18 Established 1961 Monday, March 16, 2020 Sports Mapimpi seals 24-14 victory for table-topping Super Rugby suspended after this weekend due to coronavirus

DURBAN: A try by winner that Bosch converted. sealed a 24-14 Super Rugby The responded almost immediately victory for the table-topping Coastal Sharks over with scrum-half scoring a try that the Western Stormers on Saturday in a South full-back converted. A Bosch African showdown. His score one minute from time drop-goal in additional first-half time earned the followed two penalties by fly-half Sharks a 10-7 half-time lead they deserved given that turned a 14-13 deficit on 69 minutes into a 10- their edge in the set-pieces and aggression at the point triumph at Kings Park in . breakdowns. It was the last match in the southern hemisphere Bosch widened the lead to six points with a competition to be played in the republic for the penalty before the home crowd were silenced by a “foreseeable future” because of the coronavirus try from substitute scrum-half that pandemic, the organisers said. The SANZAAR Willemse converted to put the Stormers ahead. But announcement came just 80 minutes before the with a surprise win looming for a visiting team lack- kick-off and many players were unaware that Super ing injured Springbok forwards , Pieter- Rugby will be suspended after round seven. Steph du Toit and , Bosch and “I am not surprised by the suspension given the Mapimpi struck decisive blows. spread of the virus and Meanwhile, Super just hope the break is Rugby, the southern not too long,” said hemisphere’s premier Sharks skipper and cen- club com- tre . “Our petition, is suspending forwards won this No option its season after this match and the goal- weekend’s games due to kicking of Curwin but to the coronavirus pan- (Bosch) contributed a demic, the organisers DURBAN: Sharks’ center Andre Esterhuizen (C) is tackled by Stormers Juarno Augustus (L) and lot to the victory.” suspend said Saturday. Scarra Ntobeni during the Super Rugby match between the Sharks of Durban and the Stormers of Stormers prop and Organisers SAN- held at the Kings Park in Durban. —AFP captain ZAAR said they had “no said the match was a option but to suspend was cancelled just hours before the 2300 GMT uled to play ACT at home, with New “wonderful advertise- the 2020 Super Rugby kick-off. The match, which was due to be held Zealand club Waikato in the South African ment for South African rugby in front of a great tournament at the conclusion of this weekend’s behind closed doors, was called off to enable the city of Durban to play the Coastal Sharks. crowd”. “Both sides pitched up and we had a typical matches for the foreseeable future”. Highlanders to return to New Zealand before the Sharks displaced at the top of the South African derby — very physical with posses- SANZAAR said it had taken its decision after the Sunday midnight deadline. table after sealing a 24-14 victory over the Western sion fiercely contested. New Zealand government announced that all SANZAAR chief executive Andy Marinos said Stormers in Saturday’s South African showdown in “The suspension is unfortunate but understand- returning travellers, including Super Rugby players, “our priority is to ensure the players currently over- Durban. able because the good health of people has to come will have to self-isolate for 14 days. Five New seas return home healthy and safely to be with their The SANZAAR announcement to suspend the before sport. Let us hope the break is short.” Zealand teams, including reigning champions families”. He said SANZAAR had not taken the competition after round seven had come just 80 Canterbury Crusaders, play in the 15-team tourna- decision to call off the game lightly, but the welfare minutes before the kick-off at Kings Park. STORMERS’ DISASTROUS START ment which also includes clubs from Australia, of players and team management was “paramount”. “I am not surprised by the suspension given the Sharks went back to the top of the combined and Argentina. Under the rules a match cancelled in these cir- spread of the virus and just hope the break is not table with 24 points after a fifth consecutive win, Crusaders played Saturday and went tem- cumstances is officially declared a draw with both too long,” said Sharks skipper and centre one point above the Canterbury Crusaders, the porarily top of the table after securing a 49-14 and Highlanders receiving two points Lukhanyo Am. defending champions. The Stormers, the paceset- bonus point win over the Tokyo in apiece. Stormers prop and captain Steven Kitshoff com- ters for four rounds, slipped to seventh on 17 Brisbane. The Canterbury-based side will be able Sunday’s all-Australian match between ACT mented: “The suspension is unfortunate but under- points, behind the Wellington on points to return home to New Zealand before the mid- Brumbies and NSW Waratahs at 0505 GMT will standable because the good health of people has to difference. night Sunday deadline. now be the last game to go ahead before the sus- come before sport. Let us hope the break is short.” They made a disastrous start with flanker Johan “SANZAAR completely understands the direc- pension comes into place. The tournament was The coronavirus pandemic has rocked world du Toit yellow-carded after 12 seconds for a dan- tive issued by the New Zealand Government given already facing obstacles with fans barred not only sport. Football leagues have been suspended gerous tackle on Sharks scrum-half Louis concerns globally over the COVID-19 virus and the from the game in Argentina but also Australia from across the globe and cricket has been deeply Schreuder, who had to go off injured. But the hosts primary aim to reduce exposure and spread of the next weekend. affected with England’s tour of Sri Lanka aban- did not capitalise on their 10-minute numerical virus,” the organisers said. doned and the lucrative Indian Premier League advantage and only scored well into the first half Saturday’s game between Jaguares of Argentina ‘UNFORTUNATE BUT UNDERSTANDABLE’ announcing it will suspend play from March 29 to when full-back went over for a try and New Zealand side Highlanders in Buenos Aires Next weekend, the Auckland were sched- April 15. —AFP

continue to amaze us and make history!” Biles takes aim Former national gymnastics team doctor Nassar was jailed for life for abusing more than 250 ath- letes, including stars of the United States’ 2012 and India duo ready to put at USA Gymnastics 2016 gold medal-winning Olympic teams. A US Senate investigation found that “multiple Olympic dream ahead in birthday tweet institutions” failed to adequately respond to credi- ble allegations against Nassar, but Biles has said of coronavirus concerns LOS ANGELES: Four-time Olympic gold medallist that USA Gymnastics and the US Olympic and Simone Biles wants more than good wishes from Paralympic Committee still owe his victims, includ- NEW DELHI: Indian shooter Mairaj Ahmad USA Gymnastics. The US federation wished Biles a ing herself, more answers and a framework to Khan and javelin thrower Shivpal Singh say happy 23rd birthday on social media on Saturday. ensure such abuses won’t occur again. competing at this summer’s Tokyo Olympics is Biles — who also owns 19 world titles and is “Wish they BOTH wanted an independent inves- their top priority despite concerns about the expected to be among the stars of the Tokyo tigation as much as the survivors & I do,” she Simone Biles health risks to athletes from the coronavirus Olympics — used their tweet as a chance to tweeted earlier this month. As Biles and other elite outbreak. demand an independent investigation into the Larry gymnasts ramp up their preparations for Tokyo, The number of coronavirus infections in Nassar sex abuse scandal. USA Gymnastics in January offered a $215 million was able to abuse athletes for years. Japan rose to 1,484 yesterday, increasing by a “how about you amaze me and do the right thing (194 million euros) settlement to victims of Nassar Attorney John Manley, who represents more than faster pace than the previous day, public ... have an independent investigation,” Biles snapped to settle legal claims — a plan a lawyer for more 180 clients with active claims against USA broadcaster NHK reported. More than on Twitter after the federation’s birthday tweet. than 200 women called “unconscionable.” Gymnastics, said the settlement offer releases too 150,000 people have been infected around the “HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the most decorated Olympic gold medallist Aly Raisman, who is now many people from further claims, including the world and 5,800 have died, according to a gymnast of all time, @simonebiles!” USA retired, called the settlement offer “offensive” and USOPC, former USA Gymnastics chief Steve Penny Reuters tally. The outbreak has brought elite- Gymnastics wrote, posting a video of Biles in accused the federation of attempting to prevent and former national team directors Bela and Marta level sport to a standstill and sparked fears that action in a floor exercise. “We know you will only release of details which would show how Nassar Karolyi. —AFP the 2020 Olympics may have to be postponed or cancelled. be interesting to see how the game However, skeet shooter Khan says he would tion. England’s football Premier Brumbies crush progresses over the next couple of ignore the risks to have a shot at Olympic gold. Abe pledges League, America’s NBA basketball weeks.” The Waratahs led with a con- season and the Augusta Masters golf “If the Olympics were to be held now, verted try after dependable captain despite the health risk that the coronavirus Tahs in final game major are just some of the competi- Rob Simmons stretched out an arm to Olympics to tions suspended because of the pan- poses, I would go and compete without even score after Jack Dempsey pounced demic. On Friday, Abe and Trump thinking about the consequences,” Khan told before shutdown on a loose ball. spoke on the phone about the out- Sunday’s edition of the Indian Express go ahead CANBERRA: A rampant ACT Brumbies But the lead didn’t last with break and Olympics after Trump pro- newspaper. thrashed the NSW Waratahs 47-14 winger Solomone Kata scoring off TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister posed a delay. “We agreed that Japan “... it’s my dream and I can put my life on the yesterday in the final Super Rugby the back of a powerful Brumbies Shinzo Abe resisted pressure for and the US will cooperate and closely line to win an Olympic medal.” Japanese Prime game for the foreseeable future, with driving maul to make it 7-7. Tries in changes to the Tokyo Olympics coordinate for success in the Minister Shinzo Abe said on Saturday the the season now suspended because of quick succession for the Waratahs’ schedule even as sporting events Olympics,” Abe said, adding they had country was still preparing to host the the coronavirus. Mark Nawaqanitawase and a second worldwide fall victim to the coron- not discussed any postponement. Olympics while Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike A decision to halt the southern for Kata kept maintained parity but avirus pandemic. Abe pledged Japan The Japanese parliament on Friday vowed to take thorough measures against the hemisphere club championship, which the Brumbies went to the break 21- would host the Games as planned in approved legislation that gives Abe outbreak. features 15 teams from five countries, 14 in front after Cadeyrn Neville July and said he had no immediate the power to declare a state of emer- There has also been suggestions that the was made on Saturday after New drove over. intention to declare a state of emer- gency to combat COVID-19 but Abe Games could take place without spectators. Zealand said all inbound travellers Joe Powell burst through to extend gency over the virus outbreak, which insisted such a declaration was not yet “Personally, I don’t mind that,” said Khan, who must self-isolate for 14 days. their lead early in the second period has now seen more than 140,000 necessary. The coronavirus has infect- earned his spot at the Olympics by winning a Australia introduced similar meas- after Wallabies back Kurtley Beale people infected across the globe and ed more than 700 people across silver medal at the Asian Championship in Doha ures an hour before the Brumbies and pulled a hamstring as he tried to over 5,400 killed. Japan and been linked to 21 deaths. last year. Waratahs kicked off in Canberra. The chase him down. The Tahs’ were final- His comments come two days after Separately, 700 people on board a “My dream is to win an Olympic medal and Waratahs had lost four of their previ- ly overwhelmed after Dempsey’s sin- US President Donald Trump suggest- cruise ship that docked near Tokyo ultimately you will be called an Olympic cham- ous five matches, including a woeful bin for dangerous play midway ed the Japanese capital postpone the last month were also infected. pion; no one will bother or care to remember if capitulation against the Waikato through the second half, with Tom Games for a year as the spread of the A state of emergency would allow it was behind closed doors.” Chiefs a week ago when they con- Wright bagging a double and Tom virus wreaks havoc on the sporting local governments to require that Singh, who booked his Tokyo ticket at a meet ceded six second-half tries. Banks getting the Brumbies’ seventh calendar. people stay indoors, schools close and in South Africa on Tuesday, says athletes are They cut down on handling errors try after the siren. “We will respond by closely coor- public facilities limit use. Land and trained to get over setbacks but missing out on and turnovers, but the fragile “I don’t think the scoreboard dinating with officials concerned, buildings could be requisitioned for the Olympics would be on another level. Waratahs defence was exposed again showed the effort we put in,” said including the IOC (International makeshift hospitals. “... athletes are taught to brush off disap- as the Brumbies scored seven tries to Simmons. “We challenged them well Olympic Committee). There is no IOC chief Thomas Bach told pointments and move forward. But this is not just two. “We’ve got a strong leadership but they just showed what a well- change in this,” Abe told a news con- German television broadcaster ARD on another tournament,” the 24-yer-old told the group, a strong playing group and oiled machine they are.” With the ference. “We want to hold the Thursday that the body would follow newspaper. “I will definitely pack my bags for that’s what we pride ourselves on,” season halted after round seven, Olympics as planned without any recommendations by the World Health Tokyo if the event happens, whether risky or not. said Brumbies vice captain Tom South Africa’s Coastal Sharks top the trouble by overcoming the spread of Organization but that work continued overall table, but have played a game “It’s a dream for every athlete to be at the Cusack, who admitted he did not infections,” he said. for a successful Games. more than the second-placed biggest sporting stage in the world. It’s my know what would happen with the Organisers, Japanese government He acknowledged however that season going into lockdown. Brumbies who are a point behind and officials and the IOC have insisted cancellations of Olympic quali- desire to do well at the Games and until then I level with the defending champions, won’t rest in peace.” —Reuters “It’s one of those things that you preparations are on track and there fiers are starting to pose “serious can’t control,” he said. “It’s going to Canterbury Crusaders. —AFP will be no postponement or cancella- problems”. —AFP