14 Established 1961 Sunday, July 5, 2020 Sports

Photo of the Day Thiem to donate prize money from Djokovic’s event

VIENNA: World number three Dominic Thiem will donate the prize money that he won in Belgrade during the ill-fated Adria Tour, where Novak Djokovic and three other participants tested posi- tive for coronavirus, his father was quoted by Aus- trian media on Friday. Thiem took part in the Belgrade leg of the exhibi- tion event organised by Djokovic, where social dis- tancing was minimal and matches were played in front of thousands of fans, earning a storm of criticism. Thiem’s father, Wolfgang, who also trains the 26- year-old, defended Djokovic, telling Austria’s Presse daily that the world number one had not broken any of Serbia’s and Croatia’s coronavirus rules and the tour had aimed to collect money for charity. “Of course the dancing in the nightclub (during the tour) was not ideal, but Djokovic did nothing bad in principle,” he was quoted as saying. “....a few thousand euros (dollars) are collected for a clinic treating children with cancer.” He did not say to who Thiem would donate his prize money. The 33-year-old Djokovic donated more than 40,000 euros ($45,000) to the Serbian town of Novi Pazar, badly affected by the pandemic to help it fight a growing outbreak of the disease, Serbian media re- ported Wednesday. Thiem has acknowledged tennis players at the Adria Tour made “a mistake” after Djokovic, Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki all tested CAIRO: Dominic Di Tommaso performs in Cairo, Egypt. — Photo taken from www.redbullcontentpool.com positive to COVID-19. Djokovic and his wife Jelena, who had been self isolating since returning from the tour, have now tested negative. —AFP Kirk, Simpson share US PGA lead at Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit Simpson hit 13 of 14 fairways and 17 of 18 greens in regulation

WASHINGTON: Chris Kirk, seeking his first win on the developmental Korn Ferry Tour — have USPGA Tour title since 2015, and recent winner buoyed him. “I’m very thankful to be out here playing Webb Simpson shared the lead Friday after the sec- again and I’m really enjoying competing,” he said. ond round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit, “But at the same time I realize there are things that Michigan. Kirk, 35, walked away from last year, are a lot bigger than this ... I’m just happy to be in a sidelining himself for seven months to address de- really good place.” pression and alcohol abuse. He said his Korn Ferry victory had showed him he He grabbed a share of the halfway lead at Detroit could put together solid rounds, and his faith in that Golf Club with a seven-under par 65 that included a wasn’t shaken by a tough finish that saw him have to birdie hole out from a bunker at the 11th and a chip- sink a testing six-footer to save par at 17 before a in for birdie at the 12th. He had opened his round with bogey at the 18th — where his four-footer for par three straight birdies and was 13 under for the tour- lipped out. nament before a bogey at 18 capped his seven-under “I didn’t quite do as good a job of (maintaining 65 for a 12-under total of 132. momentum) late in the round today,” he said. “But at Simpson, a former US Open champion who won the Heritage two weeks ago, had eight birdies in his eight-under 64. The world number six Simpson stuck his approach within two feet of the pin for birdie at the ninth and holed out from a bunker for birdie at 16 DETROIT: Webb Simpson of the United States talks with his caddie Paul Tesori during the second on his way to the top of a jam-packed leaderboard. Staying round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic at the in Detroit, Michigan. — AFP World number 10 Bryson DeChambeau headlined a group of six players sharing third on 133 that also aggressive included Ireland’s Seamus Power and Americans Simpson hit 13 of 14 fairways and 17 of 18 greens with a birdie gives me some inspiration for tomorrow , Mark Hubbard, Ryan Armour and in regulation, and at the only green he missed — at to play well.” Richy Werenski. 16 — he made birdie from a greenside bunker. Wolff, a second-year tour player seeking his sec- It was a further stroke back to American Kevin DeChambeau, who was frustrated after four bogeys ond tour title, got to 11-under with an eight-under par Kisner and Austrian Sepp Straka — whose brother, in his first-round 66, minimized his mistakes in his 64, teeing off on 10 and stringing together six straight Sam, is on the bag for Kirk this week. Although the the same time I felt I was in the right place mentally. second-round 67 that included five birdies without birdies from the 14th through the first to climb the most recent of his four US PGA Tour titles was at “I was trying to stay aggressive and trying to just a bogey. “Making those mistakes was getting on me,” leaderboard. Armour also signed for a 64 that included Colonial five years ago, Kirk said a new found per- keep making birdies. It didn’t quite work out, but I’m DeChambeau said. “Coming off with a clean card a hole in one at the par-three fifth. Ireland’s Power, spective since his self-imposed hiatus — and a recent proud of the way I played.” today makes me feel really good and finishing up Hubbard and Werenski all signed for 66. — AFP

“We have communicated to the team ington Mayor Muriel Bowser said last of coronavirus cases in Canada compared NFL’s Redskins to in Washington our request that they month of the Redskins name. NHL eyes Aug 1 to the United States. Play in the NHL was change the team name,” FedEx said in a This week, her deputy John Falcic- halted on March 12 because of the pan- review name after one-sentence statement. chio was more categorical, telling The demic. McKenzie said the play-in qualify- Reports this week said that FedEx, Washington Post: “There is no viable return-to-play ing series, which will be a best-of-five Nike and PepsiCo all received letters path, locally or federally, for the Wash- event, should end in the second week of sponsor threat from 87 investment firms asking the ington football team to return to Wash- date August, with a Stanley Cup champion companies and others to sever ties with ington, DC, without first changing the crowned in early October. the Redskins over the name. team name.” As for the NHL draft, McKenzie said the WASHINGTON: The Washington Red- Nike did not immediately make a pub- Snyder said Friday the team planned LOS ANGELES: The NHL is targeting second part of the NHL draft lottery — skins have launched a “thorough review” lic statement, but the sporting goods to canvass opinion from across the com- July 13 for a return to training camp, with when the team with the No. 1 overall pick of the team’s name, the NFL franchise giant removed Redskins merchandise munity in its name change review. “This the league’s 24-team playoff beginning on will be announced — would occur after the said Friday, as sponsors stepped up from its online store on Thursday. process allows the team to take into ac- Aug. 1. That’s according to hockey insider qualifying series. The draft would follow pressure to scrap the moniker long crit- Food and beverage corporation Pep- count not only the proud tradition and Bob McKenzie of TSN, who also said that, soon after the conclusion of the playoffs. icized as racist. siCo said in a statement Friday the com- history of the franchise but also input under the plan, teams would report to their Before any of these dates can be locked “In light of recent events around our pany had been in conversation with the from our alumni, the organization, spon- assigned hub cities on July 26. While the in, the league and the NHL Players’ Asso- country and feedback from our commu- league and Washington management sors, the NFL and the local community it NHL has not made an official announce- ciation must reach an agreement on several nity, the Washington Redskins are an- “for a few weeks” about the issue. “We is proud to represent on and off the ment, McKenzie said that those cities are key issues, including additional return-to- nouncing the team will undergo a believe it is time for a change,” the com- field,” Snyder said. expected to be Edmonton and Toronto. play protocols and an extension of the col- thorough review of the team’s name,” the pany said. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell While several U.S. cities were in the mix lective bargaining agreement. Once that is team said in a statement just 24 hours welcomed the move. “In the last few to be a hub, the Canadian cities are the reached, the board of governors and play- after stadium sponsor FedEx demanded ‘THE R-WORD’ weeks we have had ongoing discussions likely choice, in part because of the low rate ers must ratify the deal. — Reuters a name change. Later Friday, Major League Baseball’s with Dan and we are supportive of this “This review formalizes the initial dis- Cleveland Indians announced they will important step,” Goodell said in a state- cussions the team has been having with “determine the best path forward” re- ment. While some hardcore Washington global sport shutdown. the league in recent weeks.” garding their nickname. The corporate fans have previously joined with Snyder All Blacks legend The 38-year-old surprised the rugby Redskins owner Dan Snyder had long pressure on the Redskins was welcomed in resisting a name change, a smattering world last month when he signed on with the been resistant to changing the team’s by Change the Mascot, a coalition of of people jogging and exercising near Carter returns Auckland Blues as injury cover when New name — a term for Native Americans Native American groups that has cam- FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, Zealand launched its domestic Super Rugby that is seen as a slur. paigned to get rid of the nickname. voiced support for the move. CHRISTCHURCH: All Blacks legend Dan competition. He said at the time he was far “We’ll never change the name,” Sny- “Change the Mascot praises FedEx “Just like black people stood up, I feel Carter turned out for his childhood rugby from match fit and saw his role with the der said in 2018. “It’s that simple. NEVER and fully supports its historic request for like Native Americans, they should have club in rural New Zealand yesterday to test Blues more as a mentor rather than a player. — you can use caps.” Washington’s NFL team to stop using the same rights to do the same,” said But after training through the first three his fitness ahead of a hoped-for return to However, nationwide protests over the R-word racial slur as its name and Chuky Torley. The team has already re- rounds when Super Rugby resumed in New Super Rugby. The double win- racial injustice — sparked by the death mascot,” coalition leader Ray Halbritter sponded to the rise of the Black Lives Zealand, Carter felt the urge for much- of unarmed black man George Floyd at said. Another sticking point for the Red- Matter movement by removing a monu- ner and three times world player of the needed game time and returned to South- the hands of police on May 25 — have skins — Snyder has long hoped to move ment to former owner George Preston year played the full 80 minutes for the bridge where he played all his childhood brought the Redskins tag under re- the team back to the site of its former Marshall, the last NFL team owner to re- grassroots Southbridge side and con- rugby in a village about 50 kilometres (30 newed scrutiny. stadium within Washington proper. Offi- sist signing black players. tributed 12 points in their convincing 54-14 miles) from Christchurch. “The last three On Thursday, US delivery giant FedEx cials say a name change is needed for “I think with the way times are going win over West Melton. weeks have been pretty intense training... Corp — which paid $205 million to the that to happen. on right now, I think it’d be smart to Played in front of around 1,000 specta- gradually building up my contact and get- Redskins in 1998 for the naming rights to “It’s an obstacle for us locally, but it’s change the name to respect the people tors, it was Carter’s first game since playing ting my confidence back for playing again, the team’s suburban stadium — con- also an obstacle for the federal govern- who are offended by it,” said local resi- for the Kobe Steelers in Japan in February so a bit of club rugby would be good,” firmed it had sought a change. ment who leases the land to us,” Wash- dent Kyle Jones. — AFP before the coronavirus pandemic forced a Carter said before the game. — AFP