20 | Tuesday, April 28, 2020 HONG KONG EDITION | CHINA DAILY SPORTS
ATHLETICS Kenyan stars keep GONG’S STILL positive NAIROBI — Kenyan distance running greats Eliud Kipchoge and Vivian Cheruiyot have urged fans to stay positive as the world battles the COVID19 pandemic, with the duo GOT GOLD IN vowing to return to action stronger than ever. Before the crisis shut down global sports, the two had been due to go for glory at the London Marathon HER SIGHTS last Sunday. However, as the virus crisis gripped the world in March, Olympics postponement has changed the iconic race was postponed until Oct 4. shot put star’s plans — not her goals Cheruiyot said that, despite itch ing to get back racing as soon as pos sible, she is just happy to be healthy these days. “Today, there will be no London Marathon, but we will be back in action soon. Stay positive and stay healthy,” said Cheruiyot, who fin ished second in London last year, on Sunday from Eldoret. Reigning Olympic and London champion Kipchoge says the virus will be defeated and sports will recover from the global shutdown. “We will return to action stronger and with a lot of hope,” said the 35yearold Kipchoge. China’s Gong Lijiao celebrates winning the women’s shot put title at the World Athletics Championships last October in Doha, Qatar. XINHUA “The important thing is to remain focused and disciplined. We have a war to fight against the coronavirus, By SHI FUTIAN retain the title. but we have a responsibility to [email protected] “I actually had already done remain healthy and safe.” some mental preparation before I actually had Kipchoge and Cheruiyot were The postponement of the Tokyo the postponement was also named in the Kenya team for Olympics due to the COVID19 pan announced,” she said. already done some the Tokyo Olympics before the demic has disrupted the careers “While the epidemic was gradu mental preparation Games were pushed back to 2021. and lives of athletes across the ally coming under control in China, Now, the 36yearold Cheruiyot globe — especially those who are the global situation worsened. It’s before the hopes to remain injuryfree and be treating this edition of the Games lucky that the Olympics were not postponement was able to answer her country’s call as their last chance for glory at the canceled. So everything is not too again next year. socalled “greatest show on Earth”. gloomy.” announced. It’s “One year is a long time and we China’s star shotputter Gong With all domestic and interna lucky that the want to be in our best shape to com Lijiao counts herself among those tional tournaments paused by the pete. But we will be patient and see ranks. pandemic, the biggest challenge for Olympics were not how the season unfolds,” said Cher Prior to athletics’ shutdown, the Gong is to maintain her competi canceled. So uiyot, who has recovered from a ten 31yearold had been widely tipped tiveness. In late April, she remains don injury which ruled her out of to add an elusive Olympic gold to in “winter training” mode. everything is not too last year’s Berlin Marathon. her medal collection in the Japa “With no competitions to enter, gloomy.” “The important thing for now is nese capital. Now, the twotime I’ve just kept my winter training to remain safe. There are no imme Gong Lijiao, world champion is putting a brave going,” she said. “I’ve had to change China’s twotime world diate plans on sports and we have to face on having to recalibrate and my entire Olympic preparation Gong Lijiao prepares to unleash a throw during her march to gold shot put champion live with that. Until then, we just peak next summer instead. plan. This current period of time at the World Athletics Championships in Doha last October. XINHUA train as often as we can under the “I can still wait for one more should have been very important, health guidelines.” year,” Gong told China Sports Daily but now all I can do is just maintain Meanwhile, London Marathon on Monday from a closeddoor a basic condition. I always have one problem is my knee,” Gong said. ment,” said Gong. “I tell myself that mood.” Gong, though, hasn’t race director Hugh Brasher has said national team training camp at Bei skills session and one physical “Earlier, I could only sit to practice all will be fine. I still have a chance remained wrapped up in her own that while he hopes the event will jing Sports University, where she strength session each day.” my shot. So another priority for me and nothing good comes easily. One issues, and has taken a special take place as normal on Oct 4, it has been isolated from the outside In midMarch, the national team is to recover from the injury. more year means I should change interest in the plight of Wuhan, the could be slimmed down to an elite world for months. organized a shot put test event at “The postponement for veterans my plan. I should give myself more Hubei province capital that was the only race. “All I can do now is to keep mak the university. Even with no audi like me indeed is a challenge. But confidence.” epicenter of the outbreak in China. “But in today’s society, you can ing adjustments and save my best ence to cheer her on, Gong still rose on the other hand, we do have more To ease athletes’ loneliness and She donated 10,000 yuan ($1,412) never say never. We are trying to condition for next year.” to the occasion, winning with a time for preparation now.” help them unwind from their daily to help the city’s battle against the stay really agile and to keep scenario Ripping up her plans and start throw of 19.70 meters. Strict virusprevention measures slog, the university organizes table virus and also recorded video mes planning. And at the moment, I ing again, however, must have been After years of grueling training remain in place at the national tennis, Chinese chess and pool sages to express thanks and respect don’t want to discount anything especially painful for Gong, given and competition, however, Gong’s team training camp, where athletes competitions, with Gong a regular toward the medical workers risking until it becomes really impossible,” she had dominated the 2019 season body is beginning to show the strain. have been assigned separate rooms. and keen participant. their lives on the front line. he said. — winning 12 golds and one silver She is still trying to manage a And, as millions of people around “Our team always has poker, “Initially I wanted to buy masks Brasher also would not confirm at the 13 meets she entered. nagging knee injury and, according the world will now attest to, isola gobang and Honor of Kings (a for them, but I really couldn’t find whether Kipchoge or Ethiopia’s Among those triumphs was a to China Sports Daily, last Decem tion sometimes brings emotional mobile esports game) competi any to buy at the very start of the Kenenisa Bekele had signed up for gold at the Doha world champion ber was diagnosed with mild and mental challenges. tions,” Gong added. “I rarely win, epidemic,” said Gong. “So instead I the October race. ships in October, when Gong arrhythmia. “When I’m alone, I ask myself but I enjoy being able to interact just made the donation to show my become only the fourth woman to “My heart is fine. The bigger how can I cope with the postpone with my teammates. It helps lift my love.” XINHUA
Digest
AMERICAN FOOTBALL State in 2015, to enter free agency SOCCER ExUnited ace Rafael Iran unable to receive CRICKET Saints want Winston and replaced him with former Patri Doctor issues warning wants Botafogo move FIFA financial support Archer finds missing ots QB Tom Brady. as backup for Brees to Spain over restart Lyon right The Iranian Football Federation World Cup medal The New Balls and pitches will need to be back Rafael da said that it is unable to receive England’s Orleans Saints Seahawks part ways sterilized frequently when La Liga Silva has financial assistance from FIFA due Jofra Archer and quarter with Britt and Fluker returns in order to minimize the expressed a to sanctions against the country’s has finally back Jameis The Seattle Seahawks revamped chance of players getting infected by desire to end banking system, the Tehran Times found his Winston are their offensive line on Sunday, part the coronavirus, a leading Spanish his career newspaper reported on Sunday. World Cup working on a ing ways with center Justin Britt and doctor has said. alongside twin According to the report, FIFA will winner’s medal contract pro guard DJ Fluker. Spanish soccer has been on hold brother Fabio Rafael da Silva release all operational funding for after “going posal to make Jameis Winston Fluker posted a letter revealing since March 10 due to the pandemic at Botafogo, 2019 and 2020 in the coming days in mad” looking Jofra Archer the former his release to Seattle fans on Twitter. and stakeholders have been drawing the team they the first step of a relief plan to assist for the prized Buccaneers Britt’s release was reported by multi up plans to complete the current supported as children. the soccer community impacted by possession following a house move. starter a backup to Drew Brees, a ple entities and he posted a photo of season in a bid to avoid catastrophic Rafael, who is contracted to Lyon the COVID19 pandemic. The 25yearold Sussex fast bowl source familiar with the situation himself in a Seahawks uniform sim financial losses, although a date for until June 2021, said Botafogo would This measure will mean that a er on Sunday posted a photograph told Associated Press. ply saying “Thank You” on his Insta a return is yet to be set. be his favored destination, should total of around $150 million will be of the medal on social media with Winston and the Saints are in gram account. Rafa Ramos, president of the the French club choose not to renew distributed among the 211 national the caption: “Randomly searching “advanced” talks, the source said on Britt spent six years with the Sea association of Spanish soccer club his contract. governing bodies around the world. the guest bedroom and boom.” condition of anonymity on Sunday hawks and started 86 of 87 games doctors, has outlined what condi “I want to end my career at Bota However, the Iranian Football When asked about the where because negotiations were ongoing. played after being a secondround tions will be like when matches, fogo but first I need to receive a pro Federation has serious problems abouts of his medal by BBC Radio The person declined to say whether pick out of Missouri in 2014. He which are set to be played in closed posal from them,” the 29yearold with regard to receiving financial on Saturday, Archer said: “I had it there was any agreement on either played the first eight games of last stadiums with no spectators, return. former Manchester United defender assistance from FIFA because broad hanging off a portrait someone did the length of the contract or finan season before suffering a season “All the material, even the pitches, told Canal do TV. US restrictions on Iran’s banking for me and sent to me, I had my cial terms. ending ACL tear in his left knee on will have to be sterilized before a “It’s not enough just for me to system are still in force. medal hanging on that. Winston is coming off a season in Oct 27 against the Atlanta Falcons. match, at halftime and afterwards,” want it. If had the option of joining Ali Soleimani, the treasurer of the “I moved flat and the picture is on which he led the NFL with 5,109 The Seahawks will save $8.5 mil Ramos told newspaper El Pais on Botafogo or another club in Brazil I Iranian Football Federation, said the the new wall but there’s no medal. I passing yards and ranked second lion under the salary cap by releas Sunday. “It’s possible to be infected would definitely choose Botafogo.” sanctions are hindering efforts by turned the house upside down for with 33 touchdown passes, but he ing Britt prior to June 1, according to by an unknown ball but when you Rafael has made 129 appearances FIFA to make payments to Iran. about a week but I still haven’t man also led the NFL in interceptions spotrac. Seattle clears $3.68 million are struck by a sterilized ball on a for Lyon since joining the club from “FIFA has not yet found a safe aged to find it. with 30. That made Winston the of cap space by cutting Fluker, sterilized surface it’s very hard to get United in 2015. solution to pay the revenues of Irani “I know it should be in the house first QB in NFL history to have at according to the same entity. infected.” Fabio, who also spent time at an football,” he said. so I will keep eyes out for it but I’ve least 30 TDs and 30 interceptions. Fluker spent the past two seasons Spanish health minister Salvador United before signing with Cardiff “Many efforts have been made in gone mad looking for it already.” Tampa Bay allowed Winston, whom with Seattle and started 23 of 24 Illa said on Sunday the league is City in 2014, is now at Lyon’s Ligue 1 this regard, but we have not reached it drafted first overall out of Florida games played. unlikely to return in May. rival, Nantes. a suitable solution.” XINHUA — AGENCIES