Sport

FRIDAY 16 JULY 2021 Oosthuizen,Oo Spieth light up British Open

ProbablyPro in my mind it was the perfect round I could have plplayed.ay I didn't make many mistakes. When I had good opopportunitiesp for birdie, I made the putts. So, yeah, just a very ggoodoo solid round.

Louis Oosthuizen Sport | 14

TOUR DE FRANCE: STAGE 18 1: Tadej Pogacar (SLO) 3h 33' 45'', 2: Jonas Vingegaard (NED) +02.000, 3: Richard Carapaz (ECU) +02.000 Qatari athletes look to shine at Tokyo Olympics

THE PENINSULA – DOHA Qatari sport continued to make a big leap claiming two bronze Team Qatar’s athletes and officials medals at the London 2012 Olympics departed for Tokyo, Japan, to partic- where shooter Nasser al Attiyah won ipate in the 32nd Olympic Games. bronze in men’s skeet event while A total of eight athletes will be high jump world champion Mutaz in action during the 2020 Games Barshim also clinched bronze. which will be held from July 23 to This was followed by a historic August 8. silver medal by Barshim at the 2016 Tokyo 2020 will be Qatar’s 10th Rio Olympics. consecutive participation at the A total of 38 athletes, 36 men and Olympics since their maiden Games 2 women, were selected then to the appearance in 1984. Qatari team across ten different Mohamed Suleiman created sports including Qatar national history for Qatar at the 1992 Bar- handball team, which won silver at celona Olympics when he won the the 2015 Men’s World Champion- country's first Olympic medal by fin- ships in Doha. ishing third in 1500m. A total of 15 athletes will rep- In 2000 Sydney Olympics, Said resent Qatar in seven sports at Tokyo Saif Asaad claimed Qatar’s second 2020 Olympics. Qatar will compete Qatari athletes and officials pose for a photograph at the Hamad International Airport Olympic medal when he took bronze in seven sports and 6 track and field in Doha prior to their departure for Tokyo. in the 105kg weightlifting event. disciplines. Almoez becomes first player to score in three different continental events

THE PENINSULANINSULA – HOUSTONHOUSTON

Almoezz Ali, the star sstrikertriker ooff ththehe QQaQatartar nanationalationonaal Muntari team aandnd tthehe ttopop sscorercorer off tthehhe 22019010 9 AsAsianian CupCuup wrote hishis name in thethe annalsannnals ofof historyhhisttorry ini goldengoldeen letters after scorinscoringg a goggoalaall aagainstgaainst PPanamaannamama onn predicts Tuesday.ay. Qatartar posted a 3-33-3 drawdraaw inin ttheirheeir oopeningpeeninngg CCon-oon- cacaf GGoldold CuCupp cclashlash as AlAlmoezmmooezz aarchivedrcchiiveed hihhisis nnanameamme in footballtball hhistory.istory. strong comeback Thee Al DuhailDuhail strikerstrriker hhahasas becomebbeccomee thethee ffirstirrsstt player in ffootballootball hhistoryistorryy ttoo scsscorecorore goggoalsoala s iinn THEE PENINSULAPEENINNSSUUULA – HOUSTONHOUSO TON three ddifferentifferent contcontinentalineenntaal chcchampion-haammppionon- ships afterafter scoringscoring againstaagaaiinsst PPaPanamaannaamaa QatarQaatat r mamadeddee aann imimpressiveppressssive ddebutebbu at the highly competitive in the opening matmatchcchh ooff GrGGroupoup ConcacafCConccaaccaff GGoldolld Cup,Cupp, butbutt thetheh FelixFelix Sanchez-coachedSan are left with D of thehe GoGoldld CuCup.p. mixedmim xeed ememotionsototioons aafterfteer a bback-and-forthacck-and-fort 3-3 draw with Panama on Almoezmoez was tthehe ttopoopp Tuesday.TuTuesday.y Victor Montagliani, President of Concacaf, presenting a scorerr of the 20192019 AAsianssiiann TheThT e 202022022 FIFAFIFIFA WorldWorlrld CupCuCup hohostsstst opened Group D against memento to Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, Cup withwith nine goals,goaallss,, a Panama,Panaammaa, a consistentconsistentn pparticipantaarrticiippannt iinn ththeh tournament, and were in President of the Qatar Football Association during a meeting recordd in ththee AAsiansian cchcham-hamm- thethe lleleadeaad oonn tthreehree differentdiifff ere ennt oococcasions.ccaasiion The Central Americans, held on the sidelines of the Gold Cup in Houston, Texas, USA. pionship,hip, surpassingsurpassing AliAlil however,howweevveer, wwouldouo ld nnotot bbee denied.dedeniniedd. Daei, the Iranian footballffooottbballl “The““TThhe positivepossiittivi e todaytoday is wwee scscoredored tthreeh and the negative is when legendd anandd top scscoreroreer ooff thethhe we concededconncedeed ththree.rreee. WWee aalalwayslwaysys ccomeome iinto the game not to concede, QFA President meets 1996 AAsiansian CCup.up. hopefullyhoppeefuully too win,winn, butbuut tthat’shatat’ss football,”foootbtbala l,” forwardffo Mohammed Muntari Thee secondsecond achievementachievemementn ofof toldtoldd CCoConcacaf.comncaca aff.ccomm iin a ppost-matchosst-t maatct h ininterview. the Al DuhailDuhail striker,striker, whowhoo hashasas A fifirstrsst halfhalff ttussleusu slle eneendedded d inn a ggoallessoao lle draw at halftime. Muntari Concacaf, PFF chiefs playedd 70 internationalinternational mentioned the halftime aadjustmentsdjjustments made by Qatar coach Felix matcheshes and scoredscored 3030 SanchezSaanchez were among the factors that ledle to their three goals. Despite THE PENINSULA – HOUSTON goals for Qatar team,team, is splittingsplitting tthehe points, tthehe AFC Asian Cup champions felt their opening scoringng duringduring a CopaCopa matchmaatch was a googoodd litmuslitmus test fforor whatwha to expect in the rest of the Qatar Football Association (QFA) President Sheikh Hamad Americaca match aagainstgainst tournament.tournament. Now, thetheyy are focusefocused on building and gaining bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani met with presidents of Paraguayuay iinn momentum.moomentum. Concacaf and Panama Football Federation on the sidelines 2019. “Sometimes you win, some you llose, but we are fortunate to of the Gold Cup in Houston, Texas, USA. Qatar’satar’s comecome up with with thethe pointspoints,, we go backback tto work on it and come back During talks with Manuel Arias, President of Panama maidenen strongstrong for the next game,” said MuntMuntari.a Football Federation (PFF), and Victor Montagliani, Chief of partici-i- Qatar wiwillll meet GrenaGrenadada in ttheirheir ssecond match on Sunday. Concacaf, QFA President discussed wide ranging topics related pationn Almoez Ali ““We’reWe’re alwalwaysays confident. We are the Asian champions, so we to football, 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and matters if inn celebrates comecome here with a lot of confidence anandd we are glad that we showed mutual interest. Goldd after scoring todaytoday and hopefullyhopefully we can share mmoreo in the next games.” The meeting was aslo attended by Ali Daoud, Executive Cup is a goal against Muntari entered Tuesday’s matcmatchh in the 85th minute, subbed Director of the QFA President Office and Mushtaq Al Waili, anotherh e r Panama inin forfor AlmoezAlmoez AAli.li. Executive Director of the Strategic and Institutional Planning step in the team’s preparationspreparations during Qatar's He is eaeagerger to jjoinoin his fellow forwardsforw among the goal scorers Office QFA. for thee FIFA WorWorldld Cup QQataratara opening forfor his countrycountry after Ali, Akram Afif andand Hassan Al Haydos all picked The officials agreed in principle to extend cooperation in 2022, wherewhere thethe AAsiansian ccham-hamm- match of the upp their first GoldGold Cup goalgoal againstagainst PPanama.a the field of football in particular and sports in general. pions continuecontinue to faceface compet-compet- Concacaf Off the field, the Qatar national tteame is not only enjoying the QFA President also apprised visiting officials of Qatar’s itors fromrom allall ooverver tthehe worldworld Gold Cup on experienceperience of pplayinglaying in the biennial tournament,ttoo but also the prox- rise in Asian football during the break of Qatar’s match against after featuringeaturing in tthehe Copa Tuesday. imity it gives them to play in front of theirth fans in the United States. Panama at the 2021 Gold Cup on Tuesday. Americaca in its prpreviousevious “It“It means everything,” said MuntMuntaria about the Qatari public in After the meeting, the officials exchanged mementos and edition,o n, bbeforee foo re attendanceattendance for the match. “To have themth here is really motivating posed for pictures. appearingaring in thethe andannd wewe appreciateapppprer ciciatate iitt aandndnd hhopefullyoppeffulllly ttheyh can come to the next one Asian champions Qatar are participating in Gold Cup for Europeanean qqualifiersualifiers alaalso,”so,” MMuntariunu tatariri ssaid.aia dd. the first time. for thee World CuCup.p. TheThe matchmatch againstagainst GrGrenadaenadda wiwillll kkicki off at 2.30am Qatar time. They face Honduras and Grenada in the coming days. Formula One offers glimpse of the future with new-look car REUTERS – SILVERSTONE

Formula One offered fans a glimpse of the future yesterday with a presentation of what cars will look like next season when the sport undergoes a rules revamp to make racing closer and more exciting. The concept car, revealed ahead of Sunday’s British Grand Prix at Silver- stone, features larger 18 inch wheels with covers and simpler and ‘more neutral’ front and rear wings designed to make it easier for drivers to follow and overtake. The floor shape is also different and using ground effect for more downforce but the cars will be heavier than this FROM LEFT: Alpine’s Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso, McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris, Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, Red Bull’s year’s models. Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Sebastian Vettel pose during a promotional photoshoot for the unveiling of the new 2022 The cars raced by teams are sure still to differ individually. F1 car ahead of the Formula One British Grand Prix at Silverstone Circuit in Silverstone, Britain, yesterday. FRIDAY 16 JULY 2021 SPORT 15

Generation Amazing, Concacaf launch Marsh shines as Australia beat West programme to lift grassroots football Indies in thriller THE PENINSULA - DOHA Generation Amazing, we have REUTERS – ST LUCIA developed a programme that Generation Amazing, the will have a really positive All-rounder Mitchell Marsh Supreme Committee for impact on local football in our scored 75 and picked up three Delivery & Legacy’s (SC) region. This week’s event in wickets as Australia defeated flagship human and social Houston is the springboard for West Indies by four runs in the legacy programme, has part- a project that will benefit the fourth Twenty20 international nered with the Confederation entire region. We can’t wait to in St Lucia on Wednesday to of North, Central America and roll this out across our region record their first win in the Caribbean Association Football and further support our five-match series. (Concacaf) to launch a joint member associations in their The West Indies took an football for development initi- development efforts.” unassailable 3-0 lead in the ative for coaching education The programme will enable series on Monday, with the that will benefit thousands of Concacaf member associations final match to be played on children and youth across to optimise their own grassroots Friday at the same venue. The Concacaf’s 41 member associ- coaching education curric- teams then play three one-day ations. ulums. It will ultimately provide internationals from July 20. The long-term legacy initi- more local coaches with the The visitors chose to bat ative is part of a strategic part- Young players in action during a programme skills they need to deliver fun first and set West Indies a nership announced in Sep- conducted by Generation Amazing. and engaging football sessions target of 190 after Marsh tember 2020 between Con- for young people in their com- struck six sixes and four cacaf, the Qatar Football munities. The course itself will boundaries, while skipper Association (QFA) and the SC, taking place. Around 100 Speaking about the launch of the programme, SC Sec- consist of a blended approach Aaron Finch scored 53 runs off the organisation charged with children joined Concacaf of the partnership, Concacaf retary General, Hassan Al of online and in-person 37 balls. delivering the infrastructure coaches, Generation Amazing President and FIFA Vice Pres- Thawadi, said: “We are learning, in which experts from Moises Henriques and and operations for the FIFA legends and others from the ident Victor Montagliani said: delighted to see Generation both organisations will deliver Ashton Turner were both dis- World Cup Qatar 2022. world of football to announce “We are very excited about this Amazing working alongside specialised workshops to missed for six but all-rounder The first phase of this this game-changing initiative. strategic partnership with Gen- Concacaf to offer young people, produce training for all coaches, Dan Christian was unbeaten football for social change pro- Commenting on this signif- eration Amazing and the including those from under- volunteers and stakeholders in on 22. gramme, which kicks off this icant partnership, QFA Pres- potential it has to give a tre- privileged communities, the each Concacaf member West Indies made a good July, will see 11 Concacaf ident, Sheikh Hamad bin mendous boost to grassroots opportunity to improve both association. start in their reply through member associations partici- Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani and community football in the their lives and the prospects of Coaches will be trained on Lendl Simmons before Adam pating, with successive phases said: “This is another important Concacaf region. I want to their communities through the multiple aspects, including the Zampa took out opener Evin set to reach the entire region by milestone for the Qatar Football thank the Supreme Committee transformative power of importance of their role, safe- Lewis (31) and Andre Fletcher 2025, ahead of the FIFA World Association, as we work with and other stakeholders in Qatar football. The partnership marks guarding, sport for development (six). Cup 2026, which will be hosted our respected federations for their commitment to another exciting development and how to use football as a tool Big-hitting Chris Gayle had in the Concacaf region by across the Concacaf region to growing the game in the region on the road to the FIFA World to support social change. Once smashed 67 off 38 balls to help Canada, Mexico and the United develop grassroots football. This and globally.” Cup Qatar 2022, as we con- the coaches have been educated the hosts to victory in the third States. exciting collaboration will The event in Houston tinue to work to deliver a with this curriculum, Concacaf match but he could not repeat The programme launched enhance social inclusion and we kicked off what will be a four- lasting social and human will implement a six-week the feat and was out for one. this week at a children’s football look forward to jointly building year programme, which has legacy that empowers young football for social change pro- Marsh took two big wickets event delivered by Concacaf a lasting human legacy across been developed collaboratively people around the world.” gramme across local schools, in the 16th over, with West and Generation Amazing in the host region of the next FIFA between Concacaf and Gener- Concacaf General Secretary, academies and clubs to benefit Indies skipper Nicholas Houston, Texas, where several World Cup in Canada, Mexico ation Amazing. Philippe Moggio, added: hundreds of girls and boys aged Pooran (16) caught at long-off Concacaf Gold Cup matches are and the US.” Speaking about the launch “Working together with 8-12. by Christian and Simmons sent back for 72. Fabian Allen (29) hit Riley Meredith for three sixes in the Italy considers 19th over to give the hosts El Salvador reach Gold Cup quarters some hope, but Mitchell Starc bid to host denied Andre Russell (24 not AGENCIES – FRISCO, TEXAS out) in the final over. Euro 2028 possessing the ball for only 18 percent of the match. The first-half SCOREBOARD or World El Salvador became the first team goal allowed Wednesday forced AUSTRALIA to punch its ticket to the knockout them to push the action more in M. Wade c wkpr Pooran b Thomas ...... 5 Cup 2030 stage on the power of a 2-0 victory the second half, resulting in chal- A. Finch b Walsh ...... 53 over Trinidad and Tobago in lenges for both keepers. M. Marsh c wkpr Pooran b Allen ...... 75 REUTERS – REUTERS CONCACAF Gold Cup action at El Salvador finally got an A. Carey c and b Walsh ...... 0 Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. insurance goal in the 90th minute M. Henriques c Allen b Russell ...... 6 A. Turner stpd wkpr Pooran b Walsh...... 6 Italy is considering making a El Salvador entered as the only after a diving save by Frenderup D. Christian not out ...... 22 bid to host the 2028 European Group A team with a victory in its caromed the ball off the post M. Starc not out ...... 8 Championship or the 2030 opening match on Wednesday, before rolling along the goal line Extras (lb-4, nb-2, w-8) ...... 14 World Cup but must improve having beaten Guatemala 2-0 on to the opposite post. In the Total (20 overs, 6 wkts) ...... 189 its stadiums if it is to succeed, Sunday. The victors became the scramble, Walmer Martinez finally Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-126, 3-126, 4-135, 5-146, 6-166 the head of the Italian sixth El Salvador squad ever to chipped the ball into the open net Did not bat: A. Zampa, R. Meredith, J. Behrendorff Football Federation (FIGC) reach the quarterfinals of the Gold to make it 2-0. Bowling: S. Cottrell 4-0-31-0 (2w), O. Thomas 2-0- 31-1 (1w, 2nb), A. Russell 3-0-25-1 (4w), A. Hosein said yesterday. Cup. El Salvador won the pos- 2-0-24-0 (1w), F. Allen 4-0-31-1, H. Walsh 4-0-27- Italy beat England on Jairo Henriquez opened the session battle, 59 to 41 percent, 3, L. Simmons 1-0-16-0 Sunday to win their second scoring in the 30th minute by and outshot Trinidad and Tobago WEST INDIES European Championship. The receiving a pass just outside the 19-9. Mario Gonzalez finished with L. Simmons c Henriques b Marsh ...... 72 two countries could also be 18-yard box, spinning into a low two saves for El Salvador. E. Lewis b Zampa ...... 31 rivals to host the World Cup, shot just past diving Trinidad and Both teams play their final C. Gayle c Behrendorff b Marsh ...... 1 A. Fletcher b Zampa ...... 6 which is held every four years, Tobago goalkeeper Nicklas group-stage matches on Sunday, N. Pooran c Christian b Marsh ...... 16 as British Prime Minister Boris Frenderup (six saves). with El Salvador taking on pre- A. Russell not out ...... 24 Johnson has backed plans for Trinidad and Tobago entered tournament group favorite Mexico F. Allen c wkpr Wade b Meredith ...... 29 a bid by the United Kingdom having earned a coveted point off in Dallas. With a win or draw, El H. Walsh not out ...... 0 and Ireland for the 2030 a stunning 0-0 draw against Salvador would win the group. Extras (nb-1, w-5) ...... 6 finals. Mexico in its opener, featuring an Trinidad and Tobago will take Total (20 overs, 6 wkts) ...... 185 “We will evaluate an Italy all-defensive approach and on Guatemala in Frisco. Fall of wickets: 1-62, 2-86, 3-97, 4-132, 5-132, 6-179 Did not bat: A. Hosein, S. Cottrell, O. Thomas candidacy for the 2028 Bowling: M. Starc 4-0-37-0 (1w), R. Meredith 4-0-57-1 European Championship and (1w), J. Behrendorff 3-0-24-0 (1nb), D. Christian 1-0-23- the World Cup of 2030, in 0 (2w), A. Zampa 4-0-20-2, M. Marsh 4-0-24-3 (1w) which the centenary of the world championship is cele- brated,” FIGC president Gabriele Gravina told a news conference. Pant and net “Let’s try for the Euros first, then we’ll think about bowler test the other one.” Some Italian stadiums have not been positive for updated since the 1990 World Cup, the last major soccer coronavirus tournament hosted by Italy alone. REUTERS – NEW DELHI “We must improve the conditions of the stadiums India wicketkeeper Rishabh because if we do not start an Pant and a member of the investment path in infra- support staff have tested structure we will never be positive for COVID-19 in able to aspire to organise such England ahead of their five- a great event,” Gravina said. test series starting next month, “We must do things the Indian cricket board (BCCI) quickly. For me, we cannot go said yesterday. into a bid thinking that ‘we The India players were have the stadiums, but if you given a three-week break give me the event, I will then Mexican midfielder Orbelín Pineda scores a goal against Guatemala during the second half of CONCACAF Gold Cup Soccer group stage after losing the World Test improve them’. That’s not how match at Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas, on Wednesday. Championship (WTC) final it works.” Other countries that against New Zealand in South- have expressed an interest in ampton last month. hosting the 2030 World Cup Mori’s 2 goals lead Mexico over Guatemala The 23-year-old must include Spain and Portugal. return two negative RT-PCR Argentina, Uruguay, Chile AP – DALLAS Mexico had opened Group A with a 0-0 with a right-footed shot from 8 yards off a tests before he can join the rest and Paraguay have draw against Trinidad and Tobago, and cross from Pineda, and Pineda added a goal of the squad in Durham where announced they will make a Rogelio Funes Mori scored twice and Guatemala lost to El Salvador 2-0. Mexico on a 6-yard leaping header in the 79th from Virat Kohli’s team will play a four-way bid, and Bulgaria, Orbelín Pineda added a goal to lead closes the group stage against El Salvador a Luis Rodríguez cross. three-day warm-up match Greece, Serbia and Romania defending champion Mexico over on Sunday in Dallas. At Frisco, Texas, El Salvador (2-0) from Tuesday. Net bowler have said they are planning a Guatemala 3-0 in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. In a match delayed by a storm, Funes assured itself a quarterfinals bertg with a Dayanand Garani tested pos- joint bid. Funes Mori, a 30-year-old born in Mori put El Tri ahead in the 29th minute, 2-0 win over Trinidad on goals by Jairo itive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, The bidding process for- Argentina, scored his second and third goals chesting a lofted pass from Héctor Herrera Henriquez in the 30th minute and Walmer while bowling coach Bharat mally starts in 2022 with for Mexico on Wednesday night. He made just inside the penalty area, cutting the ball Martínez in the first minute of second-half Arun, wicketkeeper Wrid- world soccer governing body his debut in a June 3 exhibition against back to his right foot and beating goal- stoppage time. The Soca Warriors have a dhiman Saha and batsman FIFA to choose the hosts in Nigeria and was playing his third interna- keeper Nicholas Hagen from 12 yards. draw and a loss going into tomorrow's game Abhimanyu Easwaran were 2024. tional match. Funes Mori doubled the lead in the 55th against Guatemala in Frisco. deemed his close contacts. Sport FRIDAY 16 JULY 2021 14 Pogacar Oosthuizen, Spieth light up British Open closes in on REUTERS – SANDWICH, ENGLAND “Probably in my mind it was the It was a tough day for 2020 US Open treacherous rough on several occasions perfect round I could have played,” he champion Bryson DeChambeau who and made three bogeys on the front nine Tour title Former champions Louis Oosthuizen and told reporters. “I didn’t make many mis- battled to a round of 71. to drop back to one over. Jordan Spieth sparkled in the morning takes. When I had good opportunities for The long-hitting American visited the DeChambeau appeared to have sunshine as the 149th British Open started birdie, I made the putts. So, yeah, just a worked out the undulating fairways when with another at Royal St George’s yesterday. very good solid round.” Spieth made four he collected three consecutive birdies South African Oosthuizen, the consecutive birdies from the fifth hole from the 12th but two more dropped shots stage win winner in 2010, made and sank a 12-foot putt on the 16th green left him well off the pace. six birdies in a flawless to cap a fine round and confirm the World number one Dustin Johnson AP – LUZ ARDIDEN, FRANCE 64 to finish on six under 27-year-old’s return to form after he fin- started with a solid 68 and defending par, one shot ished 2020 ranked 82nd in the world. champion Shane Lowry of Ireland carded Tadej Pogacar won the final ahead of England’s Justin Rose, Danny Willett, 71 playing with Oosthuizen and Spanish mountain stage of the Tour de American Andy Sullivan and Jack Senior carded 67s US Open champion Jon Rahm, whose 71 France yesterday to cement his Spieth, champion in 2017. along with South African Justin Harding, was spoiled by a double bogey at the grip on the race. Brian Harman matched his American Scottie Scheffler and South ninth. Four-times major champion Rory The short trek in the Pyr- compatriot Spieth with a 65 to share Korea’s An Byeong-Hun. McIlroy, British Open winner in 2014, was enees featured a daunting second place, one clear of Canadian Mac- The 2020 tour- among the late starters along with PGA combination of the Col du kenzie Hughes, South African Dylan Frit- nament was champion Phil Mickelson. Tourmalet and the final sharp telli and veteran American Stewart Cink, Richard Bland was given the climb to the Luz-Ardiden ski another former champion. cancelled because of honour of hitting the opening shot of resort, two classics of the Oosthuizen, 38, struck his irons beau- the COVID-19 pandemic but the tournament and the Englishman, Tour. tifully to pick up three birdies around the up to 32,000 fans are allowed in who won his first European PGA Tour Pogacar’s main rivals did turn and added three more on the closing each day this year as part of a gov- title this season at the 478th attempt, not take advantage of the holes to make a strong start to his bid for ernment test event and warm applause struck his drive straight down the brutal course. a second major title. rippled around the links course. fairway. The defending champion Jordan Spieth of the US in action during the first round of the 149th Open surged away from a reduced Championship at Royal St George’s in Sandwich, Britain, yesterday. group of four riders in the last kilometer. After Enric Mas attacked, Pogacar countered the move and dropped Jonas Vingegaard and Richard Carapaz to claim a third stage win this year. Barring an accident, the 22-year-old UAE Team Emirates rider should be crowned Tour champion for the second straight year when the race ends in Paris on Sunday. Before Sunday’s proces- sional ride leading to the Champs-Elysees, there is just one difficult stage remaining - a time trial through the Bor- Risk of COVID spread is ‘zero’: IOC President delais vineyards scheduled tomorrow. Pogacar excels in the race REUTERS – TOKYO The Olympic Rings installed on a floating platform are seen in front of the city skyline ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. against the clock and won the first time trial of this year’s International Olympic Committee Tour, beating the pure President Thomas Bach said yesterday specialists. there was “zero” risk of Games partic- Pogacar has a huge lead ipants infecting Japanese residents of five minutes, 45 seconds with COVID-19, as cases hit a six- over Vingegaard in the month high in the host city. general classification. “Risk for the other residents of Carapaz is in third place, Olympic village and risk for the Jap- 5:51 off the pace. anese people is zero,” Bach (pictured) said, adding that Olympics athletes and delegations have undergone more than 8,000 coronavirus tests, Germany’s resulting in three positive cases. Those cases have been placed in Kerber pulls isolation and their close contacts are also under quarantine protocols, Bach said at the beginning of talks with out of Games Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and Tokyo 2020 President Seiko Hashimoto. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told reporters REUTERS –TOKYO Just over a week before the July 23 opening Japan would take Coronavirus outbreaks ceremony, Tokyo reported 1,308 new COVID-19 thorough steps to Olympic medallist Angelique infections yesterday, its highest daily tally since strengthen border Kerber has become the latest late January. controls against the at the Tokyo Olympics big name to pull out of the July Postponed last year due to the COVID-19 pan- coronavirus. Given REUTERS – TOKYO 23-Aug. 8 Tokyo Games, with demic, the Summer Olympics have little public the state of emer- the German saying yesterday support in Japan amid widespread fears about a gency in the host that the past few weeks on the further spread of the coronavirus. city, the Tokyo JUNE 20: A coach with Uganda’s squad tests positive on arrival at Narita airport Tour had taken its toll on her Critics of the plan to hold the Tokyo Olympics 2020 organising com- and is quarantined at a government-designated facility. The rest of the team body. - which were postponed by a year due to the pan- mittee said it would bar heads by bus for their host city, Izumisano near Osaka in western Japan. Kerber, a three-times demic - submitted a petition yesterday that has public access to the cap- JUNE 23: A Ugandan athlete tests positive, Izumisano officials said. Grand Slam winner, won the garnered more than 450,000 signatures this ital’s waterfront area and silver medal in the women’s JULY 4: A member of Serbia’s Olympic rowing team tests positive month, Japanese media reported. asked the public to refrain singles event at the 2016 Rio Organisers have imposed Olympics “bubbles” from visiting the Olympic on arrival. The other four team members are isolated as close Games. The 33-year-old has to prevent further transmissions of COVID-19, but flame platform. contacts. had a busy grasscourt season, medical experts are worried that they might not The waterfront area, JULY 9: One Lithuanian and one Israeli athlete test positive, having participated in three be sufficiently tight. dubbed Tokyo Waterfront according to reports. Later reports say the Lithuanian’s tournaments in the past month A number of infections have emerged among City, was supposed to results were unclear and subsequently tested negative. -- winning in Bad Homburg several visiting athletes and people involved with feature “cool spots, rest JULY 14: A masseur for the Russian women’s rugby and reaching the semi-finals at the Games. areas and dining spaces” Wimbledon. An Olympic athlete under a 14-day quarantine and be open to spectators sevens team tests positive, forcing the team into “Representing Germany in period has tested positive in Tokyo, the organ- and non-ticket holders, isolation for two days, the RIA news agency reports. London 2012 and Rio 2016 as ising committees’ website reported yesterday, according to Officials in Munakata, southwestern Japan, part of the German team has without disclosing any details about the athlete. organisers. confirmed that one staff member was hospitalised always been one of my Eight members of the Kenyan women’s rugby Some of the sponsor and said none of the team members could be considered favourite memories of my team, who were set to hold a training camp in booths may be operated close contacts. career so far,” Kerber said in a Kurume in southwestern Japan, were classified on a restricted-access statement. The refugee Olympic team has delayed its arrival in as close contacts of a passenger on their flight to basis during the Games, A number of big names in Tokyo who tested positive for coronavirus, a city a committee spokes- Japan following a positive case with a team official in tennis will be missing at the official said. person told reporters. Doha. The infected official is in quarantine without Olympics, including Roger The eight athletes had all tested negative on A decision of symptoms and 26 of the 29 refugees will remain in Federer, Rafa Nadal, Dominic arrival at the airport, the official added, and will whether to allow public their Doha training camp. Thiem, Serena Williams, be staying at an accommodation facility in Tokyo access to the area during the JULY 15: Eight athletes from the Kenya women’s Simona Halep and Bianca until the Games. Tokyo entered its fourth state of Paralympic Games will be rugby team were classified as close contacts after a Andreescu. Britain’s top seeds emergency earlier this week amid a rebound in taken after the Olympics have Dan Evans and Johanna Konta COVID-19 cases that pushed Games organisers to ended, the spokesperson positive coronavirus case was found on their flight will miss out after testing pos- ban spectators from nearly all venues. said. to Tokyo. itive for COVID-19. Hundreds of horses reach Tokyo for equestrian competitions REUTERS – TOKYO by grooms and veterinarians. flight from Europe carried 36 Such an airlift requires horses from Belgium via Dubai It is not only thousands of specialists. The transport to Tokyo on an 18 hour journey athletes who are flying to agents in charge of the animals, - thankfully horses sleep Tokyo for the Olympic Games Peden Bloodstock, have standing up - also transporting but also hundreds of horses. organised Olympic and Para- 12,000 kg of feed and 13,500 They will compete with lympic horse transport since kg of horse equipment. their riders in the three eques- 1960. The flight included some of trian disciplines dressage, But it is the first time the sport’s stars, such as mare jumping and eventing - the Tokyo’s Haneda airport has Bella Rose, the horse on which only Olympic sports where handled a full cargo of horses, Germany’s Isabell Werth, the men and women compete each worth a fortune. most decorated Olympic individually on equal terms. “These are not simply equestrian athlete of all time, The horses, each weighing horses, they are Olympic will compete. All horses from 510-630 kg, travel in horses”, said Takahashi Koji, underwent a 60-day health pairs in special flying stables administrator of Tokyo Inter- surveillance period and a at a fairly chilly 16 degrees national Airport. seven-day quarantine before A dressage horse arrives at Tokyo Haneda Airport for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Celsius and are accompanied This year’s first Olympics the flight.