MONDAY-JULY 26, 2021 Sport 05 Afghanistan-Pakistan ODI series What you need to know about shifted to Sri Lanka from UAE the four new Olympic sports KABUL: The three-match TOKYO (AP) — The Tokyo on the same day with another gold the men’s competition typically ODI series between Afghanistan Olympics are introducing four for Japan. Ken Nishimura is a fa- dazzles with explosive airs, the and Pakistan will now be played new sports — skateboarding, surf- vorite at 75 kg. The women’s kata women’s game often features a in Sri Lanka’s Mahinda Rajapak- ing, karate and sport climbing. competition is almost certain to more dance-like rhythm that sa Stadium in Hambantota and not Each traveled its own unique path be close between Spain’s Sandra showcases the speed, power and the United Arab Emirates, as con- to the Games. Here, at a glance, Sánchez and Japan’s Kiyou Shimi- flow of the ride. firmed by Afghanistan Cricket from Associated Press journalists zu. STARS TO WATCH: Reign- Board (ACB) on Saturday (July covering each sport, are the tales WHEN IT DEBUTS: Sunday, ing world champion Carissa 24). of how these sports reached To- July 25, with the men’s street com- Moore of the U.S. looks to be the The series will be the first- kyo and what to watch for in each. petition. woman to beat, as well as the ever bilateral face-off between the WHY IT’S IN THE OLYM- WHY IT’S IN THE OLYM- Australian Stephanie Gilmore, two Asian nations, which was PICS NOW: Because it’s coming PICS NOW: An Olympic debut whose record-tying seven world speculated earlier this year after home for its Olympic debut. The sport recruited by organizers to titles makes her the most decorat- Afghanistan’s star all-rounder martial art that spread across Ja- attract young audiences. ed female surfer in competition Mohammad Nabi met with incum- pan in the early 20th century and WHAT TO LOOK FOR: today. The Brazilians are expect- bent Pakistan Prime Minister and soon became ubiquitous world- High-flying tricks and stunts; an ed to dominate the men’s side, with former cricketer Imran Khan and wide has been a candidate for astounding age-range, with com- Gabriel Medina and Italo Ferreira requested him to arrange a bilat- Olympic inclusion since the petitors aged 12 to 47. known as the masters of aerial eral series between the two na- 1970s, but organizers never found STARS TO WATCH: U.S. maneuvers. tions. its case compelling until the To- skater Nyjah Huston, in men’s WHY IT’S IN THE OLYM- Reports earlier also suggest- kyo Games presented an oppor- street, is arguably the best-known PICS NOW: Climbing has reached ed the Imran Khan contacted Pa- tunity to showcase its blend of skater; in women’s park, 13-year- new heights in recent years, both kistan Cricket Board to organize striking combat and rigorous dis- old Sky Brown has been making in the professional ranks and rec- a bilateral series involving their cipline from its homeland. waves for Britain with her girl- reationally. The documentary neighboring nation. WHAT TO LOOK FOR: The power bravado, recovery from “Free Solo” — Alex Honnold is Following later develop- three days of competition at the injury and social media footprint. not in the Olympics — added to ments, the series was confirmed famed Nippon Budokan will fea- WHEN IT DEBUTS: There climbing’s popularity, as has the with UAE to play host. Howev- ture dozens of talented kumite will be at least three days of com- social media expertise of the er, the postponement of the 14th (sparring) competitors in three petition over an eight-day period, sport’s top climbers. edition of the Indian Premier weight divisions, along with the beginning Sunday , though the WHAT TO LOOK FOR: League and the subsequent re- Lingard’s future and loans needed for the kids: What we fascinating precision of kata events are determined the day of Sport climbing has been dubbed scheduling of the same in UAE (forms demonstration, often com- based on surf conditions. the epitome of the Olympic mot- means that the venues could not learned from Man Utd’s pre-season defeat at QPR pared to a floor exercise in gym- WHY IT’S IN THE OLYM- to “citius, altius, fortius” (faster, be used for the series in question. nastics). With karate currently on PICS NOW: The International higher, stronger). Climbers scale a “ACB had approached UAE In an ideal world for Ole Gun- Devils' outfield squad it was still Mason Greenwood found Fa- another upswing due to its resur- Surfing Association has been lob- 15-meter wall filled with a vari- and Oman for hosting the series nar Solskjaer his Manchester Unit- a worthwhile trip for Solskjaer’s cundo Pellistri who slipped a ball gent popularity in movies and tele- bying the International Olympic ety of holds in the lead discipline. against Pakistan but both coun- ed side would convincingly win side with the start of the Premier through to the England interna- vision, viewers are hoping to see Committee since 1995, though the Bouldering involves smaller tries failed to accommodate them all of their pre-season friendlies League campaign just three weeks tional and he made no mistake excitement in a sport that isn’t effort to include the sport dates “problems” and dynamic move- due to the upcoming assignments. and the whole squad would come away. For Jesse Lingard it has side-footing his finish past Seny always as violent as casual sports back to the 1912 Summer Games ments. Speed is a race to the top The remainder of IPL 2021 will through unscathed fresh for the been a case of picking up exactly Dieng. The 28-year-old was keen fans probably believe. in Stockholm, when Duke Kaha- on predetermined holds. be played in UAE in September new season. where he left off last season while to be involved in everything Unit- STARS TO WATCH: Japan’s namoku, the five-time medalist in STARS TO WATCH: Czech and the country will also host the Queen’s Park Rangers spoiled on loan at West Ham. ed did going forward; he constantly greatest fighters will be under pres- swimming and Hawaiian icon re- climber Adam Ondra has complet- World T20 alongside Oman after that ideal outcome on Saturday, After an impressive perfor- pointed to where he wanted the sure to deliver. Naoto Sago’s com- vered as the godfather of modern ed some of the most difficult out- the completion of India’s premier however, as they beat United 4-2 mance in Manchester United’s ball played and looked to make petition against France’s Steven surfing, first pushed for it to be- door climbs in the world and is a T20 competition,” reported through a second-half attacking opening pre-season victory those dangerous runs in behind. Da Costa and the best of the 67 come an Olympic sport. favorite to earn gold in the sport’s Cricbuzz on July 24. onslaught. But with more minutes against Derby he was on the Solskjaer, whose new three kg field could be an opening day WHAT TO LOOK FOR: debut. Slovenian Janja Ganbret The Kabul Times for every member of the Red scoresheet within three minutes. year deal was announced a few highlight. Miho Miyahara could Most maneuvers are either types has a similar resume and has dom- hours before kick off, does not kick off the women’s competition of turns, airs or barrels. Whereas inated the World Cup Circuit. need these pre-season games to Badminton and Other Olympic Sports know Lingard’s potential. “Jesse has come back, been bright, he wants to fight for his the USA Has Never Won a Medal place and there's nothing better its first since the group was given than seeing players want to fight a host country spot in 1996. The for their place,” Solskjaer said af- team finished in 14th place out of ter the win against Derby. 14 teams in Rio. “He came seven or eight days In Tokyo, Zeng and Evita later than the rest but he's a natu- Griskenas will compete in the in- rally fit boy. He's a man, he dividual event, while Isabella Con- played with a few boys but he's nor, , Yelyzaveta one of the men.” Merenzon, Lili Mizuno, Elizave- While he has been one of the ta Pletneva and Nicole Sladkov standout players in United’s will compete for the U.S. in the opening two pre-season fixtures group event. the bigger question for Lingard is Table tennis how, and if, he can fit into Sol- The U.S. has not won a medal skjaer’s first team plans when the in table tennis since it was intro- competitive action starts in three The is by far ranked men’s player, while Bei- duced as an Olympic sport in weeks' time. the winningest country in the his- wen Zhang is the 11th-ranked 1988, but there will be six Ameri- “What he did towards the end tory of the Olympic Games, tak- player entering the women’s sin- can competitors in Tokyo. of last season, that's the true Jesse, ing home 1,022 gold medals since gles tournament. Brothers Phillip The U.S. table tennis squad that's what we know he's capable 1896. While the nation has domi- and Ryan Chew will also repre- features two marquee athletes: 21- of and I think we saw towards the nated in the pool, on the track and sent USA Badminton in the men’s year-old Kanak Jha in men’s sin- end that we lacked some options throughout the Olympics as a doubles tournament. Zhang offers Since when is skate an gles and team and 24-year-old Lily at times and Jesse is in the plans whole, there are a handful of the U.S. its best chance at win- Zhang in women’s singles and at the moment, yeah,” Solskjaer sports where no American has ever ning a medal across any of these team. They are ranked 30th and said. It depends on what level stepped on the podium.T five sports. 31st in the world in their respec- Lingard features in those plans as The U.S. will have chances to Handball olympic sport and why? tive singles events. Zhang, a five- to whether or not he’s happy with earn its first medals in several new The U.S. has not even quali- time national champion, has bet- what his manager has in store for The Tokyo Olympic Games 1940s and has increased in popu- pline consists of a straight circuit events debuting in the Tokyo fied for the men’s and women’s ter odds of earning a medal in To- him. It is understood Solskjaer is will be the first time that skate- larity until today. with obstacles such as curbs, rail- Olympics, including skateboard- Olympic handball tournaments kyo after finishing fourth in the looking to play a more attacking boarding is an Olympic discipline. Being an urban sport, music ings, walls and benches. Each ing and inaugural swimming rac- since 1996, when it was the host 2019 Women’s World Cup, but 4-3-3 formation next season which After the Rio 2016 games, the is very important and will be skateboarder must show his best es, but there are also older sports nation for the Atlanta Games. she is still considered a long shot. could see them start with just one IOC accepted that skateboarding, present during the competition. moves in each obstacle to get the where the country is still chasing The men’s squad has partici- Nikhil Kumar and Xin Zhou join defensive midfielder and open up baseball, surfing, karate and climb- What categories does Olym- best score. its first medals. Based on its pated in the Olympic tournament Jha for the American men, while the opportunity for more attack- ing will be present at the Tokyo pic skateboarding have? Park mode: this discipline Olympic history and Tokyo out- six times with its highest finish in Huijing Wang and Juan Liu com- ing options. Which, on the face of 2020 Games. Olympic skateboarding in takes place on a circuit with diffi- look, it could be a while before sixth place back in 1936 — when plete the women’s team. it could be good news for Lingard. Skateboarding will be an Tokyo 2021 is under the supervi- cult slopes and curves. Sometimes the U.S. bucks the trend, too. there were only six teams in the Chen Wang owns the best But, this is, in his words, Olympic sport for the first time sion of the World Skateboarding the walls are almost vertical and Here are the five Summer competition. The men’s team has American finish in Olympic table Jesse Lingard 2.0. And he wants in Tokyo due to the growing in- Federation. This means that it will the skaters must bring out their Olympic sports where the Unit- won four total games across its tennis history after reaching the to be a regular starter wherever he terest in urban sports. Skateboard- have two modes: Street and Park. best skills to complete the circuit ed States has never taken home six Olympic appearances. women’s singles quarterfinals in is playing. It is highly unlikely he ing was first practiced in the Street mode: This disci- in the shortest time possible. as hardware: The women’s squad has made Beijing. will displace Bruno Fernandes Badminton it to the Olympics four times, all Trampoline from the team in his favoured No The U.S. has had a tough time coming from 1984 to 1996. Its top Trampoline will be making its 10 position and while he can play even advancing within the five finish was fifth place and came in sixth Olympic appearance during out wide Solskjaer has a multitude badminton tournaments at the that first appearance. the Tokyo Games. Nine countries of options there and it’s not his Olympics. Men’s and women’s Rhythmic have combined to win the 30 med- ideal position. With a number of singles and doubles have been full- made als doled out since 2000, but the teams showing interest in signing medal events since 1992, while its Olympic debut as an individu- U.S. has not taken home any of him it will be a tough decision for mixed doubles entered in 1996. In al event in 1984 and added a team them. both Solskjaer and Lingard as to seven Olympics with the sport event in 1996. Europe has com- Savannah Vinsant had the best what is best for him next season. involved, the U.S. has only pletely dominated the sport since finish of any American, placing Centre-back Will Fish was the reached the quarterfinals of any the beginning, with China and seventh in 2012. The U.S. did not latest of United’s young crop to tournament one time, as the men’s Canada as the only two countries have a men’s or women’s finalist secure a loan move with the club doubles team of Howard Bach and from other continents to ever claim (top eight) in 2016, with Logan confirming on Friday he will join Bob Malaythong reached the a medal across nine Olympics. Dooley finishing 11th for the men National League side Stockport round of eight in the 2008 Beijing The United States’ highest and Nicole Ahsinger finishing 15th County for the start of the new Games. finish in the event is 11th place, for the women. Ahsinger will rep- campaign. Fish got the last 10 The country has one compet- reached by Valerie Zimring during resent the U.S. in the event once minutes at Loftus Road but it was itor in both the men’s and wom- the boycotted 1984 Games in Los again in Tokyo, while Aliaksei clear on Saturday afternoon’s ev- en’s singles tournaments, as well Angeles and during the Shostak will compete on the idence that he is not the only as a men’s doubles duo, at the 2020 2016 Games in Rio. The team’s men’s side. nbcsports young player who would benefit Games. Timothy Lam is the 41st- appearance in the 2016 Games was from a loan move. Goal