Westwood leads in Dubai, McIlroy struggles

Updated 17 November 2016
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Westwood leads in Dubai, McIlroy struggles

DUBAI: Lee Westwood made light of his regular caddie’s absence to post a six under par 66 and lead the DP World Tour Championship by one shot on Thursday as Rory McIlroy struggled.
The Englishman’s long-time bagman Billy Foster has been advised to rest his injured knee, but that did not affect the world 47, who is looking for his first win of the year.
He started the opening round with three birdies on the front nine, and made another four on the back along with a bogey on the 12th hole.
Julien Quesne of France and Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium were a stroke behind the inaugural 2009 champion at Dubai’s Earth course of Jumeirah Golf Estates.
“Billy normally thinks for me,” said Westwood. “I probably have to do more this week, think a little bit more, which is probably a good thing,” added Westwood when asked about having someone new on his bag.
“Obviously a different caddie doesn’t know my game. He’s only had one round on the bag. He’s sort of making it up as he goes along.
“I have full confidence in him, and his yardages and the way he reads the wind and stuff like that. Put my game to his information.”
Spain’s Sergio Garcia made a late double bogey, on the par-4 16th hole, to fall to four-under par 68, tied fourth alongside Joost Luiten and Francesco Molinari.
With none of the four players contesting the Race to Dubai crown managing to get a fast start, Sweden’s Henrik Stenson remained the favorite despite a poor round of 72 by his standards.
But world No2 McIlroy had an even bigger shocker, recording his first over-par round in the tournament, a three-over 75.
Danny Willett, who needs to finish inside the top-5 to have any chance of beating Stenson to the European No1 honor, shot a one-under par 71, which matched Alex Noren’s effort.
Willet and Noren are ranked second and third in the Race to Dubai at the start of the final week of the European Tour season.
Stenson, who made just one birdie and one bogey, said: “You know, the couple of good putts didn’t go in, and of course, the bad ones normally don’t find the bottom of the cup.
“I stayed out of trouble most of the day but nothing too exciting either to play or to watch. Hopefully, I can turn that around and play a better round tomorrow.”
McIlroy, who made three birdies and a double bogey in his last five holes, did not speak to the media. He was whisked away for random dope test following the round.
Westwood meanwhile was delighted with the way he played in tough scoring conditions on a day when only 32 players managed to break par.
“This is as good as I’ve played for quite some time. I’ve found a couple of keys in different parts of my game and I’ve been working on them hard. All came together today.”


Winners of women’s and men’s taekwondo events crowned at Saudi Games

Updated 15 sec ago
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Winners of women’s and men’s taekwondo events crowned at Saudi Games

  • Ethar Hayyan and Dunya Abu Talib took gold in the women’s 49 kg and 57 kg categories, respectively
  • In the men’s competitions, Riyadh Hamdi claimed gold in the 58 kg category and Mohammed Al-Suwaig in the 80 kg

RIYADH: The winners of the 57 kg and 49 kg categories of the women’s taekwondo competition at the 2024 Saudi Games, and the 80 kg and 58 kg categories of the men’s, were decided on Tuesday at Boulevard 2 in Riyadh.

Ethar Hayyan from AlUla won gold in the 49 kg women’s category, beating silver-medalist Rahma Al-Khawaher of Al-Qadisiyah in the final. Losing semi-finalists Sahaf Al-Shammari from AlUla and Fatima Awad from Al-Raed each received a bronze medal.

In the 57 kg women’s category, Dunya Abu Talib of Al-Qadisiyah took gold, Lujain Attiyah of Al-Shabab received silver, and Layan Al-Muhammadi of Herra and Wijdan Al-Atwi of Al-Ittihad claimed bronze.

In the men’s 58 kg category, Riyadh Hamdi of Al-Qadisiyah was the gold-medal winner, with Abdulilah Asiri of Abha taking silver, and Fahd Al-Sumaih of Al-Shabab and Muadh Mohammed of Al-Faisaly receiving bronze.

Mohammed Al-Suwaig from Al-Shabab triumphed in the 80 kg men’s category, ahead of Mohammed Othman, also of Al-Shabab, and Majed Mabrouk from Al-Hilal, who grabbed silver and bronze respectively.

The women’s prizes were presented by the CEO of the Saudi Games, Princess Dilayl Bint Nahar. The men received their medals from Ahmad Al-Muqayrin, a board member of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and Brig. Gen. Shadad Al-Omari, president of the Saudi Taekwondo Federation.


Ronaldo frustrated as Scotland hold Portugal

Updated 16 October 2024
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Ronaldo frustrated as Scotland hold Portugal

GLASGOW: Scotland frustrated Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in a 0-0 draw at Hampden on Tuesday to avoid losing five consecutive competitive games for the first time ever.
The home side needed a wonder save from Craig Gordon to deny Bruno Fernandes a winner in the closing stages, but held out to secure their first point in the top tier of the Nations League.
Portugal remain on top of Group A1 but were made to wait to book their place in March’s quarter-finals.
On his 216th international appearance, Ronaldo made his 200th start for his country, more than 21 years on from his first.
However, the 39-year-old failed to add to his 133 Portugal goals and stormed off the field at full-time ranting at the officials.
Scotland have won just one of their last 16 games — a 2-0 friendly victory over Gibraltar in June — and remain without a victory in a competitive match for over a year.
But Steve Clarke’s men battled hard to stop the rot in Glasgow.
Scotland even had the best chance of the first half inside the opening five minutes when Scott McTominay headed too close to Diogo Costa from point-blank range.
Portugal quickly took control of possession without creating clear-cut chances.
Francisco Conceicao spooned over early in the second period from Ronaldo’s lay-off.
Ronaldo then fired inches wide after making himself room for a shot amid a flurry of desperate challenges from Scottish defenders.
But it was Fernandes who had the best chance to claim all three points when the Manchester United captain’s powerful low strike was brilliantly parried by Gordon and collected at the second attempt by the 41-year-old goalkeeper.
Scotland are still on course for relegation from the top tier of the Nations League as they trail Poland, who drew 3-3 with Croatia, by three points with two games remaining.
Croatia sit second, three points behind the Portuguese, who they host next month.


More World Cup woe as Saudi Arabia draw a blank against Bahrain

Updated 15 October 2024
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More World Cup woe as Saudi Arabia draw a blank against Bahrain

  • Earlier, Australia had drawn 1-1 with leaders Japan in Saitama
  • Salem Al-Dawsari’s saved penalty proves costly

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia were held to a 0-0 draw by Bahrain in Jeddah on Tuesday in another disappointing performance and result in the third round of qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

A first-half missed penalty from Salem Al-Dawsari — his second in four games in Group C — proved costly and meant that the Green Falcons failed to climb above Australia into second place.

The Socceroos had earlier drawn 1-1 with leaders Japan in Saitama, to move on to five points, one above Saudi Arabia and five behind the Samurai Blue.

The match had given Roberto Mancini’s men the chance to move two points above Australia into second ahead of their meeting in Melbourne next month, but after collecting only one point now from two home games in Jeddah in the space of five days, the heat is on the Italian head coach.

In reality this was another plodding performance, albeit against well-organized, hard-working and physically strong opponents. There were few moments of quality and few chances.

Saudi Arabia started brightly, however, with Firas Al-Buraikan forcing an early save from Ebrahim Lutfalla after some smart attacking interplay, but there was an even bigger chance before long.

There was a lengthy VAR delay in the 13th minute as Marwan Al-Sahafi went down in the area under a challenge from Abdulla Al-Khalasi. After almost three minutes the referee, who had not originally pointed to the spot, went to the pitchside monitor and, almost inevitably, changed his decision. It looked like the right one and it gave Al-Dawsari the opportunity to settle the nerves at the King Abdullah Sports City and banish memories of his miss against Indonesia in the opening game that ended in a 1-1 draw.

The 2022 Asian Player of the Year also had to take his time and it was almost six minutes after the initial foul when he took the kick. It was not the best of penalties and Lutfalla stood his ground and then made a diving save to his left. The feeling of energy leaving the stadium was palpable.

It took the hosts some time to get going again and they could even have been behind at the break.

Bahrain’s best chance in the first half came in the seventh minute of added time as Al-Khalasi almost redeemed himself for giving away the penalty but, from the left corner of the area, his low shot was well-blocked by Ahmed Al-Kassar. The goalkeeper was in action moments later too, flying through the air to push away a ball that had come off the head of Al-Buraikan.

The Green Falcons had some half-chances early in the second half and had a rare opportunity with 11 minutes remaining. Abdullah Radif ran into the area and made space for himself, only to shoot tamely into the arms of the grateful Lutfalla.

Bahrain had to work even harder after 87 minutes when they were reduced to 10 men, the visitors having used all their substitutes before Sayed Hashim Isa went off injured.

Given the 11 minutes of added time, there was still hope for Saudi Arabia, especially after Al-Dawsari went down in the area under a challenge from the goalkeeper. The referee was not interested in the penalty, however, and, this time, neither was VAR.

Musab Al-Juwayr sent an enticing low cross into the six-yard box in the 101st minute but there was no one able to connect to win the game.

That was that, and only one team were celebrating at the final whistle and it was not Saudi Arabia.

To compound his misery, Mancini appeared to exchange words with angry fans as he left the pitch following the end of the match. There is a lot of work to do.


Bangladesh fires cricket coach for allegedly assaulting a player at World Cup

Updated 15 October 2024
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Bangladesh fires cricket coach for allegedly assaulting a player at World Cup

  • The board has served notice to the Sri Lankan and suspended him for 48 hours after which his contract will be terminated
  • Hathurusinghe, who has made no public comment, will be replaced by former West Indies cricketer Phil Simmons as head coach

DHAKA: The Bangladesh Cricket Board fired national team coach Chandika Hathurusinghe on Tuesday for allegedly assaulting one of his players during last year’s 50-over World Cup in India.
“Hathurusinghe has two counts of misconduct,” BCB president Faruque Ahmed said Tuesday. “First is about an assault on a player. Secondly, he took too many leaves, more than what was in his contract.”
Ahmed said the board served notice to the Sri Lankan and suspended him for 48 hours after which his contract will be terminated.
“His suspension is for a 48-hour notice period, which we are not bound to give him, but we did it out of courtesy as he is an international figure,” Ahmed said. “We have suspended him, and with immediate effect afterwards he will be terminated.”
Former West Indies cricketer Phil Simmons, who has led Zimbabwe, Ireland, West Indies and Afghanistan as head coach in the past, will replace Hathurusinghe until the Champions Trophy in February next year.
The board did not give details of the alleged assault with some media reports saying Hathurusinghe had hit the player in question.
“The victim is not very comfortable about it, I will not mention his name,” Ahmed said. “This incident shouldn’t have happened.”
Ahmed also said Hathurusinghe’s absences exceeded three months, which “is also large part of his misconduct.”
“He informed us in a scattered way, in one or two emails, that he has to go home,” Ahmed said. “It can’t be for more than three months … so there was a serious breach in that regard.”
Hathurusinghe was appointed Bangladesh coach last year. Bangladesh recorded its most significant away win in test history when it routed Pakistan 2-0 in the two-match series. But soon after Bangladesh crashed to a 2-0 test series defeat in India and also lost the T20 series 3-0 last month.
Hathurusinghe has made no public comment.


Kylian Mbappe’s representatives say reports footballer faces rape probe are ‘false’ and a ‘slanderous rumor’

Updated 15 October 2024
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Kylian Mbappe’s representatives say reports footballer faces rape probe are ‘false’ and a ‘slanderous rumor’

  • Swedish public broadcaster SVT and dailies Expressen and Aftonbladet, citing unnamed sources, reported that Mbappe, 25, was a suspect in the case
  • Mbappe’s representatives at PR firm Patricia Goldman said: “These accusations are totally false and irresponsible, and their propagation is unacceptable”

STOCKHOLM/PARIS: Allegations of rape against French footballer Kylian Mbappe are “totally false” and “a slanderous rumor,” his representatives said on Tuesday, following media reports that he was the subject of an investigation over an incident in a Stockholm hotel on Oct. 10.
Swedish prosecutors confirmed in a statement in response to the media coverage that a probe into an alleged rape at a hotel in central Stockholm had been opened, but did not identify a suspect.
Swedish public broadcaster SVT and dailies Expressen and Aftonbladet, citing unnamed sources, reported that Mbappe, 25, was a suspect in the case.
“A new slanderous rumor is starting to ignite the web,” a statement sent to Reuters by Mbappe’s representatives at PR firm Patricia Goldman said. “These accusations are totally false and irresponsible, and their propagation is unacceptable.
“Kylian Mbappe will under no circumstances tolerate his integrity, reputation and honor being sullied by unfounded insinuations.”
Mbappe posted a link to a French media story on the matter on X and wrote: “Fake News!!!!“
The France national team captain and Real Madrid forward had been on a private trip to the Nordic country’s capital last week with a group of friends, Swedish media reported.
Mbappe and his friends left Sweden on Friday Oct. 11. A report of the allegations against Mbappe was made to police by an unidentified victim the following day, Expressen and daily Aftonbladet reported.
“In response to media reports about a suspected rape in Stockholm, the prosecutor can confirm that a criminal report has been submitted to the police,” the Swedish Prosecution Authority said in a statement on Tuesday.
Reuters could not independently confirm the identity of the alleged victim or the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault.
Senior Prosecutor Marina Chirakova declined to comment further when reached by Reuters.
SVT and tabloid Expressen, citing unnamed sources, reported that the level of suspicion directed at Mbappe by investigators was “reasonable” — the lower of the two levels in the Swedish legal system. The higher level, “probable suspicion,” is usually required to have a suspect remanded in custody.
Mbappe trained with his Real Madrid teammates on Tuesday. The club did not immediately respond when asked if they were aware of the investigation and whether it had been contacted by the Swedish authorities.