SPORTS Friday, 12 December, 2014
IndIa beat belgIum to meet PakIstan In ChamPIons troPhy semIs a BHuBAneSwAR agencieS
RCH-RIVALS India and Pakistan set up a potentially explosive semi-final clash in the Champions Trophy field hockey after recording identical 4-2 wins over fancied opponents on Thursday. Hosts India, the former masters of the game lying ninth in the rankings, fought back from a 0-2 deficit to beat number four Belgium in front of a packed house of 7,000 in the eastern city of Bhubaneswar. Eleventh-ranked Pakistan bounced back from three successive defeats in the preliminary league to stun number two the Netherlands 4-2 after Muhammad Irfan slammed in two quick penalty corners in the fourth quarter. Olympic champions Germany will meet world number one Australia in Saturday’s other semi-final. The Germans knocked England out
of the race with a 2-0 win and Australia, chasing what would be an incredible sixth successive title, ousted Argentina 4-2 in other quarter-final matches. Pakistan, winless against the Dutch in their last 12 Champions Trophy meetings since 1998, had suffered a humiliating 2-8 thrashing by England four days ago. But the tournament format, which gave all eight teams a place in the knockout rounds irrespective of the results in the league, helped Pakistan turn their fortunes around in dramatic style. With the scores tied at 2-2 till the 50th minute, Pakistan seized the opportunity when Belgian Sander Baart was sent off with a yellow card and Irfan struck twice in quick succession to hand his team a shock win. Pakistan coach Shahnaz Sheikh said the win over the Dutch, who had lost to India in their last league match, did not surprise him. “We had studied them very carefully and we had found the right combination in our league games,” the former
international said. “This is a very important win for us and hopefully we will continue to shine in the semi-final. And I am glad we are playing India in the semifinal because the success of Asian teams is good for the health of hockey.” The match will be a repeat of the Asian Games final in Incheon, South Korea in October, which India won in a penalty shoot-out to gain a direct entry into the 2016 Olympics. Belgium led 2-0 lead by the 18th minute, but scores were level at half-time as India hit back through Rupinder Singh and Sannu Uthappa. Backed by a boisterous home crowd, India picked up the pace and were rewarded with a goal in each of the last two quarters, the scorers being Akashdeep Singh and Dharamveer Singh. “Today’s game showed we are improving all the time,” said Dutchman Roelant Oltmans, who is India’s high performance director and acting coach following the resignation of Australian Terry Walsh.
Asif, Hamza bow out WEEKLEY HOLDS OFF SCOT as Sajjad progresses WITH TWO-STROKE LEAD AgenCIeS
KARACHI: Staff RepoRt
Matters continue to go from bad to worse for former IBSF World Champion Muhammad Asif, as he was knocked out by Rambail Gul in the quarter-finals of the Langnese Ranking Snooker Championship after a 5-1 defeat here at the NBP Sports Complex. The first three frames of the match were closely contested by the two players, but Rambail managed to resist Asif’s aggression, which laid foundation for his surprise victory with scores of 70-61, 51-42, 66-59, 80-17,
36-74 and 69-22. Asif has not been able to repeat the top performances for which he is known for in the last several championships. Meanwhile, Hamza Akbar – touted as the next big player by the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) – also went down 5-1 against experienced cueist Imran Shehzad, who won with a scoreline of 68-30, 08-75, 76-19, 90-43, 64-26 and 64-17. “It’s really shocking how both Asif and Hamza have crashed out in the event,” said a senior PBSA official. “Asif has been a former world champion and top perform-
ances are expected from him. On the other hand, Hamza has been given around six international tournaments in the last 12 months and was even preferred over Imran in the IBSF World Championship, but he hasn’t lived up to the expectations.” Abdul Sattar beat Muhammad Majid Ali 5-1, while Muhammad Sajjad defeated Sultan Muhammad 5-4 by scores of 09-64, 6559, 102-14(81), 66-43, 0-75, 48-76, 04-66, 105-27(105) and 69-27. In the semi-finals, Sajjad will take on Imran while Rambail will lock horns with Sattar in a best-of-11 frames matches.
NEW ZEALAND LOOK TO BOUNCE BACK IN SHARJAH SHARJAH New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said his team had the capacity to bounce back against Pakistan in the second oneday international in Sharjah on Friday. Pakistan overcame early batting jitters in the first one-day to win by three wickets in Dubai on Monday for a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. But Williamson, leading the side in the absence of regular captain Brendon McCullum who left for home to prepare for the series against Sri Lanka, hoped his team learn from mistakes made in the first game. “It’s important to bounce back,” said Williamson on Thursday. “We have done that in the past and in the Test and Twenty20 series on this tour.” New Zealand staged a remarkable comeback to level the three-match Test series 1-1 after losing the first game and drawing the second and also had a come from behind parity in the two-match Twenty20 series. All-rounder Corey Anderson, who was
American Boo Weekley fired a six-underpar 66 to hold a two-stroke lead after the opening round of the Australian PGA Championship on the Gold Coast on Thursday. The three-time US PGA Tour winner topped the leaderboard following a rain-affected first day at Royal Pines, where half the players are yet to complete their opening rounds. Weekley led a group of five players on four-under including defending champion and world number three Adam Scott. He carded five birdies, a bogey and an eagle around the revamped Royal Pines course. Scott also made eagle yesterday at the par-five 15th and was happy to notch the first under-par first round of his Australian swing of tournaments. He is joined at four-under by several players including youngster James Marchesani and Korean Jin Jeong, who was through 12 holes when play was called off as a storm rolled in.
REAL MADRID AIM TO CONTINUE ‘GLORIOUS’ RUN MADRID agencieS
La Liga leaders Real Madrid will look to make it 20 consecutive victories in all competitions as they travel to managerless Almeria today for their final league outing of the year. The European champions head off to Morocco next week to contest the Club World Cup and will be keen to keep their fine run going into 2015.
After downing Celta Vigo last weekend, a comfortable 4-0 victory over Ludogorets Razgrad in midweek saw Los Blancos beat the previous Spanish record of 18, a figure set by Barcelona in the 2005-2006 season. Real became only the sixth side to go through the group stage with a clean sweep of victories in the Champions League – they are the only side to do it twice – and their fine form is delighting boss Carlo Ancelotti. “It is a result we
hit by a bouncer in the first Twenty20, and opener Martin Guptill, who sustained a hamstring injury which forced him to miss the first one-dayer, will be assessed early Friday. Williamson said it would be enjoyable to bowl again after being cleared over an illegal bowling action on Tuesday. “It’s nice be back as a bowler,” said Williamson, whose team failed to defend a 247-run target after having Pakistan reeling at 124-6. Haris Sohail (85 not out) and Shahid Afridi (61) led Pakistan’s recovery during their 110-run stand for the seventh wicket. Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq admitted New Zealand can be dangerous. “New Zealand is playing good cricket and they have improved a lot in the last two to three years and the way they have played on this tour we have to be at our best to win against them,” said Misbah. Misbah hoped his pace bowlers deliver once more. “Given the conditions our fast bowlers did well in the first game despite little support from the pitch and I hope they continue to bowl like that,” said Misbah. Published by Arif Nizami at Plot No 79, Sector 24, Korangi Industrial Area Karachi.
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have achieved with extraordinary seriousness and an incredible amount of professionalism,” said Ancelotti. “It is not easy preparing for each game with the same levels of motivation and eagerness that these players are showing. I know that I have an extraordinary group of players.” Ronaldo enjoying perfect start to season Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 28th goal of the season and his 72nd overall in the Champions League on Tuesday and will look to continue his lethal form in front of goal as they visit an Almeria side who have not won in the league since September. Monday’s 5-2 thrashing at the hands of Eibar finally cost Francisco Rodriguez his job with the Andalusians only above the relegation zone on goal difference. Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Isco and Toni Kroos were the only first team regulars not handed the night off by Ancelotti in midweek, so the likes of Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema are set to return. James Rodriguez will be missing, though, as the World Cup’s top goalscorer joins fellow midfielders Luka Modric and Sami Khedira on the sidelines after picking up a calf injury against Celta last weekend that is likely to see him miss the rest of the year. Should Madrid continue their irresistible form, the pressure will be on Barcelona when they visit Getafe on Saturday looking to remain within two points off the league leaders.