TUESDAY, JUNE 8, 2021 11

Aston Villa agree deal for Norwich’s Al Ahli set for Gulf tiff Buendia Bahraini champions to represent Kingdom in regional event, which also acts as qualifier for FIBA Champions Cup

Bahrain’s Al Ahli one• of five teams in BETTER competition; others are Emiliano Buendia Shabab Al Ahli (), KNOW Al Nasser (), AFP | London Al Shamal (), Al ston Villa have reached (Kuwait) The FIBA Asia Champi- Aan agreement with ons Cup was previous- Norwich to sign Argen - Ahli boost roster ly known as the Asian tine international forward with• signing of 26-year- Basketball Confeder- Emiliano Buendia for what ation Champions Cup. will reportedly be a club re- old former NBA first cord fee. round pick Chris It is the Asian club Buendia, 24, won Cham- McCullough from the US championship for pro- pionship player of the year fessional basketball, this season, scoring 15 goals TDT | Manama organised by FIBA Asia and providing 16 assists, as Norwich romped straight (ABC) Champions Cup until back to the Premier League. ahrain champions Al Ahli 2002, is the Asian club cham- His form earned a first will be representing the champions Al Ahli set to represent Kingdom in Gulf tournament (file photo) pionship for professional bas- international call-up to the BKingdom in the 40th edi- ketball. It is organised by FIBA Argentina squad for World tion of the Gulf Basketball As- and Al Kuwait of Kuwait. Ahli have boosted their roster June 18, when Ahli play Shamal Asia, and takes place once a year. Cup qualifiers against Chile sociation Championship, which Play will consist of a single with the signing of 26-year-old in their first game. Last year’s competition was and Colombia. takes place in Dubai later this round-robin, after which the American Chris McCullough, a They then also return to ac- postponed due to the pandemic. “Aston Villa and Nor - month. semi-finals will take place fol- former NBA first round pick. tion the next two nights, taking In 2019, Muharraq represented wich City have reached an The competition also acts as lowed by the final. The six-foot, eight-inch for- on Kuwait on the 19th and then Bahrain and were able to make it agreement for the transfer a qualifying tournament for this The winners will move on to ward most recently played in Shabab Al Ahli on the 20th. through to the final four where of Emiliano Buendia,” Villa year’s FIBA Asia Champions Cup. compete in the FIBA Asia Cham- the South Korean KBL League. Following a rest day on June they lost to Al Riyadi of . said in a statement. Ahli are taking part as the pions Cup, which is scheduled to He also suited up professionally 21, play resumes on the 22nd They then bowed to Palayesh “As Emiliano is currently winners of the national league be held later this year. with clubs in Lithuania, Chi- when Ahli face Nasser. Naft Abadan of in the in the Argentina national as well as the prestigious Khalifa Bahrain’s Ahli are coached na, the and Puerto The semi-finals are then bronze medal game, and had to team’s biosecure bubble, bin Salman Cup. by Ahmed Jan, and they will be Rico, while also playing for the scheduled to be held on June settle for third place. preparing for a World Cup There are five clubs in all set relying on their top local players Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 25, followed by the final the next Only one Bahraini club has qualifying match with Co- to take to the hardwood. The such as Mohammed Qurban, 76ers and Washington Wizards evening on the 26th. ever medalled in the FIBA Asia lombia on Tuesday evening, others are hosts Shabab Al Ahli Maitham Jameel, Hesham Sar- in the NBA along with the NBA The FIBA Asia Champions Champions Cup. It was Mana- he will undergo a medical Club of Dubai, Al Nasser of Sau- han, Ahmed Aldurazi and Subah G League. Cup, previously known as the ma in 2000, when they won the and complete the transfer di Arabia, Al Shamal of Qatar Hussain, to name a few. The tournament tips off on Asian Basketball Confederation bronze medals. after the game.”

BRAVE CF president confirms Martins vs Grabinski Belgium, Netherlands win will be rebooked after last-minute cancellation final pre-Euro 2020 friendlies TDT | Manama

RAVE CF 51 in Belarus was This fight will be Bstruck by a last-minute can- celation when Marcel Grabinski rescheduled as soon fell ill literally moments before as the next BRAVE CF the main event of the evening event. Lucas deserves against Lucas “Mineiro” Mar- it and I am sure both tins. fighters are devastated Following the unfortunate that this fight was series of events, BRAVE CF pres- ident Mohammed Shahid con- cancelled. The situation firmed that the organization is medical and out of plans to rebook the Lightweight our hands as the health bout. of fighters is always the Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku shoots and scores during the international friendly “This fight will be resched- first priority against Croatia uled as soon as the next BRAVE MOHAMMED SHAHID CF event. Lucas deserves it BRAVE CF president Mohammed Shahid with Lucas “Mineiro” Martins and AFP | London and I am sure both fighters are Marcel Grabinski to the fight, when the German devastated that this fight was he will not be able to fight”, he binski have come forward and athlete spoke about his jiu-jitsu, elgium and the Nether- canceled. The situation is med- continued, giving further details expressed their wish to meet and said it was disrespectful of Blands completed their ical and out of our hands as the on the situation. inside the BRAVE CF Arena after Marcel to talk like that. Euro 2020 preparations on health of fighters is always the “This can happen to anyone their first encounter issues and Lucas wished his counterpart Sunday with respective wins 60 first priority”, Mr. Shahid said. and we saw this happen before have continued on with their a full recovery but promised over Croatia and Georgia. goals have been scored “Marcel could not make it to as well. Health is most impor- rivalry, especially from Martins’ to make him pay for his words Belgium, the world’s top- by Romelu Lukaku for the fight just a few minutes be- tant and we are hoping for him side. once the fight is rebooked. And, ranked side, beat the 2018 Belgium fore the main event since he to rest and get well soon”. The Brazilian former cham- from Mr Shahid’s words, this World Cup runners up 1-0 was not feeling well and the Following BRAVE CF 51, both pion didn’t like the words used will happen sooner rather than thanks to a first half goal from medical team confirmed that Lucas Martins and Marcel Gra- by Grabinski in the build-up later. in-form Romelu Lukaku, fresh from winning the Serie A title Carrasco’s header on the re- with Inter Milan. bound also thudding onto the Roberto Martinez’s side will woodwork. be one of the favourites to win However he gave his side Osaka pulls out of Berlin tournament, organisers confirm what would be their first ever the lead seven minutes later AFP | Paris the Tokyo Olympics. major international trophy and when he pounced following The 23-year-old four-time Grand Slam line up in Group B alongside confusion in the Croatia pen- aomi Osaka has pulled out of next winner has been in the spotlight since with- Denmark, Finland and Russia. alty area and lashed home his Nweek’s Berlin WTA grasscourt tour- drawing from Roland Garros after a dispute In a tight match it was Luka- 60th international goal. nament in the wake of her controversial over her refusal to attend press conferences. ku, 28, who was the difference Few clear-cut chances came exit from the French Open, organisers As a result, French tennis officials fined between the two sides in a cag- along after that, but Lukaku confirmed yesterday. Osaka $15,000 and threatened to axe her ey contest, and he was unlucky should have netted his second “We have received notification that from the tournament for not honoring man- not to open the scoring in the of the night with a minute re- Naomi Osaka cannot start in Berlin. After datory media commitments, prompting the 31st minute with a wonder maining when his close-range consulting her management, she will take Japanese star to withdraw. goal. header was somehow kept out a break,” said a spokesman for the Berlin On Saturday, Osaka, who revealed her Holding off three Croatia by Croatia goalkeeper Dominik tournament, which starts June 14. ongoing battle with depression and anxiety defenders, Lukaku unleashed Livakovic. Osaka has not said when she plans to play which she said having to face the media a curling shot which looked to The Dutch had an easier next, casting doubt on her participation at exacerbated, thanked her supporters in a be heading in before it crashed time of it with a 3-0 win over Wimbledon, which starts on June 28, and ’s Naomi Osaka reacts during a match (file photo) brief message on Instagram. out off the bar, with Yannick Georgia.