SPORTScottish Championship:

Dundee United vs Ross County

National League: Barnet

vs Harrogate Town

FOOTBALL FOOTBALL

07TUESDAY 19 MARCH 2019

Unfortunately, I won’t be able to play in Miami this year.

Looking forward to coming back in 2020.

Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro on his withdrawal from Miami Open.

TO

DA

Y’S

AC

TIO

N

Thiem downs Federer in Indian Wells finalAFP INDIAN WELLS

Dominic Thiem denied Roger Federer a record sixth Indian Wells title, beating the Swiss great 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 on Sunday to claim his first ATP Masters 1000 crown.

The 25-year-old Austrian, ranked eighth in the world, had fallen in two prior Masters finals, both in Madrid.

But he rallied for a third career win over Federer in five meetings, his first over the Swiss on hard courts.

“It feels just unreal what happened in these 10 days,” Thiem said.

“I came from a really bad form in all categories, and now I’m the champion of Indian Wells.

“It feels not real at all,” added Thiem, the first Austrian to win a masters 1000 title since Thomas Muster at Miami in 1997.

Thiem earned the crucial break in the 11th game of the final set, connecting on two sharply angled passing winners off of Federer drop shots to give himself a break point which he converted with a stinging forehand winner.

“He stayed cool under pressure there,” Federer said. “When he got up to the ball, stayed calm, made the shot.”

Thiem sealed the match after two hours and two minutes when Federer’s backhand found the net and will now return to a career-high ranking of fourth in the world, bumping Federer down to fifth.

It was the second year in a row that Federer was denied in the Indian Wells final. In 2018 he missed out on three champi-onship points as he fell to Argen-tina’s Juan Martin del Potro in the title match.

Federer, fresh off a remarkable 100th career title in Dubai, remains tied with Novak Djokovic for the most Indian Wells victories with five.

Thiem claimed his 12th career title -- as he noted at the trophy ceremony when he acknowledged Federer.

“I think it’s not my right to congratulate you, you have 88 more titles than me,” Thiem told Federer as he accepted the trophy, calling it a privilege to play against the 37-year-old superstar.

“It’s tough against Roger, Rafa (Nadal), Novak (Djokovic),” Thiem said.

“Because you have to beat not only the player but somehow also the great aura they all have, all these titles they have won.

“So you have to play somehow double-good to beat them.”

Thiem was under attack early, saving three break points before succumbing on a fourth in the second game as Federer raced to a 3-0 lead.

Federer led 4-1 before

Thiem clawed a break back, but Federer responded with another hard-won break for a 5-3 lead and captured the set with a service winner.

Coming into the contest Federer had won 20 straight finals when claiming the opening set.

But Thiem was not about to go quietly, saving break points for a 2-1 lead in the second and breaking for a 3-1 lead as the Swiss suddenly couldn’t put a first serve in.

“I think that was a really

important five minutes in the match,” Federer said. “It was crucial.”

A hold at love put Thiem up 4-1 and on the way to forcing the third set.

Federer said it wasn’t a defeat that would fester.

“I had my chances. I was in the points,” he said.

“That’s why I’m not too dis-appointed. I feel like he had to come up with the goods ... (I) just came up against somebody who was on the day a bit better when it really mattered.”

Dominic Thiem poses with his trophy. Inset: Roger Federer reacts after losing the final.

It feels just unreal what

happened in these 10

days. I came from a really

bad form in all categories,

and now I’m the champion

of Indian Wells: Thiem

AFP PARIS

Dominic Thiem climbed to a career-best ranking of fourth yesterday after clinching his maiden ATP Masters title with his defeat of Roger Federer at Indian Wells.

Austrian Thiem, who was also briefly ranked fourth in the world in late 2017, rose four places after beating Federer 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 on Sunday to deny the Swiss star a record sixth Indian Wells crown. Federer, 37, dropped one spot to fifth as the top three remained unchanged with Novak Djokovic ahead of Rafael Nadal and Alexander Zverev despite the Serb’s third-round exit in California.

1. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 10,990 pts

2. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 8,725

3. Alexander Zverev (GER) 6,630

4. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 4,755 (+4)

5. Roger Federer (SUI) 4,600 (-1)

6. Kei Nishikori (JPN) 4,235 (+1)

7. Kevin Anderson (RSA) 4,115 (-1)

8. Juan Martin del Potro (ARG)

3,585 (-3)

9. John Isner (USA) 3,485

10. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 3,160

11. Marin Cilic (CRO) 3,095

12. Karen Khachanov (RUS) 2,845

(+1)

13. Borna Coric (CRO) 2,345 (-1)

14. Milos Raonic (CAN) 2,275

15. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 2,230

16. Marco Cecchinato (ITA) 2,021

17. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 1,885

18. Gael Monfils (FRA) 1,875 (+1)

19. Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) 1,865

20. David Goffin (BEL) 1,685 (+1)

ATP RANKINGS

Thiem leapfrogs

Swiss superstar

in ATP rankings

Andreescu soars after historic win over Kerber

Bianca Andreescu of Canada poses with the winner’s trophy after defeating Angelique Kerber of Germany in the women’s singles final on Sunday.

Del Potro to miss Miami Open, may need surgery on knee: SourceREUTERS BUENOS AIRES

Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro (pictured) will miss the upcoming Miami Open because of a knee injury, with a source close to the player telling he may have to undergo surgery.

Del Potro, ranked fifth in the world, was unable to defend his BNP Paribas Open title in Indian Wells this week as he underwent treatment on the injured right knee.

It has not recovered sufficiently to allow him to play in Miami, which begins next week.

“Unfortunately I won’t be able to play in Miami this year,” Del Potro said on Twitter. “Looking forward to coming back in 2020!”

A source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the 30-year-old might have to have surgery on the fractured kneecap that has kept his appear-ances to a bare minimum since October when he withdrew from the Shanghai Masters.

The injury came at the tail-end of Del Potro’s best season in years.

He won titles in Indian Wells and Acapulco and reached the final of the US Open to climb to a career high No. 3 in the world.

A source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the 30-year-old might have to have surgery on the fractured kneecap that has kept his appearances to a bare minimum since October when he withdrew from the Shanghai Masters.

AFP PARIS

Canadian teenager Bianca

Andreescu rocketed up 36 places

to a new best of 24th in the WTA

rankings a day after her historic

triumph at Indian Wells.

The 18-year-old Andreescu

beat Germany’s Angelique

Kerber in Sunday’s final to

become the first women’s

wildcard to win the Indian

Wells title.

Andreescu, with just

one Grand Slam main draw

victory to date, con-

tinued her meteoric

rise having been

ranked 243rd as

recently as last

October.

W i m b l e d o n

champion Kerber

moved up four places

to fourth as Naomi

Osaka stayed top

of the pile

d e s p i t e

crashing out

in the last 16

in a failed

t i t l e

defence. Simona Halep, who also

lost in the fourth round, slipped

from second to third as the

Romanian was replaced by Petra

Kvitova.

Belinda Bencic continued

her resurgence as she broke back

into the top 20 after reaching

the Indian Wells semi-finals, a

run that included a victory over

Osaka. The 21-year-old Swiss

won her first title in four years

at Dubai last month after a string

of injuries and a slump in form

threatened to derail her career.

On Sunday, Andreescu

overcame nerves, arm and leg

issues in the final set to earn the

first title of her fledgling career

with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 victory over

Kerber.

Andreescu won on her

fourth match point when Kerber

netted a backhand. She broke

Kerber three times in the third

set, rallying from a 3-2 deficit to

take four of the final five games.

Andreescu dropped her

racket near the baseline and fell

on her back, her legs in the air

as she covered her face in dis-

belief. After getting up and

exchanging kisses with Kerber,

the teen bent down and kissed

the sunbaked hard court and

dropped to her back again, her

arms and legs splayed, before

grabbing her head.

“This moment has become

a reality so it’s really, really

crazy,” Andreescu told the crowd

before speaking a bit of

Romanian.

Born in Canada, she later

moved with her parents to

Romania, where she first started

playing tennis.

Kerber was the last of five

seeded players that Andreescu

knocked off in her seven

matches.

1. Naomi Osaka (JPN) 5,991 pts

2. Petra Kvitova (CZE) 5,550 (+1)

3. Simona Halep (ROU) 5,457 (-1)

4. Angelique Kerber (GER) 5,315

5. Elina Svitolina (UKR) 5,225 (+1)

6. Sloane Stephens (USA) 5,222

7. Karolina Pliskova (CZE) 5,145

8. Kiki Bertens (NED) 4,995 (-1)

9. Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) 3,620

10. Serena Williams (USA) 3,406

11. Ashleigh Barty (AUS) 3,395

(+1)

12. Anastasija Sevastova (LAT)

13. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)

14. Elise Mertens (BEL) 2,800

15. Julia Goerges (GER) 2,780

16. Madison Keys (USA) 2,726

17. Garbine Muguruza (ESP)

18. Wang Qiang (CHN) 2,607

19. Anett Kontaveit (EST) 2,465

20. Belinda Bencic (SUI) 2,420

WTA RANKINGS

AFP FLORIDA

Rory McIlroy celebrated Saint Patrick’s Day with a one-shot victory at The Players Champi-onship on Sunday, firing a two-under-par final round 70 to claim his first title of 2019.

The 29-year-old Northern Irishman overcame a shaky start at TPC Sawgrass to card six birdies against two bogeys and a double-bogey to finish one clear of US veteran Jim Furyk on 16 under.

Furyk had surged into con-tention with a closing 67, a round which included an eagle, five birdies and two bogeys on the chal-lenging Stadium Course layout.

The win earned McIlroy a $2.2m winner’s cheque and could not have been better timed as he prepares for The Masters at Augusta next month where he is aiming to complete a career grand slam.

It was another battling per-formance by McIlroy, who was able to regain his composure at several key moments on Sunday to stay in the hunt.

A bogey on the 14th had dropped McIlroy adrift of the lead, but he fought back with birdies on the 15th and 16th to regain a one-shot lead with two to play.

The 29-year-old four-time major winner then finished with two pars to close out and seal his 15th US PGA Tour title.

McIlroy said his experience on the tour this year -- where he has posted five top-10 finishes but has been unable to get over the line -- had helped him seal victory.

“I think all those experiences I had starting the year helped,” McIlroy said after his win.

“I felt more and more confident each time. I just stayed as patient as I possibly could.

“I hoped that if I just stayed patient enough and waited my turn things would work out and I’m glad they have.”

Furyk meanwhile had faced an agonising wait to see if he had done enough for victory after completing his five-under-par round.

The 48-year-old US Ryder Cup captain produced two birdies in his final three holes to close on 15 under.

The highlight was a magnificent birdie on the 18th, when he drilled his second from the fairway 172 yards to within three feet of the pin for a simple tap-in.

England’s Eddie Pepperell and Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas fin-ished tied for third on 14 under after both closing with 66s.

Pepperell’s round included a sensational, curling 50-foot birdie putt on the island green on the 17th which had given him a fleeting share of the lead.

Vegas managed to outshine Pepperell’s stunning effort on the 17th, rolling in a gargantuan 70-foot putt for birdie.

Vegas and Pepperell finished one clear of Dustin Johnson, Tommy Fleetwood and Brandt Snedeker, who shared fifth on 13 under.

But it was a disappointing final round for Spain’s Jon Rahm, who had taken a one-shot lead into fourth round. Rahm closed with a four-over-par 76 to finish in a tie for 12th place on 11 under, five adrift of McIlroy.

Meanwhile former world number Tiger Woods rounded out his week with a solid three-under-par 69 which left him six under for the tournament.

Woods’ challenge at the Players unravelled during Friday’s second round, when a quadruple bogey seven at the 17th checked his momentum.

“I was close to getting over the hurdle and getting things rolling, and unfortunately I made a seven over at 17 (on Friday),” said Woods.

“I’m excited the way I drove it. I drove the ball well this week,” added Woods, whose next outing will come at the WGC-Dell Tech-nologies Match Play from March 27-31 at Austin, Texas.

08 TUESDAY 19 MARCH 2019SPORT

McIlroy holds off Furyk to win Players Championship

PGA PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIPS

SCORES

272 - Rory McIlroy (NIR) 67-65-70-70

273 - Jim Furyk 71-64-71-67

274 - Eddie Pepperell (ENG) 72-68-68-

66, Jhonattan Vegas (VEN) 72-69-67-66

275 - Dustin Johnson 69-68-69-69,

Brandt Snedeker 69-72-65-69, Tommy

Fleetwood (ENG) 65-67-70-73

276 - Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) 71-72-

66-67, Justin Rose (ENG) 74-66- 68-68,

Brian Harman 66-69-71-70, Jason Day

(AUS) 70-66-68-72

277 - Adam Scott (AUS) 70-69-68-70,

Joel Dahmen 69-71-67-70, Abraham

Ancer (MEX) 69-66-70-72, Jon Rahm

(ESP) 69-68-64-76

Rory McIlroy shows how the sole of his shoes matches the winner’s trophy after winning The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, on Sunday.

Sixers beat Bucks to clinch post-season spotAFP LOS ANGELES

Joe Embiid scored 40 points and 15 rebounds as the Philadelphia 76ers overcame Giannis Antetokounmpo’s career-high 52 points with a playoff berth clinching 130-125 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday.

It was Embiid’s 52nd double-double and the 25th time he has scored at least 30 points and seized 10 rebounds in a NBA game.

Embiid’s best quarter was the fourth when he tallied 18 points as the Sixers earned a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs by beating the top-ranked team.

“They are the best team in the NBA right now, as far as record goes,” Embiid said. “No. 1 in our conference. I felt like we had to make a statement. We had to get this win.”

Jimmy Butler had 27 points and JJ Redick 19 for the Sixers, who won their fourth in a row.

Antetokounmpo carried the Bucks on his back with one of the best games of his career. He also 16 rebounds and seven assists and Khris Middleton added 19 points.

The Bucks played without guard Malcolm Brogdon, who will be side-lined for at least six weeks with a plantar fascia tear in right foot.

Embiid made two free throws in the final seconds of the fourth to help seal the win.

Elsewhere, LeBron James scored 33 points but it was not enough to prevent the Los Angeles Lakers sliding to an embarrassing 124-123 defeat to the league-worst New York Knicks.

The Lakers, who are all but out of contention for the play-offs, blew a 122-111 lead late in the fourth

quarter as the Knicks ended a run of eight consecutive defeats with an upset win at Madison Square Garden.

It marked another grim mile-stone in the Lakers’ rocky season, which has nosedived dramatically since the turn of the year.

The Knicks are rooted to the bottom of the Eastern Conference with the worst record in the NBA, with Sunday’s win seeing them improve to 14 wins against 56 defeats.

The Lakers meanwhile are stuck in 11th spot in the Western Con-ference with 31 wins and 39 defeats, nine wins fewer than the Los Angeles Clippers, who occupy the last remaining playoff berth.

Dejected Lakers coach Luke Walton, whose job is reportedly in peril, praised the Knicks for digging out an improbable win.

Williams lifts Clippers to 119-116 win over NetsAP LOS ANGELES

Lou Williams hit the game-winning 3-pointer from the top of the key at the final buzzer to give the Los Angeles Clippers a 119-116 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday night.

Los Angeles led 116-106 with 1:02 remaining, only to see Brooklyn score 10 straight points and tie it with 5.3 seconds remaining on DeMarre Car-roll’s dunk. The Clippers called a timeout to set up the winning shot for Williams, who finished with 25 points.

Montrezl Harrell and Danilo Gall-inari each scored 20 for the Clippers, who have won seven of their last eight. The victory was Doc Rivers’ 300th as Clippers coach, making him the seventh coach in NBA history with 300 or more regular-season wins with two or more teams.

D’Angelo Russell led the Nets with 32 points, and Carroll added 22.

The game was tied at 87 at the end of the third quarter when the Clippers went on an 18-4 run the first five minutes of the fourth, shooting 7 of 9 from the field. Brooklyn scored 10 straight to draw within 105-101 with 5:23 remaining before the Clippers answered with six consec-utive points.

The Nets dominated the early part of the game and led 46-27 with 8:07 left in the second quarter before the Clippers took over, going on a 33-9 run over the final eight minutes to take a 60-55 lead at halftime. Gallinari scored 13 and Harrell added 12 during the run as Los Angeles went 11 of 14 from the field and was 3 of 4 on 3-pointers.

Brooklyn started the game making nearly half its shots from the field, but was 3 of 17 during the Clippers’ run.

A 3-pointer by Landry Shamet gave the Clippers an 11-point lead four minutes into the third quarter before the Nets fought back. Harris and Russell each had six points during a 19-4 run that saw them hold an 82-77 advantage with 3:23 remaining in the quarter. Los Angeles rallied though to knot it up going into the fourth.

Westbrook handed one-game ban

AFP LOS ANGELES

Oklahoma City Thunder all-star Russell West-brook was slapped with a one-game ban Sunday for taking out his frustrations on an opponent in a 110-88 NBA loss to the Golden State Warriors.

The league’s disciplinary officials suspended Westbrook after he picked up his 16th technical foul of the season on Saturday night.

Under NBA rules, players are automatically suspended when they hit 16 technicals in a season and if Westbrook collects two more then his coach could also be banned for a game.

A frustrated Westbrook received the technical with 3:29 remaining in the one-sided home contest when he was blocked by Klay Thompson. Westbrook got upset because no foul was called and immedi-ately charged at Thompson, fouling him instead.

Westbrook missed all seven of his three-point attempts and shot a dismal two-for-16 from the floor against Golden State.

He will serve his suspension Monday, when the Thunder host the Miami Heat.

The suspension came five days after West-brook received a $25,000 fine for an altercation with a Utah Jazz fan.

The 2017 NBA MVP later said he had been sub-jected to racist abuse.

The Jazz said the fan involved in the incident had been banned for life from the venue.

The Jazz followed up by banning a second fan for “degrading and offensive” language aimed at Westbrook before a 2018 playoff game in Salt Lake City

The NBA has called on all 30 teams to send out a memo to their fans, asking to respect the players.

The Jazz said the fan volved in the incident

ad been banned for e from the venue.

The Jazz followed p by banning a econd fan for degrading and fensive” languagemed at Westbrook

efore a 2018 playoff ame in Salt Lake City

The NBA has calledn all 30 teams to send ut a memo to their fans, king to respect e players.

LA Clippers guard Lou Williams shoots against Brooklyn Nets during their NBA game played at Staples Center in Los Angeles, on Sunday.

Russell Westbrook

09TUESDAY 19 MARCH 2019 SPORT

Five things we

learned from

the Australian

Grand Prix

AFP MELBOURNE

Valtteri Bottas in a Mercedes

won the Australian Grand Prix

at the weekend. Here are five

things we learned from Formula

One’s season opener:

MERCEDES ARE TEAM TO

BEAT

Pre-season testing pointed

to Ferrari having the upper

hand but Mercedes proved con-

sistently faster throughout the

weekend as Lewis Hamilton

dominated the free practice

sessions and qualifying while

his flying Finnish team-mate

Valtteri Bottas got off to a

stunning start by winning Sun-

day’s race by almost 21 seconds

from the Briton.

Ferrari blamed balance

issues around the bumpy track

and they clearly have work to

do before the next race in

Bahrain, with Sebastian Vettel

finishing a distant fourth, 57.1

seconds behind Bottas. His

partner Charles Leclerc was

fifth.

“This weekend is not the

real potential of our car,”

insisted Ferrari chief Mattia

Binotto.

RED BULL WARM TO

HONDA

Red Bull proved they have

enough power in their new

Honda engines to be a genuine

contender this year, with the

aggressive Max Verstappen

charging to third and overtaking

Vettel along the way.

“The car was working really

well and we also look strong on

the straights which is hopefully

a good sign for the rest of the

season,” said the Dutchman.

His new team-mate Pierre

Gasly suffered in qualifying

from a team strategy error

and didn’t get further than the

first session. The Frenchman

started 17th on the grid but

reaffirmed his potential by

weaving through the field to

finish 11th.

RICCIARDO HAS HORROR

SHOW

Daniel Ricciardo’s off-season

move from Red Bull to Renault

raised more than a few eye-

brows and his 2019 campaign

with his new team couldn’t

have got off to a worse start.

The Australian smashed his

front wing just metres after the

race start and was forced to

retire on lap 31, ending a for-

gettable home Grand Prix.

His team-mate Nico

Hulkenberg came home an

encouraging seventh, showing

that Renault might be able to

compete with Haas and Red

Bull this year.

NORRIS TAKES ROOKIE

HONOURS

Of the four drivers embarking

on a first full season, British

teenager Lando Norris was the

standout.

The talented McLaren

driver outshone his more expe-

rienced teammate Carlos Sainz

by finishing qualifying a highly

credible eighth and finishing

12th in the race. “It’s cool to

finish my first race and get it

out of the way,” he said.

WILLIAMS PLAY

CATCH-UP, AGAIN

Williams appear to have made

little progress from last year

when they propped up the con-

structors’ championship.

Robert Kubica, in his first

race since a horror rallying

accident in 2011, and rookie

George Russell were bottom of

the timesheets, by some dis-

tance, all weekend with the

team admitting it was an

achievement to simply get both

cars to the finish line.

Russell said afterwards that

Williams had found a “funda-

mental” fault with the car.

Revitalised Bottas lets rip at critics after winAFP MELBOURNE

Valtteri Bottas says something changed “inside his head” after being overshadowed by team-mate Lewis Hamilton last year, with the fired-up Finn unloading on his critics after winning the Australian Grand Prix.

The 29-year-old Mercedes ace, ham-pered by mechanical problems and bad luck, failed to win a single race in 2018 as the Briton stormed to 11 victories and secured a fifth world title.

It sparked criticism of his abilities, which clearly irked Bottas who let rip on the team radio after crossing the finish line in Mel-bourne for his first chequered flag since Abu Dhabi in 2017.

“To whom it may concern, **** you,” he said after beating Hamilton by almost 21 seconds, with the nearest Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel 57 seconds adrift.

He explained later that the comment was inspired by the non-believers, who he wouldn’t identity but that “it would be quite a long list”.

“It just came, I just wanted to send my best regards,” he told reporters. “That’s it. Honestly, I didn’t think about it or plan it, it just came.

“Obviously there are many people who

support you, and honestly I appreciate that a lot. There are many people around me, sup-porting me.

“There are always ups and downs, and you can really see the true support quite easily. And then through the difficult times there’s the other part, which is a lot more negative.”

Bottas, conscious that he needs to deliver this year with promising Frenchman Esteban Ocon waiting in the wings as the team’s reserve driver, said he learned a lot from 2018 and had taken it on board.

“For sure every year you learn as a person, you learn about yourself, what works for you, what doesn’t work for you in terms of preparation,” he said.

“How you rest, how you spend your free time, how you do the training, how much training, what kind, all those kind of things, travel plans, all sorts.

“So (I’m) just trying to optimise every-thing for this year, try to maximise every single thing that is possible.

“I don’t know, it’s quite difficult to explain what’s been going on here last winter, inside of my head, and definitely something changed in terms of the way I feel about things in life in general and in racing.”

While Bottas drew first blood against Hamilton and Ferrari, there is a long season

ahead with another 20 races to go before the world champion is crowded.

Hamilton, who was left mystified by his lack of speed after dominating the free practice sessions and qualifying, was left ruing a wheelspin at the start that let Bottas take the lead at the first corner.

“Ultimately I didn’t do a good enough job,” he said.

Reports suggested Mercedes had dis-covered damage to the floor of his car, pos-sibly caused by hitting debris or running across a kerb, which would explain why he couldn’t keep pace with the Finn.

Despite his disappointment, Hamilton said he was happy for Bottas and would bounce back at the next race in Bahrain.

“Valtteri drove an incredible race so he truly deserved it and we just have some work to do,” he said.

“But it’s still a great start to the year and more than we could have hoped as a team.”

For pre-season favourites Ferrari it was a rude wake-up call, with the Italian team blaming balance setup issues for their lack of a competitive edge.

“We were just slow,” said Vettel. “We need to get back, have a good look and I’m sure we’ll find something because we know that the car is better than what we have seen today.”

Mercedes’ Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas

gets ready for a practice

session in Melbourne

on Saturday ahead of the

Australian Grand Prix.

Mercedes’ Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas (right) and second-placed Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton attend a press conference after the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

Fastest lap point helps Bottas make F1 historyREUTERS LONDON

Valtteri Bottas won the season-opening Australian Grand Prix for Mercedes with the fastest lap on Sunday and in the process achieved a Formula One first, while also ignoring team instructions to play safe.

The Finn was the first driver since the 1950s to win a point for the fastest lap, under a new rule introduced this year, and also the only one ever to score more than 25 points in a race on more than one occasion.

The only other race in which drivers have been able to score more than the maximum allo-cated for a victory was the 2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, when double points were handed out for the first and only time.

Bottas finished third in that race at Yas Marina for Williams, behind winner Lewis Hamilton and now-retired Brazilian Felipe Massa, and banked 30 points. On Sunday he scored 26.

A point for fastest lap was awarded between 1950 and 1959 but in those days a win was worth only eight points.

The Finn said he had been determined to get the maximum score, despite the risk of trying to set a fastest lap on worn tyres and being told before the race not to try and get it if in a podium position.

Bottas pulled it off on the penultimate lap of the race to

deny Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

With 21 races, and therefore an extra 21 points available so long as the fastest lap is set by a driver finishing in the top 10, the tweak to the scoring system has become an important consideration.

Team bosses agreed it had added something to the show.

“It’s exciting,” said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner. “We were even debating do we take it with Pierre (Gasly), because he’s not in the top 10, to try and take it off Mercedes. So you’ve got all kinds of dynamics.

“Max had a go at it, he had it in the bag for a couple of laps and then Valtteri does a 1.25 (1:25.580) or something and OK we can’t do that.

“I thought it added an extra strategic dynamic which was really quite interesting,” he added.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff agreed the novelty pro-vided another element, even if he had some reservations.

“In the morning meeting when we talked about strategy, I forbade them to go for the fastest lap if we were running first, second or third,” he added.

“They ignored me,” Wolff said.

“All of them. At the end I’m very happy. Collecting that extra point I think is good.

“It’s entertaining. It’s a great new part of the spectacle.”

Australian Grand Prix: The race facts and statsWWW.F1.COM MELBOURNE

After Valtteri Bottas dominated proceedings at Melbourne’s Albert Park, here are the key stat take-aways from the 2019 Australian Grand Prix.

** Every time a team has finished one-two in Melbourne – as Mercedes did in 2019 – the winning driver has claimed the championship and the team has won the constructors’. And that’s not happened once or twice – it’s happened a full seven times!

** Bottas wins the first race

of 2019, his last race win having come at the final race of 2017 – and with no victories in the middle.

** Bottas also celebrates his win six years to the day that he made his Grand Prix debut with Williams in 2013.

** Bottas’ winning margin of 20.8 seconds was bigger than any we saw in 2018.

** It was the fourth time in as many years that Lewis Ham-ilton has taken pole position in Australia only to finish second.

** Hamilton has now failed to win in Australia for the last six years despite having con-secutive pole positions!

** It’s the first time Max Ver-stappen has ever secured a podium at Albert Park, and the first time a non-Mercedes or Ferrari driver has appeared on the podium since 2015. It’s also the first time Vettel, and Ferrari, have failed to be on the Mel-bourne podium since 2015.

** Verstappen’s third place also gave Honda their first podium finish since the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix, when they were a fully fledged man-ufacturer as well as an engine maker.

** Kevin Magnussen was a strong P6 for Haas, giving the team their first finish here since 2016.

“It was really about bringing

the car home in one piece and

making sure we had the one-

two. Pretty straightforward to

be honest. I’ve been here a long,

long time and I’ve never known

after the first race. You usually

take from the first four races a bit

of an idea of where we all stand.

It could be like this for four races

or it could be scattered. I don’t

have a crystal ball so I can’t tell

you but I can assure you we’ll be

pushing onwards and upwards

from here.”

Lewis Hamilton

“I think we should be a top

eight car all the first part of the

season and then hopefully even

better. I think Bahrain will be a

bit easier. That’s like a holiday

week – there’s really nothing

going on, so I can actually

prepare properly. For sure I’m

frustrated because everyone

expects so much, but the reality

is I’ve got to show up on Sunday.

And when the race is over in five

seconds, whether it’s bad luck

or not, I feel like the preparation

wasn’t where it should be.”

Daniel Ricciardo

A QUICK RECAP1. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, 58 laps, 1:25:27.325, 26 points2. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 58, +20.886s, 183. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Honda, 58, +22.520s, 154. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, 58, +57.109s, 125. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, 58, +58.230s, 106. Kevin Magnussen, Haas Ferrari, 58, +87.156s, 87. Nico Hulkenberg, Renault, 57, +1 lap, 68. Kimi Raikkonen, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 57, +1 lap, 49. Lance Stroll, Racing Point BWT Mercedes, 57, +1 lap, 210. Daniil Kvyat, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 57, +1 lap, 1

1. Mercedes - 442. Ferrari - 223. Red Bull Racing Honda - 154. Haas Ferrari - 85. Renault - 66. Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari - 47. Racing Point BWT Mercedes - 28. Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda - 1

AFP DEHRADUN, INDIA

Afghanistan claimed their first ever victory in Test cricket yesterday, beating fellow newcomers Ireland in what captain Asghar Afghan hailed as a historic day for the war-torn country.

Afghanistan and Ireland both achieved full member status of the International Cricket Council in 2017, becoming only the 11th and 12th teams to play the long format of the sport beloved of purists.

Rahmat Shah and Ihsanullah Janat scored fifties as Afghan-istan chased down 147 to beat Ireland by seven wickets on day four of the one-off game in the north Indian city of Dehradun.

“It’s a historic day for Afghanistan, for our team and our people,” Afghan said.

“We have been playing for a while, we have been playing first-class cricket, so we have that composure. The bowlers were very good, Rashid (Khan), Yamin (Ahmadzai),” he added.

Afghanistan were steered to their target by a 139-run part-nership between Shah, who made 76, and debutant Janat, who hit an unbeaten 65.

Shah, a top-order batsman, registered his second fifty of the match after making 98 in Afghanistan’s first innings score of 314.

With three needed to win, Afghanistan lost Shah and then Mohammad Nabi in successive deliveries before Hashmatullah Shahidi came to the crease and hit the winning boundary.

“I want to congratulate all the lads in the team, they have been absolutely brilliant,” said Afghan.

“We have got a few games

before the World Cup and we want to make every opportunity count,” the captain added.

Cricket has become the national sport of Afghanistan, torn apart by decades of war, with many of the Afghan players cutting their cricketing teeth in refugee camps in Pakistan.

The country gained one-day international status in 2009 and have qualified for their second 50-over World Cup in England and Wales, due to begin on May 30. They have also been part of four Twenty20 World Cups.

They have made India their base since 2015, far away from the guns and bombs of their home country. Last year they made the

leap to Test cricket, taking on India in Bangalore, but were thrashed inside two days.

Khan, the Indian Premier League (IPL) sensation who is second in the ICC one-day inter-national rankings, played a key role in the Ireland game, taking five wickets on Sunday as Ireland were dismissed for 288.

Khan returned career-best figures of five for 82 with his leg-spin to stall Ireland’s resurgence after Andy Balbirnie and Kevin O’Brien had hit gritty half-cen-turies in their second innings.

Balbirnie made 82 and O’Brien 56 before a 10th-wicket 58-run partnership between James Cameron-Dow and Tim

Murtagh set up the potentially tricky chase for the Afghans.

It was Ireland’s second Test too. They played their debut Test against Pakistan in Dublin last year, losing by five wickets.

For Ireland, Tim Murtagh stood out with scores of 54 not out and 27 batting at number 11.

“It’s been a long tour, but the lads have been very good. You are never tired to play Test cricket, it’s always a special feeling,” said Ireland captain William Porterfield.

Ireland lost the two Twenty20 matches at the start of the series between the two minnows and then levelled the one-day inter-nationals at 2-2.

10 TUESDAY 19 MARCH 2019SPORT

IRELAND, first innings ........................ 172AFGHANISTAN, first innings ............... 314IRELAND, second innings ...................288AFGHANISTAN, second innings(target 147; overnight 29-1)M. Shahzad c Poynter b McBrine ......................2

I. Janat not out ................................................. 65

R. Shah st Poynter b Cameron-Dow ............. 76

M. Nabi run out (Murtagh/Poynter) ................. 1

H. Shahidi not out .............................................. 4

Extras (w1) ......................................................... 1

Total (3 wickets, 47.5 overs) ............... 149Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Shahzad), 2-144 (Shah),

3-145 (Nabi)

Did not bat: A. Afghan, I.A. Khil, R. Khan, Y.

Ahmadzai, W. Momand, W. Salamkheil

Bowling: Dockrell 22-7-58-0 (w1), McBrine 13-

5-35-1, Cameron-Dow 5.5-0-24-1, Murtagh 5-3-

15-0, Thompson 1-0-9-0, Balbirnie 1-0-8-0

SCOREBOARD

Can beat any Test side if we bat well: NabiAFP DEHRADUN, INDIA

Veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi yesterday said Afghanistan has world-class spinners and is capable of beating any Test side in the world if their batting clicks.

Nabi’s comments come after Afghanistan registered their first ever Test triumph following their seven-wicket win over Ireland in Dehradun.

Afghanistan, who lost the debut Test to India in just two days last year, joined an elite list of cricketing nations after winning their second five-day game.

Australia won their debut Test in 1877 and England and Pakistan won in their second Test outing.

“It’s a very historic day for whole of Afghanistan. Especially for those guys who bring cricket from zero to the Test cricket. We played two games and we won one,” Nabi told reporters.

“When you win then teams will tell you to come and play with them. Nobody plays a weak team. They might think that Afghanistan is weak but not so much that we can’t fight them.

“We have the world’s best spinners and we try to concen-trate on our batting line-up. If we can put up a good score on board then we are confident of beating any team in the world,” he added with a smile.

Since overcoming the odds to compete in the 2010 World T20 in England, the Afghan team has managed to qualify for all the major international tourna-ments and they now await their second appearance in the upcoming 50-over World Cup.

But Nabi insisted a Test win is always special.

“Every format is different. Test has a different flavour to it. We played a lot of T20 and one-day matches and won but Test win was first,” said the 34-year-old Nabi.

Afghanistan clinch maiden Test win

No complacency

on World Cup

security, says

Richardson

AFP KARACHI

The deadly New Zealand shootings which Bangladesh cricketers narrowly avoided means security will remain an “absolute priority” going into the World Cup, the head of cricket’s governing body said Sunday.

Fifty people died in attacks on two mosques in Christchurch on Friday, in what is believed to be the worst assault on Muslims in a Western country.

Bangladesh’s Test crick-eters were just a few minutes from being caught up in the massacre, arriving in a bus at one of the mosques as shooting began.

The third Test between Bangladesh and New Zealand which was due to start in Wellington on Sat-urday was cancelled and the team returned home.

Speaking on the side-lines of Pakistan Super League (PSL) final in Karachi, the International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive David Richardson said security had to remain “an absolute priority”.

“I don’t think security is anything new, obviously something happening in New Zealand probably took a lot of people by surprise and it emphasised the need not to be complacent, espe-cially going into the World Cup,” Richardson said.

The England and Wales Cricket Board will host the World Cup from May 30 to July 14.

“I know the work has already been done by the security director together with all the security agencies in the UK and they are leaving no stone unturned,” he added.

R i c h a r d s o n s a i d Pakistan had taken “a great step forward” in safely hosting the PSL matches, a decade on from an attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore which has seen foreign teams refuse to play in the country over security fears.

Pakistan has gradually tried to revive international cricket at home, having hosted the finals of Pakistan Super League for the last two years and played matches against a World XI, Sri Lanka and the West Indies.

This year eight PSL matches were hosted in Karachi without incident and Richardson, a former South African player, said it was helping to change the image of Pakistan.

“The perception outside of Pakistan was that it was quite a dangerous place to visit in the past and that per-ception slowly but surely has been changed,” he said.

He said a recent tour by 43 foreign players, including former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson and current New Zealand opener Colin Munro, reflected the changes Pakistan has made.

Trust over security has “increased tremendously,” he added.

An aerial view of the National Stadium in Karachi during the Pakistan super League final on Sonday.

AFP KARACHI

All future Pakistan Super League matches could be played on home soil after the last eight games of the 2019 tournament went off without a hitch in Karachi, boosting hopes of attracting more international teams, said the country’s cricket chief at Sunday’s final.

Quetta Gladiators beat former champions Peshawar Zalmi by eight wickets on Sunday to lift their maiden PSL title in a pulsating atmosphere created by a capacity crowd of 32,000 fans at the National Stadium.

“Today is a historic day,” said Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ehsan Mani at the closing ceremony on Sunday.

“Around 230,000 people have watched matches in Karachi which indicates that Pakistan is a safe country and we are gradually returning to normal as far as hosting cricket is concerned.”

Sri Lanka are in discussions about playing two Tests in Pakistan in October and talks are also taking place with Bang-ladesh about a tour in early 2020.

“I thank all the foreign players who came here and I hope to see them here for all the PSL matches next year,” said Mani.

Peshawar were restricted to 138 for eight in their 20 overs. Umar Amin top scored with 38, while rookie 18-year-old quick bowler Mohammad Husnain finished with three for 30.

Quetta raced to victory with eight wickets and 13 balls to spare as former Pakistan opener Ahmed Shehzad (57) and Rilee (38) put on an unbroken 73-run stand to see the Gladiators home at 139 for two.

The first 26 round-robin matches were held in the United Arab Emirates, which has been Pakistan’s neutral venue since a deadly attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore 10 years ago.

Pakistan hosted Zimbabwe for five limited-over matches in 2015 which was followed by the PSL final, three Twenty20 internationals against a World XI and a single Twenty20 inter-national all in Lahore in 2017.

Last year Pakistan hosted three PSL matches and the West Indies for a Twenty20 series.

This year 43 foreign players, including former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson and current New Zealand opener Colin Munro, took part in the PSL latter stages in Karachi.

“I thank the people for coming in big numbers,” Pakistan and Quetta captain Sarfraz Ahmed told the crowds at the pre-match toss.

“We have sent a clear message that Pakistan is pas-sionate about cricket and we are ready to host more cricket.”

Cricket-starved fans thronged the National Stadium for all eight matches, putting up with tight security checks and long walks after shuttles dropped them a mile (1.6 kilo-metres) away from the stadium with 13,000 policemen and 2,500 military personnel deployed

“Pakistan is a peaceful country,” said one banner in the Imran Khan stand, named after the former World Cup winning skipper and current Pakistan prime minister who last week pledged to hold all PSL matches on home grounds next year.

Watson said he had enjoyed playing for the first time in Pakistan, a country where Aus-tralia have not toured since 1998 over security fears.

“It’s incredibly special to be able to play in front of incredible atmosphere and fans,” said Watson.

Losing skipper and former West Indies captain Darren Sammy described the atmos-phere as “electric.”

“I have never played in such an atmosphere,” said Sammy, who led West Indies to two World Twenty20 titles in 2012 and 2016. “This proves that Pakistan is ready for more cricket.”

See you next year: PSL success boosts Pakistan’s cricket revival

ICC’s Chief Executive David Richardson

Afghan team members pose with the trophy after beating Ireland in their one-off Test, played at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun, India on Monday.

11TUESDAY 19 MARCH 2019 SPORT

QGF determined to host another blockbuster, says Al BuainainFAWAD HUSSAIN THE PENINSULA

Competition Manager for the 12th FIG ART Individual Appa-ratus World Cup, Abeer Al Buainain has said, the Qatar Gymnastics Federation (QGF) was committed to delivering another successful edition of the event, which will see top gymnasts in action from tomorrow at Aspire Dome.

Al Buainain was speaking on the sidelines of a promotional event for the FIG World Cup, held at Mall of Qatar. Several gymnasts from various age groups, representing QGF wowed the spectators who turned out in numbers.

“The hosting of this 12th edition of the World Gymnastics Championships is a challenge and we are looking forward to staging another successful event,” Al Buainain said.

“Interest shown by the people here is a prove that gym-nastics is becoming popular in the country and we hope to con-tinue delivering such big events,” she added.

“Gymnastics is no less important than other sports so Qatar is keen to develop it among athletes from an early age. It is a basic sport to build a sporty body that is fit, flexible, dynamic and focused,” said Al Buainain.

The promotional event was attended by several officials including QGF President Ali Al Hitmi.

Meanwhile, gymnasts from various countries underwent training sessions at the Aspire Dome, yesterday.

Several Olympic and world champions are among the stars who are taking part in the four-day event in Doha.

A total of 128 male and 60 female gymnasts from 57 coun-tries will be seen in action in the highly-anticipated event, which QGF is organising for the 12th consecutive year.

Qatar also hosted the 48th FIG ART World Championships last October, which was dubbed as the ‘best-ever’ edition.

“I am confident that we will live up to expectation and host another successful competition,” Al Hitmi said.

“The World Championships last year was a huge success and hailed as the best-ever event by top FIG officials. It motivates us to continue hosting events on that scale. Though it is difficult task to maintain top standards, I am confident of our team will be able to that successfully,” he added.

Apart from targeting the medals, gymnasts will also vie

for berths that are on offer for the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Top star featuring in the event includes world champions Xiao Ruoteng (CHN), Zou Jin-gyuan (CHN) and Epke Zonderland (NED).

World’s oldest Olympian Oksana Chusovitina, 43, (UZB), who is targeting her record eighth appearance at the Games, will also be competing in Doha along with Belgium’s reigning world champion Nina Derwael.

Hosts, Qatar will be repre-sented by three gymnasts - Ahmed Al Dayani, Ahmed Mosa and Raslan Saoud - in the event.

Gymnasts perform during the promotional event for the 12th FIG ART Individual Apparatus World Cup at the Mall of Qatar. Inset: Competition Manager for the 12th FIG ART Individual Apparatus World Cup, Abeer Al Buainain. Below: QGF President Ali Al Hitmi (right) along with other officials during the promotional event.

Promotional event for the 12th FIG World Cup in Doha

Team Sky can extend

dominance under

new owners: WigginsAFP LONDON

Former Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins says Team Sky can maintain their dominance of cycling’s Grand Tour events under prospective new owners, with general manager Dave Brailsford in an “ideal situation”.

The media giant announced in December it would be ending its decade-long association with the team at the end of 2019, with 8 Grand Tour victories secured so far.

Widespread reports have suggested Britain’s richest man Jim Ratcliffe, with an estimated fortune of £21bn ($28bn), will step in and create Team Ineos, after the chemicals giant that he founded, and Wiggins believes they will continue to thrive under Brailsford.

“Dave will want to retain control and it is Dave’s way in terms of the way he manages the team, the way he sets the team up,” the Olympic gold medallist told The Bradley Wiggins Show on Eurosport.

“I think he would have been reluctant to have another multinational company that came in that wanted it for the adver-tisement and to get their name out there, but would want the control in terms of ‘This is how we want to do it in terms

of how we advertise our company’.

“Dave can continue running out this team with all his plans and philosophies, so it’s an ideal situation for him and he is answerable you’d imagine to one man -- it’s his money. It will certainly help .”Team Sky’s partnership with British media company Sky has delivered six Tour de France titles in the past 7 years.

Wiggins became Britain’s first Tour de France champion in 2012 before Chris Froome won four Tour de France titles and Geraint Thomas became Sky’s third winner of cycling’s landmark event in 2018.

But amid Sky’s success, there has been controversy over the team’s use of special exemptions to administer drugs that can enhance performance.

Widespread reports have suggested Britain’s richest man Jim Ratcliffe, with an estimated fortune of £21bn ($28bn), will step in and create Team Ineos, after the chemicals giant that he founded, and Wiggins believes they will continue to thrive under Brailsford.

Ghiraldini

ruptures knee

ligaments

AFP MILAN

Italy hooker Leonardo Ghir-aldini suffered ruptured cruciate knee ligaments in the team’s final Six Nations game, the Italian rugby federation (FIR) confirmed yesterday.

Toulouse hooker Ghiraldini, 34, was carried off to thun-dering applause for his final home game in Rome after 104 caps in a 25-14 defeat to France on Saturday.

“Tests showed the rupture of the cruciate ligament of the right knee, involving the medial ligament and the meniscus,” FIR said in a statement.

“In the next few days the athlete will evaluate, together with the medical staff of the national team and the club he belongs to, the methods and timing of the operation and the f u n c t i o n a l r e c o v e r y programme.”

His absence will also be a blow for Top 14 leaders Tou-louse, as well as Italy as they prepare for the World Cup in Japan from September 20 to November 2.

Ruptured knee ligaments typically take a minimum of six months to heal, making him doubtful for the global showpiece.

“I want to thank (coach) Conor (O’Shea), (captain) Sergio (Parisse) and all the team-mates of the national team and the club for being close to me immediately after the injury and all the people who continue to support me with their enormous affection,” said Ghiraldini.

“For me a new challenge has already begun and I will face it with all the determi-nation possible to reach the next goal, to be able to return to the highest levels and be selected for the upcoming Rugby World Cup.”

Italy lost their 22nd consec-utive game in the Six Nations to earn a fourth consecutive wooden spoon.

Guardiola praying his players return

injury-free from international breakREUTERS MANCHESTER

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola hopes his players return injury-free from the international break this month for a hectic run of fixtures that could define the Premier League champions’ season.

City play eight fixtures in 29 days after the international break with the club fighting on three fronts -- the league, FA Cup and Champions League -- as they seek a quadruple having already won the League Cup last month.

They are currently second in the league with a game in hand, two points behind leaders Liv-erpool, while Guardiola’s side also advanced to the FA Cup semi-finals and the Champions League quarter-finals.

“I pray that they come back

fit,” Guardiola told City’s website. “They have to go to their

national teams... enjoy and play for their country, but I hope they can come back fit like they are now,” he added.

“I just want them fit and here... With the fixtures we have in April we need everybody, it’s

crazy,” said the City manager. Guardiola confirmed those

not involved with their national teams would have a week’s rest before returning to training but counted on his injured players to make a comeback and con-tribute in any way possible.

“Everybody is going to play and Kevin (De Bruyne), Fern-andinho, John (Stones), Benjamin (Mendy) -- they are all going to be back soon and we need them. Even if some play 10 or 15 minutes here and there,” Guar-diola added.

“We need everybody because we have got to this stage where we are still in with a chance of winning three more trophies because of everybody. Not just 11 players, but everyone.”

City’s next game is a league trip to relegation strugglers Fulham on March 30.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola during the FA Cup quarter-final against Swansea City on Sunday.

We need everybody because we have got to this stage where we are still in with a chance of winning three more trophies because of everybody. Not just 11 players, but everyone: Pep Guardiola

MANE IS LIVERPOOL’S MAIN MANIt has been over 11 hours since Liverpool for-

ward Mohamed Salah found the back of the

net, last scoring in early February.

However, with teams focused on closing Salah

down, Sadio Mane has thrived on the oppo-

site flank with 11 goals in his last 11 games in

all competitions.

Mane overtook compatriot Demba Ba as the

Senegalese player with the most Premier

League goals in a single season with his 17th

of the campaign, equalling Salah’s tally for

the season too.

SELECTIVE USE OF VAR IN CUP QUESTIONED The absence of Video Assistant Referees

(VARs) at two of the four FA Cup quarter-final

games raised questions about why the sys-

tem was not being used competition wide

after Manchester City benefited from mar-

ginal decisions at Swansea City.

Pep Guardiola’s side came back from two

goals down at the Liberty Stadium to win 3-2

but the foul on Raheem Sterling that led to

the penalty was debatable while Sergio

Aguero scored an 88th-minute winner from

an offside position. The system was in place

only at Premier League club stadiums hosting

quarter-final fixtures, namely Watford and

Wolverhampton Wanderers, while games at

Swansea and Millwall did not use VAR.

“I’m sorry it was offside, I don’t understand

why VAR is not used in this competition at this

stage,” Guardiola said after the game.

CHELSEA SUFFER THE BLUES Just when it seemed like Maurizio Sarri had

managed to get Chelsea’s season back on

track following their League Cup final defeat

by Manchester City, Sunday’s 2-0 loss at

Everton dented their top four hopes. Chel-

sea’s fourth away defeat in 2019 left Sarri’s

side in sixth, three points behind fourth-

placed Arsenal.

WOLVES POUNCE ON MAN UNITEDNewly-promoted Wolverhampton Wander-

ers’ dream season got better as they dumped

Manchester United out of the FA Cup to seal a

semi-final date at Wembley for the first time

in 21 years.

TALKING POINTS FROM WEEKEND

THE PENINSULA DOHA

Reigning Olympic champion and world marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya has donated one of the shoes in which he sped to victory in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games marathon.

The winning left shoe of the 2018 IAAF World Athlete of the Year will be one of the featured items in the “IAAF Heritage World Athletics Championships Exhi-bition”, a six-month display which will open in Doha on April 18.

“I’m really pleased that my career will be permanently rep-resented in the IAAF Heritage Col-lection,” said Eliud Kipchoge, who has also given a signed copy of the book detailing his world record run in Berlin.

“My running career has still far to go but I’m proud to donate one of my shoes from my Rio victory to be preserved for future gener-ations of fans and publicly dis-played. I hope it helps to motivate more people to take up the won-derful sport of running.”

In one month, in a special cer-emony on the evening of April 18, IAAF President Sebastian Coe together with Dahlan Al Hamad, IAAF Vice President and Director General of the IAAF World Ath-letics Championships Doha 2019 Local Organising Committee, will officially open the IAAF Heritage Exhibition at the City Center Doha.

The exhibition will feature the w o r l d ’ s l a r g e s t e v e r

display of athletics artefacts and memorabilia, dating from second Century BC to the present day.

In text, photographic and video displays, the exhibition will suc-cinctly tell the story of the sport’s 3000-year history.

Introductory displays cover athletics as it emerged from the ancient Olympic Games in 776 BC. The story is carried through to the first modern Olympic Games of 1896, the foundation of the IAAF in 1912 and to creation of the IAAF World Championships in 1983.

At the heart of the exhibition will be 10 huge display panels sum-marising the history of the 16 edi-tions of the World Athletics Cham-pionships. Additional specialised displays include the histories of the

six continental Areas, Qatari ath-letics and the development of ASICS spikes. There is also a preview of the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 accom-panied by a SEIKO countdown clock and QNB display.

Six video screens, including a small cinema room where longer championship highlights will be screened, will offer plenty of com-petition footage from world cham-pionships history.

Along with interactive features, there will be plenty of variety for all ages of visitors to enjoy and explore in the exhibition which will run until the October 7, the day after the end of the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019.

SPORTTuesday 19 March 2019

PAGE | 08 PAGE | 09McIlroy holds

off Furyk to win Players

Championship

Revitalised Bottas lets rip at critics after win in Australia

European clubs and UEFA to begindiscussions over post-2024 eventsREUTERS ZURICH

UEFA will meet representatives from European clubs today to begin discussions over the future of the Champions League and other continental competitions from 2024 onwards, European soccer’s governing body said yesterday.

Both sides have hinted at extensive changes to European club competitions when a new international calendar comes into force in 2024.

UEFA said that today’s meeting would be a brain-storming session between itself and the European Club Associ-ation (ECA), which represents 232 clubs from across the continent.

“There is a meeting tomorrow,” UEFA said in a statement. “There is nothing secret about this brainstorming session.”

UEFA said it would then meet other stakeholders, such as the players and the leagues, in the following months to “exchange ideas before concrete proposals are developed and decisions are made.”

After being re-elected in Feb-ruary, UEFA president Ale-ksander Ceferin said the European body would work with the ECA to devise new tourna-ments which would bring a “new dimension” to European football.

Ceferin promised “club com-petitions that are in keeping with the times, full of excitement and intensity and open.”

He said there would be no threat of a breakaway Super League as long as he was UEFA president and Andrea Agnelli -- the president of Juventus -- was chairman of the ECA.

A report in the Wall Street Journal on Sunday said that sug-gestions which could be dis-cussed including staging Cham-pions League matches at weekends and a more closed qualifying system.

Agnelli has previously sug-gested replacing the current eight

groups of four with four groups of eight, which would mean far more games.

European club competitions run in three-year cycles with the current one ending in 2021.

The format for the following 2021-24 cycle was decided last year with the addition of a new third-tier competition in addition to the Champions League and the Europa League.

The Champions League, meanwhile, will maintain the same format introduced in 2018 which controversially saw a reduction in the number of places open to teams from Europe’s smaller leagues.

The competition is domi-nated by a handful of elite clubs and the group stage has been marked by increasingly one-sided matches in the last few years. Last week, English cham-pions Manchester City thumped Bundesliga side Schalke 7-0 in a last 16 second leg to win 10-2 on aggregate.

Some critics say that UEFA’s revenue distribution system creates a snowball effect as it is partly based on clubs’ historical records - something which favours big clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan.

Eliud Kipchoge with his shoe which he wore during his gold medal winning run at the Rio Olympics. PICTURE COURTESY: GIANCARLO COLOMBO/IAAF

World marathon

record holder’s

shoe in which he

sped to victory

in the Rio 2016

Olympics, will

be one of the

featured items

in the six-month

display which will

open in Doha on

April 18.

IAAF President

Sebastian Coe

together with

Dahlan Al Hamad,

IAAF Vice-President

and Director

General of the IAAF

World Athletics

Championships

Doha 2019 Local

Organising

Committee, will

officially open

the IAAF Heritage

Exhibition at the

City Center Doha.

UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland

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Thiem topples legend Federer

Austria’s Dominic Thiem celebrates while holding the BNP Paribas Open trophy at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on Sunday. Thiem claimed his first Masters 1000 title after coming from a set down to defeat Roger Federer 3-6, 6-3, 7-5.

Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya crosses the finish line to win the gold medal of the men’s marathon during

the 2016 Rio Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in this file photo.

Kipchoge donates Olympic marathon shoe for Doha’s IAAF Heritage Exhibition