwa next week while Jeonbuk face Kitchee with those results determining who will finish top of the group.
In Shanghai, burly striker Hulk blazed a first-half penalty over the bar and fellow Brazilian Oscar was largely anonymous as the already-qualified SIPG laboured to a 1-1 against Group F stragglers Kawasaki Frontale.
SIPG eventually opened the scoring through Brazilian Elkeson's 68th-minute strike but it was cancelled out six minutes later by a Kei Chinen closerange header.
The draw was still enough to assure SIPG of finishing top of the group with Ulsan guaranteed second place with one round of matches remaining next week.
Arsenal's Spanish defender Hector Bellerin (2R) trains with teammates on the eve of their UEFA Europa League first leg quarter-final match against CSKA Moscow at Arsenal's London Colney training ground yesterday.
DPA Berlin
Title favourites Arsenal and Atletico Madrid start their Europa League quarter-finals with home dates against CSKA Moscow and Sporting Lisbon respectively today High-flying Salzburg aim to continue their strong run at Lazio and RB Leipzig host Olympique Marseille in the other two first-leg games.
Arsenal were impressive in their last 16 win against AC Milan but run into a CSKA side which ended Olympique Lyon's hope of featuring in the May 16 final which is played in their home stadium. Winning the trophy is the priority for manager Arsene Wenger and his Gunners as it offers their only real chance to play Champions League football next season, given a
13-point deficit on fourth-placed Tottenham in the Premier League.
"We are just trying to focus on the game," the Evening Standard quoted defender Calum Chambers as saying. "You can get too wound up with things going on around it. At the end of the day it is a football match and we want to go and win and get a good result so I think everyone is fully focused on them, how we are going to play against them."
Striker Alexandre Lacazette, who scored in his return from injury at the weekend, could be in line to start with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ineligible after moving from Borussia Dortmund and Danny Welbeck nursing a back problem.
CSKA beat Arsenal twice when they last met, in the group stage of the 200607 Champions League. They have won five of their seven away games in Europa
this season but one of their defeats was a 2-1 at Manchester United in the Champions League for a fifth straight loss overall against English opposition. Atletico coach Diego Simeone could have full-backs Sime Vrsaljko and Juanfran Torres back for the Sporting date after both returned to full training without problems but Uruguayan Jose Gimenez is doubtful with a bruised left ankle.
Sporting coach Jorge Jesus has no illusions as he heaped praise on Atletico star Antoine Griezmann and his team-mates from the 2010 and 2012 winners. "He is a great player who could play in any top team in Europe. They are the clear favourites with all the possibilities to end up winning the competition," Jesus told Marca. Salzburg are enjoying their best season in Europe in their current status with major backing from Austrian energy drinks makers Red Bull, although the as-
sociation with them has changed owing to UEFA regulations because Red Bullbacked Leipzig are also in the event.
The Austrians are unbeaten in 19 European matches and accounted for Borussia Dortmund in the past round but run into a Lazio side boasting Serie A top scorer Ciro Immobile.
"We have been improving in the Europa League and we must continue on against Salzburg, who are unbeaten in Europe. We will have to prepare the game very carefully," Lazio coach Simone Inzaghi said. Leipzig are meanwhile the best European debutant from Germany in more than two decades, and after ousting Napoli and beating runaway leaders Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga also hope to prevail against Marseille. "We want to achieve something big. There will be pressure but you have to live with it. I love it, now come the big games," forward Emil Forsberg said.
BOTTOMLINE
Title secured, it's coronation time for Qatar champs Duhail
By Sports Reporter Doha
Having wrapped up the QNB Stars League title with plenty to spare, Al Duhail will be formally crowned champions on Saturday when they meet Al Sailiya in their final match of the tournament. The match will be played at Al Duhail Stadium at 6.15pm.
Al Duhail will be keen not to allow Al Sailiya to play spoilsport in their crowning glory as they are the only unbeaten side in this season's league competition. They dropped points only on three occasions when they were held to draws.
Algerian coach Djamel Belmadi succeeded in instilling high confidence in his wards and that reflected on their marauding run. They have 18 wins to their credit, three more than second-placed Al Sadd and six over third-placed Al Rayyan.
Duhail coach Djamel Belmadi.
Al Duhail, who defeated Al Markhiya 4-2 in the last round, also have scored the most number of goals (81) and have the best goal difference of +56. The Red Knights had emerged as champions after their 5-0 victo-
ry over Al Kharaitiyat and closest challengers Al Sadd lost 1-2 to Umm Salal in Week 20.
"Our first target was to win the league which we've done. Our second target is to end the season without any loss," Bel-
madi had said after they had taken an unassailable lead.
"I think it can be achieved and I feel it's incredible to win a league without having lost a game. Throughout the season, the senior players stood up and
delivered in such a positive way. We got some really good results. We didn't lose a single match," he added.
The battle for the top-scorer award has also gone down to the wire between Al Duhail's Yousef El Arabi (26) and Yousef Msakni (25).
Meanwhile, Al Duhail recorded their fifth consecutive win in the AFC Champions League by defeating Iran's Zobahan in Isfahan on Tuesday. They had become the first team to make it to the Round of 16 after the fourth round.
Al Sailiya, who had beaten Al Ahli 3-0 in Week 21, have been assured of the sixth place as they have four points more than Al Arabi (24). Yet, The Peregrines will be keen to end their campaign on a high.
However, Sami Trabelsi's men will certainly be ruing their inability to finish among the top four. They were in the fourth position for long before being surpassed by Al Gharafa and Umm Salal.
Ulsan Hyundai's Kim Seung-jun (L) fights for the ball with Melbourne Victory's Stefan Nigro (C) and Besart Berisha (R) during their AFC Champions Leaguematch in Ulsan yesterday.
SPOTLIGHT
Southampton boss Hughes apologises to daughter for missing her game
AFP London
Mark Hughes revealed that he apologised to his daughter after he abandoned plans to watch her play hockey for Wales at the Commonwealth Games when Premier League club Southampton came calling.
Xenna Hughes is in the Wales hockey squad for the Games, which opened yesterday on Australia's Gold Coast, and her father was all set to jet over and watch her in action.
But just weeks after getting the sack at Stoke City, the 54-yearold Hughes last month was suddenly back in football management at Southampton, who along with Stoke are mired in the
Premier League relegation zone. "If I'm being honest, I didn't
anticipate getting back in (management) until maybe next season. I had lots of plans, things we were going to do," Hughes, a former Wales boss and Manchester United striker, told the BBC.
"I'm supposed to be in Australia as we speak because my daughter's in the Commonwealth Games playing hockey for Wales so that was my big plan, I thought, `Oh yeah, I've got an opportunity to go there'.
"But there you go, I have apologised to her."
Hughes faces a fight to keep Southampton in England's top flight, and under Hughes they were beaten 3-0 last weekend at fellow relegation candidates West Ham United.
4
Gulf Times Thursday, April 5, 2018
SPORT
SPOTLIGHT
Pakistan invites England cricket team after 13 years
`The successful staging of international matches in Pakistan is a clear proof that we have defeated terrorism and extremism'
Pakistan players pose with the trophy after winning the third and final T20 international against West Indies at the National Cricket Stadium in Karachi. (AFP)
AFP Islamabad
Pakistan's interior minister has invited the England cricket team to tour the country for the first time since 2005, after a successful visit by the West Indies amid improved security boosted hopes of an international revival.
A visit by a major Test-playing nation such as England would be hugely significant, in terms of both cricket as well as Pakistan's wider security and the message it hopes to send about its crackdown on extremism and militancy.
Interior minister Ahsan Iqbal extended the invitation to UK High Comissioner Thomas Drew yesterday, urging the international community to recognise the strides Pakistan has made.
"The successful staging of international matches in Pakistan is a clear proof that we have defeated terrorism and extremism," he said, according to an official statement.
Drew said he was already looking forward to "this summer's big cricketing event", Pakistan's upcoming England tour.
"But I also hope that it will not be long before I can welcome an England team to Pakistan," he told AFP yesterday. "That really is something to
look forward to." For years foreign teams refused to tour Paki-
stan, wracked by Islamist attacks. In 2009 an attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore drove international cricket from the country entirely, and their fixtures have been played in the United Arab Emirates.
But security has improved dramatically in recent years, and since 2015 Pakistan has hosted Zimbabwe, a World XI, Sri Lanka, the finals of its domestic T20 league for two years running and, most recently, the West Indies, for a short T20 series which finished on Tuesday.
The matches have been staged in both Lahore and Karachi, the cricket-obsessed country's two largest cities, both of which have been hit repeatedly by militant violence over the last decade.
Head-of-state level security has been provided for visiting players, most of whom have come away praising the arrangements.
Various military operations across the country have led to the increased security, particularly in the northwestern tribal region, where militants once operated with impunity.
But the US maintains that Pakistan is hosting militant safe havens in the northwest, accusations Islamabad denies; while critics warn that the country has not gone far enough in rooting out the long-term causes of extremism.
Windies coach calls Pakistan security `outstanding'
West Indies coach Stuart Law has praised Pakistan's security arrangements during his team's time in Karachi, saying he hoped their experience would open the door for more cricket series to be held in the country. The West Indies completed a three-match Twenty20 series late Tuesday and although his team was whitewashed by world number one Pakistan 3-0, Law was happy with their treatment by authorities. "It's a bit daunting for the people outside but once you get here and see for yourself, you feel more confident," he said during the post-match press conference. "The security has been outstanding, and we haven't had any problems." Pakistan's military put stringent security arrangements in place with 8,000 policemen and military personnel guarding the team hotel and stadium for the series. "I'm not saying that it will open the floodgates and bring everyone rushing back, but from what I've seen here, it's more than adequate and we should be able to get cricket back to Pakistan," said Law. Pakistan is on a long road to revive international cricket following six years of isolation from 2009 to 2015. Pakistan was a "no-go" area for foreign teams after militants attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in 2009. After being shunned for years, Zimbabwe toured Pakistan for a short series in 2015. The successful outing was followed by two Pakistan Super League finals in 2017 and 2018 along with three Twenty20 matches against a World XI and one against Sri Lanka last year. The 49-year-old West Indian coach Law is a former Australia batsman who was part of the team that lost the 1996 World Cup final to Sri Lanka in Lahore. "I'm a big fan of Pakistan cricket," said Law. "The fans here in the subcontinent are pretty passionate. This was the first time I'd been to Karachi and the fans here were outstanding every night."
FORMULA 1
Hamilton chasing maximum points and another record
Reuters Manama
Lewis Hamilton will be out to secure maximum points, and equal a Formula One record, in Bahrain on Sunday after victory was plucked from his grasp in the Australian season-opener.
Mercedes' four times world champion has scored in his last 26 races, one short of Kimi Raikkonen's unprecedented run of 27 with Lotus in 2012-13, and stood on the podium in 19 of them.
The 33-year-old Briton, who last drew a blank when he retired with a blown engine while leading the 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix, will also be looking to make a statement as he moves on from Melbourne.
Hamilton was on his way to a comfortable win from pole position at Albert Park when an ill-timed virtual safety car and a computer bug threw Mercedes' strategy predictions off and handed victory to Ferrari rival Sebastian Vettel instead.
"It feels like a dark cloud but it's not," he told reporters after finishing second.
"We have a great car, we are still the world champions and with a couple of adjustments we can win the next race."
Hamilton has taken two of Mercedes's three wins from the last four years in Bahrain but Vettel and Ferrari broke the stranglehold last year when Bahrain followed China as third round of the season.
Mercedes are expecting another thriller under the floodlights.
"We saw in Melbourne that the Ferraris in particular were very quick, so I expect it to be a close battle," commented team boss Toto Wolff.
The circuit's four long straights could allow Ferrari to edge closer but Vettel ? set to start his 200th race ? may need another dose of luck to celebrate
an unprecedented fourth win in Bahrain.
Ferrari will also have to watch out for Red Bull, whose Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo set the fastest lap in Melbourne and piled the pressure on Raikkonen in his bid for a home podium.
"The track is one that I've always done well on," said Ricciardo, whose lowest finish in Bahrain since he stepped up to Red Bull in 2014 is sixth. "So let's hope it continues to be good to me."
Sunday will also set the stage for another hard-fought midfield battle.
McLaren, who have Bahrain's Mumtalakat Holding Company as major shareholders, will hope to win that one after ending their first race with new engine partners Renault solidly in the points.
But they will have to overcome a Haas team whose Ferrari-powered car drew intense scrutiny after they stunned rivals with their pace in the opener.
The US-owned team will be hoping to put behind them the disappointment of having both drivers retire in Melbourne after botched pitstops while on course for a best-ever result.
Off the track, the big story will be a presentation to teams by commercial rights holder Liberty Media and governing FIA of how they see the future unfolding after current agreements expire at the end of 2020.
New engine regulations are a key part of that, with the focus also on Ferrari after the Italian team threatened to walk away from Formula One if they do not like what is being proposed.
AUCTION
BCCI set for billion-dollar deal in media rights war
AFP New Delhi
India's cricket board is set to break the billion dollar barrier in its new media rights deal after two days of intense bidding between rival firms, which are scheduled to end today.
Bidding hit $926 million yesterday in the fight between Star India, Sony and Reliance Jio for television and digital rights for the Indian cricket team and domestic championships from 2018 to 2023.
The deal does not include the multi-billion dollar Indian Premier League (IPL).
"The bidding mark has
reached 60.32 billion rupees and it will certainly be a landmark deal," a senior Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Rupert Murdoch's Star paid 38.5 billion rupees ($592 million) for the rights to broadcast India's home matches from 2012-2018.
Star also won the media rights for BCCI's lucrative IPL Twenty20 tournament with a record $2.55 billion bid last year. The deal also stands for five years from 2018.
Initially six companies, including Facebook and Google, entered the fray to bid for international and domestic matches in India from April 15 2018 to March 31 2023.
FOCUS
More heads must roll on and off the field: Warne
AFP Sydney
Spin king Shane Warne has called for more heads to roll over Australia's embarrassing tour of South Africa, saying the game's top brass must also be held accountable.
The drama-filled four-Test tour was won by the Proteas 3-1 with a crushing 492-run win in the final match in Johannesburg on Tuesday, handing them their first series victory at home against Australia since 1969/70. A ball-tampering scandal during the third Test in Cape Town claimed the scalps of former captain Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, who have all been suspended for up to a year, while coach Darren Lehmann quit in the aftermath.
Warne said the bloodletting should not stop there.
"Australia have a lot of questions to answer and I believe more heads must roll on and off the field," he wrote on Instagram, having been a broadcast commentator for the last
two Tests. "Australia need new people who
are passionate about the game in charge, but understand the game.
"Australia can be a force again, but need the right people involved. There is a huge opportunity now for players and people to be leaders. All positions are in jeopardy and need to be looked at, heads must roll."
Warne put the heat on Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland and team manager of performance Pat Howard while analysing the series defeat, Fox Sports reported.
"Every single position on the field, off the field, starting from James Sutherland at the top, Pat Howard who is in charge of Cricket excellence, all these people," Warne was quoted as saying.
"The coaches. Batting coaches ? when are we going to produce a good batsman?
"All these people need to be (held accountable), saying `right ? are they good enough for that position? Who else have we got to take their position?'"
The Australian Cricketers' Association on Tuesday said the culture of Australian Cricket must be addressed by an independent inquiry examining the game from top to bottom, reporting to both the players' union and Cricket Australia.
"Organisational culture comes from its leadership and it comes from the top. It cannot be grafted onto the bottom," president Greg Dyer said, as pressure grows for the role of Cricket's top executives to also come under the spotlight.
"Let us identify all the causes of the tipping point that occurred in Cape Town."
Mitchell Marsh to undergo ankle surgery
Australia's fast bowling all-rounder Mitchell Marsh will miss the start of the English county season with Surrey as he needs an ankle surgery which also makes him a doubt for the national team's next test assignment against Pakistan. Surrey confirmed yesterday that Marsh, who was expected to join the squad for the start of the County Championship this month, requires an immediate ankle surgery. "I'm extremely disappointed to be missing the start of the season," the 26-year-old said in a statement. "I was looking forward to heading over and joining the Surrey family. I'll be doing everything I can to get myself fully fit and hopefully join the side later in the season." Marsh has been in fine form since his recall to the Australian side for the third Ashes test, averaging more than 45 with the bat against England and South Africa. A Cricket Australia spokesperson said Marsh is targeting a return for the start of the Australian summer, suggesting the player will miss the limited-overs tour of England in June. He will also face a race against time for Australia's next away test campaign against Pakistan, which is expected to be held in September or October this year.
Gulf Times Thursday, April 5, 2018
5
SPORT
NBA
LeBron milestone
as Cavaliers hold
off Toronto Raptors
`I'm a professional. I got back here on time. I ain't missed nothing - just missed some shots'
AFP Los Angeles
LeBron James passed another NBA milestone on Tuesday as the Cleveland Cavaliers kept ahead of Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference playoff race with a win over first place Toronto.
James's 27-point performance in a 112-106 victory at the Quicken Loans Arena helped the Cavs improve to 48-30, leaving them one win ahead of the 76ers in the battle for third seeding in the playoffs.
It was the 942nd time James scored 20 points or more, seeing him vault over Kobe Bryant into third place in the all-time list. Only Karl Malone (1,134) and Kareem Abdul Jabbar (1,122) have had more 20-point games.
Meanwhile, the Raptors' fourth defeat in six games will fuel the anxiety felt by the Canadian franchise as they attempt to lock up number one seeding in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors fell to 55-22 for the season following the loss but breathed a collective sigh of relief after second-placed Boston blew a chance to close within one win of top spot.
The Celtics slumped to a 106102 loss against the Milwaukee Bucks, with Giannis Antetokounmpo scoring 29 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.
In Cleveland, however, the 2016 NBA champion Cavs signalled they will be a threat for any team in the postseason as they attempt to reach the NBA Finals for the fourth year in a row. As well as his 27 points, James contributed 10 rebounds and six assists on a night when the Cavs starters shared the scoring evenly.
All five starters made double figures, with Jose Calderon grabbing 19 points and Kevin Love weighing in with 18 points and 15 rebounds. The Cavs' defense also successfully shut down the Raptors' offense, with Kyle Lowry restricted to just five points from his 28 minutes on court.
"We know Toronto have been scoring at a high clip all year our last match-up here they put 70 on us in the first half," James said. "So we knew we had to get the defense in order to get the win. It was a good game for us."
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James drives against Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan in the fourth quarter of their NBA game at Quicken Loans Arena. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports
Lowry - who raised eyebrows by travelling to San Antonio on Monday to cheer on his former college Villanova in the NCAA championship game - had a miserable night on court, making one of seven three-point attempts.
"I played terrible," Lowry said, denying that his trip to Texas on Monday had affected his performance. "I'm a professional. I got back here on time. I ain't missed nothing - just missed some shots," Lowry said.
It was left to DeMar DeRozan to provide Toronto's focal point, with the 28-year-old finishing with 19 points.
Meanwhile in Philadelphia, the fourth-placed 76ers have the Cavs firmly in their sights after a blowout 121-95 win over the Brooklyn Nets. J.J. Redick led the Sixers' scoring with 19
Noel, Sefolosha banned for drug offences
Dallas Mavericks player Nerlens Noel and the Utah Jazz's Swiss star Thabo Sefolosha have been suspended for five games each for violating the NBA's anti-drug programme, the league said Tuesday. A brief statement from the league said Noel's suspension would begin immediately, starting with Tuesday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers. Sefolosha's ban will begin with the next NBA regular season game for which he is fit and eligible to play. No further information was available. Sefolosha has not played for the Jazz since suffering a season-ending knee injury in January. The 33-yearold small forward later issued an apology for the incident which led to his ban. "I would first like to apologize to the Utah Jazz organization, specifically to our great owners, management, coaching staff & my teammates," Sefolosha wrote on Twitter. "I also would like to apologize to the NBA and to the fans, who have loyally supported me for the last 12 years. I've made errors in judgment, for which I take full responsibility. "I will continue to work extremely hard, all summer long, to recover quickly from this injury, and come back stronger and better next season."
points, while Marco Belinelli finished with 17 and Ben Simmons 15. Eight Sixers cracked double digits as the Nets fell to 25-53 for the season. The Miami Heat also locked up their place in the playoffs with a 101-98 victory over the Atlanta Hawks in Florida.
RESULTS
LA Clippers Dallas Miami New York Phoenix Denver Utah Chicago Houston Milwaukee City Cleveland Philadelphia
113 San Antonio 110
115 Portland 109
101 Atlanta
98
73 Orlando
97
97 Sacramento 94
107 Indiana
104
117 LA Lakers 110
120 Charlotte 114
120 Washington 104
106 Boston
102
107 Golden State 111
112 Toronto 106
121 Brooklyn 95
MLB
Connor, Jets top Canadiens in OT
Reuters Montreal
Kyle Connor's 30th goal in an impressive rookie season was the overtime winner, and goalie Steve Mason was victorious in his first game in nearly a month as the Winnipeg Jets earned a 5-4 win over the host Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night.
Winnipeg recovered after blowing 3-0 and 4-3 leads.
Connor, who finished with three points, was in the slot when he took the pass and buried a shot past Canadiens goalie Carey Price exactly three minutes into overtime to the disappointment of the Bell Centre crowd. Price played his 557th game for the Canadiens, which surpassed the legendary Jacques Plante for the most by a goalie in franchise history. He stopped 27 shots in the loss.
Mason, who had played just one game in nearly three months, made 36 saves as the Jets reached the 50-win mark for the first time in franchise history.
Paul Byron pulled Montreal within 3-2 at the 3:19 mark of the third period by pouncing on a rebound for his 20th goal on the season, and then Kerby Rychel deflected a point shot at 10:15 of the third period to make it a 3-3 game. It was Rychel's first goal of the season.
Winnipeg regained the lead just 24 seconds later when Sami Niku netted a goal in his NHL debut, on his first career shot on goal, but again the Habs drew even when Alex Galchenyuk potted a powerplay goal with 1:42 remaining in regulation.
Patrik Laine's 44th goal of the season on the power play opened the scoring at the 12:25 mark of the first period. Laine fired a one-timer from just beyond the left circle for his 20th man-advantage marker of the campaign, tops in the NHL.
Nikolaj Ehlers doubled the Winnipeg lead with his 29th of the season at 14:19 by finishing a give-and-go passing play with Paul Stastny. Jack Roslovic made it a 3-0 game with a goal very similar to Laine's at 15:58 of the second period, but the Canadiens roared back.
Artturi Lehkonen was on the spot for a loose puck in the slot and whipped a shot past Mason with 59.3 seconds remaining in the middle frame to put the hosts on the board.
RESULTS
Tampa Bay
4 Boston
4
Jets
5 Canadiens 4 (OT)
Blue Jackets 5 Red Wings 4 (OT)
Islanders
5 Flyers
4
Devils
5 Rangers
2
Stars
4 Sharks
2
Golden Knights 5 Canucks 4 (SO)
Coyotes
4 Flames
1
Kyle Connor of the Winnipeg Jets gets the puck past goaltender Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens in overtime during their NHL game at the Bell Centre in Montreal. (Getty Images/AFP)
Rams acquire WR Cooks from Patriots
The Los Angeles Rams acquired receiver Brandin Cooks from the New England Patriots on Tuesday, according to ESPN. Los Angeles is sending a first-round choice (No. 23 overall) and a sixth-round pick to the Patriots. New England is giving a fourth-round choice to the Rams. Cooks caught 65 passes for 1,082 yards and seven touchdowns last season in his lone campaign with the Patriots. He spent his first three seasons with the New Orleans Saints. Overall, Cooks has 280 receptions for 3,943 yards and 27 touchdowns in four NFL seasons. The transaction also means it is unlikely that the Rams remain in the sweepstakes to acquire Odell Beckham Jr. from the New York Giants. New England now possesses two first-round picks (23 and 31) and two second-round picks (34, 63) in the 2018 draft. The 34th overall selection came in the trade in which quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was sent to the San Francisco 49ers. Los Angeles won't pick until the third round with the 87th overall selection.
MLB
Japanese ace Ohtani blasts first home run
AFP Los Angeles
Japanese prodigy Shohei Ohtani blasted a home run on his home debut for the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday, just two days after pitching his team to victory over the Oakland Athletics.
The 23-year-old two-way star brought Angel Stadium to its feet after belting a three-run shot out of right field as the Angels romped to a 13-2 win over the Cleveland Indians.
Ohtani's homer came off a curveball from Indians starter Josh Tomlin to cap a six-run first inning by the Angels.
Angels players pretended to ignore a baffled-looking Ohtani as he returned to the dugout ready to celebrate, before they turned around en masse to embrace the rising star.
"Obviously it feels really, really good," Ohtani said afterwards through an interpreter.
"Not just my team-mates, but the hitting coaches, all the staff, they all help me out, make me feel comfortable so my success is due to them too," added Ohtani, who was given a soaking by team-mates as he gave the
on-field interview. Ohtani's dramatic debut was
greeted with delight by Japanese media.
"Splendid three-run homer. Sho Time!" Sankei Sports said in its headline, punning on Ohtani's first name.
"Slugger Ohtani made his extravagant debut at Angeles Stadium," the sports daily said in its online site. "This is the two-way player. The genius born in Japan shocked the entire US," it added.
Ohtani had struggled during spring training for the Angels, prompting some observers to question whether he was ready to make his major league debut.
However, he has assuaged those concerns during his performances since the opening of the season.
Ohtani had already recorded a career hit in his Major League Baseball debut last week.
On Sunday he tossed a three hitter over six innings to set up a 7-4 win over the Athletics in his first start on the mound.
Ohtani was signed by the Angels after resisting overtures from several leading MLB franchises including the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants.
The two-way phenom has
earned comparisons to Babe Ruth for his ability to pitch and hit, and led the Nippon Ham Fighters to their first championship in 10 years in 2016.
Nippon Ham Fighters manager Hideki Kuriyama told reporters on Tuesday: "He can hit when everyone expects him. That's the way Shohei is."
Meanwhile Didi Gregorius hit a pair of three-run home runs and set a career high with eight RBIs as New York beat Tampa Bay in Yankees manager Aaron Boone's home debut.
Gregorius recorded his second career multi-homer performance in a game played in a misting rain and a game-time temperature of 40 degrees. Gregorius lined a three-run homer into the lower rows of the first level beyond the right field seats off Chris Archer in the third inning.
With one out in the seventh, he sent a first-pitch fastball from Austin Pruitt (1-1) into the second deck in right field. In the eighth, Gregorius drove in his final two runs. It was the most RBIs by a Yankee since Alex Rodriguez drove in 10 on April 26, 2005. It also was the most RBIs by a Yankees shortstop in team history.
Christian Villanueva hit three home runs and drove in five runs, and Freddy Galvis added a go-ahead, two-run single as San defeated visiting Colorado for its first win in five games this season.
Villanueva produced the eighth three-homer game in Padres history and the first since Hunter Renfroe accomplished the feat last season.
The Padres scored first for the first time this year on Villanueva's first homer, a drive off Rockies left-handed starter Kyle Freeland. Villanueva connected for his second homer off Freeland, a line drive into the second deck in left. Villanueva's third homer was a three-run shot in the seventh off Rockies reliever Antonio Senzatela.
RESULTS
Yankees
11 Rays
4
Rockies
8 Padres
4
Brewers
5 Cardinals
4
Mets
2 Phillies
0
Diamondbacks 6 Dodgers
1
Red Sox
4 Marlins 2 (13 innings)
Astros
10 Orioles
6
Braves
13 Nationals
6
Rangers
4 A's
1
Royals
1 Tigers
0
Blue Jays
14 White Sox
5
Mariners
6 Giants
4
Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani follows through on a three-run home run in his first ever regular MLB season in the first inning against as Cleveland Indians at the Angel Stadium of Anaheim. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports
6
Gulf Times Thursday, April 5, 2018
SPORT
COMMONWEALTH GAMES
G'day! Royalty, rain, protests as Games open
FOCUS
Sindhu leads Indian contingent
Competition across 23 different sports should soothe trauma of cricket scandal
AFP Gold Coast, Australia
Aheavy downpour, a giant floating whale and Aboriginal protests marked the start of the Commonwealth Games yesterday as Australia flagged off 11 days of competition in the resort city of Gold Coast.
Britain's Prince of Wales declared the Games open at an upbeat ceremony featuring dancing lifeguards, giant flip-flops and Australia's team marching in to Men At Work's Down Under.
"G'day!" said Peter Beattie, chairman of the organising committee, adding: "We are the friendliest people on this planet... we invite you all now to share the dream."
The Games baton arrived in a turquoise campervan and was delivered to Games president Louise Martin, who struggled before opening it and handing a message inside to Prince Charles.
"Over the years these `Friendly Games' have shown the potential of the Commonwealth to connect people of different backgrounds and nationalities," the prince told the near-capacity crowd in the 35,000-seat Carrara Stadium.
A giant replica of Migaloo, the white humpback whale which has become a symbol of environmentalism in Australia, then floated gently into the stadium.
The Games at beachside Gold Coast give Australia a timely opportunity to repair their sporting reputation after a cheating scandal in cricket left the country reeling.
The competition across 23 different sports should soothe the trauma of the cricket row, after a player was caught doctoring the ball with sandpaper.
"Sand and sport have not been a happy combination for this country of
Britain's Prince Charles (right) and Commonwealth Games Federation president Louise Martin during the opening ceremony yesterday. (Reuters)
late as we endure our national shame over the ugly fusion of cricket and sandpaper," The Australian newspaper said in an editorial.
"Starting tonight on the Gold Coast we can flick the switch to optimism and celebration."
`STOLENWEALTH GAMES' Enthusiasm is not universal, however, and Aboriginal protesters held up the final stages of the Games' baton relay with a sit-in along its route in Gold Coast. Outside the opening ceremony, there were minor scuffles as about 100 protesters chanting "Always was, always will be Aboriginal land" faced off with police on horseback.
Indigenous activists are planning more demonstrations and have dubbed the event the "Stolenwealth Games", a reference to Britain's colonisation of their ancestral lands.
Australia will hope for a fast start
when competition gets underway, with Olympic champions Mack Horton and Kyle Chalmers expected to star in the outdoor Southport pool.
Cate Campbell looks back in form after her 2016 Olympics flop, and South Africa's Chad le Clos could become the most successful athlete in Games history when he takes on a Michael Phelps-style seven swimming events.
English breaststroker Adam Peaty, who has his eye on an unprecedented sub-57 seconds in the 100 metres, is another who will try to crash the Australian pool party.
Australia will also go head-to-head with England in track cycling, where they will field a revamped line-up under the tutelage of British coach Simon Jones.
In athletics, Gold Coast's world champion hurdler Sally Pearson is battling an Achilles' problem but Ja-
Australia's Sally Pearson carries the baton during the opening ceremony.
maican sprinter Yohan Blake should provide fireworks in the absence of the retired Usain Bolt.
Elaine Thompson also looks set to blaze to sprint gold for Jamaica, while South Africa flag-carrier Caster Semenya is said to be targeting the longstanding 800m record.
The Games' 4,000-plus athletes will also compete in events including rugby sevens, shooting, gymnastics, badminton, netball, boxing and beach volleyball.
Organisers insist the Games, which started life as the British Empire Games in 1930, are still relevant in the modern world, pointing to the move to an equal number of men's and women's medal events.
For Australia, displacing eternal rivals England -- the 2014 table-toppers -- at the head of the medals tally would be the perfect tonic after their cricketing calamity.
A general view of the fireworks and the opening ceremony of the 2018 Commonwealth Games at the Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast yesterday. (AFP)
SPOTLIGHT
Extreme Brexit: England joins Africa in CWG guide
AFP Gold Coast, Australia
Brexit appears to have come early for England at the Commonwealth Games as it was listed as an African country with a population of two mn in the official programme.
Australian organisers sought to make light of the embarrassing gaffe after England were somehow confused with Gambia, a West African nation which rejoined the Commonwealth in February after leaving in 2013.
"There was an overprint," said Mark Peters, chief executive of the Gold Coast Games.
"We found out about it maybe 10 days ago.
"We went and spoke to England and said, `Congratulations, the Commonwealth's changing and it has since Brexit, and you are now a part of Africa'.
"Sometimes you make mistakes and we copped it."
The official guide to the Games, which profiles the 71 participating nations and territories and was published ahead of yesterday's opening ceremony, claims England's capital is Banjul.
It does correctly list England's "magical moment" as the "miracle mile" of 1954 when Roger Bannister beat Australian John Landy with both men running a mile in under four minutes -- the first time two athletes had done so in the same race.
But it also says that England joined the Games in 1970, which was the year Gambia became a republic within the Commonwealth.
English officials apparently saw the funny side and declined an offer from organisers to tear up the guides and undergo a reprint, due to cost.
"They implored us not to do that," said
Peters. "We are actually doing a special reprint of 500 to give to the English and the Commonwealth Games Federation to make sure that in terms of records, that's done correctly."
He added: "They're going to be so valuable after the Games because of that mistake."
African athletes were quick to poke fun.
Asked if she would welcome England to become part of Africa, Ghana hockey international Nafisatu Umaru replied: "Yes, we humbly do. England will be part of us and they're part of the reason we're in the Commonwealth Games."
Indian shuttler PV Sindhu leads the delegation during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, yesterday. (AFP)
IANS Gold Coast, Australia
Star shuttler PV Sindhu led the Indian contingent at a glittering opening ceremony which launched the 21st edition of the Commonwealth Games here yesterday.
The Rio Olympics silver medallist carried the tri-colour at the head of the Indian contingent, which also included fellow badminton stars HS Pranoy and Kidambi Srikanth.
Shooter Gagan Narang, woman discuss thrower Seema Poonia, and the men's and women's hockey squads were also present among the Indian contingent.
India have sent a total of 222 athletes to the Games.
The country had secured 64 medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, which included 15 gold, 30 silver and 19 bronze. The Indian women athletes did not wear sarees for the first time in an international sports event, going for blue blazers and trousers instead.
GOALS
Squash queen looks to hit cricket for six
AFP Gold Coast, Australia
Indian sporting celebrity Dipika Pallikal is hoping to put cricket in the shade back home by successfully defending her Commonwealth Games squash title -- even if it upsets her cricketer husband.
The 26-year-old star, who is married to Indian cricket star Dinesh Karthik, made history in Glasgow four years ago when she won doubles gold with partner Joshna Chinappa -- India's first medal in the sport.
Her wedding in 2015 was splashed across national media and made Pallikal a household name, although she made
headlines by declaring she hated cricket.
"I said that because I feel that every other sport is getting overshadowed by cricket," said Pallikal after arriving in Gold Coast to defend her title. "It's kind of hard to try and concentrate on my career, as well as my husband's. We're all athletes and all have to be treated equally."
Pallikal will receive a first-round bye in the singles competition before opening her campaign against Charlotte Knaggs of Trinidad and Tobago today. In the doubles, she and Chinappa are seeded third and grouped alongside Wales, Pakistan and Malta as they chase back-to-back titles. Pallikal will also compete in the mixed doubles with Saurav Ghosal.
Peaty opts out of CWG 200m
Olympic breaststroke champion Adam Peaty has chosen not to race in today's 200 metres at the Commonwealth Games to focus on his specialist 100 and 50m events. The 23-year-old Englishman, who broke his own world record en route to winning 100m Olympic gold in Rio two years ago, defends his Commonwealth title in the 100m tomorrow at the Gold Coast meet. Peaty was missing from the 200m start list released yesterday, boosting the chances of reigning title-holder Ross Murdoch of Scotland, Australia's Matt Wilson and England's Andrew Willis. Peaty, who leads England's challenge against a strong Aussie squad expecting vocal home support, is unbeaten in the 100m since storming to gold in Glasgow four years ago.
Aussie boxer gifted first medal without a punch thrown
Australian boxer Taylah Robertson has secured the first medal of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games -- nine days before her first bout. The 19-year-old from Queensland state's Sunshine Coast is guaranteed at least a bronze in the women's 51-kg division after receiving a free pass to the semi-finals. Only seven boxers are competing in the category and both losing semi-finalists receive bronzes. "Can't wait to get in the ring and represent Australia on such a big sporting stage," Robertson, who has her semi-final on April 13, wrote in a post on her Facebook account. Her coach Mark Evans said it was "just the luck of the draw". "For some reason the numbers in that division were down. When you look at some of the boys divisions, some of them have 24 to 26 boxers there," Evans told local media. "We've got a guaranteed bronze but I'm tipping that colour might change."
No shot put or discus? Use a coconut instead
A Cook Islands athlete set to compete at the Commonwealth Games has revealed her unorthodox method for learning shot put and discus -- she used to lob coconuts. Tereapii Tapoki, a police officer from Rarotonga, the largest of the 15 palm-fringed Pacific islands that make up the country, hit on the solution after finding throwing sports a tough nut to crack with no equipment available. "We didn't have a shot or discus, so we threw coconuts," the 33-year-old told reporters in Gold Coast. "It was quite different -- a discus is flat and a coconut is round." Tapoki, who previously competed at the 2004 Athens Olympics and 2008 Beijing Games, will contest both the discus and shot put at the Commonwealth Games. She placed 11th in discus at the 2006 Melbourne Games but pregnancies sidelined the mother-of-two from competition in Delhi in 2010 and Glasgow four years ago. "I'm not in as good a shape as perhaps I would like to be but I will give it my best," said Tapoki, who has been training in Australia under the tutelage of Italian coach Gus Puopolo. "Techniquewise I have improved a lot in four weeks but we haven't gone for distance yet so still a lot to work on."
Gulf Times Thursday, April 5, 2018
7
SPORT
GOLF
Rare Tiger-Phil practice
sparks bromance buzz
`We laugh, we tell stories, we're both self deprecating and yet we can throw in a little jab here and there'
AFP Augusta, United States
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, fierce 40-something rivals and seldom practice partners, toured Augusta National together on Tuesday in a show-stopping surprise attraction two days before the start of the 82nd Masters.
Woods eagled the par-5 13th and 15th holes and Mickelson made five birdies in a row starting at 13 in what was believed to be their first practice round together outside team events since the 1988 PGA Los
Angeles Open. "I do find him very enjoyable to be around. We had a great time playing together and I hope we have a chance to do it more," Mickelson said. "We laugh, we tell stories, we're both self deprecating and yet we can both throw in a little jab here and there. And we just have fun together." Woods and Mickelson showed fist-bumping friendship on a course where they have battled for decades over green jackets, Woods taking four and Mickelson three. "We've competed a lot of times coming down the stretch. We were joking about some of the thoughts that transpired here," Woods said. "We've gone through it the better part of 20 years. Our friendship has certainly gotten a lot better. "And I think it's just age as well. He's 47 and I'm 42 and we've had a great 20-year battle. Hopefully we'll have a few more. We understand where we are versus where we were in our early 20s, battling for whose going to be number one." The most epic Woods-Mickelson memory was at the 2004 Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills when Hall Sutton paired the world's two top-ranked players and they lost twice to European rivals, a Woods death stare at "Lefty" after an errant tee shot into deep woods saying all that was needed. Until now. Until the bromance. Philger? Woodselson? Mickelwoods! "We partnered up and had some fun," Mickelson said. "There were a lot of people out there. They seemed pretty excited." Count four-time major winner Rory McIlroy among them. "Tiger and Phil seem like they've got a great relationship now and it's great to see," McIlroy said. "They've obviously become very close." Mickelson would pass Jack Nick-
laus at 46 in 1986 as the oldest Masters winner.
Mickelson ended a win drought stretching since the 2013 British Open at the WGC Mexico event last month.
"It's hard for me to believe," Mickelson said. "To think I'm this age, time just flies by."
Ryder Cup bonding Woods, known for a fan-ignoring focus in his glory days, and Mickelson, a fan favourite, bonded over the US Ryder Cup team after a 2014 loss at Gleneagles. "We've always had a respect and an appreciation for each other but I believe coming together to work together for a common goal of having success in the Ryder Cup has brought us closer," Mickelson said. "We were talking almost on a daily basis and that was the impetus where we really started to work well together." Woods said Mickelson was there for him during the past two years of back pain. "When I got hurt and I had to take a different role, Phil was great. He was trying to help me out when I was trying to make a comeback ? and our friendship has gotten stronger over the years." Mickelson has seen Woods, second at Valspar and fifth at Bay Hill last month in his injury fightback, boost golf's payouts and popularity. "Nobody respects and appreciates what he has done for the game more because nobody's benefited from what he's done more than I have," Mickelson said. "To see him back out playing is incredible. "When he was going through a tough time I wanted to help out, because often times that's when people aren't there."
Phil excited for Tiger Now Mickelson has Tigermania. "I texted him when he was playing at Valspar that it felt like it was a different time continuum because I found myself pulling so hard for him," Mickelson said. "It was unusual. I find that I want him to play well and I'm excited to see him play so well. And he is playing well." Mickelson said Woods might have denied him more major titles but also might have helped inspired the wins he has. "It has been tough dealing with as much failure against him as I've had," he admitted. "It's also possible he brought out the best in me and forced me to work harder and focus to ultimately achieve the success I've had."
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson fist bump during a practice round prior to the start of the 2018 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (AFP)
Five players to watch
Tiger on the prowl again Tiger Woods is healthy again and after missing three of the past four Masters has become the main attraction this week at Augusta National. He's a "walking miracle" after finding greater driving distance after spinal fusion, his fourth back operation. Top-five tuneup results indicate the 42-year-old American could be in the hunt for a 15th career major title, what would be his first since the 2008 US Open, and a fifth green jacket. The comeback drama will reach epic levels if the world number 103 is in contention on the back nine Sunday.
Rory seeks Career Slam Rory McIlroy won last month's Arnold Palmer Invitational with the solid putting form so vital on Augusta National's undulating, lightning-fast greens. The 28-year-old from Northern Ireland seeks his fifth major title, and a first-ever green jacket would give him the Career Grand Slam, at least one win at all four majors. He would join Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Gene Sarazen on the select list. The world number seven is the same age as Palmer when he won his first Masters. And it's his 10th try, the same attempt in which Hogan and Sam Snead won their first Masters. McIlroy also has a new attitude about grabbing the victory instead of staying in the hunt to Sunday. How well he executes will decide his chances at history.
Mickelson could be oldest Phil Mickelson could become the oldest winner in Masters history at age 47, breaking the age mark set by 18-time major winner Jack Nicklaus in 1986. The US lefthander snapped a win drought of almost five years since the 2013 British Open by winning last month's WGC Mexico crown. Mickelson is a three-time Masters winner and five-time major champion. Peaking in form for a course he knows well.
Thomas could be No. 1 Justin Thomas would become the new world number one if he wins the Masters, bumping Dustin Johnson from atop the rankings. The 24-year-old American who won his first major title last August at the PGA Championship would also join an elite few with back-to-back PGA and Masters wins ? Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jack Nicklaus and Sam Snead. He won five times in 2017 and captured the Honda Classic in February, then lost a WGC Mexico playoff to Phil Mickelson and a WGC Match-Play semi-final to Bubba Watson where a win would have made him number one entering the Masters.
Rose blooming Justin Rose has finished second at the Masters twice in the past three years and the 2013 US Open champion from Britain might be ready to don the green jacket on his 13th try. He trailed Jordan Spieth in 2015 and lost a 2017 playoff to Sergio Garcia. The 37-year-old Englishman won last year's WGC event in Shanghai and last month was fifth at the Valspar Championship and third at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
FOCUS
Could numbers add up to give McIlroy Masters win?
Reuters Augusta, Georgia
For those who believe in such things, the numbers indicate that maybe the time has come for 28-year-old Rory McIlroy, playing in his 10th US Masters, to add a Green Jacket to his resume.
Two golfing greats, Sam Snead and Ben Hogan, won the Masters on their 10th trip to Augusta and, if that coincidence is not enough to show fate may be in McIlroy's corner this week, the revered Arnold Palmer slipped into his first Green Jacket at 28.
For his part, the Northern Irishman does not necessarily believe that 10 and 28 is the combination to unlock a Masters victory or that Augusta National owes him anything. But the practical McIlroy does believe he has put in the hard work and that will pay off on Sunday with an elusive Masters win to complete his set of major titles.
"There's loads of different numbers you could throw around," he told reporters on Tuesday, with a smile. "There's
Rory McIlroy plays a shot from a bunker during a practice round prior to the start of Masters Tournament. (AFP)
a lot of different comparisons you could make but it's all really meaningless unless you go out there and actually do it.
"But I feel like I've been here long enough and I've played enough rounds around here to know how to play this golf course well and well enough to win. I never come in here thinking I've served my time and this is my turn because it's never your turn.
"You have to go out and get it. It's not going to fall into your lap, you have to go out and win the Masters and you have to go and earn it."
When it comes to the Masters, despite his proclaimed love
for Augusta National, the golfing Gods have not been kind and have occasionally even been cruel to McIlroy. A shocking final round meltdown that ripped the 2011 Green Jacket off McIlroy's back continues to haunt him even though he claims it was a learning experience.
Leading by four strokes going into the last day, McIlroy suffered one of the worst final-round collapses of all time in a major, tumbling out of contention with an eight-over-par 80 that was almost unbearable to watch and left him in a tie for 15th.
"I place a lot of importance on what happened here in 2011," said McIlroy, who arrives in Augusta riding the momentum from a victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
"I feel like it made me a better player, I feel like it made me a better person, it definitely was a character builder.
"It took me a while to get over it, but I knew if I looked at the big picture it would serve me well in the long run.
"I don't think I would have had the career I've had so far if it wasn't for that day."
EMIR CUP BASKETBALL
Saaka shines as Wakrah thrash Rayyan
By Sports Reporter Doha
Adamu Saaka produced a brilliant 33-point effort to help Al Wakrah thrash Al Rayyan 100-70 in the HH The Emir Cup basketball tournament yesterday.
Ernest Lee Ross and Demarius Bolds also excelled with 24 points each for the winners as Al Wakrah completely dominated their rivals at the Al Gharafa Sports Club.
Al Wakrah effortlessly won the first quarter 28-19 but a tight second period saw Al Rayyan show some fight and come within four points of the leaders (41-37).
But that proved an aberration as Al Rayyan were restricted to just 11 points in the third quarter while Al Wakrah scored 31. That gave Al Wakrah a massive 7248 lead with 10 minutes remaining and dashed Al Rayyan's hopes of an upset.
Terrel De Von Stoglin scored 20 points for Al Rayyan while Mohamed Abdelkawy had 16 and Devon Walker 14.
In another match, Al Arabi edged past Al Ahli 85-74 after the scores were level at 5757 at the end of the third quarter.
Oumar Seck and Nicholas Stover score 20 points apiece for Al Arabi, while William Byrd had 19 and Khalid Suliman Abdi 17.
For Al Ahli, Nemanja Besovic topscored with 25 while Ayeni Olatokunbo and Christopher Jones scored 13 each.
Adamu Saaka of Al Wakrah dunks against Al Rayyan in HH The Emir Cup basketball tournament match yesterday. PICTURE: Othman Khalid
Thursday, April 5, 2018
GULF TIMES
SPORT
HORSE RACING
Topsy Turvy completes
al-Malki double Ladjadj rides Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani's gelding to Al Huwaila Cup win
By Sports Reporter Doha
Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani's Topsy Turvy completed a hat-trick of dirt features when Stephan Ladjadj rode Ibrahim al-Malki's ward to an impressive victory in the Al Huwaila Cup at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday.
The 1700m Thoroughbreds conditions race, yesterday's feature, saw the six-year-old gelding race to a three and a half-length victory over Khalifa bin Ali bin Mohamed al-Attiyah-saddled Tamih, to register his sixth victory this season.
The win was second on the day for al-Malki and Ladjadj. Al-Malki had a winner in the penultimate race of the day, with Abdulatif Hussain al-Emadi's Jewel House topping Class 3 Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 75-95 under a thrilling ride by Theo Bachelot.
Earlier, Abdulaziz Ali al-Kathiri's Cristofano Allori was raced to his second career victory in as many races by Ladjadj, topping the Class 5 Thoroughbred Graduation Plate event.
Bachelot too had two wins, having earlier guided Sheikh Khalifa bin Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani's Ishfaq to a close victory over Alban de Mieulletrained Diese in the Purebred Arabian Handicap event for horses rated 95 and below.
Yousef Ben Taher-saddled Fahdah Al Naif and Hamad Ahmed al-Malki alJehani-trained Rich History were the other winners on the day, winning Local Purebred Arabian Handicap and Class 4 Thoroughbred Handicap event respectively.
Hossin Mohamed Ashour trained Barbarous Relic was lightly raced in recent seasons, including two disappointing runs earlier this year. However, yesterday, the five-year-old won for the first time in Qatar when Adnan Hawa rode the colt to a comfortable three lengths and a three quarters victory ahead of Hamad Ahmed al-Malki alJehani's Makinson Lane, ridden by Jean Baptiste Hamel, in the Class 5 Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 70 and below.
Earlier in the day, Umm Qarn's Aahil was ridden to a blistering 15-length win by Qatari jockey Rashid Ali al-Marri in the card-opening Local Purebred Arabian Novice Plate event for Qatari riders. The victory was al-Marri's fourth this season.
Jassim Mohamed Ghazali-trained Mohsen shed his maiden status under Harry Bentley edging out stablemate Almakfee in the Class 6 Thoroughbred Maiden Plate event.
RESULTS Race 1: 1. Aahil (Rashid Ali al-Marri), 2. Anwaar (Faleh Bughanaim), 3. Saab Al Manal (Ali Khalid al-Mosallam), 4. Ostorah Dukhan (Abdulla Hozam al-Marri).
Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) deputy chief steward Abdulla Rashid al-Kubaisi (fourth from left) with the winners of Al Huwaila Cup after Topsy Turvy won the 1700m dirt feature at the QREC yesterday. PICTURES: Juhaim
Won by: 15, 7 1/4, 2 1/2. Time: 1:16.62. Owner: Umm Qarn. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle. Race 2: 1. Mohsen (Harry Bentley), 2. Almakfee (Almotasem al-Balushi), 3. Al Mikdam (Marvin Suerland), 4. Flower Festival (Carlo Fiocchi). Won by: Nk, 1 1/4, 1 3/4. Time: 1:50.14. Owner: Sheail bin Khalifa al-Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim Mohamed Ghazali. Race 3: 1. Cristofano Allori (Stephan Ladjadj), 2. Catch A Wave (Carlo Fiocchi), 3. Hydroxide (Harry Bentley), 4. Beach Samba (Saleem Golam). Won by: 1/4, 5 1/4, 1 1/4. Time: 1:04.04. Owner: Abdulaziz Ali al-Kathiri. Trainer: Abdulaziz Ali al-Kathiri. Race 4: 1. Barbarous Relic (Adnan Hawa), 2. Makinson Lane (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 3. Truancy (Kelly Harrison), 4. Bachelorhood (Stephan Ladjadj). Won by: 3 3/4, 3, Hd. Time: 2:10.10. Owner: Hamad bin Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Attiyah. Trainer: Hossin Mohamed Ashour. Race 5: 1. Fahdah Al Naif (Gerald Avranche), 2. Semaisima (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 3. Khor Al Adaid (Carlo Fiocchi), 4. Afreetah (Saleem Golam). Won by: 2, 1 1/4, 2 1/4. Time: 1:59.80. Owner: Al Naif Racing. Trainer: Yousef Ben Taher. Race 6: 1. Rich History (Faleh Bughanaim), 2. Subhaan (JP Guillambert), 3. King Of Doha (Theo Bachelot), 4. Suc-
ceed and Excel (Jean Baptiste Hamel). Won by: 2, 1 1/4, 3/4. Time: 1:48.61. Owner: Hamad Ahmed Hassan al-Malki alJehani. Trainer: Hamad Ahmed al-Malki al-Jehani. Race 7: 1. Ishfaq (Theo Bachelot), 2. Diese (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 3. Bsheer (Anas al-Seyabi), 4. Haddaj Dukhan (Rashid Ali al-Marri). Won by: Nk, 2 3/4, No. Time: 2:05. 45. Owner: Sheikh Khalifa bin Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani. Trainer: Pierre Deymonaz. Race 8: 1. Jewel House (Theo Bachelot), 2. High Commander (Harry Bentley), 3. Aluqdah (Gerald Avranche), 4. Third Order (JP Guillambert). Won by: Shd, 1 1/4, 3. Time: 2:08.00. Owner: Abdulatif Hussain al-Emadi. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki. Race 9: 1. Topsy Turvy (Stephan Ladjadj), 2. Tamih (Theo Bachelot), 3. Musical Terms (Harry Bentley), 4. Roman Legend (Almotasem al-Balushi). Won by: 3 1/2, 2 3/4, 2 1/2. Time: 1:46.81. Owner: Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani (right) and trainer Ibrahim alMalki (second from right) lead in Topsy Turvy, with jockey Stephan Ladjadj astride, after the Al Huwaila Cup victory yesterday.
Qatar secure second win in Davis
Cup
Qatar have secured their second straight win in the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Zone Group III, which takes place in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi with the participation of nine teams until April 9. The Qatari team beat Jordan 3-0 in the three matches between the two sides, a day after beating Syria with the same scoreline. Qatar was scheduled to take on Kuwait later yesterday in a tie that will largely decide the winners of Pool B that also includes Saudi Arabia. Pool A comprises Vietnam, Malaysia, Pacific Oceania and Cambodia. Ibrahim al-Khulaifi, deputy chairman of the national teams committee and head of the mission, said the performance of players is improving from one game to another, noting that the main target is to be among the teams competing in Group II. Al-Khulaifi added that each match is a championship in one way as the gap between the different teams has become much smaller and a new generation of young players is taking the stage. He said that the match against Kuwait will be very difficult but expressed confidence in the capacities and abilities of the national team players to perform well and carry on in the tournament.
Qatar player celebrates a point during the tie against Jordan. (Twitter/QatarTennis)
BOTTOMLINE
Engaging local communities `crucial' to legacy of major sport events
One of the United Kingdom's most senior politicians ? who oversaw the preparations, delivery and legacy planning of the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games ? has praised Qatar's long-term approach to planning not only for the tournament, but for long after the 2022 FIFA World Cup finishes.
George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2010 to 2016, held overall responsibility for the UK's finances ? including the ?9bn (QR45bn) budget for the 2012 Games. He was also responsible for signing off a postGames redevelopment plan that ensured the surrounding communities benefited directly, and a positive legacy was left.
And during a recent visit to the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy's (SC) headquarters in Doha, he praised the approach in place in Qatar.
"All the planning that's going into the preparations for the World Cup is very impressive," he said. "Everyone is aware of the challenges Qatar has had, but I think coming here you also see some of the opportunities.
"The new stadiums are very impressive ? so it's exciting. Like any World Cup there's always a lot of queries in the run-up to the tournament, but you look here and you hope Qatar can answer those queries."
During his tour of the Legacy Pavilion within Al Bidda Tower, Osborne was shown detailed plans for each of the legacy programmes in place around
Former Chancellor of UK exchequer, George Osborne (left), with SC's Communications Director, Fatma al-Nuaimi.
Qatar and the region ? including Generation Amazing, Challenge 22, Community Engagement and Workers' Welfare.
Following the tour, and drawing on his first-hand experience in 2012,
he commented on the role that major sporting events can have on a community, city and country.
"I was in the government as the Chancellor when we hosted the Olympic Games in 2012," he continued.
"They were fantastic Games ? one of the most exciting ever. I think the thing we really got right ? and it wasn't just me at all, there was a whole team that had been in place for years ? was the legacy aspect.
"If you go to the Olympic Park today, in 2018, it's a thriving, exciting community in London. Of all the things we got right, the legacy is what really stands out."
He continued: "From what I can see, Qatar is already thinking about life after the World Cup and making sure the stadiums don't become white elephants. For example, being able to downsize them and build other facilities that the local communities want is crucial. You have to think about what comes after long before the tournament starts."
A key part of the tour focused on the work carried out with Qatar's local communities in the preparation, planning and development of each of the stadium's surrounding areas. During the consultation phase, the SC's Community Engagement department actively reached out to communities to find out what they wanted from their new stadium, be it schools, health facilities or leisure opportunities.
Something, Osborne says, was another crucial part of the perceived success of the Olympics he was at the centre of.
He said: "Working with the local communities, as we did in east London, is crucial. The fans come from all over the world, and then they go. The world's media arrive, but then they go. The players come and go ? but the people who are left are the people in the communities. They [the local residents] have got to feel proud of what was done in their community, they've got to feel a real part of it.
"It was interesting meeting lots of people that went to the London Olympics and one of the things they most remembered was not Mo Farah winning the gold medal, it was actually meeting the volunteers who were from these local communities and were incredibly proud to show off their communities to the world.
"So if you can replicate that in Qatar, then fantastic ? and I wish you every luck with your journey."
The SC's Communications Director, Fatma al-Nuaimi, who hosted the tour, also welcomed Osborne to Qatar and said it was a valuable knowledge-sharing experience to hear from someone with his experiences.
"From the very first days of the bid, we have always said this World Cup is not about one month in 2022 ? it is about creating a lasting legacy for the country, the region and the world. We are already doing this through programmes such as Challenge 22 and Generation Amazing, so it was fascinating to meet with and hear from Mr Osborne, who has already experienced what a mega sporting event can do for the economic, social and sporting legacy of a community and a country.
"The London Olympics ? and the legacy it left behind ? was a great success story for everyone involved. To have the opportunity to listen to and learn from someone of his standing is always a pleasure, and we look forward to welcoming him back to Qatar soon."
(SC.qa)
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