Graves to miss Olympics as horse retired

LOS ANGELES: Laura Graves, who won team dressage bronze with the United States at the 2016 Rio Olympics will miss this year’s Tokyo Games after her horse, Verdades, was retired.

“With the retirement of my longtime partner, Verdades [Diddy], it will no longer be possible for me to pursue a place on the team that will represent the United States in Tokyo,” Graves, ranked seventh in the world, said in a statement released by US Equestrian. “This decision was not taken lightly, but was made in Verdades’ best interests.”

Graves said in an Instagram post that she made the decision upon realizing that Verdades, an 18-year-old Dutch warmblood, would not be able to regain his top form this year.

“I’ve always promised that I would do my best to listen and make the right choice for him when this time came,” she wrote.

Graves and Verdades burst onto the international scene in 2014, when they finished fifth in the Grand Prix freestyle at the World Equestrian Games.

They went on to win team gold and individual silver the next year at the Pan American Games in Toronto, and then were part of the bronze-medal US Olympic team in Rio -- where they were fourth in individual competition.

The bronze medal was the best finish for the United States in dressage since 1948.

Two years later, Graves and Verdades won two silver medals at the World Equestrian Games and became the first US partnership to reach number one in the world rankings.—AFP

Edward stars in polo cup with six goals

LAHORE: Tetra Pak and Barry’s booked berths in the main final of the HBL Pakistan Polo Cup 2020 after winning their semi-finals here at Lahore Polo Club Ground on Saturday.

Tetra Pak defeated FG Polo Team by 6½-5 thanks to Edward Banner Eve, who slammed in all the six goals for the winners, which also has half goal handicap. From the losing side, Tom Brodie hit four goals while Abbas Mukhtar struck one.

Till the third chukker, the losing side was well ahead 5-1½ and it was looking a one-sided affairs. But the winners bounced back gallantly as Eve had hit his first hat-trick to make it 4½-5 at the end of the fourth chukker. Eye finally did what exact his team was requiring, netting in back-to-back goals, leaving the FB team with stunning defeat.

Barry’s chalked up a victory against Master Paints Black 7 ½-4. Ernesto Trotz emerged as top scorer as he contributed four goals for the winners, who also had half goal handicap. Shah Shamyl Alam and Agha Musa Ali Khan added two and one goal, respectively to complete the tally. From the losing side, Manuel Carranza hammered a hat-trick and Squadron Leader Hamza struck one goal.—Sports Reporter

Kipsang banned for doping

PARIS: Former world marathon record holder Wilson Kipsang was on Friday handed a provisional ban for doping by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).

The 37-year-old Kenyan was suspended “for whereabouts failures and tampering”, both violations of World Athletics’ anti-doping rules, the AIU announced on Twitter.

Kipsang claimed the world record when clocking 2hr 3min 23sec in the 2013 Berlin marathon.

He won the London marathon in 2012 and 2014, when he also won in New York, and he claimed bronze at the 2012 London Olympics.

It is not the first time he has fallen under the doping radar. In September 2014 he escaped punishment when he missed an out-of-competition drug test. He risks a two-year ban for this latest infringement, if proven.

The development was the latest blow for Kenyan athletics ahead of the Tokyo Olympics as he joins the growing list of Kenyan athletes who have been suspended for doping offences.

The women’s 2016 Olympic marathon champion Jemima Sumgong and three-time world 1,500m winner Asbel Kiprop were handed four-year suspensions.—AFP

St Pat’s, St Paul’s in school cricket final

KARACHI: St Patrick’s School and St Paul’s School defeated their respective rivals to reach the final of the NBP Inter-school cricket tournament here on Saturday. The final will be played at the NBP Sports Complex on Monday, Jan 13 at 1:00pm. SVP Tariq Jamali will be the chief guest in the final.

St Pat’s beat Education Foundation School in a thrilling first semifinal by just 13 runs. Batting first after winning the toss, St Pat’s scored 120 for six in the allotted 20 overs with Kapil Chohan scoring a breezy 40 off 46 balls with the help of four fours and a six. Mohammad anas scored 26.

In reply Education Foundation crashed to 107 all out in 19 overs. Mohammad Danish with 26 and Shoaib Hasan with 19 were the maain scorers. Mohammad Sufiyan bagged two wickets for 20 runs

In the second semifinal, St Paul’s beat Bright Education School by 42 runs. Batting first, St Paul’s scored 132 for 5 with Shahsawar Daniyal scoring a fine 55 off just 47 balls with five fours and a six. Taha Rafique scored a quickfire 22. Kashan Faheem bagged 2 for 19.

In reply, the Bright Education School team were bowled out for just 90. Bharat Chohan and Mustafa Sohail ripped through the losing side’s batting, capturing three wickets each.

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2020