14 Sunday, April 18, 2021 Sports ASIAN WEIGHTLIFTING CHAMPIONSHIPS ‘Amazing feeling’ for Rublev as he India’s Chanu creates sets up Tsitsipas new world record final in Monaco ANI DPA in straight sets on his way to TASHKENT (UZBEKISTAN) BERLIN winning an ATP 500 title in Rotterdam last month. INDIAN weightlifter Mirabai ANDREY Rublev reflected Six of his eight ATP titles Chanu on Saturday set a new on an “amazing feeling” as he have come since the start of world record in Clean and Jerk booked a Monte Carlo Masters last year. as she lifted 119 kg at Asian final appearance against Stefa- It took Tsitsipas, who has Weightlifting Championships nos Tsitsipas. not won a tournament for 14 here in Tashkent to rub out the The Russian has had a months, only one hour and old mark of 118 kg. remarkable week at the Mas- nine minutes to see off the chal- Mirabai’s also created a ters 1000 event that included lenge of Evans, forcing 11 break new national record as she a stunning win over 11-time points to the Briton’s one. lifted a total of 205 kg (86 champion Rafael Nadal in the “I am indeed pleased with kg snatch + 119 kg Clean and quarter-finals. the performance,” Tsitsipas Jerk) which also won her the Rublev continued his fine said, with the Greek yet to bronze medal at the showpiece run with a 6-3, 7-5 win over drop a set in Monte Carlo. event. Indian weightlifter Sa- Casper Ruud on Saturday to “I found ways to play at my thish Kumar Sivalingam con- ensure he will do battle against best. It was really difficult to gratulated Mirabai for attain- Tsitsipas in his first final at maintain my level of consist- ing the new world record. this level. ency and I am really happy I “Congrats @mirabai_ Tsitsipas comfortably saw managed to deal with all the chanu for your new world off Dan Evans - who had beat- different moments during the record in Clean and Jerk 119 en world number one Novak match. kg first indian women weight- Djokovic earlier in the tourna- “I’m feeling good. I’m lifter create history,” Sathish ment - winning his semi-final feeling energised. I still have tweeted. 6-2, 6-1. plenty of gas and energy left Last month, fencer Bhava- Rublev had 21 winners in his in me. I was able to have all of ni Devi scripted history by be- 80-minute victory over Ruud my matches done in two sets, coming the first fencer from and has a record of 24-4 this so that is a big plus. India to qualify for the Tokyo season, the ATP Tour’s best. “I am happy to be able Olympics. “It is an amazing feeling - it to play that way, just take it Soon after her qualification is my first (Masters) final, so I match by match, approach for the Tokyo Olympics, Union am really happy,” said Rublev. each individual match with the Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju “We will see what is going to same intensity and energy - took to Twitter and congratu- happen [in the final]. I will try I’m really focused for Sunday.” lated Devi on her achievement. to do my best. Rublev has won three of his six The 27-year-old has quali- “Casper is a really amaz- career meetings with Tsitsipas fied for the Olympics through ing player, especially on clay. and one of their two battles on the Adjusted Official Ranking Since the beginning he put a clay. (AOR) method. really high intensity [on the Tsitsipas will be competing Tokyo Olympics are set to court] and was really tough. in his third Masters final, hav- take place from July 23 to Au- “I knew that I needed to ing lost to Nadal and Djokovic gust 8 this year. Whereas, the raise my level if I wanted to in his two previous appearanc- Paralympics will take place fight against him, because if es, the last of which came two from August 24 to September 5. India’s Mirabai Chanu exults after lifting 119 kg in Clean and Jerk with a best snatch of 86kg at the Asian Weightlifting Championships in I (did) not raise the level I years ago in Madrid. The Games were sched- Tashkent on Saturday. (Pic: Twitter) [would] lose for sure.” Overall, Tsitsipas has won uled to be held last year, but Rublev defeated Tsitsipas just five of his 13 ATP finals. it was postponed due to the lations to #TOPSAthlete Ravi The Olympic-bound wres- (TOPS) core group. lik have been included in the COVID-19 pandemic. Dahiya who retains his title in tler had previously clinched This is as per the policy de- TOPS core group after at- Earlier, India’s Ravi Ku- Men’s 57 kg at the Asian Wres- three silver and four bronze cision taken at the 56th meet- taining their Tokyo Olympic mar Dahiya on Saturday won tling Championships after medals and this is Vinesh’s ing of the Mission Olympic quotas at the Asian Wrestling a gold medal in the ongoing beating Iran’s Alireza Sarlak third gold in three tournaments Cell held on April 7, where it Olympic qualifier. Asian Wrestling Champion- 9-4,” tweeted SAI Media. since her return in March. was decided that all Olympic- Both the athletes were ships in Almaty. On Friday, Vinesh Phogat Meanwhile, six athletes qualified athletes will be sup- previously a part of the Dahiya retained his title in won her maiden gold at Asian which include two wres- ported through TOPS. TOPS development group. the 57kg weight category af- Wrestling Championships af- tlers and four sailors have Women’s 57 kg wrestler They are among six wres- ter he defeated Iran’s Alireza ter beating her rival Taipei’s been included in the Target Anshu Malik and women’s tlers to win quotas for the Sarlak 9-4. “Many congratu- Meng Hsuan Hsieh in the final. Olympic Podium Scheme 62kg wrestler Sonam Ma- Tokyo Olympics. Persepolis stay perfect with win over Al Rayyan AFC ful header over the bar while Russia’s Andrey Rublev celebrates during his semi-final against GOA at the other end, Yacine Bra- Norway’s Casper Ruud at the Monte-Carlo ATP Masters Series in himi’s drive from inside the Monaco on Saturday. (AFP) PERSEPOLIS FC flexed their area was saved by Persepolis credentials as favourites as they custodian Hamed Lak. came from behind to defeat Al Persepolis started the World snooker championship to Rayyan SC 3-1 in Group E of the second half with heightened 2021 AFC Champions League intensity and their determina- see fans return in pilot event at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru tion paid off two minutes into Stadium on Saturday. the restart when Kamal Kamy- DPA World Snooker Tour chair- The Islamic Republic of abinia headed home the equal- LONDON man Barry Hearn admitted Iran side turned on the power iser off Torabi’s corner. the pressure was on, he told in the second half as they add- Al Rayyan found them- SPECTATORS will return to BBC Sport: “It’s important we ed to the 1-0 opening day win selves 2-1 down two min- sport on Saturday when the are successful. against UAE’s Al Wahda FSCC utes later as Siamak Nemati World Snooker Championship “We are sending out a while Al Rayyan were left in weaved his way down the right gets under way with the Cru- message to all other indoor search of their first victory, flank before finding Moghan- cible to open its doors to fans sports, cinemas, theatres. The having been held 0-0 by FC lou, who volleyed past Younis. once again. data that comes from this is Goa on Matchday One. Moghanlou scored his The venue in Sheffield going to be vital to getting to Persepolis raced off the Action from the Persepolis-Al Rayyan AFC Champions League match played at Goa on Saturday. second in the 57th minute, could be up to 33 per cent full the land of milk and honey of blocks and wasted no time in finding space inside the six on the first day of the tourna- normality.” asserting themselves, coming forward was flagged offside. in the 19th minute when Naif first saving Mahdi Torabi’s yard box to collect Omid ment and the hope is that a Hot Water Comedy Club in close to opening the scoring The Iran Pro League Al Hadhrami rose highest to effort from inside the area on Alishah’s pass before slam- capacity crowd of 980 people Liverpool was meant to host after just three minutes when champions continued to press head home Abdelaziz Hatim’s 24 minutes and then denying ming the ball into an un- will attend next month’s final the first pilot event with spec- Vahid Amiri raced down the with their free flowing passing free-kick into the bottom right Moghanlou’s drive in the 39th guarded goalmouth. on May 3. tators on Friday, but pulled left flank and relayed the ball but Al Rayyan were up to task of the net. minute. With the job done, Perse- A lot depends on the re- out and Saturday’s opening to Shahriyar Moghanlou, who with their sound defending. An undaunted Persepolis The Al Rayyan shotstop- polis will now turn their focus sults of the Government’s pilot session at the Crucible now found himself in a one on one A lapse in concentration, pushed for the equaliser but per showed his class just be- to FC Goa on Tuesday while Al events, which are being used has the job of taking sport’s situation with Al Rayyan goal- however, saw Persepolis con- Al Rayyan goalkeeper Younis fore half-time when he tipped Rayyan will seek their first win to help England and sport out first step towards normality keeper Fahad Younis, but the cede against the run of play was at the top of his game, Seyed Jalal Hosseini’s power- against Al Wahda.