CCRICKETRICKET | Page 3 FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 4 Australia in a Abraham and ‘better place’ Giroud score aft er talks: as Milan, Roma Langer cruise Tuesday, August 31, 2021 TENNIS Muharram 23, 1443 AH King lauds Osaka GULF TIMES for stand on mental health, racial issues SPORT Page 2 TENNIS SPOTLIGHT 100m Paralympic track thriller Halep, Stephens as Streng unseats Peacock AFP Tokyo, Japan erman sprinter Felix advance as fans Streng stormed his way to Paralympic gold in the T64 100m in Tokyo Gyesterday, dethroning British ri- val Jonnie Peacock who ended up sharing the bronze after a photo fi nish. return to US Open The track thriller saw Streng fi nish in 10.76 seconds, short of the Paralympic record he set just a day earlier in heats, but ahead Rublev reaches second round with straight sets win over Karlovic of Costa Rica’s Sherman Isidro Guity Guity, who took silver. AFP sociation, which oversees the After several tense minutes, New York, United States event, acknowledged the delays the decision came back: a shared but said the last-minute deci- bronze, with both Peacock and sion to impose a vaccine re- Germany’s Johannes Flores com- heering spectators quirement for fans was not to ing in at precisely 10.78 seconds. brought energy to the blame. The pair beamed as they re- fi rst matches of the The tennis major, which took ceived their fl ags to join the other US Open yesterday as place amid empty stands last medallists. Ctwo-time Grand Slam champi- year due to the coronavirus pan- “It felt amazing,” Streng said on Simona Halep, battling back demic, commenced yesterday afterwards of his win. from injury, and 2017 US Open with thousands of visitors again “I’m so happy that I could champion Sloane Stephens ad- thronging the grounds in New execute a race and win in such a vanced to the second round. The York City’s Queens borough. competitive fi eld.” hardcourt tennis showdown Citing concerns about the The race was one of the last on began with crowds not limited highly contagious Delta variant the sixth day of competition in by Covid-19 rules after no fans Simona Halep of Romania returns a shot against Camila Giorgi (not of the virus, Mayor Bill de Bla- Tokyo, with records again tum- were allowed in 2020. pictured) of Italy during their US Open first round match in Flushing sio’s offi ce said on Friday that all bling from the track to the pool. “Playing without fans here neighbourhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (AFP) fans entering Arthur Ashe Sta- At Tokyo’s Aquatics Centre, was brutal,” Stephens said. “We dium would have to show proof 16-year-old Jiang Yuyan won her feel the energy with everyone then suff ered a right thigh in- of at least one vaccine shot. fi rst Paralympic gold in the S6 screaming and yelling.” jury at Cincinnati, but made a Tennis offi cials then extended 50m butterfl y fi nal, after smash- Germany’s Felix Streng (left) celebrates his victory in the men’s 100m Stephens beat Madison Keys solid start. the mandate to anyone attend- ing her own world record in the (T64) final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games yesterday. (AFP) 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7) in a rematch on “I’m confi dent,” Halep said. ing the tournament. heats. Ashe of the 2017 US Open fi nal. “I believed I had a good chance Outside the main entrance at “This is my fi rst Paralympic ghan athletes who escaped from Also stepping onto the podium “We’re both looking to get and I handled well the impor- midday, staff members strug- experience and in terms of my Kabul after the country’s fall to yesterday was Francisca Mar- back that form we had in 2017,” tant points of the match.” gled to direct a sea of people personal goals, it’s a self-confi - the Taliban this month, will take dones Sepulveda, who became Stephens said. “I knew I had to On the men’s side, while top- awaiting admission. dence boost,” the teenager told part in the men’s T47 long jump the fi rst Chilean woman ever to hang in there and fi ght and do ranked Novak Djokovic waits “I’ve been coming since AFP straight after her winning today having arrived too late for win a Paralympic medal in any what I do best, run around and until today to begin his quest for 1963, and this is my last time swim. his favoured T47 100m. Compa- sport. hit balls.” a US Open crown to complete a ever,” Howard Lefkin, 71, said, “Of course, it’s very exciting. triot Zakia Khudadadi will com- The 43-year-old shot putter Halep defeated Italy’s Cam- calendar-year Grand Slam, his explaining that he had spent But most of all, I think it’s the pete in the women’s -49kg K44 won the F54 category and broke ila Giorgi 6-4, 7-6 (3) to book top-seeded rivals take the court. two hours trying to get into the beginning of the next chapter of taekwondo on Thursday. her own world record with a a second-round match against Russian fi fth seed Andrey Ru- grounds. “This is hideous.” my life.” Yesterday also saw the medal throw of 8.33 metres. Slovakian lucky loser Kristina blev advanced by ousting 221st- A handful of fans complained Jiang was nearly killed when ceremony for the winners of the The Chilean competed at the Kucova, who ousted American ranked Ivo Karlovic 6-3, 7-6 (3), to police offi cers or shouted at she was run over by a truck as women’s swimming 4x100m — London and Rio Games in wheel- Ann Li 7-5, 6-1. 6-3 in 96 minutes. The 42-year- staff , vowing to seek refunds. a three-year-old, but by 14 she 34 points, which was delayed chair tennis, but later switched “First round is always a tough Andrey Rublev of Russia old Croatian was the oldest US Others headed around the sta- was breaking world records and from Sunday after the US team to athletics, and is competing in match so yeah, I’m happy to celebrates a point against Ivo Open qualifi er in the Open Era dium in search of shorter lines. had earned the nickname “Fly- lodged a protest over their dis- shot put, discus and javelin in win,” Halep said. “I’m happy Karlovic of Croatia yesterday. (since 1968). “If I knew it would be two ing Fish”. qualifi cation. Tokyo. because I can feel my serve im- (AFP) hours in line, I would have She is the youngest member of The team thought they had “I want to be an inspiration proving.” TWO HOURS IN LINE stayed home,” said Michael Ber- China’s Paralympic team, which come away with the silver, but for other girls that will start ap- The 29-year-old Romanian feel alive on court,” Halep said. Fans attending the US Open man, a 55-year-old attorney continues to top the medal table the second spot was instead proaching the sport to become 12th seed could feel an extra “Hopefully it will stay like that.” yesterday confronted long from Fair Lawn, New Jersey. — as it has at every Games since handed to Australia after judges enthusiastic for it,” she said after intensity from screaming tick- Halep, the 2018 French Open lines at the main gate’s security A USTA spokesman, Chris Athens 2004. disqualifi ed the US side for an il- her win. etholders, who had to prove they and 2019 Wimbledon cham- checkpoint, forcing some ticket Widmaier, said in a state- legal changeover. “I will tell them to believe in were vaccinated to be allowed pion, tore a left calf muscle at holders to wait in the heat for up ment that the organization was ‘AN INSPIRATION FOR OTHER Their protest was denied by their dreams and in themselves, onto the grounds. the Italian Open, missed the to two hours to gain entry. seeking ways to speed up the GIRLS’ a referee and an appeal to a jury thinking that whatever goal they “You feel the energy. You French Open and Wimbledon, The United States Tennis As- process. Hossain Rasouli, one of two Af- was also rejected. have, they can achieve it.” FOCUS Qatar national football team in Europe Qatar Women’s Sport Committee signs agreement with ‘You Are Important’ initiative QNA the co-operation agreement Doha with the Ministry of Interior, represented by Stadium Secu- rity Section, noting that the atar Women’s Sport Women’s Sport Committee has Committee (QWSC) partnership with all sectors of signed a strategic the Ministry of Interior, espe- partnership agree- cially with the Stadium Security Qment with the ‘You Are Impor- Section for its infl uential role in tant’ initiative which is imple- the sports movement. mented by the Stadium Security Supervisor of the ‘You Are Section at the Authorities and Important’ initiative Capt Missions Security Department Saeed Juma al-Hitmi said that of the Ministry of Interior. the partnership contributes to The agreement aims at pro- achieving the common goals moting community awareness and unifying eff orts for the ben- of stadium security, and consol- efi t of all those interested in at- idating the security partnership Assistant Director of the Authorities and Missions Security tending sports events. between the community and se- Department of the Ministry of Interior Brig Gen Jassim Mohamed The signing ceremony was (Above) Qatar players curity services.