THE PENINSULA – DOHA

The International Judo Federation Pres-ident Marius Vizer yesterday lauded Qatar’s organisation of the season-opening IJF World Judo Masters Doha 2021 that concluded yesterday after thrilling battles at the new-look Lusail Multipurpose Hall.

A total of 399 athletes including 215 male and 184 female judokas from 69 countries competed for 14 titles during the three-day event which offered val-uable qualifying points for Tokyo Olympic Games.

Strict preventive measures were put in place in the light of COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Doha World Judo Masters is a great success from all points of view,” Vizer said yesterday.

“We have great champions and fan-tastic organisation despite the global health situation. The local organising committee did everything possible to make the event a success,” the IJF chief said.

“I want to thank the authorities of Qatar and the Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, as well as the national federation of judo, their President Mr. Khalid Hamad Alatiya and his team, who did an amazing job.

“We must also recognise the efforts of the Qatar Olympic Committee and its President, His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani. Everyone can be really proud of what was done in Doha. We had the best of the best athletes in the world present. All of them shall be congratulated and espe-

cially all the winners. In 2023 we’ll be back in the city for our World

Championships, the flagship event of our organisation. We

are all looking forward to it,” he added.

FAWAD HUSSAIN THE PENINSULA

After his shock defeat in 2020 following an unbeaten nine-year run, Teddy Riner left no stone unturned to return to winning ways. From working on different aspects of the sport to shedding around 20 kilogrammes, the French judo superstar endured countless diffi-culties to make a strong comeback in the new season, finally getting a reward for the hard work in Qatar.

Yesterday, Riner – a 10-time individual world champion, five-time European champion and double gold medalist at the Olympic Games – clinched gold medal in the men’s blue ribbon (over 100kg) event that culminated the season-opening IJF World Judo Masters Doha 2021 at Lusail Multipurpose Hall.

The 31-year-old showed the same class that lent him 154 vic-tories during his winning run since 2011 before two defeats last year broke the remarkable feat.

He was confident and slick-looking as he defeated Russia’s Inal Tasoev without much trouble in the final to lead French gold rush on the final day of the three-day event. The French star dominated his coun-terpart completely with the terrific kumi-kata and after being penalised three times and disqualified, Tasoev offered the victory to Riner.

“It’s good to be back on top after a long gap and qualify for the Tokyo Olympic Games,” jubilant Frenchman said after his victory yesterday.

“I was very focused on getting the win in Doha and I’m so happy I succeeded. The opponent was strong, but I managed to outdo him. The venue was absolutely fantastic and I really enjoyed fighting here. I always kept my focus and was intent only on winning the gold medal here,” Riner added.

Also yesterday, reigning world champion and world No. 1 in under 78 kg, Madeleine Malonga and European champion Romane Dicko (over 78) won titles for France, which topped the medals race with five gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medal. South Korea slipped to second with three gold medals with Japan securing third spot with two gold and five silver medals.

Malonga confirmed her status as top jukoka in her category with an outstanding performance throughout the final day. After winning all her preliminary matches by ippon, Malonga overcame a stiff battle with Japan’s Shori Hamada in the final to win gold medal.

“I am very happy. It was a

difficult competition. It is the start of the year and it was important to win for me. It is a year of Olympics and since I am the world and European champion I wanted to win this event so I am now targeting the Olympic Games,” said Malonga. “It was a big break during events because of the virus and was dif-ficult to prepare but I trained daily for this event,” she added.

Dicko was also in top form as she eliminated Cuba’s Olympic and world champion Idalys Ortiz before eventually defeating Azerbaijan’s Iryna Kindzerska in the final.

Halfway of the regular time, Dicko scored a waza-ari that she followed to the floor to hold Kindz-erska for ippon to confirm her first gold medal at the Masters.

Noel confirms Olympics berth with triumph

Meanwhile, Dutchman Noel Van T End booked his Olympic spot with under 90 title, defeating Geor-gia’s Beka Gviniashvili in the final.

Both the finalists put pressure on one another but Noel got an edge scoring a late waza-ari. The Dutchman denied pressure from his opponent and applied a lightening

fast strangle for an ippon finish almost at the bell to seal his victory.

“This is a first tournament of the year and I am very happy to win a gold medal here. It is a big achievement in this Olympics year,” he said after his win.

“I was in top four and with these points which I got today I think I am safe and will go for the Olympics for sure. This is a very nice tour-nament and hospitality is very good and the weather here is very nice. The organisation is very good and I am happy to perform here again. I look forward to come here again for the World Championships in 2023.”

Also yesterday, Gerogia’s Varlam Lipartelini won the under 100kg after beating Azerbaijan’s Zelym Kotsoiev in the final. Gerogia finished fourth on the medals table with 2 gold, a silver and a bronze, with the Netherlands securing the fifth spot with a gold, a silver and five bronze medals.

The three-day Olympic quali-fying event, featuring 399 athletes including 215 male and 184 female judokas from 69 countries was held under strict health safety measures.

QBF SENIOR LEAGUE: Al Wakrah (Julius Coles Jr 30, Nicholas Stover 30) beat Qatar Club (Baden Jaxen 19, Miroslav Todic 16) 79-74

THURSDAY 14 JANUARY 2021

James keen to avoid returning to bubble lifeWell the bubble was a success from a performance standpoint as far as our league getting back on. I haven’t thought about the bubble much after I left. You continue to give me PTSD every time you ask me about the bubble. I started shaking thinking about 96 straight nights in that place.

Sport |08

JaWathevth

LeBron James

Sport

Doha Masters a great success: IJF President

Doha Masters 2021: France grab three gold medals on final day to finish on top

Sparkling show: Rock solid Riner returns to winning ways as Noel seals Games berth

Coronavirus-hit US team out of handball World ChampionshipAP – CAIRO

The United States men’s handball team has been forced to withdraw from the world championships in Egypt after a coronavirus outbreak.

The U.S. team said late Tuesday that “a majority of our players and staff members tested positive for the virus” before the squad planned to travel to Egypt.

“Everyone seems to be in good health, with little to no symptoms currently,” the team said. “However, the virus has rendered us unable to field a competitive team.”

United States coach Robert Hedin told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet on Tuesday that 18 people in the squad, including players and staff members, had

tested positive for the coronavirus. The United States is the second team ruled out by coronavirus cases, fol-lowing the Czech Republic. The International Handball Federation named Switzerland and North Mac-edonia as late replacements for the championships. Other teams have expressed dismay at what they see as insufficient coronavirus testing at the tournament. Denmark, along with Sweden, Germany, Norway and Austria, said it told the IHF that more regular tests were needed.

The U.S. men’s team was due to play in its first world championships since 2001 and was drawn to face Austria, France and Norway in the preliminary round. The Americans have already failed to qualify for this year’s postponed Tokyo Olympics.

Team Qatar leaves for Egypt todayQNA – DOHA

The Qatari handball team will leave for Egypt today to participate in the 27th Men’s World Championship which kicked off in Cairo yesterday.

The Qatari delegation is led by President of Qatar Handball Association (QHA) Ahmed Al Shaabi, and includes member of the Board of Directors Khalifa Tayseer, Director of the Team Youssef Al Hail, and administrative manager of the team Youssef Al Moallem. The technical staff is led by Spanish head coach Valero Rivera, in addition to 20 players.

The Qatari national team will compete in the World Championship in Group C, which includes Croatia, Japan and Angola.

The national team will play with Angola tomorrow before taking on Japan on Sunday, and Croatia on Tuesday.

Qatar Olympic Committee President, H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, posing for a photograph with the podium winners of the Men's Over 100kg event of the IJF World Judo Masters Doha 2021 at Lusail Multipurpose Hall, yesterday. PICTURES: IJF

YESTERDAY'S RESULTSMen’s +100kg: Gold: Teddy Riner (France) Silver: Tasoev Inal (Russia) Bronze: Khammo Yakiv (Ukraine)and Grol Henk (Netherlands)-100kg:Gold: Varlam Lipartelini (Georgia) Silver: Zelym Kotsoiev (Aze) Bronze: Peter Latchik (Israel) and Arman Adamian (Russia)-90kg: Gold: Noel Van T End (Netherlands)Silver: Beka Gviniashvili (Gerogia) Bronze: Eduard Trippel (Germany) and Lasha Bekauri (Georgia) Women’s+78kgGold: Dicko Romane (France)Silver: Iryna Kindzerska (Aze)Bronze: Nihel Cheikh Rouhou (Tun)and Kayra Sayit (Turkey) -78kgGold: Madeleine Malonga (France) Silver: Shori Hamada (Japan)Bronze: Guusje Steenhuis (Netherlands) and Loriana Kuka (Kos)MEDALS TABLE Gold, Silver, Bronze 1 - France 5,1,12 - South Korea 3, 0, 0, 3 - Japan 2, 5, 04 - Georgia 2, 1, 2 5 - Netherlands 1,1,5

Action during the opening match of the 2021 IHF Handball World Championship between Egypt and Chile at the Cairo Stadium Hall 1 yesterday. The hosts won the Preliminary Round Group G match with a margin of 35-29. Qatar, who competes in Group C, will reach Egypt today. Qatar will play against Angola tomorrow before taking on Japan on Sunday, and Croatia on Tuesday.

s tea , w o d d a a a g job.“We must also recognise the efforts

of the Qatar Olympic Committee andits President, His Excellency SheikhJoaan bin Hamad Al Thani. Everyonecan be really proud of what was donein Doha. We had the best of the bestathletes in the world present. All ofthem shall be congratulated and espe-

cially all the winners. In 2023 we’llbe back in the city for our World

Championships, the flagship event of our organisation. We

are all looking forward toit,” he added.

Teddy Riner celebrates his

victory in Doha.

THE PENINSULA – DOHA

Ivorian Jonathan Kodjia saved Al Gharafa's blushes with a last gasp penalty kick as the Cheetahs and Al Arabi shared points in a dramatic one-all draw yesterday.

At the Qatar SC Stadium, Kodjia's goal helped Al Gharafa to raise their tally by one point to 24 as they rose to the third spot in the QNB Stars League standings.

Mehdi Torabi opened the scoring for Al Arabi in the 11th minute before Kodjia's conversion in the 90+7 minute to seal the hard-fought draw for Al Gharafa.

Al Arabi are now on 19 points.In the fifth minute, Al Arabi’s Ayoub

Azzi tried his luck with a powerful shot around 10 yards away from the Al Arabi box. The ball dipped on keeper Yousef Hassan, but narrowly missed the goalpost.

Just two minutes later, Al Arabi once again came close to scoring, but the Al Gharafa keeper recovered quickly to collect the ball he had dropped on a long cross. Al Arabi’s Mohammed Salah El Neel attempted to tap the loose ball into the net, but keeper Ali showed quick reflexes to collect the ball.

Al Arabi’s Sebastian Soria also got into the act in the 11th minute when he headed the ball off a long throw in, but the ball narrowly went past the left goalpost.

Seconds later, Al Arabi opened the scoring.

After receiving a cross, Mehrdad Mohammadi fired a shot towards the goal that was blocked, but the ball fumbled out of the goalkeeper’s hands and Torabi quickly tapped the ball into the net.

Kodjia found time and space to drill a shot towards far right of Al Arabi

keeper Mahmoud Abunada in the 26th minute. Al Arabi’s Aron Gunnarsson, however, showed instinctive sharpness to thrust his left leg to deflect the ball away inches from the goalline.

The ever-busy Gunnarsson delivered a clean cross to El Neel in the 37th minute just outside the Al Gharafa box, but the latter misfired.

In the 57th minute, Mehrdad drilled

a left-footed shot from outside the Al Gharafa box, but his shot was caught by the rival goalkeeper.

El Neel soon produced a similar attacking shot that was saved by the keeper.

In the 70th minute, Soria, who had an outstanding game, sneaked into the Al Gharafa box, but his flick from close range was blocked by the keeper with

his chest. In a dramatic end to the match, Al Gharafa pulled off the equaliser through a penalty kick. Al Arabi substitute Jassem Jaber brought down Amro Seraj inside the box and referee Abdulla Ali Athba sought VAR replays to make the penalty decision.

Kodjia delivered a perfect penalty kick that crashed into the net though the goalkeeper dived correctly to his right. The Al Arabi fans walked off dejectedly after the tensed penalty kick.

Al Gharafa had beaten Al Arabi 2-1 in the first leg.

Earlier, Umm Salal and Al Wakrah played out a goalless draw at the Qatar SC Stadium . The two sides are tied at 14 points in the QSL standings.

Elsewhere, at Al Ahli Stadium, Al Khor defeated Al Ahli 2-1 with the help of a brace from Giannis Fetfatzidid (second and seventh-minute penalty).

Al Ahli pulled one back in the form of an own goal by Al Khor defender Rafael Dos Santos in the 63rd minute.

THE PENINSULA – DOHA

After four days of exciting action on the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex courts in Doha at the men’s qualifiers of the 2021 Australian Open, the 16 entrants from the stage for the main event in Melbourne emerged yesterday.

A total of 128 players, including the 2019 Australian Open boys’ singles champion Lorenzo Musetti, partici-pated in the event held outside of Aus-tralia for the first time in the tour-nament 116-year history.

In the end, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, a 17-year-old ranked No.141 who won three ATP Challenger titles in 2020 and was voted the ATP Tour’s New-comer of the Year; Elias Ymer of Sweden, Ukraine’s Sergiy Stakhovsky and Belgium’s Kimmer Coppejans were among those who made the Mel-bourne cut.

Others on the list are The 174-ranked Michael Mmoh of the USA, Czech Republic’s Tomas Machac, Spain’s Mario Vilella Martinez, world No.12 Viktor Troicki of Serbia, Roman Safiullin of Russia, and Switzerland’s Henri Laaksonen.

USA’s Maxime Cressy, Aslan Kar-atsev of Russia, Botic Van de Zands-chulp of the Netherlands, France’s Quentin Halys, Portuguese Frederico Ferreira Silva and Bernard Tomic of Australia are also going to be making an appearance in Australia.

Craig Tiley, Tennis Australia CEO and Australian Open Tournament Director, said, “There’s no question the Qatar Tennis Federation are world champions on how they’ve managed this event for us. Very quickly we had to turn around and put an event on with more than 120 players plus their entourage, that’s a massive draw size, and there hasn’t been a draw size that big in Doha before, so that’s signif-icant they were able to do it so well at short notice.”

He added, “We are very fortunate Qatar are handing the pandemic so well, and the testing is vigilant and ongoing to ensure everyone is kept safe. The Qatar Tennis Federation has been magnificent in partnering with us, our own Andre Sa; a former top player has done a magnificent job being a tournament director for the first time, alongside Karim and his team on delivering a safe and suc-cessful event.”

Tiley noted that when the organ-isers were looking for cities around the world for the Australian Open qualifiers, right away Doha was on top of that list. “So we made the phone call, and the arrangement was made straight away,” he said.

Speaking about hosting future events in Doha, Tiley said, “I must admit I felt incredibly proud when the first bit of vision I saw out of Doha was seeing those backboards with the Australian and Qatar on it, with the AO, and the blue courts, and it looked magnificent, and we hope one day we can do something special for Doha and Qatar because of the way they’ve treated us.”

Karim Alami, Qatar Tennis

Federation (QTF) Board Member, said, “We are greatly delighted with the success of this tournament. It was a great privilege for us to host the first-ever Australian Open qualifiers to be held outside Australia in the tour-nament over a century history. We thank the Australian Open organisers and the ATP for the confidence they had in us in offering us this oppor-tunity. I believe all the participants have had a great time in Qatar and

we doubtlessly look forward to wel-coming them back in the nearest future.”

Alcaraz, seeded 21, secured his debut appearance at the first Grand Slam of the year on the back of his straight-sets 6-2, 6-3 upset of No.2-seed and world No. 111 Hugo Dellien of Bolivia. It was a fitting closing for the Spaniard, who has been one of the major revelations of the past year, as he managed to drop just a single set at the tournament - his first-round match against Slavakia’s Filip Horansky.

World No. 182 Ferreira Silva turned out to be a giant slayer as he ended the hopes of tournament top-seed Gregoire Barrere of France, winning the last match of the tour-nament 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 43 minutes on Court A.

Former World No. 17, Tomic, on the other hand, secured his 11th Aus-tralian Open appearance with gru-elling 2-1 6-4, 5-7, 7(10)-7(6) victory over compatriot and wildcard entrant John-Patrick Smith.

No. 3 seed Karatsev secured his ticket after defeating Alexandre Muller of France 6-2,6-1 while Stakhovsky overcame Australia’s wild-card

entrant Dane Sweeny in a decider, winning 2-6, 6-3, 6-1.

World No. 204 Ymer proved too much of a hurdle for fifth-seed Taro Daniel of Japan to cross as the Swedish won in straight-sets 6-1, 6-2. Halys, on the other hand, stopped the progress of Dutch Robin Haase with his 6-3, 6-4 win.

In the other results, Coppejans defeated seventh-seed Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia 6-2, 6-0; Mmoh won 6-3, 7(7)-6(3) against Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech while Czech Republic’s Machac edged Denmark’s Mikael Torpegaard 6-2, 6-1. Spaniard Martinez won 2-1 (4-6, 7-5, 6-4) against Tung-Lin Wu of Chinese Taipei.

Meanwhile, former world No.12 Troicki defeated 11th-seed Cedrik-Marcel Stebe of Germany in straight-sets 6-4, 6-2 while Russia’s Safiullin won 2-1 (6(2)-7(7), 6-3, 6-4) against Constant Lestienne of France. Van de Zandschulp claimed a 7(7)-6(4), 6-4 victory over Frenchman Mathias Bourgue, and Laaksonen, the 15th-seed staged a comeback victory against Croatia’s Borna Gojo, winning 2-1 (6(4)-7(7), 6-4, 7(10)-6(7).

11THURSDAY 14 JANUARY 2021 SPORT

There’s no question the Qatar Tennis

Federation are world champions on

how they’ve managed this event for

us. Very quickly we had to turn

around and put an event on with

more than 120 players plus their

entourage, that’s a massive draw size,

and there hasn’t been a draw size that

big in Doha before, so that’s

significant they were able to do it so

well at short notice: Craig Tiley, Tennis

Australia CEO and Australian Open

Tournament Director

YESTERDAY'S RESULTSUmm Salal 0-0 Al WakrahAl Gharafa 1-1 Al Arabi

Al Ahli 1-2 Al Khor

MEN'S SINGLES - RESULTSS. Stakhovsky beat D. Sweeny WC 2-6, 6-3, 6-1M. Mmoh beat A. Rinderknech 6-3, 7-6(3)A. Karatsev beat A. Muller 6-2, 6-1V. Troicki beat C. Stebe 6-4, 6-2R. Safiullin beat C. Lestienne 6(2)-7, 6-3, 6-4B. Tomic beat J. Smith WC 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(7)M. Vilella Martinez beat T. Wu 4-6, 7-5, 6-4B. Van De Zandschulp beat M. Bourgue 7-6(4), 6-4F. Ferreira Silva beat G. Barrere 6-3, 6-4H. Laaksonen beat B. Gojo 6(4)-7, 6-4, 7-6(7)C. Alcaraz beat H. Dellien 6-2, 6-3Q. Halys beat R Haase 6-3, 6-4E. Ymer beat T. Daniel 6-1, 6-2M. Cressy beat D. Brown 7-6(5), 6-4K. Coppejans beat D. Dzumhur 6-2, 6-0T. Machac beat M. Torpegaard 6-1, 6-1 Sabalenka wins

WTA 500 event in Abu DhabiREUTERS – ABU DHABI

Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka made a strong start to her 2021 season with a comfortable 6-2, 6-2 victory over Veronika Kuder-metova of Russia to clinch the WTA 500 event in Abu Dhabi yesterday and extend her winning streak to 15 matches.

After finishing 2020 with tro-phies at Ostrava and Linz, the strongly built Sabalenka started her new campaign in the same vein in Abu Dhabi and will rise three spots to a career-best world number seven when the WTA rankings are updated on Monday.

“I am really proud of the fact that I was fighting no matter what,” the 22-year-old told reporters.

It was the ninth title overall for the fourth-seeded Sabalenka, who now heads to Melbourne for the first Grand Slam of the year at the Australian Open next month.

Jones defies rare physical condition to qualify for AOREUTERS – DUBAI

Britain’s Francesca Jones, who suffers from a rare genetic condition, reached her maiden Grand Slam main draw yesterday when she beat China’s Lu Jiajing in the final round of Australian Open qualifying in Dubai.

Jones suffers from ectrodactyly ectodermal dysplasia syndrome, a condition which meant she was born with three fingers and a thumb on each hand, three toes on her right foot and four toes on her left.

The 20-year-old was told by doctors as a child that she would not be able to pursue a professional tennis career due to her physical disadvantages, which Jones says spurred her on to prove them wrong.

The world number 241, who finds balance to be the biggest shortcoming due to her condition, has since overcome the odds and added a new chapter to her story on Wednesday when she beat China’s Lu 6-0 6-1 to book her ticket for Melbourne.

“I’m just super happy to qualify and really looking forward to getting out to Australia,” said Jones, who has had over 10 surgeries in her life already.

“I’ve never been before and I’m sure it’s going to be an amazing experience. I guess any draw for me would be a fascinating one. I look forward to any match I’ll play, whether it’ll be Serena Williams or another qualifier.”

Teen Alcaraz, Ymer book tickets to Melbourne Sixteen players secure Australian Open spots in Doha qualifiers

I am thrilled to

win and qualify for

the main draw of the

Australian Open. I’ve enjoyed

my time in Doha. I like the

courts, the hospitality and

atmosphere. My Melbourne’s

expectation is to relax, play

my game, and enjoy every

minute of the tournament.

I hope to improve on

my game and gets

even better:

Carlos Alcaraz

Action during the QNB Stars League Round 14 match between Al Gharafa and Al Arabi.

Kodjia saves Al Gharafa with late spot kick

Elias Ymer celebrates after defeating Taro Daniel of Japan. PICTURES: TENNIS AUSTRALIA

THE PENINSULA – DOHA

Return To Senders, with jockey JP Guillambert in the saddle, last night won the Umm Al Afai Cup in the feature race at the Al Rayyan Race Park yesterday.

Nasser Saeed Al Eida’s Return To Senders (Sir Prancealot) clocked a time of 1:04.73 as Guillambert rode the Jassim Ghazali-trained 4-year-old colt to a 1½ length win in the 1100m Class 3 Thoroughbred Handicap (75-95).

Shobrom, who had Ivan Rossi in the saddle, finished second while jockey Faleh Bughanaim rode Ahmed Kobeissi-trained Chattanooga Boy to third fastest time.

Guillambert won QR 57,000 while Rossi got richer by QR 22,000. Bughanaim won QR 11,000.

In the penultimate race of the night, Injaaz Stud’s Lekhraib (AF AlBahar) yes-terday completed a double winning the Purebred Arabian Conditions race. Ali Khalid Al Mosallam rode the Mohammed Ghazali-trained 7-year-old horse to a very cosy 5 length win in the 6f run.

In a spectacular run, the Abdulaziz Hamad Ateeq Al Marri-owned & trained Lama (Hatteen x Ahazeej) won the Local Purebred Arabian race. Ali Khalid Al Mosallam rode the 5-year-old mare to a 2¾ length win in the 6f run for 4-year-old + fillies & mares.

In Race 7 of the night, Injaaz Stud’s Rodeyna (Intense Focus x Hidden Meaning) was guided by Guillambert to glory in the Local Thoroughbred Handicap (0-85) race. Guil-lambert rode the Mohammed Ghazali-trained 6-year-old mare to a very cosy 4¼ length win in the 1700m run.

In Race 6, Injaaz Stud’s Muthhil won the Purebred Arabian Handicap (0-80) at Al Rayyan Park. Saleh Salem Al Marri rode the Jassim

Ghazali-trained 6-year-old horse to a 2 length win in the 1700m run.

Also yesterday, Injaaz Stud’s Khafooq (Kodiac x Al Manaal) produced a winning run to clinch the top honours in the Thoroughbred Handicap (0-80). Marco Casamento rode the Jassim Ghazali-trained 5-year-old gelding to an imposing 6 length win in the 6f run.

Jockey Meshaal Abdlatif Al Mohannadi in Race 4 guided Ahmed Hassan Al Malki Al Jehani’s Jurz (Exceed And Excel) to TB Handicap (0-70) (Div. 2) glory. Al Mohannadi rode the Hamad Al Jehani-trained 6-year-old horse to a ¾ length win in the 1900m run.

In race 3, Rashid Bin Mubarak Aljafali Al Naimi’s Better Than Ever (Mainsail) won the TB Handicap (0-70) (Div. 1) race. Rashid Ali Al Saaq rode the Majed Seifeddine-trained 5-year-old gelding to a 6½

length win in the 1900m run.In Race 2, Yousuf Mubarak

Al Kuwari’s I Am Thunder (Night Of Thunder x Martine’s Spirit) won the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate. Jockey Ali Khalid Al Mosallam rode the Hamad Al Jehani-trained 4-year-old colt to a 2¾-length win in the 6f run.

In Race 1, Khalid Rashid Al Mohannadi’s Stam Al Naif (Djelmidor x Hadab Al Naif) won the Local Purebred Arabian Novice Plate. Saleh Al Marri rode the Rashid Al Jehani-trained 9-year-old horse to a 1½-length win in the 6f run.

10 THURSDAY 14 JANUARY 2021SPORT

Toyota Gazoo Racing’s

Nasser Al Attiyah and

Co-Driver Matthieu

Baumel in action during

stage 10 of the Dakar Rally yesterday.

Peterhansel heading for 14th Dakar titleREUTERS – AL ULA

French veteran Stephane Peter-hansel was heading for a record-extending 14th Dakar title after ending yesterday’s 10th stage in Saudi Arabia with a 17 minute advantage over his closest rival Nasser Al Attiyah.

While ‘Mr Dakar’ maintained his comfortable lead in the car category, overnight motorcycle leader Jose Ignacio Cornejo saw his dreams evaporate when he crashed and had to retire on medical grounds with two stages to go.

That left what looked like a straight fight between defending champion Ricky Brabec of the United States and his Argentine Honda team mate Kevin Benavides.

X-Raid Mini driver Peter-hansel was third in the 342km stage from Neom to Al-Ula, behind Qatar’s Al Attiyah in second and Saudi winner Yazeed Al Rajhi.

“I think tomorrow will decide the Dakar. It’s going to be a tricky stage, but we’ll do our best,” said Toyota’s Al Attiyah.

“There’s no strategy, we’ll just keep driving fast.” Defending car champion Carlos Sainz remained third overall but more than an hour off the lead.

The rally ends in Jeddah tomorrow.

Cornejo crashed his Honda at the 252km mark of the stage

but managed to finish before a medical examination ruled out any further involvement due to the risk of concussion.

The Chilean had been 11 minutes ahead at the start of the day.

Brabec won the stage and is now 51 seconds behind Bena-vides with Britain’s Sam Sun-derland third on a KTM but 10 minutes and 36 seconds off the lead.

DAKAR RALLY 2021 - STAGE 101: (SAU) Yazeed Al Rajhi, (DEU) Dirk Von Zitzewitz Overdrive Toyota 03H 03' 57''2: (QAT) Nasser Al Attiyah, (FRA) Matthieu Baumel Toyota Gazoo Racing + 00H 02' 04'' 3: (FRA) Stéphane Peterhansel, (FRA) Edouard Boulanger X-Raid Mini Jcw Team + 00H 02' 53''4: (ESP) Carlos Sainz, (ESP) Lucas Cruz X-Raid Mini JCW Team + 00H 04' 12'' 5: (POL) Jakub Przygonski, (DEU) Timo Gottschalk Orlen Team/Overdrive + 00H 05' 06''

OVERALL STANDINGS1: (FRA) Stéphane Peterhansel, (FRA) Edouard Boulanger X-Raid Mini JCW Team 37H 33' 06''2: (QAT) Nasser Al Attiyah, (FRA) Matthieu Baumel Toyota Gazoo Racing + 00H 17' 01'' 3: (ESP) Carlos Sainz, (ESP) Lucas Cruz X-Raid Mini JCW Team + 01H 03' 44'' 4: (POL) Jakub Przygonski, (DEU) Timo Gottschalk Orlen Team/Overdrive + 02H 18' 43''5: (ESP) Nani Roma, (FRA) Alexandre Winocq Bahrain Raid Xtreme + 02H 50' 22''

X-Raid Mini JCW Team’s Stephane Peterhansel and Co-Driver Edouard Boulanger in action.

Action during the Qatar Basketball Federation-organised Senior Men's League match between Al Wakrah and Qatar Club at Al Gharafa Indoor Hall yesterday. Julius Coles Jr and Nicholas Stover scored 30 points each as they beat Qatar Club 79-74 yesterday.

Jockey JP Guillambert and Return To Senders crossing the finish line to win the Umm Al Afai Cup.

Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club's Racing Manager Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi posing for a photograph with the representatives of Return To Senders after Nasser Saeed Al Eida’s colt won the Umm Al Afai Cup, the feature event of the 25th race meeting at Al Rayyan Park yesterday.

Coles Jr, Stover shine as Al Wakrah beat Qatar Club

Guillambert guides Return To Senders to Umm Al Afai Cup win at Al Rayyan Park

25TH RACE MEETING RESULTS

UMM AL AFAI CUPHorse: Return To Senders (IRE), Trainer: Gassim Ghazali, Jockey: JP Guillambert

LOCAL PUREBRED ARABIAN NOVICE PLATEStam Al Naif (QA), Rashid Al Jehani, Saleh Salem Al Marri

LOCAL PUREBRED ARABIANS (Fillies & Mares)Lama (QA), Abdulaziz Hamad Al Marri, Ali Khalid Al Mosallam

LOCAL PUREBRED ARABIAN NOVICE PLATEStam Al Naif (QA), Rashid Al Jehani, Saleh Salem Al Marri

THOROUGHBRED MAIDEN PLATE (Class 6)I Am Thunder (IRE), Hamad Al Jehani, Ali Khalid Al Mosallam

THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP (Class 5) (QATARI RIDERS ONLY) (Div 1)Better Than Ever (IRE), Majed Seifeddine, Rashid Ali Al Marri

THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP (Class 5) (QATARI RIDERS ONLY) (Div 2)Jurz (IRE), Hamad Al Jehani, Meshaal Abdlatif Al Mohannadi

THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP (Class 4)Khafooq (GB), Gassim Ghazali, Marco Casamento

PUREBRED ARABIAN HANDICAPMuthhil (QA), Gassim Ghazali, Saleh Salem Al Marri

LOCAL THOROUGHBRED HANDICAPRodeyna (QA), Mohammed Ghazali, JP Guillambert

09THURSDAY 14 JANUARY 2021 SPORT

Oman ‘ready’ to host Test match cricket for first timeREUTERS MUSCAT

Cricket’s landscape could expand to unexpected horizons as early as next month if a bilateral series between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe goes ahead in the Middle Eastern country of Oman, where the Test match format has never been played before.

The itinerary of two tests and three Twenty20 interna-tionals has yet to be finalised and remains uncertain due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

However, the secluded Oman Cricket Academy (OCA) ground in Al Amerat - 15 km southeast of the capital Muscat - is at the ready after meeting standards set by the Interna-tional Cricket Council (ICC) to host Tests having previously hosted limited overs matches.

“ICC accreditation has put us in an elite club of Test cricket hosts and we are very proud to have reached that level,” Oman Cricket said.

“Hosting Test matches and white-ball cricket on a regular basis will surely lead to more

interest in the game of cricket in a football-crazy country.”

The Gulf state is not a typical destination for interna-tional cricket, with its inhospi-table desert and jagged, rocky mountains a far cry from the quaint backdrops that followers of the sport are traditionally accustomed to seeing.

Afghanistan’s volatile

security situation, however, means that regional neighbours are frequently called upon to stage ‘home’ matches on their behalf.

In the past, the nomadic team has based themselves out of grounds in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and India but the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on foreign travel has

necessitated the addition of Oman to that list.

Oman are relative new-comers to cricket’s global stage, with their only appearance at a major tour-n a m e n t coming at the 2016 T20 World Cup in India, where they upset Ireland in their debut outing.

The ability to host high-

profile contests now will be another feather in the cap of the c o u n t r y ’ s c r i c k e t i n g fraternity.

The sultanate would become the second non-test playing nation to host the game’s longest form after neighbouring UAE, which reg-ularly accommodates Pakistan for home matches.

A view of the Oman Cricket Academy (OCA) ground in Al Amerat, 15km southeast of the capital Muscat. PIC: OMAN CRICKET

Bumrah an injury doubt as India fast bowlers rested from trainingREUTERS - MELBOURNE

India’s fast bowlers were rested from training yesterday ahead of the fourth Test against Australia amid reports pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the decider in Brisbane.

Indian media, citing unnamed team sources, said Bumrah would not be selected for the Test, which starts tomorrow, after suffering an apparent abdominal strain in the draw at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Bumrah’s omission would be a huge blow for Ajinkya Rahane’s side, with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja already confirmed to miss the series finale with a thumb injury and batsman Hanuma Vihari almost certain to be scratched due to a hamstring strain.

Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who batted through the entire final session in Sydney to help India save the match, is also nursing a sore back.

An India team spokesman declined to comment on the team’s injuries, or Bumrah’s availability for selection, but confirmed the paceman did not take part in training at the Gabba yesterday along with the squad’s few remaining fast bowlers.

With seasoned quicks Mohammed Shami (broken arm), Ishant Sharma (side strain) and Umesh Yadav (calf) out of the series, Bumrah’s absence would mean calling up either one-test paceman Shardul Thakur or giving left-armer T Natarajan an unlikely test debut.

Two-Test Mohammed Siraj, who bowled in Sydney with Bumrah and debutant Navdeep Saini, could end up the most expe-

rienced member of a very raw India pace attack at the Gabba, traditionally a fast bowler’s paradise for its speed and bounce.

India will also have to decide how to replace Vihari, and whether wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant will be fit enough to take his place behind the stumps.

Wriddhiman Saha took the gloves after Pant suffered an elbow injury during the Sydney Test, but both could be picked for the Gabba, with Pant retained just for his batting in the wake of his brilliant 97 in the fourth innings.

India then face an unen-viable choice between a pair of out-of-form openers in Mayank Agarwal and Prithvi Shaw to replace Vihari.

India’s Jasprit Bumrah is seen with team mates during a training session at the Gabba, Brisbane, in this photo tweeted by Indian cricket board’s official Twitter handle @BCCI. Bumrah is expected to miss the fourth and final Test against Australia starting tomorrow.

Sri Lanka players back on home soil for England TestsAP - GALLE, SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka’s cricketers will host a Test series for the first time since the outbreak of the coronavirus 10 months ago when the team takes on England in the first match starting today.

Sri Lanka has played just two Tests during the pandemic and both were away - in South Africa around the turn of the year - while England hosted West Indies and Pakistan with the players confined to bio-secure bubbles.

The pandemic is still hitting athletes around the world, with England allrounder Moeen Ali missing the first Test having tested positive for the coronavirus upon arrival in Sri Lanka.

Teammate Chris Woakes, who only started training on Tuesday, is also likely to skip the first Test after being in isolation because he was in close contact with Moeen.

Adhering to COVID-19 protocols, like the ban on using saliva to shine the ball and how much contact the players can have on the field, is essential.

Elbow touches and fist bumps are encouraged but England captain Joe Root suggested his side would show restraint.

“I’m sure the medical staff will make

sure the protocols are kept in place and that if there is anything that needs to be dis-cussed before the game starts, then we are made very well aware of it,” he said. “We’ll do as best we can to make sure we adhere to that.”

A Unesco-heritage Dutch fort in the backdrop of the stadium in Galle stands out at one of the most picturesque venues in the world. But the stadium, packed with England’s group of ‘Barmy Army’ fans when it toured here in 2018, will this time be empty.

“It’s a lovely ground, isn’t it?” Woakes said. “I was here on the last tour when we won 3-0 and I remember the Barmy Army travelled in high numbers. It’s a great place to play as an England cricketer because you get great support, the ground’s packed, there’s people sat on top of the fort.

“It’s going to look a lot different this week with no one around and no crowd, which is a shame. But we know everyone will be supporting us back home.”

England has not played a Test since August and will not be as battle-hardened as the Sri Lankans, who are coming off a two-Test series against South Africa -- albeit one they lost 2-0.

It is the start of a busy schedule on the

subcontinent for Root’s side, which will head to India at the end of the month for a tour containing four Tests.

Sri Lanka will be a good challenge for the spinners -- so crucial on the subcon-tinent - and Dom Bess is set for a major role this month, especially as Moeen will be sidelined in Galle.

“We know Dom has the ability and skills if it does start spinning quite quickly to take advantage of that. It’s a really good oppor-tunity for him to show what he can do in these conditions,” Root said.

Root must also decide how often to use veteran pacemen Jimmy Anderson, 38, and Stuart Broad, 34, given the India series to come and the fact it will be a long year of cricket culminating in an Ashes tour Down Under. Sri Lanka will be encouraged after batsman Angelo Mathews and paceman Nuwan Pradeep joined the squad. Dhananjaya de Silva (torn thigh) and Kasun Rajitha (groin) were ruled out of the series due to injuries they sustained in South Africa.

With the wicket likely to suit slow bowling, Sri Lanka could use legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga, left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya and offspinner Dil-ruwan Perera.

A selfie shared by star Indian player

Ravindra Jadeja following

surgery on his dislocated left thumb in

Sydney.

After 7 months away from his family, Waqar is finally back homeAP - ISLAMABAD

After going seven months without seeing his family while living in a bio-secure bubble and travelling the world as Pakistan’s bowling coach, Waqar Younis is finally getting to spend some time at home.

The 49-year-old Waqar has been kept busy, touring England before his team went on to host Zimbabwe and then visited New Zealand for another series of matches.

Pakistan played two Tests in New Zealand but the former fast-bowling great was allowed to return home after his side lost the first game by 101 runs, in order to spend some time with his loved ones ahead of this month’s home series against South Africa.

“I didn’t see my family for the last seven months and got permission from the cricket board to spend time with my family,” Waqar told reporters in the eastern city of Lahore yesterday.

“Cricket is not the end of the

world. There are also other things in life which are important.”

Pakistan lost the recent Test series to New Zealand 2-0 and the Twenty20 encounter 2-1, and Waqar said it was especially tough for the players to go through 14 days of quarantine which limited them to their hotel rooms.

“Medically it’s proven that if you are closed in a room for one day, you have wastage of two days’ muscle,” Waqar said. “They are top athletes, they needed to be trained every day so these issues were also there, because of which we couldn’t win.”

Waqar and head coach Misbah-ul-Haq were sum-moned by the Pakistan Cricket Board on Tuesday to explain the team’s results, but both men will be given another chance in the home series against South Africa before their performance is re-evaluated.

Pakistan lost the Test series in England 1-0 before tying the Twenty20 encounter 1-1. It then

beat Zimbabwe in both the ODI and T20 series.

“It’s a performance-based (job) whether you do coaching or play international cricket,” Waqar said. “If you give good results, you will keep getting opportunities.”

Pakistan’s fast bowlers struggled in the Tests against New Zealand, losing both matches by heavy margins, with young pacemen Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi unable to generate the same speeds as New Zealand’s Kyle Jamieson and Neil Wagner. But Waqar says taking 20 wickets in a Test is more important to him than relying on the pace of a fast bowler.

“Pace is important, and I

understand that if you have it, it’s good, but for me how to get 20 wickets is more important,” he explained.

“If he is bowling at 140kph and not getting wickets, it’s useless, but if he is bowling at 120kph and taking wickets, it’s good to me. We also had issues of no-balls and dropped catches.”

Mathews in Sri Lanka squad for England TestsREUTERS - COLOMBO

Experienced Sri Lanka batsman Angelo Mathews, who missed their recent trip to South Africa

due to a hamstring injury, has returned to the Test side for the two-match home series against England starting tomorrow.

The 33-year-old former captain was named in Sri Lanka’s 22-man squad for the series, which was postponed in March after England returned home due to the COVID-19 pan-demic and will now be played in Galle without fans.

Sri Lanka suffered a spate of injuries during their two heavy defeats in South Africa and Dimuth Karunaratne’s side will also welcome back experi-enced batsman Dinesh Chan-dimal and pacemen Suranga Lakmal and Lahiru Kumara against England.

Batsman Dhananjaya de

Silva and fast bowler Kasun Rajitha were both ruled out against England after suffering injuries in South Africa.

Sri Lanka Squad: Dimuth Karunaratne

(captain), Kusal Janith Perera, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Oshada Fernando, Niroshan Dickwella, Minod Bhanuka, Lahiru Thirimanne, Lasith Embuldeniya, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, Dasun Shanaka, Asitha Fernando, Roshen Silva, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Ramesh Mendis

Coach: Micky Aurthur

Former Pakistan Test captain Waqar Younis (second left) is joined by retired players Ijaz Ahmed (left), Nadeem Khan (third left) and chief selector Mohammad Wasim at Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) headquarters in Lahore. Also seen are former skipper and coach Misbah Ul Haq (third right) and Saqlain Mushtaq (second right). Pic: @TheRealPCB

08THURSDAY 14 JANUARY 2021Sport

Indian world number 14

Kidambi Srikanth had

described tests conducted

at the event as

“unacceptable” in a tweet

that was accompanied by

an image of blood dripping

down his face following a

fourth mandatory test on

Tuesday.

PGA Tour: No fans at Riviera, no amateurs in Palm SpringsAP – HONOLULU

No fans in Los Angeles. No amateurs in Palm Springs. Those were the latest announcements on PGA Tour stops in California as golf heads back to the mainland next week.

The Genesis Invitational at Riviera on Feb. 18-21 was pre-dictable. COVID-19 cases are raging in the state with the nation’s largest population. California’s death toll reached 30,000 on Monday.

“Throughout our extensive planning, it became clear that due to the pandemic the best way to ensure the safety for all involved is to hold the tour-nament without spectators,” tournament director Mike Antolini said on Tuesday.

The first stop is next week in the California desert for The American Express, typically played over three courses and one of two tournaments that feature amateurs during the competition. The other is the

AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.It now will be played on

two courses at PGA West (Stadium Course and Nicklaus Tournament Course). The pro-am format for 54 holes, a part of the tournament since it began in 1960, has been

eliminated. It’s expected to return next year. There will be a Wednesday pro-am at The American Express, typical of regular events since last fall.

Even so, there are signs of improvement.

The Farmers Insurance

Open at Torrey Pines follows The American Express and will not have fans. Then it’s over to the Phoenix Open, which is planning for roughly 8,000 people a day - it usually draws in the neighborhood of 600,000 fans for the week

- and a single-story structure around the usually rowdy 16th hole.

Pebble Beach will have no fans but stick to its fabled amateur format, a blend of entertainers, Fortune 500 executives and athletes. Pebble at least as a small idea what to expect from having hosted a PGA Tour Champions event last fall.

“We’re forging ahead,” tournament director Steve John said.

John said Pebble Beach was adding vans to shuttle players, caddies and tournament per-sonnel to the three courses used in the rotation. He said the hard part was telling longtime volunteers - they come from all over the country for a week on the Monterey Peninsula - that their services are not needed.

The four tournament directors for the West Coast Swing stay in touch because they have a lot in common.

“We talk about what we’re

doing. Everyone is in the same boat, with limited access to the golf course,” John said.

The PGA Tour is working on plans for the World Golf Championship in Mexico City, which is not likely to be held this year without any fans allowed. And then it’s off to Florida and Texas in the five weeks leading to the Masters.

The Players Championship is planning for limited fans, though details are still in flux.

The Honda Classic, held after The Players this year, says it will have limited fans, but there will be room for them around the closing stretch and on the 18th green.

“We are the first really big tour to come out here and do this stuff, so I think we still need to watch ourselves on what we do and where we’re going to be going,” PGA champion Collin Morikawa said. “But for the most part, you know, slowly to start seeing fans, it’s going to be really exciting.”

Harden vents frustration with struggling RocketsREUTERS – HOUSTON

James Harden’s relationship with the Houston Rockets appears beyond repair after a second consecutive lopsided defeat left him venting his frustration with the team.

The Rockets (3-6) are second from bottom of the Western Conference fol-lowing Tuesday’s 117-100 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. They lost to the same team 120-102 on Sunday. Harden, the 2018 NBA MVP, has scored 20 points or fewer in each of the past four games -- his longest such stretch since 2011-12. Several reports in the lead-up to the season said Harden was seeking a trade from the Rockets, though the guard has batted away the speculation.

“I love this city. I literally have done everything that I can,” said Harden. “I

mean, this situation is crazy. It’s something that I don’t think can be fixed.”

The Rockets trailed by 30 points in the third quarter on Tuesday and Harden said they

were well short of the quality required to challenge the top teams.

“We’re not even close, honestly, to that team -- obvi-

o u s l y t h e d e f e n d i n g champions -- and all the other elite teams out there."

James keen to

avoid returning

to bubble lifeREUTERS – LOS ANGELES

LeBron James guided the Los Angeles Lakers to the NBA Championship inside a bio-secure environment in Orlando last year but says just the thought of being stuck inside a bubble again gives him the shakes.

The 2019-20 season was hit with a four-month delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was completed in October with teams competing in a bubble at Walt Disney World.

The Lakers captured a record-tying 17th NBA Championship on Oct. 12 with a victory over the Heat.

“Well the bubble was a success from a performance standpoint as far as our league getting back on,” James, whose side beat Houston Rockets 117-100 on Tuesday, told reporters.

“I haven’t thought about the bubble much after I left. You continue to give me PTSD every time you ask me about the bubble. I started shaking thinking about 96 straight nights in that place.” The NBA has told players to remain at their resi-dences when they are at home, and in hotels when on the road, for at least the next two weeks as part of its new health protocols.

The league postponed one game on Sunday and three this week due to the virus but has said it had no plans to put the season on hold. The current season has a reduced 72-game schedule.

NBA: Sixers slip past Heat, James shines in Lakers winAGENCIES – PHILADELPHIA

Joel Embiid scored 35 of his 45 points in the second half and overtime to lift the host Philadelphia 76ers past the Miami Heat 137-134.

Embiid was 13 of 13 from the free-throw line, including two with 8.9 seconds left in overtime, to go along with 16 rebounds, five steals and four assists. Danny Green tied a franchise record with nine 3-pointers on his way to 29 points, and he added 10 rebounds as the Sixers snapped a three-game losing streak.

Tyler Herro led the Heat with 34 points, Duncan Rob-inson added 26 and Gabe Vincent had a career-high 24. Precious Achiuwa con-tributed 17 points and 13 rebounds, and Kelly Olynyk had 15 points.

Both teams were without a number of key players, including the Sixers’ Tobias Harris, Seth Curry, Shake Milton and Matisse Thybulle and the Heat’s Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Goran Dragic and Kendrick Nunn, due to health and safety protocols.

Los Angeles Lakers 117 - Houston Rockets 100 LeBron James scored 22

of his game-high 26 points in the first half and Los Angeles posted its second runaway victory over the Rockets in as many games, rolling to a win in Houston. The Lakers led wire to wire while remaining perfect on the road, com-bining stingy defense with blistering perimeter shooting in the first quarter to build a 35-14 lead entering the second. James made 4 of 9 3-pointers and added eight rebounds and five assists. Five other Lakers joined James in double figures, with Anthony Davis posting 19 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots in just 29 minutes.

Christian Wood paired 18 points with eight rebounds while James Harden added 16 points, seven rebounds, and six assists for Houston. The Rockets continued their poor shooting from deep, fin-ishing 12 of 40 on 3-point attempts while shooting just 39.2 percent overall. Harden missed 5 of 6 treys and shot 5 of 16 overall.

Indiana Pacers 104 - Golden State Warriors 95

Myles Turner’s third 3-pointer of the game broke a late tie and Indiana went on to defeat Golden State in San Francisco.

Playing the second night of a back-to-back set, Indiana snapped a two-game losing streak by outfinishing the Warriors in a fourth quarter that featured six ties and three lead changes. Turner grabbed 12 rebounds, and Sabonis put up 18 points and a game-high 14 boards.

San Antonio Spurs 112 - Oklahoma City Thunder 102

Lonnie Walker IV scored 24 points to lead San Antonio to a victory at Oklahoma City.

San Antonio forced 13

Thunder turnovers, con-verting them into 26 points on the other end while Oklahoma City managed just two points off four Spurs turnovers. Keldon Johnson had 18 points for the Spurs and Patty Mills contributed 17. LaMarcus Aldridge con-tributed 13 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 20 points, going 7 of 10 from the field. Hamidou Diallo added 16 off the bench for Oklahoma City, which fell to 0-4 at home.

Brooklyn Nets 122 - Denver Nuggets 116

Kevin Durant totalled 34 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds as Brooklyn overcame an 18-point deficit to post a victory over Denver in New York.

Caris LeVert added 20 points and Bruce Brown con-tributed six of his 16 points in the fourth quarter, including a baseline 10-footer that snapped a 113-113 deadlock with 1:44 left. Joe Harris con-tributed 15 points for the Nets, who shot 60.8 percent in their fourth straight game

without Kyrie Irving (per-sonal reasons).

Nikola Jokic amassed 23 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds and seven steals for the Nuggets, who were out-scored 61-37 in the final 21-plus minutes. Will Barton hit six 3-pointers and added 22 points while Jamal Murray contributed 20 for the Nuggets, who shot 50 percent overall.

Utah Jazz 117 - Cleveland Cavaliers 87

Donovan Mitchell scored 27 points and Jordan Clarkson added 21 to lift visiting Utah to a victory over Cleveland.

Bojan Bogdanovic chipped in 20 points for the Jazz. Georges Niang added 14 points off the bench after scoring 13 total points in his first 10 games of the season. Mike Conley contributed 12 points, six rebounds and five assists.

BWF to ensure comfortable testing after player left with nosebleedREUTERS – BANGKOK

Badminton’s governing body (BWF) said yesterday it will work with Thai health authorities to ensure “comfortable” COVID-19 testing conditions at the Thailand Open after Indian shuttler Kidambi Srikanth was left with a bloody nose following a test.

The world number 14 had described tests con-ducted at the event as “unacceptable” in a tweet that was accompanied by an image of blood dripping down his face following a fourth mandatory test on Tuesday.

The BWF said Bad-minton Association of Thailand (BAT) had explained that Srikanth’s issue arose due to his most recent test “possibly causing irritation and fra-gility of the capillaries”.

“When the swab was repeated on Tuesday, and factoring in the athlete’s tense nature, the position of the stick in the nasal passage was misaligned, which caused the slight bleeding noticed from the tip of the swab,” BAT said in statement issued by BWF.

“The COVID-19 staff member didn’t notice bleeding from the athlete’s nose and there was no complaint from Kidambi... It’s not known whether he had blown his nose or stuck tissue up his nostrils which could have caused more blood vessels to rupture.”

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James

drives with the ball during the game against

Houston Rockets.

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Brooklyn Nets power forward Kevin Durant dunks against Denver

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Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a shot as spectators watch during Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club in this February 15, 2020 file photo. This year's Genesis Invitational will be held from February 18-21 without spectators, the organisers have announced.