14 Sports Tuesday, August 4, 2020 Paralympics: New Photo of the Day schedule unveiled with minor changes

TOKYO: Tokyo 2020 organizers yesterday unveiled the new schedule for the coronavirus-post- poned Paralympics next year, with only minor modi- fications to the original calendar for the event. The historic decision to delay the 2020 Games over the pandemic means the Paralympics are now scheduled to run from August 24 to September 5, 2021. The program will feature 539 events across 22 sports, with modifications made only to start and finish times for some events, Tokyo 2020 said at a press conference. “Having the schedule fixed is a big step for athletes. We would like to continue our work to create a safe and secure Games,” Tokyo 2020 Games delivery officer Hidemasa Nakamura told reporters. The postponement of the Games has created a massive headache for organizers, as they navigate everything from securing venues to devising coron- avirus countermeasures. So far specific measures to prevent infection have not been announced, with decisions expected sometime this autumn. For the Paralympics in particular, officials said they are mindful that they must cater to the needs of individ- ual athletes and spectators with a range of different health and physical requirements. Tokyo organizers said they are also working with the International Paralympic Committee to assess how the viral pandemic has affected athletes in vari- ous countries. Japanese Paralympian and taekwon- do fighter Mitsuya Tanaka told reporters at the briefing that the pandemic has deeply affected ath- letes. “In taekwondo, we go face to face. We have Abdo Feghali performs during Red Bull Car Park Drift Qualifier at Sirbb Circuit. — Photo taken from www.redbullcontentpool.com restrictions during sparring, for example. Compared to the time before the coronavirus, we cannot prac- tice like we used to,” he said. —AFP Blue Jackets shut out Leafs in Game 1 of qualifying series Coyotes tally 3 in first, fend off Predators in opener TORONTO: Cam Atkinson scored early in the third second remaining in the game was the difference as period and the Columbus Blue Jackets got a historic Colorado claimed a thrilling win over St. Louis in a performance in net to defeat the Toronto Maple Western Conference round-robin clash in Leafs 2-0 in the opener of a best-of-five qualifying Edmonton. With the Avalanche on a power play and series in Toronto on Sunday night. Joonas Korpisalo, buzzing around the net with all kinds of chances, making his career playoff debut, stopped 28 shots to Kadri pounced on a loose puck in the slot and fired earn the first playoff in the history of the it home just before the clock hit zero in both teams’ Blue Jackets. Atkinson gave Columbus a 1-0 lead at first clash since the NHL resumed play after the 4 1:05 of the third period with his eighth career playoff 1/2-month pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It goal on a shot from the top of the right circle after a took a lengthy review before it was declared to be a breakout down the wing. David Savard earned an good goal, and served as a thrilling finish as both assist. Alexander Wennberg added an empty-net clubs began gearing up for the upcoming Stanley goal at 19:41 of the third period. Frederik Andersen Cup . Despite the Avalanche holding a dras- made 33 saves in the Toronto goal. tic edge in play, Blues forward David Perron opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 16:46 of the WILD 3, CANUCKS 0 opening frame. Colorado defenseman Ryan Graves Alex Stalock made 28 saves for the shutout vic- finally solved Blues goalie Jordan Binnington and tory and Jared Spurgeon collected three points as cued the comeback when he evened the count at Minnesota topped Vancouver in Game 1 of their 5:33 of the third period. Western Conference qualifying round series in Edmonton. Game 1 was just Stalock’s second playoff COYOTES 4, PREDATORS 3 start and fifth overall postseason appearance of his Michael Grabner scored a short-handed break- nine-year NHL career. The Wild didn’t reveal their away goal in the second period which proved to be starting until close to game time, leaving the difference in Arizona’s victory over Nashville the Canucks guessing as to whether Stalock or the in Game 1 of their best-of-five NHL qualifying more playoff-tested Devan Dubnyk would be in net. series in Edmonton. Phil Kessel and Taylor Hall had Spurgeon had two goals and an assist, setting a two assists each for the Coyotes, who also got TORONTO: William Nylander #88 of the and Riley Nash #20 of the Columbus Blue career best for points in a playoff game. The for- first-period goals from Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Jackets collide in the third period in Game One of the Eastern Conference Qualification Round prior to ward scored one of the Wild’s two power-play goals Christian Dvorak and Clayton Keller. Filip Forsberg the 2020 NHL Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. — AFP as well as an empty-net goal in the final minute of scored twice for the Predators and Ryan Ellis play. Eric Staal had two assists for the 10th multi- added a goal. Roman Josi added two assists for the point playoff game of his career. The veteran for- Nashville crew. Toronto. Scott Laughton, Nate Thompson and and Tampa Bay Lightning to ward has 48 points (20 goals, 28 assists) over 59 defenseman Philippe Myers each scored a goal determine the Eastern Conference’s seeding of its career playoff games. FLYERS 4, BRUINS 1 and Carter Hart made 34 saves for the Flyers, who top four clubs. Boston goaltender Jaroslav Halak Michael Raffl collected a goal and an assist to had won nine of 10 before the shutdown in made 25 saves while making his first playoff start AVALANCHE 2, BLUES 1 lift Philadelphia past Boston in the opener of the March. Chris Wagner scored the lone goal for the since 2015. He got the nod in place of Tuukka Nazem Kadri’s buzzer-beater with one-tenth of a Eastern Conference round-robin tournament in Bruins, who are jockeying with the Flyers, Rask, who was ill. — AFP

and Phillies didn’t play the past week but Tom Seaver of the New York Mets in 1970. MLB Cardinals are set to resume MLB competition in the “I normally don’t try to strike people out,” Bowling association next few days with those whose test results Alexander said after the Tigers lost 4-3 to allow under MLB safety protocols. A sea- the Reds. “But I would say after the fifth expect more son of 162 games per team was expected strikeout I was trying to strike people out.” holds virtual meeting to start in March, but the coronavirus pan- Alexander was one strike from retiring COVID-19 cases demic cut the season to 60 games per club. Mike Moustakas for a second time for his KUWAIT: President of MLB plans to stage all games in empty 10th in a row, but wound up hitting him International and Asian after latest tests home ballparks, with teams traveling instead to end the run. “I tried to strike him Bowling Associations, between cities. out,” said Alexander. “But I ran it up and in Chairman of Kuwait Bowling New York Mets outfielder Yoenis and hit Moustakas in the wrist.” Club Sheikh Talal Al- NEW YORK: The St Louis Cardinals, Cespedes has decided not to play the New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge Mohammad thanked all mem- already facing multiple COVID-19 cases remainder of the season due to COVID-19 hit a home run in his fifth consecutive game bers of the executive bureau of that wiped out their weekend Major concerns, general manager Brodie Van on Sunday, becoming the first Yankee with the International Association of League Baseball games, expect more posi- Wagenen said. Cespedes left his hotel room such a homer streak since Alex Rodriguez the game for their constructive tive results from testing Sunday, ESPN in Atlanta without notifying the club, some- in 2007. Judge tagged a three-run blast off cooperation in order to reported. The Cardinals said in a statement thing his agent did later Sunday. “This is a Boston left-hander Matt Hall in the second enhance the game. they do not expect an update on test challenging time for everyone. And so we inning. Los Angeles Angels pitcher Shohei Sheikh Talal Al-Mohammad He said the international results before Monday and will remain at a will support him in that decision,” Van Ohtani, who couldn’t manage to secure an bowling community is working in hotel in Milwaukee, where three planned Wagenen said. “It was surprising, without out and allowed five runs in his season total consensus between all contenants to be direct without games against the Brewers were called off question. At the same point, we have to go debut last weekend, struggled in throwing members in manner that helps in having to refer to the heads of due to their cases. forward.” Most teams continued to play only 1 2/3 innings Sunday in the club’s 6-5, achieving ambitions that aim at contenants which allows for ESPN reported that someone with the Sunday as normal, with some record-set- 11-inning loss to Houston. spreading the game further more freedom to those who find team said the last round of tests are “not ting efforts. The Japanese star, known for his ability around the world. themselves competent and meet good,” and that unnamed sources expect to pitch and bat in his 2018 MLB debut Sheikh Mohammad said the the conditions to declare his multiple new positives from the latest test RECORD BY TIGER PITCHER campaign, underwent tendon replacement International Bowling candidacy without restrictions. results. Detroit Tigers left-handed relief pitcher surgery and did not pitch in 2019. Ohtani Association’s executive bureau Sheikh Mohammad said the The Cardinals have had one player and Tyler Alexander struck out the first nine retired the Astros in the first inning on only held a virtual meeting (online) bureau decided to give players a three staff members test positive for batters he faced in the opener of Sunday’s eight pitches, but he struggled with control and amended some rules to seat through elections by all COVID-19, and inconclusive results for doubleheader against Cincinnati, breaking in the second inning, walking three batters allow for flexible dealings with players worldwide, adding that another player and three staffers. the old MLB reliever’s strikeout streak mark to load the bases, striking out two Houston any emergency or pandemic this will attract those with devel- That follows 20 positive tests reported of eight by former New York Yankees hitters, and then walking two more to force such as the current situation. oped ideas and who will reflect for the Miami Marlins and more for ball- pitcher Ron Davis against the California in two Astros runs. Ohtani is batting .148 The bureau adopted the can- the hopes and visions of players park employees of the Philadelphia Phillies, Angels in 1981. with two homers and seven runs batted in didacy for executive posts by the about the future of the game. who hosted the Marlins in the clubs’ open- Alexander was one shy of matching the as a designated hitter, pitching only on ing MLB games of the season. The Marlins record of 10 consecutive strikeouts set by Sundays before and after a rest day. — AFP