Jumaa defeats Al-Awadhi to claim men’s title
KUWAIT: The Kuwait Ninth Tennis Open 2018, which started March 4th under the patronage of President of Arab and Kuwait Tennis Federations, Honorary President of Asian Shooting Federation Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Abdallah Al-Sabah were completed, except for the finals doubles match between Abdelhameed Jumaa and Abdelrahman Al-Awadhi against Hassan AlMousa and Abdallah Al-Mukaimi.
• The women’s individuals final match was won by Sarah Behbehani by defeating Manar AlJazzaf 6-4, 6-3.
• The men’s individuals final went to Abdelhameed Jumaa who defeated Abdelrahman Al-Awadhi by two sets to love.
• Junior’s individuals title U-17 went to Ahmad Khamees who defeated Essa Qabazard 6-2, 7-5.
• Mohammad Al-Awadhi took the U-11 title by defeating Hassan Jamal 6-1, 6-1.
Maxwell Indesit took the U-13 title by defeating Yaqoub Mohammad in the final match 6-4, 6-3.
Kurtis Singh took over 55 title by defeating Subhi Al-Gharabally 6-0, 6-0.
The pioneers doubles title went to Zoran Demitrivic and Bojan Alicic by defeating Windy Solomon and George Delegro 6-1, 6-2.
The doubles final match was scheduled later. worst finish since they came bottom of the old Five Nations in 1983. Following last week’s 22-16 loss to France in Paris, Jones made seven changes in personnel-the most radical shake-up of his reign as England coach.
‘FIND OUT ABOUT YOURSELF’
But they couldn’t stop the losing streak. Jones, who has made no secret of wanting to win next year’s World Cup with England, said it was better the setbacks happened now than at Japan 2019.
“It is, unfortunately, something that you have to have because you never find out about yourself unless you have these runs,” he told reporters. “Every team I have had that has been a champion team has had these runs which have been instrumental in how you remake a team,” added Jones, Australia’s coach when they lost the 2003 World Cup final to England.The former Wallaby and Japan boss was appointed to his current post after tournament hosts England suffered the embarrassment of a first-round exit at the 2015 World Cup. England then set off on a winning run that only ended when Ireland denied them a Grand Slam in Dublin last year.
Until last month, that was the only blot on Jones’s England record, which now stands at 24 wins from 27 Tests with three defeats.
“When you take over it is reasonably easy, like I did with England, it is quite easy to improve them quickly because you get fix certain things that need fixing quickly,” he said. “But internal mechanisms take time to fix and that is the slow burner. Unless you fix them they catch up with you when you get to the big tournaments such as the World Cup.
“So for us it has been an enormously beneficial tournament if disappointing because we are finding out about how to be a better team.” Three converted tries from Garry Ringrose, CJ Stander and Jacob Stockdale put Ireland 21-5 up at the break and on the verge of a St Patrick’s Day triumph.
Ireland scrum-half Conor Murray added a penalty and while England’s Elliot Daly scored an unconverted try in each half, with fellow wing Jonny May crossed in stoppage time, the visitors never looked like losing their grip in front of a capacity Twickenham crowd of more than 82,000.
England were without injured powerhouse No 8 Billy Vunipola for the entire Six Nations and fellow back-row forwards Nathan Hughes, Courtney Lawes, Sam Underhill and Tom Curry were missing from the Ireland match.
“We’re playing without five top back-rowers and other injuries,” said Jones. “We have to get a greater depth to our squad that can play Test rugby.” Jones praised Ireland by saying: “They played exceptionally well and we just weren’t good enough. They play to their strengths, with good resolve and are an excellent team.” — AFP