14 Tuesday, February 23, 2021 Sports Felix makes sensational return to indoor 200m Sprints to victory in 22.59secs in Fayetteville Tech Mahindra

Agencies Fayetteville (US) launches Global When Allyson Felix last raced over 200m indoors, she was a Chess League 17-year-old up-and-coming high school phenomenon. Eighteen years, 11 world titles and six Olympic gold To have eight medals later, the 35-year-old returned to the banked oval franchise-owned on Sunday (21) for the fourth teams from American Track League fix- ture in Fayetteville – a World across the world Athletics Indoor Tour Silver meeting – and, as she so often Tribune News Network has done during her glittering New Delhi career, emerged the winner. Drawn in lane five, Felix Tech Mahindra Ltd., one of didn’t get out of the blocks the fastest growing Global IT particularly well, but she hit companies and a leading pro- GM Viswanathan Anand, a five- top speed on the back straight vider of digital transformation, time world chess champion, is and made up the stagger on consulting and business re- the league’s mentora Advisor 15-year-old Shawnti Jack- engineering services and solu- and facilitator-in-chief. son, drawn in lane six. Puerto tions, on Monday announced Rico’s Jasmine Camacho- the launch of a first-of-its-kind eraged to explore innovative Quinn moved on to Felix’s phygital (physical and digital) ways of promoting the game shoulder on the final bend, but Global Chess League. through interactive platforms Felix edged ahead again on the It also announced that to engage a global audience. final stretch and pulled away Viswanathan Anand, five-time Tech Mahindra will act as to win in 22.59. World Chess Champion and the architect behind this con- Felix’s winning time Indian chess Grandmaster will cept and will provide necessary smashed her previous PB mentor, partner, advise and operational and technological (23.14) and moves her to 18th help shape the league. With his support to execute the vision. on the US indoor all-time list. motivational and inspirational Anand Mahindra, Chair- It’s also the fastest ever indoor stature across the world as an man, Mahindra Group, said, 200m by a masters (35+) ath- individual and a chess cham- “Chess still has an incipient lete; no one else that age has pion, Anand will help catalyse and largely untapped poten- ever bettered 23 seconds. the growth of chess, further tial across the globe. Recently, “It feels good to be running building the sport that has de- there has been a surge of in- again, it’s been a long time,” said fined his entire life as he joins terest post the online Chess Felix, who will be targeting the hands with the Tech Mahin- Olympiad and the enormous 200m at the US Olympic Trials dra Global Chess League and popularity of a TV series based later this year. “The 200m is one Allyson Felix in action during the World Athletics Indoor Tour Silver meeting 200m at the Randal Tyson Indoor Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas, becomes its face for the global on the game. We hope that the of my favourite races, so I just US, on Sunday. Felix won in 22.59 secs. audience and his fans, a re- creation of a league will har- wanted to have some fun. We’re lease from the organisers said. ness this resurgence of interest still working hard; the big goal is Her winning time moves her eron Jones was the runner-up lievably sick on Friday night the US indoor all-time list. Current plans envision and bring about a renaissance much later this year.” to seventh on the US indoor in 1:46.23. and all through Saturday. I’m Jamaica’s 2015 world the League to engage players in the world of chess. I am par- Sprint hurdler Camacho- all-time list. A bout of food poisoning not exactly feeling great right champion Danielle Williams from all levels – professional ticularly excited about sharing Quinn, a former training part- Jamaica’s Chrisann Gordon put an end to Ryan Crouser’s now, but I just wanted to come finished strongly to win the or otherwise. my learnings from founding ner of Felix’s, finished second in was second in 52.06 and Mexi- streak of 22-metre-plus compe- out and compete.” women’s 60m hurdles, overtak- The League will have eight the Pro Kabaddi league with an indoor PB of 22.91. Jackson, co’s Paola Moran third in 52.78. titions, though it wasn’t enough There were big throws ing Tonea Marshall on her way franchise-owned teams from the team in order to replicate daughter of 2005 world 400m to prevent him winning. across the board in the wom- to an equal PB of 7.86. Marshall across the world. that success on a much larger hurdles champion Bershawn Saruni back to his best The Olympic champion en’s shot put. For the first time finished second in 7.89. The teams will comprise of and global platform.” Jackson, was third in 23.45. Kenya’s Michael Saruni, look- produced five valid throws ever in US women’s shot put- Michael Dickson, win- a mix of titled women and men Viswanathan Anand, Earlier in the programme, ing like he’s back in the form beyond 21.70m, all of which ting, the top three all threw ner of the men’s event, was players along with juniors and 5-time World Chess Champi- Felix had finished second in the that carried him to an African would have been enough to 19.50m or beyond. also rewarded with a PB. He wildcard entrants playing each on, said, “Chess is a game that 60m in 7.28 in a race won by indoor 800m record two years win. His best throw, 21.93m, Olympic finalistR aven clocked a best of 7.53 in the other in a Round Robin format. is played by millions around Britain’s Daryll Neita (7.24). ago, won his specialist event came in the fifth round. Pay- Saunders threw an indoor heats and then matched it in The teams qualifying for the the world. At this time, a On a good day for the in 1:45.34. ton Otterdahl was second with PB of 19.57m in the fourth the final to finish 0.13 ahead semifinals will enter the knock- unique opportunity exists to women’s long sprints, hurdles The 2018 NCAA indoor 21.40m. round to overtake all-round of Ruebin Walters of Trinidad out stage of the championship. popularize it further and dra- specialist Shamier Little domi- champion followed the pace- “I had one of my best prac- throws talent Maggie Ewen, and Tobago. We are actively looking at the matically enhance its visibility nated the 400m. maker through 400m in 50.48 tices ever on Friday in prepa- who had set a PB of 19.54m Elsewhere, 2016 world in- prospect of introducing inno- through a global league pow- The 2015 world 400m and held a slight lead over ration for this meet,” said in round two. Pan-American door champion Marquis Dendy vative scoring, board selection ered by technology. hurdles silver medallist sped Isaiah Harris at 600m. Saruni Crouser. “This meeting had Games bronze medallist Jes- won the long jump with a last- methods and a fantasy league to “I am personally happy through the first lap in 23.45, then kicked on the final lap been my big focus of the whole sica Ramsey set an outright PB round leap of 8.19m. Olivia maximize viewer engagement. to partner with a technology just 0.05 shy of her indoor PB and opened a big gap on the indoor season and everything of 19.50m to finish third. The Gruver won the pole vault with The finalL eague structure and provider like Tech Mahindra, for 200m, but ran a controlled rest of the field, going on to was geared to throwing far this three women now sit at fourth, 4.70m, equalling her recent PB. team details will be announced whose endorsement and pro- second lap to finish in 50.57. win by almost a second. Kam- weekend. But then I got unbe- fifth and sixth respectively on (Worldathletics.org) in due course. motion will certainly elevate The league will mark a wa- the sport to a higher level and tershed moment as it aims to offer the right platform to pop- raise the profile of the sport, ularize chess across the globe. discover new generations of “There is a renewed in- chess champions, enhance the terest in the game of chess Fakhar, Hafeez star in Qalandars’ 9-wkt win fan base of the sport and take and through this unique the sport to new commercial global league format, we will Agencies Gayle, one of Quetta Gladia- heights. New-age technologies be able to keep the spirit of Karachi Scores: Quetta Gladiators 178-6 (Chris Gayle 68, Sarfaraz tors’ platinum pick. such as 5G, artificial intelli- chess intact and ensure the Ahmed 40, Mohammad Nawaz 33 not out; Haris Rauf 3-38) The Gayle Storm well and gence, and virtual reality will right platform is provided to Blistering unbeaten half- lost to Lahore Qalandars 179-1, 18.2 overs (Fakhar Zaman 82 truly arrived in Karachi as be at the core and will be lev- upcoming talent.” centuries from Fakhar Zaman not out, Mohammad Hafeez 73 not out, Sohail Akhtar 21) by the most proficient T20 bats- and Mohammad Hafeez led nine wickets. MOM: Fakhar Zaman (Lahore Qalandars). man took Lahore Qalandars Lahore Qalandars to an em- to cleaners. Gayle hit five fours phatic nine-wicket win over and as many sixes in his siz- Quetta Gladiators in the fourth zling knock of 68 off 40 balls, Sri Lanka announce ODI, T20I fixture of the HBL PSL 6 at the after Sohail Akhtar-led Qa- National Stadium Karachi on landars elected to field. squad for West Indies tour Monday evening. Gayle, dropped twice on 20 Chasing 179 to win, the and 31, brought up his maiden ANI consultant. Vaas has also in- Qalandars got off to a brisk half-century in the competi- Colombo formed that he will not be avail- start as openers Sohail tion’s history off 32 balls. He able to tour West Indies as a Akhtar, the Lahore Qalandars contributed a 101-run stand Sri Lanka on Monday an- member of the support staff. captain, and Fakhar made full for the third wicket with cap- nounced the ODI and T20I The three T20I matches use of the batting powerplay, tain Sarfaraz Ahmed. squad for the upcoming tour will be played on March 3, 5, scoring at eight runs per over Both batsmen came to- of the West Indies. and 7 in Antigua, while the ODI to post 48 for no loss in six gether in the 3rd over when Suranga Lakmal was series will be played in Antigua overs. Sohail was first to go Gladiators lost both the open- named as a replacement for on March 10, 12, and 14. The in the ninth over as he mis- ers for 12. pacer Lahiru Kumara, who first Test start on March 21, judged a googly from Zahid That Gladiators posted was tested positive for the cor- and second March 29. Mahmood. He scored 21 off 178 for six was because of a onavirus earlier in the day. Sri Lanka squad: Dimuth 26 balls, hitting three bound- late onslaught from Moham- Kumara will not travel Karunaratne (c), Dasun aries. Before departing, the Lahore Qalandars’ batsmen Mohammad Hafeez (left) and teammate Fakhar Zaman during their unbeaten mad Nawaz. The all-rounder with the team yet he was Shanaka, Danushka Gu- pair had knitted 64 runs. 115-run stand (highest for Lahore Qalandars) during the Pakistan Super League match against Quetta smashed an unbeaten 33 off named in the squad. The Sri nathilake, Pathum Nissanka, There was no stopping Gladiators at the National Stadium in Karachi on Monday. (AFP) 20 balls. His innings includ- Lankan team will leave for the Ashen Bandara, Oshada Fer- Fakhar, as the left-handed ed one four and three sixes, Caribbean on February 23. nando, Dinesh Chandimal, batsman smoked bowlers deep mid-wicket. The ‘Profes- balls and hit the winning runs with an unbeaten 52-ball 82, where 31 runs were scored in During the tour, Sri Lanka will Angelo Mathews, Niroshan all around the ground. He sor’ smacked a six and a four in the 19th over. laced with eight fours and last two overs of the innings. play three T20Is, three ODIs, Dickwella, Thisara Perera, brought up his half-century in in the same over and collected Hafeez and Fakhar con- two sixes. His partner, Hafeez With today’s win, Lahore and two Test matches, under a Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu the 11th over of the innings off 19 runs off left-arm fast Us- tributed unbeaten 115 runs ended-up with 73 not out off Qalandars, now at the top of bio-secure environment in An- Hasaranga, Ramesh Mendis, just 31 balls. His partner Ha- man Shinwari. for the second wicket, which 33, smashing five fours and the ladder, have won two from tigua from March 3 to April 2. Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Pradeep, feez, coming to bat at number Hafeez stroked the ball went down as the best sec- six huge sixes. as many outings, while Quetta Earlier in the day, former Sri Asitha Fernando, Dushmantha three, made full use of a re- with ease and recorded his ond wicket stand for Lahore That Lahore Qalandars Gladiators are yet to open their Lanka pacer Chaminda Vaas on Chameera, Akila Dananajaya, prieve in the 14th over, when fastest HBL PSL fifty as he Qalandars in the history of had an imposing total to sur- account and are placed at the Monday decided to resign from Lakshan Sandakan, Dilshan Saim Ayub dropped him at reached the milestone in 24 HBL PSL. Fakhar top-scored mount was because of Chris bottom of the points table. his post as Sri Lanka’s bowling Madushanka, Suranga Lakmal.