6 July 23, 2020

Tokyo Head: Olympics Iran U-16 National Team Kicks Off Not Possible Under Preparations for Bahrain 2020 Current Conditions TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Islamic In the Bahrain 2020 Qualifiers Republic of Iran’s U-16 national last September, Iran impressed as it team has hit the ground running won all its matches with 19 goals ahead of the AFC U-16 Champion- scored and only one conceded to ship Bahrain 2020. top Group C. The young Team Melli is under- The 2020 AFC U-16 Champion- going a training camp in Tehran, ship Finals is scheduled for No- under the supervision of head coach vember 25-December 12, where Hossein Abdi, the-afc.com wrote. Iran will have tournament host Iran, who has not missed a single Bahrain, two-time champion DPR edition of the AFC U-16 Champi- Korea and Qatar for company in onship Finals since 1996, will be Group A. aiming to make amends after fail- The top four teams will qualify ing to advance past the group stage for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Peru of the 2018 Finals. 2021. Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee President Yoshiro Mori speaks during a press conference in Tokyo.

Ronaldo Targets More Records as Juve Close In on Title TOKYO (AP) — The delayed how they can happen in the Tokyo Olympics could not be middle of a pandemic. MILAN (AFP) - Cristiano Ron- up for grabs, as he is currently held next year if conditions sur- The IOC and organizers have aldo is eyeing more records as Ju- level on 30 with Lazio’s Ciro Im- rounding the coronavirus pan- also said the Olympics will not ventus head for Udinese on Thurs- mobile. demic continue as they are, the be postponed again and would day with a ninth consecutive Serie And he could even overtake president of the organizing com- be canceled. A title within their grasp. Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewan- mittee said Wednesday. “It would be too much for us Ronaldo scored a double on dowski, the top scorer in Europe In an interview with Japa- to answer each of these hypo- Monday against Lazio to bring with 34 goals in the Bundesliga nese broadcaster NHK, Yoshiro thetical questions,” Mori said. his tally to 51 Serie A goals since this season. Mori said he was hopeful the “I don’t think this situation will arriving in Turin in July 2018. There is also the record of situation would improve and last for another year.” The 35-year-old not only be- Argentine teammate Gonzalo suggested a vaccine was the Researchers have said a vac- came the first player to achieve Higuain, who was Serie A top key. cine could be six-to-nine a half century of goals in Italy, scorer under Sarri at Napoli in the “If this kind of situation (with months away, which Mori Spain and England, but was also 2015–16 season with 36 goals. COVID-19) continues, is it said was the key. Some, how- the fastest, doing so in 61 league “Cristiano is unpredictable,” possible to hold the games?” ever, question if young athletes games. said Sarri. “If he puts his mind to Mori was asked by NHK. should be a priority, and if all Last year the five-time Bal- something, he’s very determined. “If current situation contin- would agree to be vaccinated. lon d’Or winner scored 21 goals term, with four games remaining. last player to score 31 goals for “Not only physically, but, ues, we couldn’t,” Mori re- “Whether the Olympics can in his first season in Italy, but Another goal would see him Juventus in the 1933-34 season. above all, mentally: he is a cham- plied, speaking in Japanese. be done or not is about whether thanks to his brace against Lazio match former Italy World Cup For Ronaldo the title of top pion with his feet, but also with The Tokyo Olympics are humanity can beat the corona- he brought his tally to 30 this winner Felice Borel, who was the scorer -- ‘Capocannoniere’ -- is his head.” scheduled to open on July 23, virus,” Mori said. “Specifical- 2021 — a year from Thursday. ly, to develop a vaccine or drug A small, 15-minute ceremony is the first point.” Ibrahimovic Double Gives Rampant Milan Another Win without fans is scheduled for Organizers and the IOC win at 10-man Sassuolo as they to fifth with 59 points, enough Thursday at the new national say they want to simplify the remained unbeaten since the to guarantee them at least a stadium to mark the date. games to help reduce the soar- restart of the season and guar- place in the Europa League The International Olympic ing costs. But officials cannot anteed a place in the Europa qualifying rounds next season. Committee and Japanese or- say now if fans will be permit- League. Ibrahimovic, who returned ganizers have repeatedly ex- ted next year, or if athletes will After a match which saw for second stint in January, got pressed confidence the games face quarantines. They say few goalkeeper Gianluigi Don- in front of his marker to head will take place, though they details will be available until narumma make his 200th ap- in from Hakan Calhanoglu’s have offered few details on the fall. pearance for the club at the cross in the 19th minute. age of 21, Milan immediately Eighth-placed Sassuolo, confirmed that coach Stefano themselves in the middle of an Washington Tennis Tournament Pioli’s contract would be re- impressive run, levelled three newed until 2022. minutes before halftime when Canceled; U.S. Open Still Planned In doing so, the club ended Calhanoglu was judged to widespread and long-running have handled following a long reports that the 54-year-old Milan’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic runs with the ball during the Italian Serie VAR review and Francesco would be moved aside at the A soccer match between Sassuolo and Milan at the Mapei stadium in Caputo converted the penalty. end of the season to make way Reggio Emilia, Italy, July 21, 2020. Yet Milan regained the lead for German Ralf Rangnick. in first-half stoppage time ROME (Dispatches) - Vet- movic has scored twice in the Milan, unbeaten in 10 games when Calhanoglu threaded the eran forward Zlatan Ibrahi- first half to give AC Milan a 2-1 in all competitions, moved up ball through to Ibrahimovic. Major League Football Set to Restart in Africa JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - Major Casablanca will begin ‘operation to say he would raise the resumption Badri is a Golden Boot contender de- African league football will resume amid catch-up’ this Monday when they make issue with state president Abdel Fattah spite scoring only six goals. the coronavirus pandemic on July 27 in a 100-kilometre (62-mile) journey al-Sisi. CS Sfaxien lie second with 34 points, Morocco, with , and South south to face Difaa el Jadidi. But a change of heart saw Zamalek three more than US Monastir and sev- Africa set to follow soon after. Sixth-place Raja have played up to return to training and thrash fellow en ahead of former African champions Every national championship, apart five matches less than some Botola Premier League outfit Smouha 5-1 in . WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Washington tournament ‘’disap- from the one in tiny east African state Pro 1 rivals due to commitments in the warm-up match. hard-court tournament in the na- pointing,’’ ATP Chairman Andrea Burundi, shut down in mid-March as CAF Champions League, where they Al Ahly are the runaway league lead- South Africa tion’s capital that was supposed to Gaudenzi said: ‘’Unfortunately for the COVID-19 disease took hold in the have reached the semi-finals. ers on 49 points halfway through the mark the official return of men’s the moment, there are still large continent. Arch rivals and defending champions 34-match season, followed by Al Mo- Club father figure Khulu Sibiya has professional tennis amid the pan- factors at play, which are outside But officials now believe that foot- Wydad Casablanca top the table with kawloon (33 points), Pyramids FC (32) pleaded with national association and demic was scrapped Tuesday - but of our control.’’ ball can resume behind closed doors 36 points, one more than FUS Rabat and Zamalek (28). Absa Premiership officials to bury the group in charge of the U.S. Open U.S. Open organizers said the provided stringent health protocols are and two above Mouloudia Oudja. their differences and resume the cham- immediately said the tuneup’s can- cancellation of next month’s tour- observed. Reda Hajhouj from bottom-half Tunisia pionship. cellation ‘’in no way impacts’’ its nament in Washington DC “in no Morocco will lead the way followed Olympique Khouribga leads the Gold- “Our (Premiership) relationship with Grand Slam event. way impacts” the behind-closed- by Tunisia (August 2) and Egypt (Au- en Boot race with 10 goals, one more Tunisia is another country where the the association is very fragile and the The Citi Open, scheduled to doors Grand Slam scheduled for gust 6) while South Africa have yet to than Ivorian Joseph Guede Gnadou league leaders command a huge advan- sooner it is resolved amicably the bet- start with Aug. 13 qualifying, was the end of August. announce the date on which the richest from fifth-place AS FAR. tage with four-time African champions ter,” said the chairman of top-flight called off because of what tourna- The event in the U.S. capital was league in Africa will restart. Esperance holding a 10-point lead with club SuperSport United. ment manager Mark Ein said are set to start on August 13, but the AFP Sport reports on the situation in Egypt 10 rounds remaining. League bosses wanted to resume on ‘’too many unresolved external ATP Tour has pushed its return five of the six highest-ranked leagues The ‘Blood and Gold’ are chasing a July 18 in order to finish by August issues, including various interna- back to later in the month. -- the Democratic Republic of Congo Leading club Zamalek have changed fourth straight title and were outstand- 31, but the national body said referees tional travel restrictions as well The Cincinnati Open and U.S. cancelled theirs in March rather than their minds after initially saying they ing before the lockdown, winning 14 would be available only from August 1. as troubling health and safety Open are still scheduled to take play a waiting game. would boycott the Egyptian Premier matches and drawing the other two to There is no love lost between the trends.’’ place back-to-back in New York League when it restarted unless “a cure amass 44 points. organizations with officials trading The number of coronavirus cases from August 20, despite several Morocco for the coronavirus is found”. Their wins included a 7-1 drubbing almost daily accusations in the media, has been spiking in spots through- leading figures in men’s tennis , who shares the cap- of JS Kairouan -- the widest winning and a restart date has yet to be con- out the United States. casting doubts over the hardcourt Three-time African champions Raja taincy with , went so far as margin so far this season -- and Anice firmed. Calling the cancellation of the Grand Slam.