Klitschko packing experience for Joshua fight
NEW YORK: Wladimir Klitschko is counting on experience to help him regain the IBF and WBA heavyweight titles when he faces Britain’s Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium in April. Klitschko, who was unbeaten for 11 years before losing the belts to Tyson Fury in 2015, turns 41 next month and has 64 wins and four defeats in his 20-year career. “Experience is like a suitcase, without a grip — it’s really heavy to carry, but you feel bad if you’re going to let it sit somewhere,” the Ukrainian was quoted as saying by the Times. “You can be as good as you are, professional as you are, as athletic or strong, but the only thing you can’t swallow like a pill is experience. “I just recently heard it at the New York press conference from Anthony, that it’s all about a mental game. But I’m not playing games, I’m serious with what I’m doing.” London 2012 Olympic champion Joshua has taken the division by storm since turning professional, winning all 18 of his fights inside the distance. The fight is expected to draw the biggest British boxing crowd in nearly 80 years, with an attendance of 90,000 set to watch at Wembley. —Reuters
Pakistan ready for International Beach Handball in Dubai
By our correspondent
KARACHI: Pakistan are set to feature in the International Beach Handball Championship which will explode into action in Dubai from Wednesday (tomorrow). The five-day event also involves India, Bahrain, Oman, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Pakistan Handball Federation (PHF) said that Pakistan had a good chance of a medal. Pakistan squad: Tahir Ali, Shahid Pervez, Uzair Atif, Hazrat Hussain, Asim Saeed, Waqar Ahmad, Muzammil Hussain, Imran Khan, Muhammad Nawaz, Maaz Ali. Officials: Nasser Ahmad (coach), Muhammad Imran (coach), Javed Iqbal (manager), Najam Hussain (head delegate).
Harrison beats Basilashvili to win Memphis title
LOS ANGELES, California: American Ryan Harrison captured his first ATP title on Sunday, winning all 12 break points he faced to defeat Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili 6- 1, 6-4 and win the Memphis Open. The breakthrough victory came after Harrison had lost seven ATP semi-finals but downed compatriot Donald Young to reach the Memphis championship match. Harrison blasted eight aces in downing Basilashvili, who will rise from a career-best 67th in the rankings despite a loss in his second career final. Harrison saved two break points before holding in the opening game of the match, then broke the Georgian in the fourth and sixth games for a 5-1 lead and held at love to claim the first set in 26 minutes. A crucial break on his third chance of the fifth game put Harrison ahead 3-2 in the second set. Serving for the match in the final game, Harrison faced two more break points but saved them both, the first with his final ace of the match, then won his first match point to claim his first crown. —AFP
Saints not Chelsea on Mourinho’s mind
BLACKBURN, United Kingdom: Jose Mourinho refused to dwell on the prospect of facing his former club Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter-finals after Manchester United negotiated a difficult fifth-round visit to Blackburn Rovers in a 2-1 victory. Now United must visit Stamford Bridge, where they have not won since 2012, although Mourinho did appear to be employing his favoured tactic of playing mind games when he discussed the draw and appeared to hand the league title to Chelsea. “I have no reaction,” said Mourinho of the draw. “I have to play Saint-Etienne, I have to play the final, I have to play, hopefully, another game in the Europa League, I have to fight for a top-four position in the Premier League. “So I have so many things to think about. Probably Chelsea can only think about that because they are champions. They have nothing else to play for. The FA Cup is something I believe is important for them.” —AFP
Vietnam team stage bizarre ‘mannequin’ protest
HANOI, Vietnam: A Vietnamese football team face disciplinary action after allowing their opponents to walk three goals into an unguarded net in protest at the award of a disputed last-minute penalty. In a sporting revision of ‘the mannequin challenge’, players from Long An stood stock still and refused to tackle their Ho Chi Minh City rivals in a televised VLeague game late Sunday. The extraordinary protest came after a spot kick was awarded against Long An for a soft-looking foul on an opposition striker with the game poised at 2-2 and minutes to play. After a prolonged argument with the referee, Long An’s goalkeeper led the revolt, turning his back on the penaltytaker, who slotted the ball into the goal to make it 3-2. It was the third disputed refereeing decision of the game which led to goals for Ho Chi Minh City. The visitors continued their protest, refusing to budge from the kick-off to allow Ho Chi Minh City’s players to stride through their ranks to score two more goals. The game ended 5-2 and Long An have since faced anger from officials in the communist country. —AFP
Pale PSG frustrated by Toulouse after Barca exploits
PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain missed the chance to eat into Monaco’s lead at the top of the French Ligue 1 table after being held to a 0-0 draw by Toulouse at the Parc des Princes on Sunday. At the same venue where they had blown away Barcelona five days earlier, winning 4-0 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, Unai Emery’s side could not break down mid-table opposition. Edinson Cavani struck the woodwork in the second half for the defending champions but Toulouse held out as PSG failed to score in a game for the first time since the start of December. The draw extends Paris’ unbeaten run in all competitions to 13 games going back to before Christmas but it also means they end the weekend still three points behind leaders Monaco. The principality side needed a Bernardo Silva equaliser in the second half to come from behind and draw 1-1 at struggling Bastia on Friday, while Nice are only behind PSG on goal difference thanks to their 1-0 win at bottom club Lorient on Saturday. Wylan Cyprien scored the only goal for Nice, who held on after having Mario Balotelli sent off in the second half. Emery made five changes to the PSG team from the Barcelona game but was without Angel Di Maria, the Argentine struggling with a muscle injury after scoring twice against the Catalans. Christophe Galtier’s side host Manchester United in the second leg of their Europa League last-32 tie on Wednesday with their hopes of progress all but over after losing 3-0 at Old Trafford in the first leg. —AFP