10
Dimapur
SPORTS
Saturday 23 August 2014
The Morung Express
5 things to know about the Spanish league
BARCELONA, August 22 (AP): The Spanish league opens this weekend with the three main title contenders - Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, and Barcelona- all facing smaller clubs they will be expected to beat. Defending champion Atletico Madrid has the most challenging matchup, playing at Rayo Vallecano, while the two traditional powerhouses start the competition at home. The new season features a number of high-profile signings for the top clubs and several coaching debuts. Here are five things to know about the first round of the Spanish league, which kicks off with Athletic Bilbao at Malaga on Saturday: BULLISH BARCELONA Barcelona can't wait to put this summer behind it and start playing football. This week, Barcelona lost its appeal against FIFA's one-year transfer ban for violating rules regarding the signing of youth players. It also had the delicate task of presenting Luis Suarez after it signed the hot-headed Uruguay forward despite his latest suspension for biting an opponent, which will sideline him until Oct. 25. Now the club is eager to erase last season's failure to win a major trophy for the first time in six seasons. Barcelona hosts Elche on Sunday at Camp Nou. It will be the debut of several other new players, like Ivan Rakit-
Atletico can't compete with Real, Barca: Simeone
MAdRid, August 22 (iANs): Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone insists that despite its winning success last season, it's impossible for the team to compete against economic powerhouses FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. Last season saw Simeone lead Atletico to the BBVA Primera Liga title and to the final of the Champions League, where they were seconds away from a historic win over Real Madrid, reports Xinhua. Tuesday saw Atletico draw 1-1 at the Santiano Bernabeu Stadium in the first leg of the Spanish Supercup against Real, a result which makes them favourites to lift the first domestic trophy this season, however, speaking ahead of Friday's return Real's Karim Benzema from France, centre, competes with Atletico's Gabi, left, and Atletico's Joao Miranda, from Brazil, right,leg, Simeone repeated his during a Spanish Supercup first leg soccer match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu stadiummantra that the 'big two' were favourites to sweep in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, August 19. (AP Photo) ic, and coach Luis Enrique, a former player brought back to get the most out of a highly talented squad that fell short last campaign. "When you start a season your hope is renewed," said Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano. "Our obligation is to fight for all the titles we can."
playing in Spain's third division. Now, after a spectacular rise inspired by coach Gaizka Garitano, the tiny club is set to play its first game in the top flight in its 74-year-old history. Eibar hosts Real Sociedad in a Basque Country derby on Sunday at its Ipurua Stadium, which has a capacity ITTY-BITTY EIBAR of just 5,200 spectators. "It Two years ago Eibar was will be a new experience for
everyone," said Eibar goalkeeper Xabier Irureta. "We want the day to finally get here when we play Real (Sociedad). There will be a lot of partying." SUPERCUP STRAGGLERS Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will not player their respective matches until Monday in order to give them an extra day of
rest after they play the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup on Friday. Madrid has only won the league once in the last six seasons and launches its bid to change that against promoted club Cordoba. New arrivals James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos could get their Spanish league debuts. Rodriguez scored in his first official
game at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Tuesday in the first leg of the Super Cup, which the teams drew 1-1. Cordoba is coached by former Barcelona and Chelsea player Albert Ferrer. ALMOST FORGOTTEN With all the hype generated by the transfer activity at Barcelona and Real Madrid this offseason, it's
the board this time around, despite matching the duo in the transfer market over the summer. "We are putting the finishing touches to the squad and the team has changed, especially in attack," he said Thursday. "I see this season as starting from scratch because the team is different. (Mario) Mandzukic, (Raul) Jimenez and (Antoine) Griezmann are different players than (the departed) (Diego) Costa, (David) Villa and Adrian (Lopez). We have held on to the solid base on which the team is built, but we are looking for the style that best fits what we have," he said, dismissing his club's title hopes. "Atletico are the champions, but the players are not the same. We are in a different league to Barcelona and Madrid because the money spent on new play-
ers is a direct result of other players being sold," he said, adding that "nothing," had changed in regard to Real Madrid and Barca. "We do not have a financial structure that lets us spend 80 million on one player, we've spent almost 100 million on everybody," he explained, before comparing Atletico to their main rivals. "(Leo) Messi, Neymar and (Luis) Suarez are three of the five best players in the world, and Real Madrid have brought in James (Rodriguez) and Toni Kroos, while (Gareth) Bale is much stronger now and they have improved over the last year." "I understand our fans want to repeat the success of last season but they should remember that last year was the first time we'd won the league for 18 years and its not something we can win every year," he concluded.
easy to forget that Atletico is still the team to dethrone in La Liga. Diego Simeone's team opens its title defense at crosstown rival Rayo Vallecano on Monday night.
manager, Portuguese Nuno Espirito Santo, who has to take his team to Europa League champion Sevilla. Other managers to debut are Sergio Gonzalez for Espanyol, Joaquin Caparros for Granada, Jose Mendilibar for Levante, Javi Gracia for Malaga, Eduardo Berizzo for Celta Vigo and Victor Fernandez for the promoted Deportivo La Coruna.
BRING IN THE COACHES Eight coaches will make their debut for their new teams this weekend. The toughest introduction will likely be for Valencia's new
Squads named for 2014 Phelps 4th in 1st final back at international meet Champions League T20 NEw dELhi, August 22 (AgENCiEs): The 12 teams competing in the 2014 Champions League Twenty20 have named their 15-man squads for the start of the lucrative tournament on September 13. Twelve teams will be entered into the qualifying stage from September 13 to 16, from which ten teams will progress to the group stage September 17 to October 4. The top two sides from each group will then contest the semi-finals, to be held in Hyderabad on October 2. The final will he played in Bangalore on October 4. Group A comprises current IPL winners Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, Perth Scorchers and Dolphins and one qualifier while Group B is made up of losing IPL 7 finalists Kings XI Punjab, Cape Cobras, Hobart Hurricances, Barbados Tridents and the other qualifier. The four teams attempting to qualify are Lahore Lions, Mumbai Indians, Northern Knights and Southern Express. The winners will pick up a cheque worth $US 2.5 million and a total of $US 6 million prize money is available for the tournament. As many as eight international players have opted to represent their IPL franchise over their domestic teams. They are Corey Anderson, Lasith Malinga and Kieron Pollard (Mumbai Indians), George Bailey and David Miller, (Kings XI Punjab), Jacques Kallis and Pat Cummins (Kolkata Knight Riders) and Dwayne Smith (Chennai Super Kings). "Like previous seasons, players who have been named by more than one team have been asked to nominate which side they are going to represent. Players are free to make any decision they wish. Teams are then allowed to replace any player that has withdrawn from their squad and elected to play for another side," said CLT20 governing council member Dean Kino. "CLT20 regulations state that when a player elects to play for their 'away' team, that team must pay the 'home' team $150,000 compensation per player. A 'home' team is classified as a team from the country a player is eligible to represent in international cricket."
FULL SqUAdS
Jonathan David Vandiar, Keshav Athmanand Maharaj, Prenelan Subrayen, Cameron Scott Delport, Andile Lucky Phehlukwayo, Bongumusa Sibonelo Makhanya. BARBAdOS TRIdENTS: Shane Dowrich, Jeevan Mendis, Jason Holder, Ashley Nurse, Jonathan Carter, Neil Mckenzie, Akeal Hosein, Ravi Rampaul, Rayad Emrit, Raymon Reifer, Kyle Mayers, William Perkins, James Franklin, Elton Chigumbura, Dilshan Munaweera LAHORE LIONS: Mohammed Hafeez, Ahmad Shahzad, Umar Siddique Khan, Muhammad Umar Akmal, Nasir Jamshaid, Muhammad Salman Ali, Asif Raza, Muhammad Mustafa Iqbal, Wahab Riaz, Aizaz Bin Ilyas Cheema, Imran Ali, Saad Naseem, Adnan Rasool, Muhammad Saeed, Ali Manzoor. HOBART HURRICANES: Tim Paine, Jon Wells, Evan Gulbis, Xavier Doherty, Ben Hilfenhaus, Dom Michael, Sam Rainbird, Travis Birt, Doug Bollinger, Aiden Blizzard, Cameron Boyce, Joe Mennie, Ben Laughlin, Ben Dunk, Shoaib Malik. SOUTHERN ExPRESS: Kusal Janith Perera, Danushka Gunatilake, Angelo Perera, Jehan Mubarak, Niroshan Dickwella, Dilruwan Perara, Prasanna Seekuge, Ishan Jayaratne, Farvees Maharoof, Kasun Madushanka, Yasoda Lanka, Charith Jayampathi, Sachith Pathirana, Sandaken Lakshen, Dilshan T.M. CAPE COBRAS: Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Justin Kemp, Rory Kleinveldt, Charl Langeveldt, Richard Levi, Aviwe Mgijima, Justin Ontong, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt, Zakhele Qwabe, Omphile Ramela, Stiaan Van Zyl, Dane Vilas. KINGS xI PUNjAB: George Bailey, Thisara Perera, Mitchell Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, David Miller, Akshar Rajesh Patel, Karanveer Singh, Lakshmipathy Balaji, Manan Vohra, Mandeep Singh, Rishi Dhawan, Virender Sehwag, Wriddhiman Saha, Anureet Singh, Parvinder Awana.
CHENNAI SUPER KINGS: MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Ashish Nehra, Mithun Manhas, R Ashwin, Ishwar Pandey, Pawan Negi, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohit Sharma, Dwayne Smith, Dwayne Bravo, John Hastings, Brendon McCullum, Samuel Badree, Francois Du Plessis.
MUMBAI INdIANS: Rohit Sharma, Harbhajan Singh, Ambati Rayudu, Pragyan Ojha, Praveen Kumar, Aditya Tare, Jalaj Saxena, Jasprit Bumrah, Shreyas Gopal, Mike Hussey, Kieron Pollard, Corey Anderson, Lasith Malinga, Marchant De Lange, Lendl Simmons.
KOLKATA KNIGHT RIdERS: Gautam Gambhir, Yusuf Pathan, Robin Uthappa, Piyush Chawla, Ranganath Vinay Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Manish Pandey, Suryakumar Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Sunil Narine, Jacques Kallis, Ryan Ten Doeschate, Morne Morkel, Patrick Cummins, Andre Russell.
NORTHERN KNIGHTS: Ish Sodhi, Jono Boult, Brad Wilson, Kane Williamson, Daniel Flynn, BJ Watling, Graeme Aldridge, Anton Devcich, Tim Southee, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Daniel Harris, Scott Styris, Trent Boult, Daniel Vettori.
dOLPHINS: Daryn Smit, Daryn Miles Dupavillon, Cody Chetty, Vaughn Bernard Van Jaarsveld, Khayelihle Zondo, Robert Frylinck, Morne Nico Van Wyk, Kyle John Abbott, Craig John Alexander,
PERTH SCORCHERS: Ashton Agar, Yasir Arafat, Michael Beer, Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Hilton Cartwright, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Brad Hogg, Simon Mackin, Mitchell Marsh, Joel Paris, Craig Simmons, Ashton Turner, Adam Voges, Sam Whiteman.
Michael Phelps of the U.S. runs to get out of the rain while wearing his gold medal won in the men's 4 x 100-meter freestyle relay, following the end of competition on day 2 of the Pan Pacific swimming championships in Gold Coast, Australia, Friday, Aug. 22. (AP Photo)
gOLd COAst, August 22 (AP): Michael Phelps placed fourth in his first international final since coming out of retirement, with Cameron McEvoy upstaging the most decorated swimmer of all time to take the 100-meter freestyle title at the Pan Pacific championships. The 20-year-old McEvoy of Australia won in 47.82 seconds in rainy conditions Friday night at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre's outdoor pool, edging Olympic champion Nathan Adrian of the United States into second place at 48.30 and world champion James Magnussen into third at 48.36. "What more could I ask for?" McEvoy said. "I just felt great the whole way. It was an honor to be in a race with such great men - so much those guys have accomplished. It's just good to be there." Adrian said he wasn't surprised by McEvoy's win, saying competition is intense in the 100 freestyle. "It's silly to think that it's just going to be James and I winning every time," he said. "It's definitely not a two-man game anymore." Phelps, the 18-time Olympic gold medalist, opened his program in the morning heats and qualified third fastest, and went
marginally slower at 48.51 in the night final. He was swimming a freestyle relay later Friday, and has butterfly and medley events over the weekend as he seeks to qualify for next year's world championships and the 2016 Olympics. Australian sisters Cate and Bronte Campbell finished 1-2 in the women's 100 free, with Simone Manuel earning her first international individual medal when she held off US teammate Missy Franklin for bronze. Cate Campbell swam the fastest time of the year to qualify fastest for the final in 52.62 seconds, and went a shade slower to win the gold at 52.72. In the earlier 100 breaststroke finals, former 50 breaststroke world champion Jess Hardy won her first Pan Pac title over the 100 when she touched in 1 minute, 7.74 seconds, beating Kanako Watanabe of Japan by four-hundredths of a second. Japan's Yasuhiro Koseki won the men's gold medal in 59.62, edging Brazil's Felipe Silva and New Zealander Glenn Snyders into second and third. American swimmer Kevin Cordes was disqualified for removing his goggles during the race.
Djokovic, Federer favored for grand slam sequel
NEw YORK, August 22 (REutERs): Top seed Novak Djokovic and number two Roger Federer are favored to wage another title showdown in the last grand slam of 2014, although some emerging young guns have other ideas for the U.S. Open starting on Monday. Djokovic and Federer's path to a championship clash could be less troubled than usual with the absence of last year’s winner Rafa Nadal due to a wrist injury, and the subpar form of 2012 champion Andy Murray since last year’s back surgery. If the leading men star in the Arthur Ashe Stadium final, it would provide a sequel to their five-set thriller at the All England Club in which a teary-eyed Djokovic hoisted the Wimbledon trophy. Both claim to be overdue for another taste of triumph at Flushing Meadows. Djokovic counts just one U.S. title (2011) in his haul of seven grand slams despite reaching the Flushing Meadows final in each of the last four years and five times overall. Federer, 33, has five successive U.S. Open
crowns from 2004 but has gone without since. He extended his grand slam title record collection to 17 by winning the 2012 Wimbledon, which stands as his only slam triumph in his last 18 tries. Lying in wait for another chance to spring a surprise and trumpet their arrival on the main stage are promising players who made a big splash in London. Seeded fifth is hardserving Canadian Milos Raonic, a Wimbledon semi-finalist along with fellow 23-year-old Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, seeded seventh in Flushing Meadows, where girlfriend Maria Sharapova will likely be seen cheer-
ing him on. Also hoping to follow up the fireworks he set off at the last major is 19-yearold Australian Nick Kyrgios, who ousted Nadal in the fourth round before falling to Raonic in the quarters at Wimbledon. Among the veterans, Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland is seeded third ahead of Spaniard David Ferrer, with Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic at number six, two places ahead of Murray, who has shown hints of a return to form of late. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France, who beat Federer in the Rogers Cup final in Toronto, holds the ninth seed while Japan’s Kei Ni-
shikori rounds out the top 10 seeds. Family Men T h e 2 7 - y e a r- o l d Djokovic has made some life changes since his last appearance in New York, joining Federer as a family man four days after his Wimbledon triumph when he married childhood sweetheart Jelena Ristic, who is expecting their first child. The honeymoon, however, may have affected the Serbian’s preparation as the outstanding hard court player, who owns four Australian Open titles on the surface, has had a lackluster run-up to the Open with a pair of fourth-round exits this summer.
World number one Djokovic has a long way to go to catch Federer both on the grand slam wins chart and on the family front. In May, Federer’s wife, Mirka, gave birth to their second set of twins. Leo and Lenny were born almost five years after the arrival of twin sisters Myla Rose and Charlene Riva. Federer has enjoyed strong results this hard court season as runner-up in Toronto and champion in Cincinnati, and the absence of Nadal should improve his chances of getting back to the winner’s circle. Nadal has been like Kryptonite to Federer, who has lost nine of their 11 career meetings in grand slams and trails in their overall head-to-head by 23-10. Djokovic and Federer have had a much closer ledger with each player winning six times in their grand slam encounters and the Swiss holding a scant 18-17 edge in career meetings. Federer has won three tournament titles in 2014, bringing his impressive career haul to 80 victories, while the Serbian has claimed four tournaments this year for 45 career tour wins.