15 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2019 sports

Shaikh Khalid hails achievements of junior Kontaveit downs Sharapova paralympic team “I don’t think this is the time Anett Kontaveit to take a break,” she said. TDT | Manama zerland. It adds to the series • The 32-year-old has slipped of accomplishments have been outhits to 82nd in the world rankings H Shaikh Khalid bin Ham- made by our paralympic ath- to win first-round after another season marred by Had Al Khalifa, First Dep- letes in continental and inter- thriller in Toronto injury. She had missed more uty President of the Supreme national levels. These results than four months in the wake Council for Youth and Sports confirm their outstanding lev- Kerber falls of right shoulder surgery when and President of Bahrain els as well as their keenness to • she returned for the grass court Olympic Committee hailed the honour the Kingdom of Bah- to Kasatkina season this year. achievement accomplished by rain in all international events She was forced out of Wim- Bahrain’s Junior Paralympic and to have the Bahraini flag AFP | Montreal bledon by a left forearm injury. National Team in the second flying high in all arenas,” HH Sharapova said Monday’s edition of the World Para Ath- Shaikh Khalid said. nett Kontaveit spoiled physical battle showed she’d letics Junior Championships, HH Shaikh Khalid also es- Maria Sharapova’s re- made progress since Wimble- held in Switzerland calated his sincere congrat- Aturn from injury Mon- don. The Bahrainis have been ulations to HM King Hamad day, rallying to beat the five- “I put a lot of work in to get in brilliant form in Switzer- bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of time champion 4-6, to this stage, so I think to fin- land with Saad Mohammed the Kingdom of Bahrain, HRH 6-3, 6-4 at the WTA tournament ish off this match is good,” she achieving the gold medal in Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al in Toronto. said. “Definitely not the result the discuss throw competition, Khalifa, the Prime Minister, Sharapova, competing for the I would have liked, but overall a similar feat made by country HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad first time since retiring from her feeling pretty good about it. fellow Maryam Al Humaidi in Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, first-round match at Wimble- “I’m still building the confi- the shot puts contest. Al Hu- Deputy Supreme Commander don, appeared to be on course dence and my form and that’s maidi stole the limelight in and First Deputy Prime Min- for just a fourth match win since something that’s just going to the event as she also bagged ister, and HH Shaikh Nasser January when she went up a set come with time and with match another two bronzes; one bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Rep - and an early break on the 16th play,” she added. “Unfortunate- of them in the javelin throw resentative of HM the King seed from . ly, I just haven’t had that yet, so and the other in the discus for Charity and Youth Affairs Having forced the third will just hopefully try to build throw. and President of the Supreme set, Kontaveit gave herself a on it.” Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit celebrates her first-round victory over Maria “We are proud of our cham- Council for Youth and Sports chance to serve for the match Sharapova pions’ achievement in Swit- on the achievement. with a break of serve in an epic Kasatkina tops Kerber ninth game. Sharapova hung The top eight seeds in the key which Toronto hosted, although on through nine deuces before US Open tuneup receive first she did make it to the final in Kontaveit converted her third round byes -- a group led by 2017. break chance in a game that last- world number one Ash Barty of “I’m just happy to be here and ed more than 15 minutes. Australia which also includes I was just trying to win another match here and get “I was just trying to take it No. 2 of Japan, take it point by point a good start,” Wozniacki said. point by point and not think fourth-seeded Wimbledon and not think about “We’ll see how it goes. about the score that much. It champion and the score that much. Switzerland’s Bencic, seeded worked in the end,” said Kon- eighth-seeded Serena Williams. 11th, advanced with ease, dis- taveit, who converted her first German 12th seed Angelique It worked in the end patching Russian qualifier An- match point in the following Kerber was unable to make to ANETT KONTAVEIT astasia Potapova 6-2, 6-1. game when Sharapova sent a the second round, however, the Despite the lopsided score- service return long. three-time Grand Slam champi- line, Bencic needed four match While Kontaveit readies her- on beaten 0-6, 6-2, 6-4 by Rus- points to close it out. self for a second round match sian . Bencic won the second WTA against either Two former champions made title of her career in Toronto in or Carla Suarez Navarro -- who it safely into the second round, in the opening set to win in 90 2015, beating four of the top-six were to open play on Centre and Belinda minutes. players in the world, including Court yesterday -- Sharapova Bencic both posting straight- The Dane, who lifted the Serena Williams. will set her sights on next week’s sets wins. WTA’s Canadian Premier-level But she hasn’t played in To- Ferrari’s Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc during the qualifying session of tournament in Cincinnati, Denmark’s Wozniacki, seeded title in 2010 when the tourna- ronto since as her precocious the German GP where she has received a wild 15th, shook off an early break of ment was in Montreal, hasn’t WTA rise was stalled by a string card just as she did in Toronto. service, rallying from 2-4 down always thrived in the years in of injuries. Ferrari struggling on high down-force Palace swoop for former South Africa fast bowler Chelsea defender Cahill Steyn calls time on test career tracks, says team boss Reuters | Cape Town “Today I walk away from a AFP | London format of the game I love so AFP | Budapest, Hungary the ‘quali’, eventually the outh Africa fast bowler Dale much,” he said in a media re- grip of the tyres is coping ormer England centre-back Gary Cahill SSteyn has announced his lease from Cricket South Afri- eam boss Mattia Binotto with the lack of down- Fsigned a two-year deal with Crystal Palace retirement from test cricket, ca. “In my opinion, test cricket Tsaid Ferrari’s strengths and force you have. on Monday following his exit from Chelsea. but will be available for one- is the best version of this game. weaknesses are more exposed “But on a long distance Cahill, 33, was out of contract after spend- day international and Twen- It tests you mentally, physical- at slower and high down-force run, you’re sliding, over- ing seven years at Stamford Bridge, where ty20 cricket, he confirmed on ly, emotionally. circuits, explaining why they heating tyres and things he won a pair of Premier League titles, the Monday. “It’s terrible to consider nev- finished more than a minute are more complicated.” Champions League and the Europa League Steyn, who has battled a re- er playing another test again adrift of triumphant Lewis Ferrari chose to give twice. curring shoulder injury that but what’s more terrifying is Hamilton in Sunday’s Hun- priority to aerodynamic “I’m glad to be here. I think it’s a good kept him out of the recent the thought of never playing garian Grand Prix. efficiency in the creation of opportunity for me to continue my career World Cup in England, said again at all. Sebastian Vettel came home their 2019 car – a move that in the Premier League and to play in a he has made the decision in “So I will be focusing on ODIs third ahead of team-mate should favour them at fast, good, exciting team,” Cahill told his new order to prolong his interna- and T20s for the rest of my Charles Leclerc, but both low down-force tracks like club’s website. tional career. career to maximise my full po- conceded that they could not Spa-Francorchamps and Mon- “There are some very exciting, tal- tential and ensure my longevity generate the pace to compete za, where the upcoming Bel- ented players here. I’m looking forward in this sport. with Hamilton’s Mercedes or gian and Italian Grands Prix to the challenge. “I’d like to thank everyone the Red Bull of second-placed take place next month. “I’m hungry to prolong my career as long in cricket, no one specific, Max Verstappen at the Hun- Both four-time champion as I possibly can.” because everyone has been a garoring. Vettel and Leclerc brushed Cahill earned 61 international caps and part of my journey. And I look “It’s very track dependent,” aside suggestions after Sun- Gary Cahill played for England under Palace boss Roy forward to continuing to play said Binotto. “Our car is lack- day’s race that the intensity of Hodgson. for the Proteas in the shorter ing in maximum down-force so the duel for victory had lifted “I’m delighted that Gary has joined formats.” when you are at a circuit, like the pace of the contest. us. He’s a fantastic footballer who Steyn, 36, has amassed 439 Budapest, where maximum “I think they were pushing brings a wealth of international and test wickets, more than any down-force is needed, then flat out and we were pushing Premier League experience,” said other South African, but has we suffer. flat out,” said Vettel. “So I don’t Hodgson. only played eight five-day “And we’re suffering more in think they were able to get an- Cahill could make his Palace debut South African bowler Dale Steyn matches in the last three years the race than in the qualifying other second just because they in Saturday’s Premier League opener bowls on during a Test match (file as shoulder, groin and foot in- because, in the single lap of enjoyed themselves.” at home to Everton. photo) juries have kept him sidelined.