GGYMNASTICSYMNASTICS | Page 2 MMOTORSPORTSOTORSPORTS | Page 3 Uchimura’s Qatar’s exit clouds al-Attiyah bright start clinches for Japanese late win

Sunday, July 25, 2021 WEIGHTLIFTING Dhul-Hijjah 15, 1442 AH India’s Olympic GULF TIMES hero Mirabai says silver built on Rio failure SP RT Page 4 Sheikh Joaan meets Kuwait Olympic Committee chief, visits Qatar athletes at Olympic Village Qatar Olympic Committee President HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani visited Qatar athletes and delegation at the Olympic Village in Tokyo yesterday. Sheikh Joaan met Qatar stars and urged them to do their best and do their nation proud at Olympics. Sheikh Joaan toured the Qatari quarters at the Olympic Village and commended the off icials for their eff orts in ensuring a comfortable stay for the athletes.

Qatar Olympic Committee President HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani met President of Kuwait Olympic Committee Sheikh Fahad Nasser al-Sabah during the in Tokyo yesterday. The meeting reviewed aspects of sports co-operation and ways to support and develop them. The meeting was attended by Secretary-General of Qatar Olympic Committee HE Jassim Rashid al-Buenain and ambassador of the State of Qatar to Hassan bin Mohamed al-Emadi.

FOCUS Younousse eyes glory in Tokyo aft er Rio disappointment Qatar’s beach volleyball duo Younousse and Tijan begin their campaign today

By Yash Mudgal and swimmer Abdulaziz al-Obaidly Doha joined the national contingent in To- kyo yesterday.

t may not be easy for Qatar’s BEACH VOLLEYBALL GROUPS Cherif Younousse to let go of the Group A: Mol A./Sorum C. (NOR), Se- memories of the 2016 Rio Ol- ympic Games. Younousse and menov/Leshukov (ROC), Herrera/Ga- Ihis partner Jeff erson Santos Pereira vira (ESP), McHugh/Schumann (AUS) were one of Qatar’s medal hopes fi ve Group B: Krasilnikov/Stoyanovskiy years ago. But, perhaps, bogged down (ROC), Perusic/Schweiner (CZE), by the pressure of competing in the Plavins/Tocs (LAT), Gaxiola/Rubio world’s biggest sporting event in their maiden appearances they failed to (MEX) MEDALS reach the beach volleyball podium. Group C: Cherif/Ahmed (QAT), Gibb/ TALLY The Rio Games ended on a disap- Crabb Ta. (USA), Carambula/Rossi pointing note for 21-year-old You- (ITA), Heidrich/Gerson (SUI) Country G S B T nousse, as he and his partner fi nished Group D: Alison/Alvaro Filho (BRA), ninth after two wins and two losses. Brouwer/Meeuwsen (NED), Lucena/ 3 0 1 4 Since that disappointment of fi ve Japan 1 1 0 2 years ago, Younousse has a new part- Dalhausser (USA), Azaad/Capogrosso ner – Ahmed Tijan – and the pair has (ARG) 1 0 2 3 taken big strides in the sport, having E - Fijalek/Bryl (POL), Evandro/Bruno Ecuador 1 0 0 1 fi rmly established as one of the medal Schmidt (BRA), Grimalt M./Grimalt E. 1 0 0 1 contenders at the Tokyo Olympics. Qatar’s Cherif Younousse is confident (CHI), Elgraoui/Abicha (MAR) Iran 1 0 0 1 “For me, it’s very important to go of a podium finish at Tokyo Games. Qatar’s Ahmed Tijan trains at the Shiokaze Park in Tokyo yesterday. Kosovo 1 0 0 1 back to the Olympics and perform better than I did at the previous Ol- zerland. The Qatari pair will start Schumann yesterday. Younousse and 1 0 0 1 ympics,” Cherif said before leaving their campaign against Switzerland’s Tijan had lost back-to-back fi nals Russian OC 0 1 1 2 for Tokyo. Younousse and Tijan, the Adrian Heidrich and Mirco Gerson at to the Norwegian pair at FIVB Word Serbia 0 1 1 2 third seeds in Tokyo, have medalled at Tokyo’s Shiokaze Park today at 11am. Tour 4-star event at the Cancun Hub. Belgium 0 1 0 1 more FIVB World Tour than any other Twenty-four teams are divided Beach volleyball at Tokyo 2020 is due Taiwan 0 1 0 1 team this year and will attempt to be- into six pools of four teams each. to run through to August 7. come the fi rst team from Middle East The top two teams from each group India 0 1 0 1 to win medal in Olympic volleyball and the four best third-placed teams JUDOKA AL-IDRISI IN 0 1 0 1 history. The pair has played fi nals of from across the six pools qualify for ACTION TODAY Netherlands 0 1 0 1 the last fi ve World Tour events out of the last 16. The Qatari pair could face Ayoub al-Idrisi will make history 0 1 0 1 fi ve and emerged champions in two. a challenge from top seeds and world today becoming the fi rst Qatari ju- 0 1 0 1 Talking about their chances at the number one ranked pair Anders Mol doka to feature in Olympics. The judo Tokyo Games, the 26-year-old You- and Christian Sorum of Norway, who competition will be held at Nippon 0 0 1 1 nousse sounded confi dent. “This are also aiming to turn their suc- Budokan Complex and al-Idrisi will 0 0 1 1 time I am with a diff erent partner, but cess on the World Tour into Olympic compete in U-66kg category. Indonesia 0 0 1 1 it’s much better. I think we can do well gold. Since 2018, Mol and Sorum have Meanwhile, rower Tala Abujbara Israel 0 0 1 1 at the Olympics and we are going for claimed 13 gold medals in world tour was in action yesterday for a second Kazakhstan 0 0 1 1 the medals,” he said. events and won the 2019 world cham- consecutive day and fi nished third in Mexico 0 0 1 1 Younousse and Tijan are grouped pionship. women’s single sculls (repechages) with World No 5 Jacob Gibb and Tay- The Norwegian pair began their with a time of 8:16.88. She failed to Mongolia 0 0 1 1 lor Crabb of the United States, World quest to deliver Norway’s fi rst Olym- qualify for the quarter-fi nals and will Slovenia 0 0 1 1 No 18 Adrian Carambula and Enrico pic medal in the sport with a 21-18, be in action today in the semi-fi nal Switzerland 0 0 1 1 Rossi of Italy and World No 19 Adrian 18-21, 15-13 victory over Australia’s E/F, which is a classifi cation race. Qatar’s rower Tala Abujbara in action during the women’s single sculls 0 0 1 1 Heidrich and Mirco Gerson of Swit- Christopher McHugh and Damien Star weightlifter Fares Ibrahim repechage round at the Sea Forest Waterway in Tokyo yesterday. (Reuters) Gulf Times 2 Sunday, July 25, 2021

SPOTLIGHT DRESSAGE Rein it in? You’ve got Uchimura’s exit to be joking says Aussie icon Hanna

AFP later Hanna made the fi rst of Tokyo what is now six Olympic Games appearances — her best indi- clouds bright start vidual fi nish up to this edition ustralian dressage rider was 24th in Atlanta in 1996 and Mary Hanna — at 66 a team placing of fi fth in Sydney the oldest competitor four years later. Undeterred by at the Tokyo Olympics her performance in Tokyo, Han- —A says there are more chapters to na sees Paris in 2024 as the next be added to her biography A Long stop on her Olympic journey. “I for Japan gymnasts Rein despite a disappointing per- am aiming for Paris as it is only formance yesterday. Riding Ca- three years away and unless my lanta, Hanna fi nished sixth in her body breaks down I am certainly group of nine riders after posting going to be there,” she said. “This ‘Even getting selected for the Japanese team was hard enough this time’ a score of 67.981%, with only the may be the latest chapter to add top two from the six groups plus to my book but there are a few AFP the next best six fi nishers quali- more to come.” Tokyo Japan’s Kohei Uchimura reacts after fying for Wednesday’s individual In a sport in which horse and falling down during the horizontal fi nal. rider must be in perfect bars gymnastics men’s qualification In the fi rst action of the harmony, Hanna has a spe- apanese gymnastics star Kohei at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre in equestrian programme, cial relationship with her Uchimura crashed out of the Tokyo Tokyo yesterday. (AFP) three groups competed charges. She once saved Games on day one yesterday when yesterday with the riders in her horses when they were he was eliminated from the hori- the other three — including threatened by bushfi res in zontalJ bar competition to dash his dream Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin, who 1983. “Sadly they have all passed of ending his decorated career with a is bidding for a third successive away now,” she said. fourth Olympic gold. The all-around individual gold medal — going “However, I have a special 2012 and 2016 Olympic champion’s crash through their various “Piaff es” connection with Calanta, she is a landing stole unwanted headlines in a and “Half Passes” today. Making really sweet lovely horse.” men’s qualifying session where Japan kept up for the lack of a paying crowd Looking to the future, she China and Russia at bay ahead of Mon- at this largely spectator-free laughed that it was too late in life day’s defence of their team title. Olympics due to the coronavi- to change course now — “I would Uchimura, part of that rus restrictions, the horses per- not know what to do with my- gold-medal winning unit in formed to music including Girl self!” — but did regret the fallout Rio, lost his grip during his from Ipanema and ABC’s 1982 from the pandemic. The lack of routine and failed to qualify hit Look of Love. Hanna may not spectators — although she did get for next week’s fi nal. “In the have impressed the seven judges a raucous cheer from the “Kiss last three Olympic Games gazing out from their individual and Cry” Enclosure where those I’ve been able to match the level of per- mini pagodas dotted round the closest to the rider and horse can formance I’d reached in training — but arena but she has overcome far watch from — aff ected her. not this time,” a dejected Uchimura said. worse reverses in her life. “I was not nervous enough “I think I’ve reached my peak, even get- Her fi rst husband, Danish today... I needed a proper crowd ting selected for the Japanese team was dressage rider Gert Donvig, who there to give me a lift,” she said. hard enough this time.” was responsible for introducing The travel restrictions due to the He left the door open for one more shot Hanna to the sport, was killed in virus also impacted on her prep- at going out on a high — the world cham- a car crash in 1988. Eight years aration. pionships are in Japan in October — when he suggested: “It may not be my last com- petition. Let me think about it when I go back tonight,” he said after the sad turn of to his misfortune by his compatriots — off the Olympic stage for the last time. He up the option. events witnessed by 12,000 empty seats Olympic debutants all. But while hailing had etched his name into Olympic history Another gold medallist from the 2016 at the Ariake Centre. The 32-year-old their “great” performance he noted wist- at the Rio Games in 2016, becoming the Games enjoyed a far more positive day, chose not to go for a third successive all- fully: “After I fi nished the horizontal bar fi rst male gymnast in 44 years to retain his with ’s master of the Rio around title following persistent shoulder and came back to the arena to watch, I saw all-around title. Eleftherios Petrounias leading the eight problems. And he revealed: “I was at the them sorting out their problems on their And leading Japan to the team gold in progressing to the fi nal with 15.333 points, lowest of the low when I was injured so I own. I felt I wasn’t needed anymore.” cemented his place as one of his China’s Yang Liu in second on 15.300. can’t be that disappointed now.” After scraping through to get onto the country’s most revered athletes. Uchimu- Britain’s pommel horse champion Max Regarded as one of the greatest gym- Japanese team, Uchimura had been rev- ra has struggled with injuries since Rio, Whitlock is placed fi fth behind Taiwan’s nasts of all time, “King Kohei” also has 10 elling in competing at the pandemic- rating his prospect of making it to Tokyo Lee Chih-kai and Rhys McClenaghan world titles. He was penalised for his fall, delayed 2020 Games. After training this “a fairytale” in 2019. of Ireland. A breathless day’s qualify- picking up just 13.866 points, robbing him week he said: “I love it, especially because The gymnast, who recently described ing ended on a heartwarming note when of the chance to end his career in style on it’s in Japan. This is my fourth Olympics, himself as “an ancient fossil” in relation France’s Samir Ait Said, who suff ered a home soil. and this is probably the best one yet.” to his younger teammates, had taken radi- horrifi c leg break on the vault in Rio, re- After his premature return to earth After a challenging routine it all went cal action, dropping every event but the turned to qualify third on the rings. Today from the 2.8 metres-high bar, Uchimura horribly wrong though when he lost his horizontal bar — he was a surprise late Simone Biles will set out on her fi ve-gold Australia’s Mary Hanna rides Calanta in the dressage individual grand was provided with the perfect antidote grip, crashing to the mattress and walking entry for the parallel bars but did not take medal quest in women’s qualifying. prix Group A during the equestrian competition. (AFP)

FOCUS SWIMMING Syrian TT player, 12, content despite defeat Peaty on fi re but Seto AFP I accomplished something. A Tokyo 12-year-old girl playing against a 39-year-old and taking nine misses 400 medley fi nal or 10 points, this is an achieve- AFP yria’s Hend Zaza – the ment,” said Zaza. “For sure, I Tokyo youngest athlete at the wanted to win and take one or Tokyo Olympics at just two matches, but hopefully in the 12 – said just reaching the next Olympics.” ritain’s Adam Peaty GamesS was “an achievement” Zaza had to overcome serious clocked a scorching despite bowing out in the pre- adversity to reach the Olympics, heat time yesterday to liminary round yesterday. Zaza, where she carried the Syrian fl ag kickstart the defence of who shot to fame overnight in her in Friday’s opening ceremony. hisB Olympic 100m breaststroke war-torn country Syria’s civil war has killed around crown on the opening day at the last year by qualify- 500,000 people, displaced mil- Tokyo pool, but Japanese world ing for Tokyo, lost to lions, and ravaged infrastructure champion Daiya Seto failed to Austria’s Liu Jia 11- since it started in 2011 with the make the 400m medley fi nal. 4, 11-9, 11-3, 11-5. repression of anti-government Peaty, 26, who has lowered But Zaza, the protests. “The conditions where the world record fi ve times and youngest Olympian since I trained in Syria were a very hard is arguably the greatest ever 11-year-old Romanian Beatrice thing to me, I wished for a diff er- over the distance, hit the wall in Hustiu competed in fi gure skating ent fl oor. We didn’t have such ta- an eye-catching 57.56 sec. And at the 1968 Winter Olympics, said Syria’s Hend Zaza plays a shot during her match against Austria’s bles nor such preparations,” said he’s just getting warmed up. “Of she was happy with her perform- Liu Jia during their women’s singles preliminary round table tennis Zaza. “It’s great for us that we course, a heat’s a heat. I always ance. “Reaching the Tokyo Olym- match at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. (Reuters) can play, and we are able to over- have cobwebs, I did in Rio, and Britain’s Adam Peaty competes in the heats of the men’s 100m pics was already an achievement. come those obstacles. We want to I always build on that,” he said breaststroke at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre yesterday. (AFP) I wasn’t asked to win, I was asked learned from the loss. Hopefully Liu, 39, was the European show that even though we are in at a 15,000-seat Tokyo Aquatics to play well,” she said. “I think in the next Olympics, there will be champion in 2005, four years be- the middle of the war, we must do Center devoid of fans, but with hauled in by Australian Brendon time, it’s right off what I had I had a good performance and I something in it for me.” fore Zaza was born. “In my eyes something.” US First Lady Jill Biden poolside Smith who qualifi ed fastest in at trials,” said the American on the fi rst of nine days of ac- 4:09.27 ahead of New Zealand’s teenager, who was almost two tion. “I was a bit shaky on the Lewis Clareburt. seconds clear of second-placed start, for some reason I was rip- Seto faded to fi fth and ninth Aimee Willmott of Britain. ping it a bit too hard but there’s overall and admitted he misread Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom’s Indian body organises event to cheer national Olympic team a lot of variables when it comes the situation. “In Rio fi ve years comeback from a broken el- to the Olympics.” ago I went too fast in the prelims bow this year gathered steam Peaty appears unstoppable and couldn’t work my best in as she motored through her heading into today’s semi-fi - the fi nals so I tried to avoid that 100m butterfl y heat in 56.18 to nals, but he does have compe- situation,” he said. “I didn’t let make today’s semi-fi nals. But tition from Arno Kamminga, it all out, and I re- the defending champion and who clocked a monster 57.90 in gret that.” world record holder will need to May to be the only other swim- Whatever hap- fi nd another gear with China’s mer besides Peaty to go under pens in today’s Zhang Yufei and Australian 58 seconds. And the Dutchman fi nal, a new cham- Emma McKeon both touching bettered that yesterday, touch- pion will be crowned with in 55.82. ing in 57.80. reigning gold medallist Kosuke ’s Henning Bennet American Michael Andrew, Hagino opting out of the event Muhlleitnet topped the times who caused a stir by opting not to focus on the 200m medley. in the men’s 400m freestyle in to be vaccinated against Cov- In the evening’s other heats, 3:43.67 ahead of Austria’s Felix id-19 before heading to Tokyo, Hungarian world record holder Auboeck (3:43.91). Elijah Win- was third fastest. While Peaty Katinka Hosszu struggled in nington, who shocked Mack cruised, Seto badly misjudged her fi fth Olympic campaign. Horton at the Australian trials his swim to crash out, shattering The triple gold medallist, nick- to deny him the chance of de- Japanese hopes of a gold medal named the “Iron Lady”, fi nished fending his Olympic title today, today. The Rio bronze medal- fourth in her heat and seventh was fourth quickest in a tie with Indian Sports Centre (ISC) organised recently a Cheer4india programme sending best wishes for the Indian Team participating in the list and world champion, who overall. She made today’s fi - team-mate Jack McLoughlin. ongoing Tokyo Olympics. The event was conducted at the Ashoka Hall of Indian Cultural Centre ( ICC). Several children and their parents has had a tumultuous year, re- nal but was nearly three sec- The door to a gold medal is participated in the event. ISC co-ordinating off icer Captian Atla Mohan, ISC president Dr Mohan Thomas, ICC president P N Baburajan, ICBF signing as captain of their swim onds adrift of quickest qualifi er wide open with China’s Sun president Ziyad Usman, ISC advisory council chairman Mohamed Easa and other committee members from the ISC attended the event. team after an extramarital aff air, Emma Weyant, who touched in Yang, the 2012 London cham- Captain Mohan motivated children to pursue sports actively in their day to day activity. was leading his heat through 4:33.55. pion, also missing as he serves a 300m. But he eased up and was “I’m really happy with my doping ban. Gulf Times Sunday, July 25, 2021 3 SPORT

MOTORSPORT SPOTLIGHT Hanzab re-elected Sport Integrity Qatar’s al-Attiyah Global Alliance vice chairman ohamed Hanzab, founder and chair- clinches late win for man of the Inter- national Centre for MSport Security (ICSS), has been re-elected vice chairman of the Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) during the extraordinary electoral general assembly held digitally. Overdrive Racing Thirteen of the 14 member organisations taking part in the extraordinary electoral General Saudi Arabia’s al-Rajhi and Portugal’s Reis in third and fourth places Assembly voted for Hanzab to be re-elected as the vice chairman By Sports Reporter of the SIGA Global Council for Teruel, Spain the second term, following his initial election in 2018. Hanzab’s re-election affi rms verdrive Racing’s his outstanding contribution in Nasser Saleh al-At- the progression and eff orts of tiyah and Matthieu SIGA since its inception in 2017 promotion of good governance Baumel returned to in leading the way for sport in- and safeguarding the integrity of cross-countryO rallying action tegrity worldwide. sport through a set of universal for the fi rst time since the An- Franco Frattini, vice president standards. dalucia Rally in mid-May and of the Italian Council of State, Hanzab said: “I am very proud snatched a late victory in the and the Italian magistrate, was of this vote of confi dence and three-stage Baja Spain Aragon, also re-elected as Chair of the trust. For me, this is even more round fi ve of the FIA World of the SIGA Global Council by a important considering that there Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, unanimous vote of the 14 mem- is more work ahead of us to bring yesterday. ber organisations taking part in about the necessary reforms. I Leading by 64 seconds head- the extraordinary electoral gen- look forward to working with ing into the fi nal stage, al-At- eral assembly. all members of the SIGA Glo- tiyah lost time to French driver Densign White, CEO of the bal Council during the next four Sébastien Loeb during the early International Mixed Martial Arts years to consolidate our previous kilometres of the selective sec- Federation (IMMAF), was also and ongoing eff orts to protect tion and looked to be heading re-elected as vice-chair, with the integrity and good govern- for second place until his ri- 12 votes, and Alison Giordano, ance in sport.” val dropped around 14 min- Vice-President, Global Con- Franco Frattini, SIGA Coun- utes near the fi nish with power sumer Marketing & Sponsor- cil Chair, said: “Once again we steering issues and slipped to ships at Mastercard Internation- congratulate Hanzab on his re- seventh overall. al, who also received 13 votes, election, and express the wish “It was a diffi cult last stage has been appointed vice-chair that his second term will be as for everybody but I am quite and was elected to the Council successful as the fi rst. Covid-19 happy to win this race,” said al- for the fi rst time representing crisis infl uenced the fi rst term, Attiyah, who suff ered tyre wear global business Eddie Marsh- but SIGA resisted and has always on the abrasive surfaces in the baum, Director of Sports Integ- been able to follow its mission, high temperatures and duly re- rity at Quest (re-election) and fl agging corruption and improv- corded his fourth Spanish Baja João Paulo Almeida, Director ing the awareness-raising for success (2008, 2016 and 2017) General of the National Olympic integrity in sports. Diversity and and his third with Toyota. Committee of Portugal (COP) inclusion are the keywords for “Today everybody had prob- Nasser al-Attyiah (also inset) racing during the Baja Aragon in Spain on Friday. concluded the list of the Council the following term, as SIGA will lems. It was not easy at all. The members elected. build on the role of women in last 40km we had serious tyre time to move into an outright All will serve four-year terms sport, on the opportunity to in- wear issues.” RESULTS lead of 1min 04sec over Loeb, through to 2025 in the independ- vest in the younger generations, The Belgian Overdrive team who set the third quickest time ent international body aimed and avoid leaving behind those ran four Toyota Hiluxes in the 1. Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (QAT)/Michael Orr Prodrive Hunter 6hr 44min 36sec behind Orlando Terranova. “It at providing global leadership, who have disabilities.” punishing summer heat of the (GBR) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 6hr 32min 44sec 8. João Ramos (PRT)/Filipe Palmeiro (PRT) was a good stage and I am quite Aragón region of Spain for al- 2. Mattias Ekstrom (SWE)/Emil Bergkvist (SWE) Toyota Hilux 6hr 46min 57sec happy to have the lead,” said the Attiyah, Saudi Arabia’s Yazeed MINI All4 Racing 6hr 37min 24sec 9. Isidre Esteve (ESP)/Txema Villalobos (ESP) Qatari. al-Rajhi, Dutchman Erik van 3. Yazeed al-Rajhi (SAU)/Michael Orr (GBR) Toyota Hilux 6hr 52min 05sec “There was a lot of dust and Loon and Portugal’s Tiago Reis, Toyota Hilux Overdrive 6hr 38min 59sec 10. Alejandro Martins (PRT)/Jose Marques (PRT) we could not pass Seb.” Al-Sahouti takes part in with another customer car for 4. Tiago Reis (PRT/Valter Cardosa (PRT) Toyota MINI John Cooper Works Rally 6hr 53min 16sec Reis, Al-Rajhi and Van Loon Spaniard Isidre Esteve. Hilux Overdrive 6hr 39min 34sec 11. João Ferreira (PRT)/David Monteiro (PRT) completed the shorter opener in European Talent Cup Al-Rajhi and Michael Orr had 5. Joan Roma (ESP)/Alex Haro (ESP) Prodrive Toyota Hilux 6hr 57min 17sec fourth, seventh and 11th places rekindled their working part- Hunter 6hr 39min 52sec 12. Pedro Dias (PRT)/Jose Eduardo Sa (PRT) Ford to hold fourth, fi fth and eighth nership on the early stages of 6. Erik van Loon (NLD)/Sébastien Delaunay (FRA) EXR 5 Proto 6hr 58min 01sec in the general classifi cation. Es- the Silk Way Rally at the start Toyota Hilux Overdrive 6hr 44min 25sec 13. Miroslav Zapletal (CZE)/Marek Sykora (SVK) teve was 19th and held 10th. of the month before the team 7. Sébastien Loeb (FRA)/Fabian Lurquin (BEL) Ford F-150 Evo 7hr 00min 36sec, etc But Loeb managed to attack withdrew from the shortened from the front in the third and event. fi nal stage and the Frenchman That decision enabled Orr to place. sition. Portugal’s Joäo Ferreira all the way. It is not easy to open held off al-Attiyah until the give a back injury more time to Erik Van Loon began the Baja also drove an Overdrive-built the road.” closing kilometres when he lost heal and the Ulsterman guided in sixth place in the FIA World Hilux and fi nished 11th with Al-Rajhi came home in fourth vital minutes with the power the Saudi to third overall and the Cup for Cross-Country Bajas co-driver David Monteiro. place behind Sweden’s Mattias steering woes and slipped out of fi nal podium slot at the fi nish of Drivers’ Championship and he Nine-time World Rally Cham- Ekström. Reis, Van Loon and contention for the win. the Spanish event in Teruel. and French co-driver Sébastien pion Sébastien Loeb pipped al- Esteve were classifi ed in sev- Al-Attiyah duly recorded the The points’ haul also lifted al- Delaunay reached the fi nish in Attiyah by a mere one second to enth, ninth and 10th. fastest time and was able to seal Rajhi closer to Baja series leader a similar position to boost the the fastest time on the opening The second leg was divided victory by the margin of 4min Yasir Seaidan in the title race. Dutchman’s points tally behind selective section of 180km on into two selective sections of 40sec from Ekström. The Portuguese duo of Tiago points’ leader Seaidan. Friday after carding the fastest 112.91km and 208.36km with The third and fi fth quickest Reis and Valter Cardosa crewed Former Dakar motorcyclist time of 2hr 20min 12sec. cars tackling the opener from times lifted Al-Rajhi and Reis a fourth Overdrive Toyota. They Isidre Esteve teamed up with “It was a good fi rst stage, no 07.40hrs before the heat of into third and fourth overall. Qatar’s young rider Hamad al-Sahouti finished in the 17th position earned fourth and fi fth quickest Txema Villalobos to drive a real problems, but it was not the morning sun gained its The FIA World Cup for Cross- after the first qualifying practice of group A in the European Talent times on the last two stages on customer Overdrive Hilux. He easy for the rear tyres,” said al- strength. Country Bajas resumes in Hun- Cup in Spain. the way to an excellent fourth reached the fi nish in ninth po- Attiyah. “We were the fi rst car Al-Attiyah set the fastest gary at the start of August.

HORSE RACING Wahraan eases to a second successive victory for Al Shaqab Racing wned and bred by Al Shaqab Racing, Wah- Thousand Oaks off the mark at Newmarket raan (FR) (Le Havre x Al Jassasiyah) was last Three-year-old filly Thousand seenO at Pontefract on 6th July Oaks (IRE) (Kingman x Roheryn) when he broke his maiden in a carried the colours of Qatar 2,000 metre maiden race on his Racing Limited to success when 5th start. taking the Rich Energy Two Drinks He followed up with a con- One Taste Novice Stakes, a Class 3 vincing and rather dominant race for three- and four-year-olds 5½-length win in the 0-95 at Newmarket (July) Racecourse, Handicap for three-year-olds UK, on Friday. Following on from and older for trainer Sir Michael two third-placed eff orts at Kemp- Stoute at Newmarket’s July ton and Haydock respectively, course yesterday. Thousand Oaks was having her The three-year-old colt, who third racecourse start and scored was partnered by jockey Richard in fine style for trainers John and Kingscote, sat in last position in Thady Gosden. She was ridden to the 4-runner race with the six- victory by Cieren Fallon, retained year-old Big Kitten (USA) (Kit- rider to Qatar Racing Limited. ten’s Joy x Queen Martha) leading Settled behind the early leader the proceedings at a steady pace. auriferous (IRE) (Golden Horn As they came to the 600-metre x Sequester) throughout the Thousand Oaks won a Class 3 race for three- and four-year-olds at maker, the runners picked up and early stages of the 2400-metre Newmarket Racecourse in UK on Friday. PICTURE: John Hoy Big Kitten tried vainly to defend contest, Thousand Oaks travelled his lead from a strong challenge well under Fallon. She moved four and a half-length success at by The Roheryn Partnership, from Wahraan, who put the race to closer to the leader when 800 the line. The Simon & Ed Crisford- Thousand Oaks is by the leading bed. The Al Shaqab Racing’s colt metres from home and started to trained and Pat Dobbs-ridden Juddmonte stallion Kingman ran home comfortably on the fast press the leader. Inside the final Line Of Decent (IRE) (Nathaniel (Invincible Spirit) and is out of ground, proving his credentials Wahraan won the handicap for three-year-olds and older at Newmarket Racecourse in UK yesterday. 400 metres, Thousand Oaks and x Joys Of Spring) closed late on Listed winner Roheryn (Galileo), as an interesting progressive ele- PICTURE: John Hoy Auriferous began to pull away to snatch second from Aurifer- who was also placed four times ment for his owner and breeder. from the field. Thousand Oaks ous who weakened and finished at Group level. The second dam, Big Kitten fi nished second for trained and Aled Beech-ridden Jassasiyah, has already produced daughter of the Group 1 scorer took the lead from Auriferous in- further four lengths behind in La Chunga (More Than Ready), trainer Mark Johnston and jockey Songkran (IRE) (Slade Power x a winner with Mashael, a fi lly by and blue hen Park Express, dam side the 200 metres and despite third for trainer Andrew Balding was a Group Three winner at Joe Fanning, a further half length Choose Me). Wahraan is by the Dubawi in training with André of Derby hero and sire New Ap- hanging left, galloped clear to a and jockey Jamie Spencer. Bred both two and three. ahead of the George Boughey- French sire Le Havre. His dam, Al Fabre. Al Jassasiyah is a grand- proach. Sunday, July 25, 2021 GULF TIMES SPORT

WEIGHTLIFTING India’s hero Mirabai says Tokyo silver built on Rio failure AFP New Delhi

ndia’s Olympic weightlifting hero Chanu Saikhom Mirabai said her silver medal at Tokyo 2020 had been fi ve years in the making since Ishe missed out on an Olympic medal in Rio. Mirabai, 26, fi nished second behind gold medallist Hou Zhihui of China in the 49kg women’s wrestling on day one of the Olympic weightlift- ing competition. Congratulations poured in, includ- ing from cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar who said she had made India “very proud”. “I had worked hard for Rio but it was just not to be, but from that day onwards I thought of win- ning in Tokyo and fulfi l my dream of an Olympic med- India’s Chanu Saikhom Mirabai competes in the women’s 49kg weightlifting al,” Mirabai told reporters. competition during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo yesterday. (AFP) “I am here because of what I had learned in Rio.” her fi sh and rice when she returns. She Teenager Windy Cantika Aisah took Mirabai, the 2017 world champion also said that she will gorge on pizza af- the bronze for Indonesia after smash- at 48kg, had failed to fi nish in the 2016 ter missing meals for two days. ing her personal best twice in the clean Olympics after recording no clean lifts Mirabai won silver at the Glasgow and jerk. The 19-year-old from Band- in three clean and jerk attempts. Commonwealth Games in 2014 in the ung hoisted 110kg with her third at- But she came back strong to ag- 48kg class and secured Commonwealth tempt and screamed with delight as she gregate 202kg in Tokyo and become a gold on the Gold Coast in 2018. The secured a medal. She put her success national hero at becoming India’s fi rst 24-year-old world championship sil- down to her mum Siti, who was also a weightlifting silver medallist, after Ka- ver medallist Hou dominated the 49kg weightlifter. ranam Malleswari’s bronze in the wom- competition, opening up an early 7kg Hou’s victory could herald a gold en’s 69kg at Sydney 2000. advantage over Mirabai that she never rush for China in the weightlifting, es- Mirabai, whose family recognised relinquished at the Tokyo International pecially with arch-rivals North Korea her talent early when she carried huge Association (IOA). were with me during this journey,” Mi- Mirabai said her family in the north- Forum. “I felt very happy when I fi nally absent. China have sent a full quota of logs of fi rewood which her elder broth- “I would like to dedicate this medal rabai wrote on Twitter. “I like to thank eastern state of Manipur had not eaten made it,” said Hou. “In one second all four men and four women to Tokyo, and er found tough to pick, will be rewarded to my country and would like to thank my family especially my mother for a anything till her competition fi nished the stress disappeared. I prepared for all are capable of fi nishing on the top with $70,000 from the Indian Olympic the billion prayers of all Indians which lot of sacrifi ces and believing in me.” and her mother has promised to cook fi ve years so it means a lot to me.” step of the podium.

SPOTLIGHT TENNIS Djokovic, Medvedev urge schedule China claim rethink aft er toiling in Tokyo heat AFP Tokyo

ovak Djokovic and Da- niil Medvedev called early golds, on organisers to delay the start times of Ol- Nympic tennis matches as players laboured in the sweltering To- kyo summer heat on the opening day of the tournament. World number one Djokovic encoun- Carapaz wins tered little resistance from Bo- livia’s Hugo Dellien in a 6-2, 6-2 fi rst round win, but like many others found the playing condi- tions particularly demanding. Russia’s Daniil Medvedev returns to Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik Medvedev, a 6-4, 7-6 (10/8) during their first round match at the Ariake Tennis Park in Tokyo. (AFP) winner over Kazakhstan’s Alex- cycling crown ander Bublik, suggested putting Nadal and Roger Fe- Japanese star Naomi Osaka, will back matches until the evening, derer. play Spain’s Paula Badosa for a having started his opening round Medvedev admit- place in the last 16. Reigning Ro- shortly after midday in blazing ted the conditions land Garros champion Barbora Qian won the first gold medal of the Tokyo Games in 10-metre rifle sunshine. were “some of the Krejcikova advanced when her “I agree with him 100%,” said worst” he had ever experienced. Kazakh opponent Zarina Diyas AFP Djokovic, who revealed he had The Russian narrowly avoided retired down 5-2 in the fi rst set. Tokyo asked the International Tennis going three sets after saving a set Last month’s beaten French Federation (ITF) about potential- point in the second set tie-break Open fi nalist Anastasia Pavly- ly changing the daily 11am start. before sealing victory over the uchenkova infl icted a crush- hina claimed three gold medals on “To be honest I don’t understand dangerous Bublik. ing 6-0, 6-1 defeat on Italy’s the fi rst day of the Tokyo Olym- why they don’t start matches at Medvedev, a two-time Grand Sara Errani, the 2012 runner-up pics yesterday and cyclist Richard say 3pm. I’ve heard that for ten- Slam fi nalist who will meet in Paris. Osaka was originally Carapaz became just the second nis there’s some kind of curfew 160th-ranked Sumit Nagal of In- scheduled to kick off the tour- competitorC in Ecuador’s history to top the and they have to fi nish by mid- dia in the second round, is fairly nament against China’s Zheng podium, with victory in the road race. night. If that’s the case, I just well acclimatised to the heat, Saisai, but her match was pushed As the troubled build-up to the pan- fi nished the last match (on cen- spending his summers on the back 24 hours after she was cho- demic-postponed Games gave way to the tre court) and it’s not even 5pm. French Riviera after relocating sen to light the Olympic cauldron fi rst full day of competition, China secured We still have like seven hours to from Russia. in Friday’s opening ceremony. victories in shooting and weightlifting. play, they have the lights on all Poland’s Iga Swiatek, the 2020 Andy Murray, the defending Yang Qian sparked the mini gold rush in the the courts. They (could) make life French Open champion, suff ered two-time singles gold medal- 10-metre air rifl e competition, pipping Rus- much easier for all of us thanks with the heat and the glare of the list, began his fourth Olympics sia’s Anastasiia Galashina with a dramatic to this. I just don’t understand sun as she opened the day’s pro- by combining with Joe Salis- last-shot victory to take the very fi rst title of why they don’t move it. I doubt gramme on the main court. “Not bury to knock out French second the Games. they will change the decision but only the temperature was hard, seeds Pierre-Hugues Herbert Galashina had looked poised to win head- we’re hoping that they will.” but also the sun because on one and Nicolas Mahut 6-3, 6-2 in ing into the last shot, but stumbled with Djokovic will take on Germa- side it was pretty hard to serve,” the men’s doubles. Murray, now 8.9 on her fi nal eff ort to allow Yang to grab ny’s Jan-Lennard Struff in round Swiatek said after a 6-2, 6-2 win ranked a lowly 104th, takes on gold. “It’s the 100th birthday of the Chinese two, in an event missing half the over Mona Barthel. Canadian ninth seed Felix Auger- Communist Party,” she said. “I’m so happy men’s top 10 players, including Sixth seed Swiatek, in the same Aliassime in the fi rst round of the that this golden medal is a gift to my coun- 2008 Olympic champion Rafael quarter of the women’s draw as singles. try. I’m so proud.” There was more joy for China, with Hou Zhihui taking gold in the women’s 49kg Ecuador’s Richard Carapaz celebrates after winning the men’s cycling road race during the weightlifting event with an Olympic record Tokyo Olympic Games at the Fuji International Speedway in Oyama, Japan. (AFP) BELGIUM BEAT DUTCH AS GERMANY, INDIA WIN total of 210 kilograms. Fencer Sun Yiwen added a third Chinese gold of the day with worked so hard to be here and it’s a huge mo- Tokyo: World champions Bel- one from Rupinder Pal Singh. conditions. victory in the women’s epee. ment for me.” gium beat the Netherlands 3-1 in Australia’s ‘Kookaburras’ “It’s hot, but we’re just going In cycling’s gruelling road race, 2019 Giro The spectre of Covid-19 continued to the men’s hockey tournament at trailed 3-2 at halftime against to deal with it and get on with d’Italia winner Carapaz outfoxed a heavy- stalk the Games when German cyclist Si- the Tokyo Olympics yesterday Japan after conceding three it,” he said. “Luckily coming weight fi eld led by Slovenia’s Tour de France mon Geschke was forced out of the road thanks to a stunning hat-trick goals in quick succession but from Australia we’re used to a champion Tadej Pogacar. It was only Ecua- race while Dutch rower Finn Florijn has also from Alexander Hendrickx, kept fighting to turn the tables high heat so I think everyone dor’s second gold at the Olympics after Jef- tested positive. Seventeen new Games-re- while Germany and Britain also in the final two quarters. “Luck- has to deal with it. The team that ferson Perez’s victory in the 50km race walk lated cases were announced, taking the total won their first group matches. ily, we got the three points and copes the best is going to go the at the 1996 Atlanta Games. number to 123, of which 12 are athletes. Hendrickx scored three we’re just looking to build furthest in this tournament.” Japan celebrated the fi rst goal medal of Organisers were also nervously track- goals in five minutes as the each and every game,” said Rio gold medallists Argen- its Games when judoka Naohisa Takato won ing the progress of a tropical storm head- Belgians came back from a midfielder Daniel Beale, who tina drew 1-1 with Spain after the men’s 60kg fi nal at the iconic Nippon ing towards Tokyo, with forecasters saying goal down to take revenge scored the final goal. “This conceding in the 52nd minute Budokan, beating Taiwan’s Yang Yung-wei. it could arrive on Tuesday. As a “protective on the side that beat them is definitely a good place to while playing with a man down But the host nation suff ered disappointment measure”, organisers have brought forward in the EuroHockey semi-finals start with a win.” following a yellow card minutes when gymnastics great Kohei Uchimura’s to this weekend rowing events scheduled for last month. Germany thrashed The Australians pulled level earlier. campaign came to an early end. Monday. Canada 7-1, with two goals each in the 34th minute after Blake Britain, who have won Olym- The two-time all-around Olympic cham- As the swimming started, Britain’s Adam from explosive forward Jan Ruhr Govers scored a penalty corner pic gold in the men’s tourna- pion slipped up in qualifying for the hori- Peaty blasted through his heat to kickstart and defender Lukas Windfeder. and went ahead on the sun- ment three times, defeated zontal bar competition, having battled a the defence of his 100m breaststroke title. Earlier , Australia beat hosts drenched pitch of the main South Africa 3-1 helped by a shoulder injury to be fi t for the Games. “In Peaty, 26, arguably the greatest ever over Japan 5-3 in a thrilling opening stadium with a backhand shot second minute goal from Sam the last three Olympic Games I’ve been the distance, hit the wall in an eye-catching match, while India recovered from captain Aran Zalewski that Ward and two more in the able to match the level of performance I’d Sun Yiwen of China poses with her gold 57.56 sec. American Michael Andrew, who from a goal down to defeat New flew high in the net. second half. reached in training – but not this time,” a medal after winning the women’s individual caused a stir by refusing to be vaccinated Zealand 3-2. Beale took an assist from In the women’s tournament, dejected Uchimura said. epee fencing. (Reuters) against Covid-19 before heading to Tokyo, India, who have won gold forward Tim Brand to put the world and European champions In another Japanese setback, world was third fastest. World champions USA medals at eight Olympics, game away. Australia’s play- the Netherlands beat India 5-1, champion Daiya Seto failed to reach the fi nal domestic fans to glimpse the action. Tens thrashed New Zealand 6-1 to bounce back conceded early against New ers were taking on plenty of helped by goals from Albers, of the men’s 400 metre medley in the pool, of thousands lined the route of the brutal from a humiliating defeat to Sweden in their Zealand but equalised quickly ice water and using fans and 21, who is the youngest player although he has two more events. 234km (145-mile) course to watch as Cara- women’s football opener. Meanwhile, Hun- through a penalty stroke and cold towels to cool themselves on the Dutch side. Ireland’s With spectators barred from almost all paz prevailed in a thrilling tactical battle. gary’s evergreen fencer Aron Szilagyi made roared on to win, with two goals during breaks but Beale said women’s team beat South Africa Olympic venues due to Covid-19 restric- “It’s an incredible moment for me,” Cara- Olympic fencing history as he took the sabre from Harmanpreet Singh and they would adapt to the humid 2-0 at their first Olympics. tions, the road race was a rare chance for paz said. “You always have to believe. I have title for a third time in a row.