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Tuesday, September 1, 2020 CYCLING Muharram 13, 1442 AH Ewan rockets to GULF TIMES bunch sprint win SPORT Page 7 Former champ Kerber makes winning return at US Open Top seed Pliskova and Kvitova advance too; Briton Norrie stuns ninth seed Schwartzman in five-setter

Reuters pressure on the Argentine. New York, United States The fi nal set began with both players dropping serve. Schwartzman turned the tables ormer champion Angel- with another break at 3-3 before ique Kerber returned to calling for the physio to look at action for the fi rst time his wrist following a fall. in seven months and beat He immediately lost his mo- AustralianF Ajla Tomljanovic 6-4, mentum as Norrie saved match 6-4 yesterday to reach the sec- points at 5-3 and at 5-4 before ond round of the US Open. taking a 6-5 lead as a cramping The 17th-seeded German, who Schwartzman lost nine consecu- entered the match having not tive points and then saw his fore- competed since the fourth round hand hit the net on match point. of the , overcame a shaky start on serve and got better ROUND I RESULTS as the 88-minute match at Louis Men’s singles Armstrong Stadium wore on. „Juan Ignacio Londero (ARG) “It’s not easy to play your fi rst bt (RUS) 6-3, match after such a long time and it 6-3, 7-5 was my fi rst match after Australia „27-Borna Coric (CRO) bt Pablo so I’m really happy how I played for Andujar (ESP) 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 the fi rst match,” said Kerber. „Egor Gerasimov (BLR) bt “It’s always a little bit diff er- 18-Dusan Lajovic (SRB) 6-1, 4-6, ent to play points, and especially 6-4, 6-4 a match, than playing just practice „ (AUS) bt points so I am happy how I did the Stefano Travaglia (ITA) 6-3, 6-4, transition to the match court now.” 4-6, 6-2 Kerber was sidelined with a leg „ (GBR) bt injury before the Covid-19 out- 9- (ARG) 3-6, break forced a shutdown of global 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, 7-5 tennis in March and did not com- Angelique Kerber of Germany returns a shot during her US Open women’s singles first round match against Ajla Tomljanovic (not pictured) of Australia on Day One of the 2020 US „Federico Coria (ARG) bt Jason pete in last week’s warm-up event Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in the Queens borough of New York City, United States, yesterday. (Right) Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic serves Jung (TPE) 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 2-0 ret played on the site of the US Open. against Anhelina Kalinina (not pictured) of the Ukraine. (AFP) „Alejandro Davidovich (ESP) But despite the lack of recent bt (AUT) 3-6, 6-4, competitive action, the 32-year- ing the win on her third match which is being played without The 28-year-old Czech, who “For sure I prefer to have peo- who had the measure of Norrie 6-3, 1-6, 6-0 old former world number one point when a Tomljanovic fore- any fans in attendance due to led the WTA in aces in four of the ple around me,” she added. after the early exchanges, win- needed only a handful of games hand sailed long. the Covid-19 pandemic that has last fi ve years, struggled with an Pliskova, who has won 16 WTA ning four of the last fi ve games in Women’s singles to shake off the rust and never claimed over 180,000 lives in the uncharacteristically uneven serve titles, next faces unseeded Caro- the opening set. „1-Karolina Pliskova (CZE) bt looked back as she improved KVITOVA ADVANCES United States. in the fi rst set, committing three line Garcia of France. Norrie managed to create Anhelina Kalinina (UKR) 6-4, 6-0 her career record against Toml- Sixth seed Petra Kvitova hand- “It’s really mentally tough, to double faults and getting only chances in the second set but did „Caroline Garcia (FRA) bt janovic to 2-0. ily defeated Irina-Camelia Begu be honest,” she added. slightly more than half of her fi rst SCHWARTZMAN SHOCKED not convert the big points, giving Jasmine Paolini (ITA) 6-3, 6-2 Kerber, a three-times Grand 6-3, 6-2 in fi rst-round action Kvitova, who suff ered a sec- serves in to give her unseeded op- On the men’s side of the draw, Schwartzman a two-set lead be- „17-Angelique Kerber (GER) bt Slam champion who triumphed at but the Czech admitted it took ond-round exit last year at ponent a fi ghting chance. Briton Cameron Norrie claimed fore the Argentine started to lose Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) 6-4, 6-4 Flushing Meadows in 2016, traded some time getting used to play- Flushing Meadows, will next But Pliskova, the 2016 US his biggest win at a his way in the third. „12-Marketa Vondrousová breaks with Tomljanovic through ing in front of the empty stands face either Kateryna Kozlova of Open runner-up, found her foot- when he came from two sets A time violation saw Schwartz- (CZE) bt Greet Minnen (BEL) 6-1, the fi rst four games of the match at Flushing Meadows. Ukraine or American Whitney ing in the second set, winning all down to beat ninth seed Diego man lose his cool and Norrie took 6-4 and then found her footing. The twice Wimbledon cham- Osuigwe. her fi rst-serve points and com- Schwartzman 3-6, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, advantage to break and lead 3-2. „Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR) The German southpaw con- pion converted four of fi ve break mitting just one unforced error, 7-5 in the fi rst round yesterday. The Briton capitalised on more bt Francesca Di Lorenzo (USA) verted all three break-point point opportunities and fi red 23 PLISKOVA KEEPS MAIDEN as her Ukrainian opponent was Both players served poorly, re- errors from a wayward Schwartz- 2-6, 7-6 (6), 6-0 chances to pull ahead 5-4 and winners to defeat her Romanian MAJOR BID ALIVE left scrambling. sulting in 58 break points being man to earn a double break before „30- (FRA) went on to serve out at love to opponent. Earlier in the day, fi rst seed Karo- “I think my game was quite up for grabs in total, and 25-year- wrapping up the set. bt Hailey Baptiste (USA) 7-5, 6-2 grab the fi rst set when world “I had to motivate myself from lina Pliskova got a roaring start to good for a fi rst round,” said Plisk- old Norrie saved two match Schwartzman was unable to fi nd „Varvara Gracheva (RUS) bt number 59 Tomljanovic sent a the beginning to the end,” the her bid for a maiden Grand Slam ova, the world number three, points in the decider before pre- his groove in the fourth set as well Paula Badosa (ESP) 6-4, 7-5 forehand into the net. 30-year-old said in an on-court title downing fi rst-round oppo- who played in front of empty vailing after nearly four hours. while Norrie drastically reduced „Danka Kovinic (MNE) bt Liz- In the second, Kerber quickly interview. nent Anhelina Kalinina 6-4, 6-0 stands as the tournament is be- Extended rallies and long his unforced error count and con- ette Cabrera (AUS) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 settled into a groove and broke She also lamented the lack to kick off the action in Arthur ing held without fans due to the games were a feature of the verted all three break points to take „6-Petra Kvitova (CZE) bt Irina her opponent twice before seal- of crowd support at the event, Ashe Stadium. coronavirus outbreak. match and it was Schwartzman the match to a decider and pile Begu (ROU) 6-3, 6-2

FOOTBALL Messi fails to show up for Barcelona training

Reuters the year insists he has a clause ished with a humiliating 8-2 Barcelona, Spain in his contract that allows him to defeat to Bayern Munich in the leave on a free transfer — a claim Champions League quarter-fi - disputed by Barcelona and La nals. nhappy Lionel Messi Liga. Supporters who waited outside missed Barcelona’s fi rst Messi’s lawyers plan to invoke the training ground yesterday training session of the a clause in his four-year contract, were split over Messi’s decision. new season yesterday, signed in 2017, which would have “I really want Messi to stay,” Udays after his shock announce- allowed the forward to leave the Brazilian Fabio Alfredo Suarez ment that he wants to leave the club for free if he had requested it told Reuters. only club he has played for pro- by June 10. “Messi lives in my heart — it’s a fessionally. They will argue that date — pity that he leaves, I wanted him Messi’s failure to show up for nominally the end of the sea- to leave through the front door of the session, the fi rst under new son — is now irrelevant after the the club.” Barcelona coach Ronald Koe- coronavirus pandemic forced an Spaniard Ivan Antolin Bel- man, was widely expected after extension of the La Liga season tran remembered that Barca had the 33-year-old Argentine also deep into August. helped Messi through the earlier failed to show up for a pre-season However, La Liga said on Sun- stages of his career. medical on Sunday. day that the only way a club can “After all that Barca has given Reuters television footage sign the Argentine forward is to Messi throughout his career, showed players arriving for the if he triggers a release clause of which started here as a child... session which began at 1730 local 700mn euros ($836mn). they paid him for all his medi- time (1530 GMT) and Messi did Messi’s decision came after cines and everything... I think not appear. Barcelona failed to win any sil- his way of behaving is a bit incor- In this August 26, 2020, picture, an FC Barcelona fan is escorted out of the Camp Nou premises as fans protest against the club management The six-times world player of verware last season, which fi n- rect,” he said. after Argentine forward Lionel Messi announced his desire to leave the club. (AFP) Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, September 1, 2020 SPORT

TENNIS OLYMPICS Tokyo Games Masks, soap machines symbol of hope as and mini-golf: inside fl ame goes on display the US Open bubble ‘You can sense that around the site there is a certain tension’

AFP New York, United States

one are the crush of fans seeking selfi es with their favour- ite player, the distant Gcheers from an outer court as a baseline forehand lands in- side and the warm embrace be- tween competitors at the end of a match. In their place are hand sani- tiser machines, daily tempera- ture checks and virtual hugs, making for a sterile atmosphere at the 2020 US Open — the fi rst Tokyo 2020 President Yoshiro Mori holds the Olympic Flame during a Grand Slam to take place in the ceremony at the Olympic Museum in Tokyo, Japan, yesterday. (AFP) Covid-19 era. The US National Tennis Cent- Reuters carried by about 10,000 torch- er in New York normally buzzes Tokyo, Japan bearers and will light the Ol- with energy and excitement ympic cauldron,” Tokyo 2020 during Open week, but not this President Yoshiro Mori said. “We year, with the tournament oc- t a low-key ceremony would like to make eff orts to- curring in a spectator-free quar- to mark the unveiling wards this so that we can ensure antine bubble. of the Olympic fl ame a great success of the Games.” Match-winning shots were display yesterday, To- Organisers have not an- met with virtual silence in ee- kyoA offi cials reiterated that next nounced details of the torch re- rily empty stadia as play got un- year’s Games will be a symbol of lay. The original 121-day plan der way yesterday, while play- hope for the world as it recovers had the torch travelling to all of ers were free to mill around the from the coronavirus pandemic. Japan’s 47 prefectures. Flushing Meadows site without A player wears a face covering as he walks the grounds on Day One of the 2020 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center The fl ame will be on show from “I suppose athletes aiming to being swamped by autograph in the Queens borough of New York City, United States, yesterday. (AFP) today onward at the Japanese Ol- participate in Olympics and Par- hunters. ympic Museum, located next to alympics are training hard every Competitors, offi cials, and fi st bumps are banned. Quick efi ts. Ashe and Louis Armstrong sta- are shuttled the 30 minutes to the National Stadium purpose- day while having great anxiety the handful of journalists in the elbow taps are allowed. “When you have to get some- diums whose seats have been and from the tennis center. built for the Games which were (due to coronavirus),” said Japa- bubble, including AFP, wear Organisers are limiting locker where for a certain time, it’s nice draped in ‘Black Lives Matter’ A few, including Djokovic and due to take place this year but nese Olympic Committee Presi- masks as they move gingerly rooms to 30 players at one time, because you know there is no- banners. , have chosen to were rescheduled for 2021 due to dent Yasuhiro Yamashita who around the grounds, careful to with competitors encouraged to one around and that you’re not There are no lines offi cials on stay in private homes where they the Covid-19 outbreak. received the fl ame from Mori. keep six feet apart. shower and head outside quickly going to get stopped. It’s very the outer courts, where Hawk- are paying for 24-hour security The fl ame was last seen in “I am confi dent that this “You can sense that around where activities including bas- quiet and very relaxed,” Murray Eye technology is making line approved by the United States Fukushima after the torch relay fl ame, which is displayed today, the site there is a certain tension ketball hoops await. added. calls. Tennis Association (USTA). was cancelled following its arriv- will be moral support for such because everyone is obviously Mini-golf, pool and chess are Anyone entering the site must Organisers are limiting the The security teams are obliged al from Greece but before it could athletes.” being careful,” said Novak Djok- other games available to try to undergo a temperature check locker rooms to 30 players at one to provide the USTA with in- start a planned tour of Japan fol- To limit crowds gathering to ovic following his Western and keep players outdoors when they every day, with players, staff , time and elite players have been formation regarding when the lowing the decision to postpone view the fl ame, there will be a Southern Open win at Flushing are killing time. volunteers, and journalists un- given their own boxes in Ashe player leaves and arrives at the the Games in March. reservation system with a desig- on Saturday. “It’s pretty sad because usu- dergoing regular coronavirus and Armstrong to eye the com- house. Organisers have chosen to dis- nated date and time. The tennis centre has been ally this place is just fi lled with tests throughout the tourna- petition. No player is allowed to travel play the fl ame at the JOC muse- The fl ame will be on display thoroughly scrubbed since it energy and atmosphere,” said ment. “Walking around from court anywhere other than between um, held in a small lantern in the from September 1-November 1. housed an emergency fi eld hos- . to court, I’ve never been able the tennis centre and their ac- corner of the lobby. The Games are due to start on pital at the peak of New York’s “Fans give life to the tour- SECURITY to watch so many live tennis commodation. Any player who “Next year, this fl ame will be July 23. coronavirus outbreak in April. nament, they give life to your Players wear masks when not matches,” said three-time US leaves the bubble without the Hand sanitizer machines dot matches and your practices.” playing or eating, while ball per- Open champion Kim Clijsters. written consent of organisers the grounds, as do posters re- But the absence of 750,000 sons and lines offi cials don face Most competitors are staying will be thrown out of the tour- SPOTLIGHT minding players that hugs and spectators does bring some ben- coverings on court in the Arthur at one of two hotels where they nament. Thiem confi dent Djokovic consolidates hold on No. 1, Osaka climbs to ninth in WTA rankings AFP Bosnia-Herzegovina. Open final at the weekend. in a Covid-19 quarantine bubble. 6. (GRE) 5095 of turning things Paris, France He leads the ATP chart on Osaka, who is scheduled to Karolina Pliskova, the world 7. (GER) 3630 10860 points from Rafael meet fellow Japanese Misaki number three, is the highest 8. (ITA) 2940 Nadal who like fourth-ranked Doi in the first round at Flush- ranked player and top seed go- 9. Gaël Monfils (FRA) 2860 around for US Open ovak Djokovic sets out is skipping the ing Meadows, pulled out of ing into the second Grand Slam 10. David Goff in (BEL) 2555 on his quest for an 18th rescheduled US Open being Saturday’s final because of a tournament of the year. NGrand Slam title at the held under tight Covid-19 health left hamstring injury. Serena Williams, 38, who is Latest WTA rankings (top 10) US Open with his world number restrictions. Her withdrawal handed the searching for her 24th Grand 1. (AUS) 8717 pts one standing enhanced in the While Djokovic heads an un- title to Victoria Azarenka who Slam singles title, rises one 2. (ROM) 6356 latest ATP rankings released changed top 10, Raonic jumps climbed 32 places to 27th in the place to eighth in the world. 3. Karolína Pliskova (CZE) 5205 yesterday. 12 places to 18th on the back of world. 4. (USA) 4590 Fresh from his success in the his run to Saturday’s decider in Australian Ashleigh Barty Latest ATP rankings (top 10) 5. (UKR) 4580 ATP Western & Southern Open the US Open tune-up. retains the top spot although 1. (SRB) 10860 pts 6. (CAN) 4555 final against , the In the new WTA rankings, Nao- neither she nor world number 2. (ESP) 9850 7. (NED) 4335 Serb headlines the opening day mi Osaka climbed one place to two Simona Halep are taking 3. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 7135 8. Serena Williams (USA) 4080 at Flushing Meadows where number nine after withdrawing part in the US Open which is be- 4. Roger Federer (SUI) 6630 9. (JPN) 4020 he faces Damir Dzumhur of from the Western & Southern ing staged without spectators 5. (RUS) 5890 10. (SUI) 4010

FOCUS Players close to Paire allowed to compete

DPA individual who has tested posi- been in contact with Paire, and Reuters sult came,” the 26-year-old told New York, United States tive. But Allaster insists the can only see his doubles partner New York, United States reporters on Sunday. rules have been followed to a tee. Jurgen Melzer on the court and “I know about my strength. “What’s really important is during their matches. I know things can change very S Open tournament di- that all of the safety and the “The other big question is ominic Thiem had a quickly. Well, I hope that I do rector Stacey Allaster medical health protocols that also knowing what happens to nightmarish start to better at the Open.” confi rmed that the have been approved by the state you if you lose? No one has been his US Open prepara- Thiem, who was also a fi nal- group of players that and are now being implemented able to tell me yet. Do you have tions when he was bun- ist at the last two French Opens, Uhave been in close contact with and overseen by the US Open to stay in quarantine? Suddenly dledD out in his fi rst match of the begins his US Open campaign Benoit Paire before he tested medical team are all being ex- it makes you want to win even Western & Southern Open last today against Spaniard Jaume positive for Covid-19 will be al- ecuted exactly the way that we more,” he told the French daily. week but the world number three Munar, whom he beat in Brazil lowed to compete in the event. had intended,” said the tourna- There have been mixed re- is confi dent he can turn things in his last tournament before the Paire was withdrawn from the ment director. sponses from the rest of the fi eld around in time for the Grand circuit was suspended due to the US Open on Sunday after news French doubles player Ed- regarding the US Open’s decision Slam. Covid-19 pandemic in March. broke of his positive test and the ouard Roger-Vasselin is one of to keep the players in the draw. The Austrian is seeded sec- Players rarely stick around French No 17 seed was replaced those who have been asked to Second seed Dominic Thiem ond at Flushing Meadows in the host cities after an early defeat in the competition by Marcel sign new waivers. feels safe in the bubble while absence of Rafa Nadal and is but with the Western & Southern Granollers — a Spanish alternate “To sum up, we are in the bub- world No 228 Noah Rubin, who expected to pose the strongest Open taking place in New York from the doubles draw. Spain’s will replace Benoit Paire (not pictured) in ble of a bubble,” he told L’Equipe can get into the singles draw as challenge for top-ranked Novak this year due to the pandemic, At least 10 French players, the men’s singles draw at the US Open. (AFP) about the current situation. an alternate from the doubles Djokovic, who beat Thiem in Thiem had nowhere to go. from both the men’s and wom- Roger-Vasselin explained he competition, slammed the US a fi ve-set thriller in this year’s “Normally if you lose... you en’s draw, were found to have Instead, they’ve been asked and all of those facts. They will be has been asked to only dine in Open for seemingly switching Australian Open fi nal. hop on the plane and go to a dif- had close contact with Paire. But to sign new waivers that restrict in the competition starting this his room, to take the stairs and positions. Thiem, however, managed ferent place. It’s easier to forget,” unlike the case with them from accessing certain ar- morning,” Allaster told the Tennis not the elevator, to notify the “I think there is no safer to win just three games in his he said. and Hugo Dellien, who were eas on-site and at the tourna- Channel yesterday, the opening tournament of his departure place in the world right now second-round match against “Here you’re stuck in the same removed from the Western & ment hotel. day of action in New York. time from the hotel so they can than here. Maybe you can lock Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic at the place for a very long time. So it’s Southern Open last week when “Contact tracing has been exe- The decision appears at odds send him a private car, and that yourself somewhere in a cave or Western & Southern Open after not easy to forget the loss, to get their physiotherapist tested cuted, decisions have been made, with the US Open’s protocols he doesn’t have access to the something, I don’t know, in the getting a fi rst-round bye. your mind on diff erent things. positive for the virus, the French and we’re continuing on to have that dictate a player be quar- locker room at the stadium. middle of the sea. Otherwise it’s “Things like that, matches like The last days, of course, (I was) players will not be excluded those individuals in the competi- antined for 14 days if they have He says he can only practice super safe here. We are in a bub- that, are happening. I didn’t have practising and preparing for the from the US Open this fortnight. tion based on the medical science come in close contact with an with other players who have ble,” Thiem said on Saturday. my best day. That’s how that re- Open.” Gulf Times Tuesday, September 1, 2020 3 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT LIGUE 1 Thauvin strike lift s virus-affl icted Al-Mannai reveals Marseille to victory AFP off side decision. Paris Romain Faivre smashed in his fi rst Brest goal just before half- time as Marseille’s vulnerability roadmap for new in their fi rst competitive match lorian Thauvin marked his fi rst start in 15 months since March 6 continued to give with a goal and two as- the home side reason to believe. sists as Marseille beat A Gaetan Charbonnier strike BrestF 3-2 on Sunday night in their was ruled out for off side and the opening game of the Ligue 1 sea- forward then sliced wide of an son. World Cup winner Thauvin open goal before Marseille re- football season missed all but 20 minutes of the stored their two-goal advantage coronavirus-shortened 2019- when another Thauvin free-kick 20 season with an ankle injury was headed in by Croatian cen- Qatar Football Association's Competition Committee Chairman says the Second as Marseille came a distant sec- tre-back Caleta-Car. ond to Paris Saint-Germain, the Charbonnier stabbed beyond Division competitions will start from September 20 club’s best fi nish in seven years. Mandanda a minute from time Coach Andre Villas-Boas to set up a nervy fi nish but Mar- he 2019-2020 football season has hopes the return to full fi tness of seille clung on as Brest captain been a long phase that sports fans Thauvin can help the team close Jean-Kevin Duverne’s last-gasp won’t forget in a hurry because the gap on bitter rivals PSG, who header landed on the roof of the of the Covid-19 situation around start their campaign on Septem- net. Tthe globe. In general, the Qatar Football ber 10 and host Marseille three Niko Kovac earned his fi rst Association (QFA) took the lead in mak- days later. “I’m really happy to Ligue 1 victory as Monaco coach ing the decision to conduct local com- have scored. It was a very long earlier on Sunday as his side won petitions, making Qatar one of the fi rst time out, the fi rst long injury of 1-0 at Metz. Teenage centre- countries in the region to resume football my career,” Thauvin said. back Benoit Badiashile scored in accordance with health and safety pro- “I admit I went through a diffi - for the second game in a row and tocols approved by the government. cult period but I worked a lot and Monaco held on despite play- The QFA decided to resume local foot- I’m proud because I didn’t give ing almost half the match a man ball activities for the 2019-2020 season up. I think I’m at 70 or 80%,” he down following the dismissal of between July 24 and August 26 after a cir- added. “But if you had told me Youssouf Fofana. cular issued by the Qatar Olympic Com- after so long without playing I “It was a very diffi cult match, mittee to sports federations requiring the was going to be at this level, I especially in the second half with completion of the current sports compe- would have signed right away.” a player less. The reaction of the titions for the season. Marseille’s scheduled opener team, down to 10, was very good In this regard, Hamad al-Mannai, last weekend was postponed just like last week when they Chairman of the Competitions Commit- after they suff ered fi ve cases of came back from 2-0 down,” said tee of the QFA, has provided a detailed ex- Covid-19. Dimitri Payet, Bouna Kovac, whose opening game in planation that shows the complete road- Sarr and Alvaro Gonzalez were charge against Reims ended in map of the game in the next few months notable absentees for the trip to a 2-2 draw. “I’m happy to have and beyond. Excerpts from an interview. Brest as the club reported three won, particularly as Monaco’s further infections this week. last win came back in February.” Q: How do you see the resumption of However, goalkeeper Steve Jonathan Bamba continued football activity with the Mandanda and left-back Jor- to rediscover his scoring touch precautionary measures taken by the dan Amavi were cleared to play with Lille winning 1-0 at Reims. QFA and the Qatar Stars League? after stints in quarantine, while Lille winger Bamba, who scored At the outset, I would like to empha- Argentine defender Leonardo only one goal in 26 league ap- sise that the Qatar Football Association Balerdi made his Marseille debut pearances last season, hit his was one of the fi rst sports federations to after signing on loan from Borus- second in two games of the new resume football activity in co-ordination sia Dortmund. campaign in the 32nd minute of a with all concerned authorities in the Thauvin needed just 20 min- dour game. country and in accordance with precau- utes to fi re Marseille in front, Bamba crossed his arms across tionary measures to confront the spread gathering possession on the right his chest after scoring, dedicat- of the Covid-19 disease. QFA employed and slashing inside in trademark ing his goal to actor Chadwick an integrated plan that was developed in style before sweeping home on Boseman, who played the su- consultation with all relevant authorities, his left foot via a telling defl ec- perhero from “Black Panther” whether in QFA, QSL, or the concerned tion that lifted the ball over and died on Friday at the age of authorities in the country, especially the Gautier Larsonneur’s despair- 43. Bordeaux are in second place, Ministry of Public Health. ing dive. His free-kick picked two points behind leaders Nice, We started with medical examinations out Duje Caleta-Car to volley in after a 2-0 triumph at Angers of players and technical staff for the start Hamad al-Mannai, Chairman of the Competitions Committee of the QFA. a second on 27 minutes, the goal courtesy of goals from Nigeria of the football activity in the QNB Stars belatedly awarded after a lengthy international Josh Maja and League matches and the games of the League competition starting from the competition. This is after their contracts expired VAR review overturned an initial Toma Basic. Second Division League. This also in- 2021-2022 season, while preserving the 5. Obtaining the least number of col- at the end of June 2020 and so that the cluded referees and their assistants. name of the commercial sponsor, with oured cards (red and yellow), where the player does not remain away from action. QFA and the Qatar Stars League have the participation of only division clubs yellow card is counted with one point As for the registration periods for the new also implemented a media protocol for participating in the QNB Stars League for and the direct or indirect red card with season, transfers of players are allowed the media so they could cover training the 2021 sports season. Also from 2022, three points, and in the case of the direct during the stipulated transfer period only, sessions, press conferences and post- with the abolition of the U-23 category red card after the yellow card, the two are which is in two periods. The fi rst regis- match sessions. The aim of these pro- list, a total of 28 players will be registered counted with four points. tration period will start from 2/8/2020 tocols was to ensure the safety of every- in a unifi ed category of the fi rst and re- 6. A draw between equal teams. to 10/25/2020 while the second period one associated with football. This was serve teams. We have also made an amendment to starting from 1/1/2021 to 1/31/2021. followed by a decision to allow a limited Article 124 of the Discipline Regulation number of fans back in the stadiums. Q: Will there be specifi c amendments related to decisions subject to appeal, Q: Will there be amendments regard- to the regulations for the 2020-2021 whereby the suspension clause has been ing the number of players in the match Q: What about the start dates of the season? amended to become three matches in- list and what about substitutions? other QFA competitions and what are The most prominent modifi cation is stead of two. It was agreed to increase the number the most prominent changes? the cancellation of the playoff match to of players in the match list for (QNB Stars The Second Division competitions will settle the tie for fi rst place, as the tie will Q: What are the players’ registration – Second Division – Under-23) league start on September 20, which will be lim- be broken by several tie-breakers, which periods for the new season and were matches from 18 to 23 players, provided ited only to the following clubs: Al Sha- are: there exceptions regarding transfers that the number of substitute players haniya, Al Shamal, Mesaimeer, Muaither, 1. The diff erence in goals scored in the of players due to the current circum- registered and on the reserve board does and Al Markhiya. There will be no partici- matches of the concerned teams (head to stances? not exceed more than 12. pation from Al Bidda, Al Waab and Lusail. head results), with the goal not counting Indeed, the current circumstances im- Regarding the substitutions, each team The Qatargas U-23 League will start on with two goals outside the ground. posed a new reality and it was necessary will be allowed to make a maximum of 9/10/2020. 2. Goal diff erence in all matches. to make some exceptions regarding player fi ve substitutions during one match, pro- The 2020-2021 sports season will be 3. The largest number of goals in all the transfers as the Executive Committee of vided that the substitutions would be Marseille’s French forward Florian Thauvin (left) celebrates after the last of the Qatargas U-23 competi- matches of the competition. QFA considered granting some players made in three calls during the course of a scoring against Brest during the Ligue 1 match at the Francis Le Ble tion and it will be replaced by the Reserve 4. Most wins in all the matches of the the freedom to move to any other club. match. (qfa.qa/en) Stadium in Brest, western France, on Sunday night. (AFP)

FOCUS SEBASTIAN SORIA BIDS FAREWELL TO AL RAYYAN Brazilian Guilherme joins Al Sadd

l Sadd have secured the services of Brazilian defensive midfi elder Guilherme Torres fromA Greek side Olympiacos. Guilherme is Al Sadd’s second foreign addition ahead of the new QSL season and resump- tion of the 2020 AFC Champions League with Spanish midfi elder Santi Cazorla having signed from Villarreal in early August. After starting his career with Portuguesa in Sao Paulo in 2009, Guilherme joined Brazilian gi- ants Corinthians three years later before leaving Brazil in 2014 to join Italian outfi t Udinese. While at Udinese, the 29-year- old midfi elder had a loan spell in Spain with Deportivo La Coruna Sebastian Soria has ended his spell with Al Rayyan after five years. The players and off icials bid farewell to the former Qatar international by presenting him a memento. Soria won Qatar Stars League title with where he played for a season fol- Rayyan in 2015-16. The 37-year-old has also played for Lekhwiya (renamed Al Duhail), Al Gharafa and Qatar SC. The Uruguayan-born striker has not retired from the game though and is weighing up off ers. lowing a permanent move before he joined Olympiacos in 2018. Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, September 1, 2020 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT Lyon clinch fi ft h straight Women’s Champions League ‘We need to win a sixth in a row to beat the record. It is hard to win this trophy but we give everything to win it every year’

AFP for winning the Champions League be- San Sebastian, Spain ing a mere 450,000 euros ($535,000), a tiny fraction of that on off er in the men’s competition. yon continued their reign as “It is the stuff of legend because we Europe’s dominant women’s have had to rebuild and innovate every team on Sunday night, beating year, but the team showed great re- Wolfsburg 3-1 in the Champi- silience and to win a fi fth Champions Lons League fi nal to win the trophy for League in a row is absolutely incred- the fi fth year running with Japan star ible,” Aulas said. Saki Kumagai’s goal proving crucial. Here, Lyon were still able to call upon Kumagai netted after Eugenie Le a host of French internationals and Sommer had handed the French outfi t foreign stars like Kumagai, Germany’s the lead in San Sebastian, giving Lyon Dzsenifer Marozsan and England right- a 2-0 half-time advantage and leaving back Lucy Bronze, who is now expected Wolfsburg with too much to do even if to return to her home country. Alexandra Popp pulled one back in the They are now unbeaten in 65 match- second half. es stretching back over two years, and Icelandic midfi elder Sara Bjork Gun- this is also the third time in which Lyon narsdottir’s late eff ort made sure of the have beaten Wolfsburg in the fi nal, victory for Lyon, whose fi fth consecu- leaving the Germans still searching for tive Champions League crown is their a third Champions League crown to go seventh overall, comfortably a record. with their titles in 2013, when they beat Five in a row sees them equal the feat OL, and 2014. achieved by the Real Madrid men’s Previous fi nals between these sides team between 1956 and 1960, in the have been close aff airs, although on this early days of the European Cup. occasion the holders started strongly French President Emmanuel Macron and were rewarded with the opening even tweeted his congratulations at the goal in the 25th minute. Delphine Cas- end of the game. carino cut the ball back for Le Som- “Now we need to win a sixth in a row mer, and she pounced to convert the to beat the record,” said captain Wendie rebound after her fi rst shot was blocked Renard, who along with Le Sommer by goalkeeper Friederike Abt. and goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi has The second goal came in the 44th featured in all seven fi nal wins. “It is minute. Ingrid Engen stopped Amel hard to win this trophy but we give eve- Majri shooting but only succeeded in rything to win it every year.” setting up Kumagai, who scored with Lyon’s latest triumph confi rms their a terrifi c left-foot strike from 23 yards. status as the fi nest club team around Lyon players run towards the trophy as they celebrate after winning the UEFA Women’s Champions League in San Sebastian, Spain, on Sunday night. (AFP) Wolfsburg pulled one back just be- even as rivals across Europe step up fore the hour as Ewa Pajor set up Popp their investment in the women’s game. hind closed doors because of the coro- French Cup fi nal. This victory, against Lyon were missing four leading stars, Parris was suspended. to head in from close range, but Lyon Jean-Luc Vasseur’s team had previous- navirus pandemic. a side who won a German domestic with France duo Griedge Mbock and But Lyon’s long-serving president made it 3-1 in the 88th minute. When ly edged out Bayern Munich and Paris They also pipped PSG to claim a 14th double and were unbeaten in 40 games Amandine Henry injured and Norway’s Jean-Michel Aulas continues to be re- a corner was not properly cleared, Le Saint-Germain in the ‘Final Eight’ in successive French title this year and de- before the fi nal, showcased the depth of 2018 Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg warded for his heavy investment in a Sommer went for goal and her wayward Spain’s Basque Country, played out be- feated the same team on penalties in the their squad. not fully fi t. England forward Nikita women’s team, despite the prize money shot was defl ected in by Gunnarsdottir.

FOCUS David Silva tests positive Platini faces Swiss prosecutor in payment probe for coronavirus Madrid: Former Manchester began, the Serie A club said. AFP said, adding that he was “serene” ahead City midfielder David Silva has “The players in question are Bern, Switzerland of the new hearing. tested positive for coronavirus, asymptomatic, already in isola- FIFA deemed the sum a “disloyal pay- his new club Real Sociedad tion and under the control” of ment” and suspended Blatter and Platini announced yesterday. The the health authorities, the club ormer European football chief Michel Platini arrives at the from all football-related activities, which 34-year-old joined La Real said on their website, without Michel Platini met with the Swiss building of the off ice of the prevented the former UEFA chief from on a free transfer earlier this naming the players. public prosecutor yesterday as Attorney General of Switzerland running for the FIFA presidency in 2016. month but returned a positive Atalanta is based in Bergamo part of proceedings investigat- in Bern, yesterday. (AFP) Platini appealed against his initial Covid-19 test after arriving to which was one of the Italian cit- ingF a 2mn Swiss-franc ($2.2-million) eight-year suspension at the Court of San Sebastian. ies hit hardest by the coronavi- payment he received in 2011. Platini was Arbitration for Sport, which reduced it to The Liga club said it was Sil- rus outbreak earlier this year. summoned to the Swiss capital Bern by four years, then the Swiss Federal Court va’s second test within 72 hours A little less than three weeks prosecutor Thomas Hildbrand. and fi nally at the European Court of Hu- since landing in Spain, having after losing their first Cham- Sepp Blatter, the former president of man Rights. previously tested negative. The pions League quarter-final to the sport’s world governing body FIFA, is Hildbrand questioned Blatter in late Spaniard, a former World Cup Paris Saint-Germain, Atalanta due to meet the prosecutor today as part July and early August in connection with and European Championship resumed training yesterday of the same probe. Platini, the ex-head a separate investigation into television winner, left Man City at the end without 10 players on interna- of European football’s governing body rights contracts issued to the Caribbean of his contract before signing a tional duty and also without UEFA, arrived at the Offi ce of the Attor- Football Union. two-year deal with Sociedad. Josip Ilicic. The Slovenian was ney General of Switzerland (OAG) com- Platini is regarded among world foot- He is self-isolating and is one of the stars of the first half plex in a taxi accompanied by his lawyer ball’s greatest players. He won the Ballon displaying no symptoms, the of a season in which Atalanta Dominic Nellen. d’Or prize — considered the most pres- club said. Silva’s new team- finished third, matching their Wearing a suit and blue shirt without tigious individual award in 1983, 1984 mate Mikel Oyarzabal has also highest ever Serie A finish from a tie and carrying a blue folder, he said suspicion of “complicity in unfair man- management”, the OAG said. and 1985. Only Lionel Messi (six) and contracted the virus and was the year before. “hello” towards waiting journalists and agement, embezzlement and forgery in Kattner will be questioned on Septem- Cristiano Ronaldo (fi ve) have won it more replaced in Luis Enrique’s Spain But Ilicic’s form nosedived smiled briefl y as he went to the registra- securities”. ber 4. Platini said he was being perse- times than Platini, while Johann Cruyff squad by Villarreal forward when the league restarted and tion offi ce. He briefl y came out again to The 65-year-old former French foot- cuted by FIFA. “After fi ve years, it is quite and Marco van Basten also won it three Gerard Moreno. The 2020/21 La he was omitted from the squad enter the main premises through a re- ball great now has the status of “accused” possible that FIFA will continue to harass times. Liga campaign gets underway for the Champions League final volving metal gate. alongside Blatter. Platini said at the time me through complaints with the sole aim Platini won two Italian titles and one on September 12. eight tournament. The Serie A Platini and Blatter each face interroga- that the OAG had “confi rmed in writing of keeping me out of football and smear- European Cup with Juventus, while he season is scheduled to kick off tion from the public prosecutor as part of in May 2018” that his case was closed. ing my reputation,” he said in June. also won the 1984 European Champion- ATALANTA ANNOUNCE on the weekend of September the proceedings, which were opened in Two other former FIFA executives, Blatter, who is 84, said the payment ships with France. After retirement from THREE COVID-19 POSITIVES 19-20. As Italian clubs have 2015. In June, Hildbrand formally added Frenchman Jerome Valcke, the former was above board. “It was a back pay for playing and a spell managing the French ON TRAINING RESUMPTION resumed training, they have Platini to an investigation into the pay- secretary-general, and German Markus work done by Michel Platini. The sum national team, he turned to football ad- Three Atalanta players tested announced a series of positive ment he received from FIFA in 2011 for Kattner, the former fi nancial director, are was validated by the fi nance commission. ministration and was UEFA president positive for coronavirus yester- tests by players, though all an advisory job completed in 2002, on being investigated on “suspicion of unfair It cannot be a criminal off ence,” Blatter from January 2007 to December 2015. day when pre-season training have so far been asymptomatic.

ROUND-UP Grealish earns fi rst England call-up as Rashford, Winks withdraw ston Villa midfi elder Jack clash with Iceland in Reykjavik on Sep- Nou on October 25, after the La Liga MKHITARYAN TERMINATES announced. Matches in Germany have Grealish was called up to the tember 5 and the trip to face Denmark fi xtures were announced. Barca and ARSENAL CONTRACT, JOINS been played behind closed doors since England squad for the fi rst in Copenhagen three days later. Madrid will then face each other at ROMA ON PERMANENT DEAL the professional game restarted in May time yesterday after Marcus the Santiago Bernabeu on April 11, Armenian midfi elder Henrikh Mkhi- following the coronavirus lockdown. RashfordA and Harry Winks withdrew IMMOBILE COMMITS TO with Zinedine Zidane’s side looking to taryan has joined Serie A side AS Roma “In the third division, the Ger- from the Nations League matches LAZIO ‘FOR LIFE’ defend the Spanish league title they on a permanent deal after terminating man Cup and women’s matches, the against Iceland and Denmark. Ciro Immobile, who won the Golden won in July. Barcelona are scheduled to his contract with Arsenal, the Premier number of spectators... must be de- Villa captain Grealish was a surprise Shoe as top scorer in Europe’s top start at home to Elche and Madrid at League club said. Mkhitaryan joined cided by each club in agreement with absence from Gareth Southgate’s divisions last season, has extended his home to Getafe but both games will be Roma at the start of last season after a local health authorities,” the DFB said. initial squad for the Nations League contract with Lazio until 2025, the club rearranged to allow more rest for teams disappointing 18-month spell at Ar- “This means that in some stadiums matches after his impressive form said. Immobile, who is 30, had the best involved in last season’s European senal following a swap deal in January there may be fans, while in others, the helped his club avoid relegation from league scoring season of his career, hit- competitions, which only ended in 2018 which saw Chilean forward Alexis home clubs may accommodate fewer, the Premier League last season. ting 36 goals, 14 of them penalties, to August. Sanchez move to Manchester United. if any, spectators.” But the withdrawals of Manchester lift Lazio to fourth place in Serie A. Atletico Madrid’s opener at home Roma had initially reached an agree- The 2020/21 German Cup gets United forward Rashford and Tot- “With this choice, Immobile has to Sevilla will therefore also be ment last month to extend Mkhi- underway on September 11. Away tenham midfi elder Winks created a opted for Lazio for life,” said Stefano postponed. Instead, Real Madrid are taryan’s loan deal until the end of next supporters will still not be allowed to vacancy the 24-year-old will fi ll. De Martino, Lazio’s communications likely to begin at Real Sociedad on season. Mkhitaryan scored nine goals attend any games. Most clubs will not Grealish, recently linked with a move director on the club’s website. Immo- the weekend of September 20 before and grabbed six assists last season as be able to accept more than 1,000 fans, to Manchester United, has previously bile had previously fi nished top scorer Barcelona are expected to start at home Roma fi nished fi fth in Serie A to qualify although there are some exceptions, represented England at Under-21 level verdict over in his Greek court case. in Serie A in 2013-14 with Torino and to Villarreal a week later. All matches for the Europa League. The new Serie A with Magdeburg having been given and was a member of Southgate’s Tou- Maguire, who had pleaded not 2017-18 with Lazio, when he tied for will continue to be staged behind season begins on Sept. 19. the green light to host 7,500. The top lon youth tournament-winning squad guilty, is appealing after being handed fi rst with Mauro Icardi. He was previ- closed doors and according to strict divisions, which are run by the German in 2016.Southgate had already added a suspended prison sentence after the ously under contract until 2023. medical regulations aimed at reducing FANS SET FOR RETURN IN league (DFL) and not the DFB, could Wolves defender Conor Coady and street brawl. Rashford has been nurs- the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. GERMAN CUP FIRST ROUND possibly see fans return on Septem- Arsenal midfi elder Ainsley Maitland- ing an ankle problem suff ered towards BARCELONA AND REAL MADRID The fi rst games of the new season will Fans can return to some German ber 18 within the framework of health Niles to his squad on Saturday after the end of last season. England’s TO MEET IN OCTOBER be played on the weekend of Septem- football stadiums in mid-September protocols proposed by the DFL. But the dropping Manchester United captain players met up at their St George’s Park Barcelona will play Real Madrid in the ber 12, eight weeks after the 2019/20 for the fi rst round of the German Cup, Bundesliga is still expected to start its Harry Maguire following the guilty training camp yesterday ahead of the fi rst Clasico of the season at Camp campaign ended on July 19. the country’s football federation (DFB) new season behind closed doors. Gulf Times Tuesday, September 1, 2020 5 SPORT

NBA NHL Stars hold off Avs, Islanders edge Clippers eliminate Flyers in playoff s

AFP ing his franchise record to 12 Los Angeles straight playoff games with a point. Canadian forward MacKin- adek Faksa fi nished non, who broke the previ- Mavericks, Celtics with a goal and two ous mark of 10 games held by assists and Anton Joe Sakic (1996) and Marian Khudobin stopped 33 Stastny (1982), has scored sev- ‘Just got to my spots and shotsR as the Dallas Stars beat en goals to go with 14 assists in the Colorado Avalanche 5-4 the playoff s. put up the shot with in game four of their second- Pavel Francouz had 21 saves round NHL playoff series. before being pulled with 11:58 confidence and it went in’ Dallas dominated the open- remaining in the third period. rout Raptors ing period, scoring three goals. Michael Hutchinson had three They then traded goals with saves in his NHL playoff debut. the Avalanche in a four-goal Dallas dominated the fi rst third period but managed to period while building a 3-0 hold on to win their sixth game lead, holding the Avalanche in their last seven. without a shot for the fi rst It was almost reminiscent 18:26. of game three when Colorado squandered a 3-1 led but rallied to RESULTS win 6-4. Dallas 5-4 Colorado “It just seems like when one team gets Islanders 3-2 Philadelphia one goal it kind of Las Vegas 5-3 Vancouver gives them a boost,” Stars Jamie Benn said. “I’m not In the Eastern Conference, sure why it’s going back and Brock Nelson scored twice as forth like this, but it is. And the New York Islanders put you’ve just got to handle the the Philadelphia Flyers on the momentum as it comes.” brink of elimination with a 3-2 John Klingberg and Roope win in their second-round se- Hintz, of Finland, each added ries. a goal and an assist and Denis Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored Gurianov and Benn also scored in the third period to break for Dallas who seized a com- the tie for the Islanders, who manding 3-1 lead in the best- seized a 3-1 lead. of-seven Western Conference New York will attempt to series. close it on Tuesday and ad- The Stars can clinch a spot vance to the NHL semi-fi nals in the NHL fi nal four with a for fi rst time since 1993. win in game fi ve on Monday at In the late game, Max Pa- Rogers Place arena in Edmon- cioretty had two goals and an ton, Alberta. assist and Marc-Andre Fleury The two teams have had a made several key saves in the three-day break thanks to the fi nal period as the Vegas Gold- postponement of games on en Knights beat the Vancouver Thursday and Friday to protest Canucks 5-3 to take a 3-1 series the police shooting of Jacob lead. Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Nate Schmidt had a goal If a game six is necessary, and an assist and Shea Theo- it’s scheduled for Wednesday dore tallied two assists as the night meaning they would Knights used a fi ve-man at- play a stretch of three games in tack, getting six points from four nights. Valeri Nichushkin their defencemen. Fleury fi n- scored two goals, Cale Makar ished with 28 saves. had a goal and an assist and Swede Elias Pettersson, Vladislav Namestnikov also Bo Horvat, and Tyler Toff oli scored a goal for Colorado. scored for Vancouver, who will Colorado’s Nathan MacKin- try to climb out of a deep hole non also had an assist, extend- with a win in game fi ve today.

Kawhi Leonard of the LA Clippers shoots against Dorian Finney-Smith of the Dallas Mavericks during the second quarter in Game Six of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NBA Playoff s at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Getty Images/AFP)

AFP Tatum and Marcus Smart each scored 21 measures to support voting, social justice Miami RESULTS points to lead the Boston Celtics over de- and racial equality programmes. fending champion Raptors 112-94 in the “We needed a chance to catch our Boston 112-94 Toronto opening game of their second-round se- breath as players and black men and get awhi Leonard fi nished with 33 Clippers 111-97 Dallas ries. Kemba Walker added 18 points and some things handled. It was a really emo- points and 14 rebounds as the Denver 119-107 Utah 10 assists for the Celtics, who also had 17 tional week. It was up and down. It was Los Angeles Clippers advanced points from Jaylen Brown plus 13 points hard,” Lowry said. to the second round of the NBA and 15 rebounds from Daniel Theis. “Basketball always matters but in this Kplayoff s with a 111-97 victory over the The Clippers opened the second half “Marcus today was unbelievable on situation, in this time, it’s taking a back injury-hampered Dallas Mavericks on with a 20-3 run for a 77-54 edge, and saw both ends,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens seat. We’re going to perform at the high- Sunday. the lead trimmed to 88-82 early in the said. “All our guys played with great pur- est level we can perform at, no excuses, Leonard, last year’s NBA Finals Most fourth in a Doncic-led fi ghtback only to pose, great enthusiasm. We just have to but we have an obligation because we Valuable Player while with the Toronto pull away again down the stretch. clean some stuff up.” have this platform and can reach out to Raptors, also had seven assists and fi ve Dallas was sorely missing starting cen- Game two of the best-of-seven series the world.” steals for the Clippers, who clinched the tre Kristaps Porzingis, who was out with a comes Tuesday. Said Canadian Murray of the Nuggets, series four games to two. knee injury. Boston frustrated Toronto shooters, as “It is not just America, it happens every- “Just got to my spots and put up the “Momentum, it can switch real easily,” the Raptors went 31-of-84 from the fl oor where.” shot with confi dence and it went in,” Le- Leonard said. “You have to keep fi ghting and 10-of-40 from 3-point range – the The Celtics were without Gordon Hay- onard said after his fi fth 30-point game when you’re up and when you’re down most 3-point misses ever by Toronto in a ward, who is out until late September with in a row. “Just kept giving it to me and it stay focused.” playoff contest. a right ankle injury. went in with confi dence.” Clippers forward Marcus Morris was “We just didn’t play well enough to In the late game, Murray posted his sec- The Clippers will face either Utah or the ejected late in the fi rst quarter after being win,” said guard Kyle Lowry, who led To- ond 50-point game of the series to power Jamal Murray-led Denver Nuggets, who whistled for a fl agrant foul on the 21-year- ronto with 17 points despite a sore left an- the Nuggets to a win over Utah which tied forced a winner-take-all game seven on old Doncic. kle. “We’ve got to do our coverages harder, the series at 3-3. Tuesday night by beating the Jazz 119-107. Morris grabbed then hit Doncic with a execute better.” Donovan Mitchell fi nished with a team Luka Doncic scored 38 points in a los- forearm slam on the head as the Slovenian The games were the fi rst for each club high 44 points for the Jazz. Dallas Stars center Radek Faksa moves in for a shot against ing cause in the spectator-free quarantine star drove to the bucket with the ball. “It since last Sunday after a walkout shut Denver is trying to become the 12th Colorado Avalanche goaltender Pavel Francouz during the first bubble at Disney World resort in Orlando, was a terrible play,” said Doncic. down the NBA playoff s for three days until team to rally from a 3-1 defi cit to win a se- period in game four of the second round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Florida. In the Eastern Conference, Jayson team owners and players agreed on league ries and the fi rst in four years. Playoff s at Rogers Place in Edmonton. (USA TODAY Sports)

MLB Sanchez’s slam gives Yankees DH sweep of Mets pitches before allowing a single to McNeil. He Reuters RESULTS New York quickly got through the fourth and worked Yankees 5-2 Mets around two singles in the fi fth to Robinson Cano and Jake Marisnick. ary Sanchez hit a pinch-hit grand Dodgers 7-2 Rangers Tyler Wade homered in the third for the slam with one out in the top of the Cubs 10-1 Reds Yankees, who won their third straight fol- eighth inning and the New York Tigers 3-2 Twins lowing a seven-game skid. Yankees completed a doubleheader After Sanchez’s slam gave the Yankees a White Sox 5-2 Royals Gsweep of the New York Mets with a 5-2 vic- 5-1 lead, Jonathan Holder (1-0) allowed a tory Sunday at Yankee Stadium. Both wins Padres 13-2 Rockies two-out RBI single to Michael Conforto in came in extra innings. Giants 4-1 D’Backs the bottom of the inning. The Mets loaded Sanchez batted for Erik Kratz and ham- Red Sox 9-5 Nationals the bases before Luis Cessa retired pinch hit- mered a 96-mph fastball in a 2-2 count from ter Wilson Ramos for his fourth career save. Drew Smith (0-1) into the left fi eld bleachers. Cardinals 7-2 Indians That ended a frustrating day for the Mets, It was his second career grand slam and fi rst Rays 12-7 Marlins who were one strike away from winning the pinch-hit homer. Pirates 5-1 Brewers opener. The Yankees stormed back from Yankees’ right-hander Deivi Garcia al- fi ve runs down and tied the game on a two- lowed an unearned run on four singles in six Braves 12-10 Phillies run homer by Aaron Hicks and won it in the sharp innings during his major league debut. Blue Jays 6-5 Orioles eighth on a single by Gio Urshela for an 8-7 He struck out six, walked none and threw 75 Mariners 2-1 Angels win. The Mets lost their third straight since pitches. rallying late to win both ends of Friday’s dou- Garcia took a shutout into the sixth but bleheader by hitting four homers. Dominic Smith’s single tied the game at 1. youngest pitcher to start in the majors in the Mets right-hander Seth Lugo made his Smith’s hit was two batters after fi rst base- abbreviated 60-game game season. He also second start since being moved from the man Luke Voit made a fi elding error on a joined San Diego’s Adrian Morejon as the closer’s role and allowed one run on four hits ground ball by Jeff McNeil. second 21-year-old to make a start this sea- in 3 2/3 innings. Lugo struck out seven and New York Yankees pinch hitter Gary Sanchez hits a grand slam home run in the eighth inning against the At 21 years, 103 days, Garcia became the son. Garcia retired the fi rst nine hitters on 37 walked two. New York Mets at Yankee Stadium in New York. (USA TODAY Sports) Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, September 1, 2020 SPORT

GOLF SPOTLIGHT Ernst rallies to win LPGA’s NW Arkansas Birdie bomb lift s Championship AFP Leading fi nal-round Los Angeles scores (USA unless noted, par-71) ustin Ernst rallied to 193-Austin Ernst 65-65-63 Rahm to playoff win the NW Arkan- 195-Anna Nordqvist (SWE) sas Championship 64-62-69 on Sunday for her 197-Angela Stanford 66-66- secondA LPGA Tour title, clos- 65, Nelly Korda 67-63-67 ing with an 8-under 63 for a 198-Jenny Shin (KOR) 67- two-stroke victory over Anna 63-68, Kim Sei-young (KOR) Nordqvist. 65-64-69 Ernst, 28 and ranked 58th in 199-Park In-bee 67-67-65, win over Johnson the world, had 10 birdies in an Katherine Kirk (AUS) 65- eight-under par 63 that gave 68-66 ‘I still can’t believe what just happened, what happened the last hour of play’ her a 54-hole total of 20-un- 200-Linnea Strom (SWE) der par 193. Nordqvist, a two- 67-68-65, Kristy McPherson time major champion from 68-66-66 Sweden, had taken a three- 201-Carlota Ciganda (ESP) shot lead into the fi nal round 68-68-65, Pernilla Lindberg after a second-round 62. (SWE) 69-66-66, Jodi Ewart Nordqvist kept her nose in Shadodoff (ENG) 67-67-67, front with back-to-back bird- Lee Mi-hyang (KOR) 67-67-67 ies at the fi fth and sixth and 202-Morgan Pressel 70-67- another at the 11th, but her 65, Yealimi Noh 68-69-65, fi rst bogeys of the week at the Charlotte Thomas (ENG) 12th and 14th saw her fall two 68-67-67, Maria Fassi (MEX) adrift of the surging Ernst and 67-67-68, Esther Lee 64-69- a birdie at 16 wasn’t enough. 69, Caroline Hedwall (SWE) Ernst, meanwhile, notched 69-64-69 the round of the day, opening with birdies at her fi rst three holes and bouncing back from needed to attack and make a a bogey at the fourth with lot of birdies coming in.” birdies at the sixth and sev- Ernst notched her fi rst vic- enth. Another birdie at the tory since the 2014 Portland ninth was followed by birdies Classic. “It was long,” Ernst at 11 and 12 and she answered said of the gap between the a bogey at 13 with a birdie at victories. “A lot longer than I 14 – which gave her a two-shot thought it would be. Oh, man, lead after Nordqvist bogeyed it feels good. I have worked re- the same hole. She capped her ally hard.” Nordqvist said she’ll round with her 10th birdie of come away from the event feel- the day at the last for the fi nal ing positive. “I played great this margin of victory. week,” she said. “I knew I needed a really low “On the back nine, (I) hit score,” Ernst said. “You knew a lot of good putts, they just that out here you needed to at- didn’t go in. Two bad drives tack and you couldn’t be afraid that kind of killed me a little and couldn’t just kind of mid- bit. (But I) felt like I did a lot of dle-the-green it all day. good things today, too.” “I didn’t offi cially know Americans Angela Stanford where I stood, but I assumed and Nelly Korda shared third I got the lead pretty early on on 197, Stanford carded a 65 in the back nine. I just knew I and Korda signed for a 67.

Jon Rahm of Spain celebrates with the J.D. Wadley trophy and the BMW trophy after winning on the first sudden-death playoff hole against Dustin Johnson (not pictured) during the final round of the BMW Championship on the North Course at Olympia Fields Country Club in Olympia Fields, Illinois. (Getty Images/AFP)

AFP LEADING SCORES AFTER FINAL ROUND the 10th. He followed that with a Washington fi ve-foot birdie at the 12th and a (x-won at first playoff hole, 280-Jason Kokrak 74-71-69-66, 73-69-71 nine-footer at 15 before he rolled Austin Ernst poses with the trophy on the 18th green after USA unless noted, par 70) Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG) 70- 283-An Byeong-hun (KOR) 73-74- in a 30-foot birdie at 16. winning the LPGA Walmart NW Arkansas Championship at on Rahm drained a swing- 276-x-Jon Rahm (ESP) 75-71-66- 75-68-67 \69, Brian Harman 72-73-69-69, He wasn’t surprised, how- Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Arkansas. (Getty Images/AFP) ing 60-foot birdie putt at 64, Dustin Johnson 71-69-69-67 281-Brendon Todd 73-68-71-69, Rory McIlroy (NIR) 70-69-73-71 ever, to fi nd himself in a playoff , the fi rst playoff hole Sun- 278-Joaquin Niemann (CHI) Sebastian Munoz (COL) 70-75- 284-Matthew Wolff 72-71-74-67, and went straight to the range to day to win the US PGA 72-71-68-67, Hideki Matsuyama 67-69 Paul Casey (ENG) 73-72-71-68, keep warm with Johnson still on LOSS TourJ BMW Championship over the course and just one back. (JPN) 67-73-69-69 282-Lanto Griff in 70-73-70-69, Tyrrell Hatton (ENG) 73-70-71-70, world number one Dustin John- 279-Tony Finau 70-71-73-65 Mackenzie Hughes (CAN) 69- Bubba Watson 72-70-70-72 The reserved Johnson pointed son. to the sky then swung a fi st as Spain’s Rahm, ranked second his playoff -forcing putt crested a Trailblazing college in the world behind Johnson, raculous birdie eff ort, Johnson’s the playoff , me making the putt, ing the day after a third round hill, accelerated down and curled was in the right rough off the tee birdie attempt settled inches then trying to stay mentally in it marred by a bad mistake at the in. at the fi rst playoff hole, the 18th from the cup. just in case he made the last putt fi fth hole, where he absent- “Obviously I knew I needed to hoops coach at Olympia Fields near Chicago. Johnson had snaked in a 43- – it’s been a roller coaster but so mindedly picked up his ball on make birdie to get into the play- His second shot rolled to the foot birdie at the same hole to much fun.” the green without marking it and off ,” he said. “I played an unbe- back of the green, leaving him force the playoff , joining Rahm Johnson, seeking a second was assessed a penalty. lievable putt, got in the playoff Thompson dies at 78 what could have been a tough on four-under par 276 in the straight win and 23rd tour title, and then Jon made an even more two-putt for par. second event of the US tour’s Fe- started the day tied for the lead ‘STRIPING IT’ ridiculous putt on top of me.” AFP life to developing young peo- “Never did I think I’d be mak- dEx Cup playoff s. with Hideki Matsuyama with He said it wasn’t hard to put Rising Chilean star Joaquin Washington ple not simply on, but most ing another 50-, 60-footer – Rahm had powered to the top Rahm three adrift. the blunder behind him. “Once Niemann got off to a hot start importantly, off the basketball couple of breaks in there, too – of the leaderboard with six bird- He birdied three of his fi rst I teed off today, in the good with three birdies in his fi rst fi ve court. to end up winning it,” said Rahm, ies in an impressive six-under four holes, but bogeys at eight weather and how I started strip- holes. A birdie at the eighth gave ohn Thompson, who “However, for us, his great- who gave a roaring fi st pump as par 64 – the lowest round of the and 10 saw him fall out of the ing it the fi rst few holes, I knew him a share of the lead, but he made history as the fi rst est legacy remains as a father, the putt dropped. week. lead before he picked up strokes I had a chance,” said Rahm, who slowed with a bogey at 14 and black coach to win a US grandfather, uncle, and friend. Johnson’s tee shot was also “I still can’t believe what just at 15 and 18 to sign for a three- claimed his fi fth tour title and fi nished with a 67 that left him national college bas- More than a coach, he was our off course, but ricocheted off a happened, what happened the under 67. Johnson’s solo second his second in his last fi ve starts. tied for third on 278 alongside ketballJ championship when he foundation. More than a leg- tree to settle in the fairway. The last hour of play,” Rahm said. place means he’ll stay atop the Rahm had two birdies on the Matsuyama, who signed for a 69. led Georgetown to the title in end, he was the voice in our ear American found the middle of “That stretch of waiting for DJ, rankings. front side, but picked up the American Tony Finau was 1984, has died, his family said everyday.” the green, but after Rahm’s mi- him making the putt, going in Rahm was tied for sixth start- pace with a 16-foot birdie putt at alone in fi fth after a 65 for 279. yesterday. He was 78. Thompson began coaching Thompson, who played a after a successful NBA career pioneering role in advanc- which included champion- FOCUS ing black coaches, also helped ships in 1965 and 1966 with develop the careers of several the Boston Celtics where he NBA stars including current backed up the legendary Bill Georgetown coach Patrick Russell. Woods aims to ‘clean up’ rounds ahead of US Open Ewing, Alonzo Mourning, Thompson, who led Geor- Dikembe Mutombo and Allen getown to three fi nal fours in Reuters “This golf course was basically a Iverson. Iverson, an 11-time the 1980s and also coached the New York US Open, with the rough being as All-Star, was among those United States at the 1988 Seoul high as it is and fairways a little bit who paid tribute to Thompson Olympics, was inducted into narrow,” said Woods. “Look at the yesterday. the Hall of Fame in 1999. iger Woods’ PGA Tour scores, and I don’t think that we’ve “Thanks For Saving My As well as helping to change season ended with a thud seen scores like this in a non-ma- Life Coach,” Iverson wrote on perceptions of minority at Olympia Fields Coun- jor in a very long time. Twitter. “I’m going to miss coaches, he also fought for the try Club on Sunday, with “This was a great ramp-up for you, but I’m sure that you are rights of minority athletes. Tthe 15-time major winner fi nishing me for the US Open.” looking down on us with a big In 1989 he walked off court with a dismal 11 over par through The 44-year-old, who failed to smile.” to protest a rule change from the fourth round of the BMW crack the top 10 at any tour event Thompson’s family mean- US college sports chiefs pre- Championship. since the tour returned from coro- while paid tribute to Thomp- venting students from receiv- The tournament, the second of navirus-mandated hiatus earlier son as a “historic shepherd ing scholarships if they had three FedExCup playoff events, this year, shot a disastrous three- of the sport, dedicated to the not met required academic en- saw 69 golfers vying for 30 spots over par and fi ve-over par in the welfare of his community try standards. in the Tour Championship, which fi rst two days of the tournament, above all else.” “I did it to bring attention begins in Atlanta later this week. wrapping up Sunday’s play with a “We are heartbroken to to the issue in hopes of getting Woods, who carded a one-over double-bogey on 17 and par on 18. share the news of the passing (National Collegiate Athletic par 71 on Sunday and fi nished He hopes to make good use of of our father, John Thompson, Association members) to take the tournament tied at 51st place, the downtime, trying to “clean Jr,” the family said in a state- another look at what they’ve was among the many players who up” his rounds before the US Open ment released by Georgetown. done, and if they feel it unjust, struggled on the tricky Illinois begins next month at Winged Foot Tiger Woods catches a ball tossed by his caddie during the final round of the BMW Championship golf “Our father was an inspira- change the rule,” he said at the course. Golf Club in New York. tournament at the Olympia Fields Country Club in Olympia Fields, Illinois. (USA TODAY Sports) tion to many and devoted his time. Gulf Times Tuesday, September 1, 2020 7 SPORT

CYCLING Ewan rockets to Tour de France bunch sprint victory Alaphilippe retains the leader’s yellow jersey after the 198km stage

AFP from the publicity caravan, which is Sisteron, France about 70% smaller this year, and many were cheering home hero Alaphilippe. “Winning yesterday really relaxed me,” ustralian rider Caleb Ewan said Alaphilippe. “It’s a great honour to produced an irresistible late wear the jersey and I’ll be defending it burst of speed to pip a stunned day by day.” Sam Bennett of Ireland on the Today’s stage features a summit fi n- fiA nish line of stage three of the Tour de ish and a tricky hill-laden route from France yesterday. France’s Julian Alap- Sisteron to Orcieres where Alaphilippe hilippe retained the leader’s yellow jer- faces a real fi ght from British rider sey after the 198-kilometre stage from for the overall lead. Just the Nice football stadium to the hilltop four seconds separate the two. town of Sisteron in Provence. “I know it’ll be interesting with Adam Ewan, 26, won three stages on the Yates tomorrow,” said Alaphilippe, who 2019 Tour but started this edition on now surpasses former winner Geraint his backside after a fall on the crash- Thomas in days wearing the yellow strewn opening stage. Ewan, known as jersey. “It’s a diffi cult stage, I hear. I the ‘Pocket Rocket’ and standing 1.65 haven’t really studied it yet, but we’ll metres, bided his time and overtook keep an eye on him (Yates),” Alaphilippe Bennett right on the line. The timely added. win gave Lotto a double boost after the Yates, who has signed a deal to switch team was reduced from eight to six rid- to Ineos, came fourth in the 2016 Tour ers on stage one when Philippe Gilbert de France where he also won the white broke a knee while John Degenkolb was jersey for the best under-25 rider. thrown off the race for missing the time Frenchman Anthony Lopez broke a cut after a nasty fall. shoulder in a collision with a Cofi dis “It worked perfectly to plan, I had to team car that is being investigated, move just at the right moment. It was but amazingly, given how many falls disappointing to lose two riders on day there have been each day, he was just one, but everyone has pulled together the fourth of the original fi eld of 176 to and we’ve done quite well,” Ewan said. leave the Tour so far. “The world is watching and every- one would like to be here at this, it’s the STAGE 3 RESULTS biggest race in the world and I’m de- (198km run from Nice to Sisteron) lighted.” After a rampaging climax to Sun- 1. Caleb Ewan (AUS/LOT) 5hrs 17min day’s race provided by Alaphilippe, this 42sec, 2. Sam Bennett (IRL/DEC) same stage was a more leisurely run through time, 3. Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA/DDT) a national park located between the s.t., 4. Hugo Hofstetter (FRA/ICA) s.t., 5. Mediterranean and the foot of the Alps, (SVK/BOR) s.t., 6. Edward winding through oak and pine-forested Theuns (BEL/TRE) s.t., 7. Cees Bol hills. With around a third of the peloton (NED/SUN) s.t., 8. Matteo Trentin (ITA/ nursing grazes and bumps from that CCC) s.t., 9. Bryan Coquard (FRA/VCC) Lotto Soudal rider Caleb Ewan (centre) of Australia celebrates after winning the third stage of the Tour de France in Sisteron, France, yesterday. (Reuters) bruising fi rst stage, and with Sunday’s s.t., 10, Niccolo Bonifazio (ITA/TDE) s.t., speedy stage in their legs, the teams 13hrs 59min 17sec, 2. Adam Yates Bauke Mollema (NED/TRE) 17, 19. Luis (AUS/LOT) 50, 6. Giacomo Nizzolo 8. Michael Schar (SUI/CCC) 2, 9. Fabien took it slowly before the Tour was treat- 11. Luka Mezgec (SLO/MIT) s.t., 12. Tom Van Asbroeck (BEL/ICA) s.t., 13. Jonas (GBR/MIT) at 4sec, 3. Marc Hirschi Leon Sanchez (ESP/AST) 17,20. Pierre (ITA/DDT) 46, 7. Bryan Coquard (FRA/ Grellier (FRA/TDE) 2, 10. Marc Hirschi ed to its fi rst real sprint. (SUI/SUN) 7, 4. Tadej Pogacar (SLO/ Latour (FRA/ALM) 17. VCC) 37, 8. Cees Bol (NED/SUN) 32, 9. (SUI/SUN) 2 “Today was one of the few real sprint Koch (GER/CCC) s.t., 14. Jack Bauer UAE) 17, 5. Davide Formolo (ITA/UAE) (FRA/DEC) 30,10. opportunities, so we weren’t going to (NZL/MIT) s.t., 15. Selected: 25. (ESP/ 17, 6. (COL/INE) 17, 7. Tom Mads Pedersen (DEN/TRE) 30 give that up,” Ewan said after stepping (NOR/UAE) s.t., 16. Hugo Houle (CAN/ MOV) 17, 26. Mikel Landa (ESP/BAH) 17, UNDER-25 WHITE JERSEY from the podium. AST) s.t., 17. Marc Soler (ESP/MOV) s.t., Dumoulin (NED/JUM) 17, 8. Sergio Hi- 29. Rigoberto Uran (COL/EF1) 17, 30. 1. Marc Hirschi (SUI/SUN) 13hrs 59mins Superstar sprinter Peter Sagan was 18. Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ/AST) s.t., guita (COL/EF1) 17, 9. Guillaume Martin Thibaut Pinot (FRA/FDJ) 17, 34. Richie POLKA DOT ‘KING OF THE 24sec, 2. Tadej Pogacar (SLO/UAE) at again in the mix and gleaned enough 19. Jasper Stuyven (BEL/TRE) s.t., 20. (FRA/COF) 17, 10. Esteban Chaves Porte (AUS/TRE) 17. MOUNTAINS’ JERSEY 10sec, 3. Egan Bernal (COL/INE) 10, 4. points from his fi fth position to take the Simone Consonni (ITA/COF) s.t. (COL/MIT) 17, 11. Nairo Quintana (COL/ he has won a record seven ARK) 17, 12. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL/ 1. Benoit Cosnefroy (FRA/ALM) 21 Sergio Higuita (COL/EF1) 10, 5. Enric times. Despite the Covid-19 resurgence CCC) 17, 13. Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ/ GREEN SPRINT POINTS JERSEY pts, 2. Michael Gogl (AUT/DDT) 12, 3. Mas (ESP/MOV) 10, 6. Valentin Mad- in France, the roadsides in this pastoral OVERALL STANDINGS AST) 17, 14. Richard Carapaz (ECU/INE) 1. Peter Sagan (SVK/BOR) 79pts, 2. (DEN/DEC) 6, 4. Toms ouas (FRA/FDJ) 2:17, 7. Daniel Martinez part of France were packed with fans. (AFTER 3 STAGES) 17, 15. Primoz Roglic (SLO/JUM) 17, 16. Alexander Kristoff (NOR/UAE) 77, 3. Skujins (LAT/TRE) 6, 5. Nicolas Roche (COL/EF1) 3:46, 8. Harold Tejada (COL/ Schoolchildren were out in force Emanuel Buchmann (GER/BOR) 17, Sam Bennett (IRL/DEC) 74, 4. Matteo (IRL/SUN) 5, 6. Jerome Cousin (FRA/ AST) 4:33, 9. Niklas Eg (DEN/TRE) 8:49, chasing the sweets and goodies thrown 1. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA/Deceuninck) 17. Romain Bardet (FRA/ALM) 17, 18. Trentin (ITA/CCC) 54, 5. Caleb Ewan TDE) 3, 7. Robert Gesink (NED/JUM) 3, 10. Lennard Kamna (GER/BOR) 10:27.

F1 SPOTLIGHT Ferrari trapped in a ‘storm’ as home race looms Red Bull defend Albon aft er Hamilton criticism

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc AFP finshed 13th and 14th respectively at the Belgian Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium Grand Prix, the team’s worst combined finish since the 2010 British Grand Prix. (Reuters) ed Bull team adviser Helmut Marko hit back at Lewis Hamilton’s criticism of Alex Albon andR defended Red Bull’s driver line-up as a “good pairing” after the London-born Thai driver’s sixth-placed fi nish in Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix. Albon, in his fi rst full season as Max Verstappen’s teammate, has struggled to match the Dutch- man’s pace and has remained around four-tenths of a second per lap behind him — a gap that Sunday’s race winner Hamilton believes has undermined Ver- stappen and Red Bull’s challenge for the titles. who could match his pace and re- Marko, who is head of the Red sults. The championship leader, Bull driver programme that has whose win on Sunday took him supplied a stream of racers to 47 points clear of second-placed both Alpha Tauri, formerly Toro Verstappen in the drivers’ title Rosso, and the senior team, de- race, did not mention Albon by fended Albon in the aftermath name as he made a general stra- AFP Ferrari’s 2020 slump reached a new low Sky Italia. “I take that, as team princi- is clear that we must improve.” of Verstappen fi nishing third tegic point. “People downplay it, Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium on Saturday when after Vettel wound up pal, as well as all those who work at Ma- Ferrari won the last two Belgian Grands behind both Mercedes’ cars to but Red Bull have got a very, very last in third and fi nal practice, the team ranello. We’re all in the same boat. But Prix — in 2018, with Vettel, and 2019, claim his sixth consecutive po- strong car,” he said. faced the prospect of failing to progress although the team is in the middle of the with Leclerc’s maiden F1 triumph — and dium fi nish. “I don’t understand “Unfortunately, both drivers errari boss Mattia Binotto admit- from Q3 in qualifying. That would have storm, we are very united. There is no cri- were victorious last year at Monza, where the criticism of Albon,” said aren’t there like me and Valt- ted yesterday Formula One’s most been an ignominious failing as a ‘works sis. No tension... There is bitterness and Leclerc claimed their fi rst home win since Marko. “Other team-mates also teri are there... That makes it successful team were trapped in team’ from the sport’s oldest and most frustration in each of us, but I believe that Fernando Alonso in 2010. had a lot of trouble with Max... harder for them. I experienced a “storm” as they head towards celebrated competitor, particularly if this frustration must be transformed into That success, however, has been tar- I don’t see it that Max is push- it many years ago with McLaren theirF home Italian Grand Prix next week- their customer teams — Alfa Romeo and reaction and determination.” nished by rumours surrounding the in- ing him to the limit, but that he is and I was the driver that was al- end — but he rejected talk of a crisis. Haas — had out-performed them. He added that he felt for the ‘tifosi’, tegrity of their power unit — which was pushing himself. I think we have ways at the front and didn’t have After another disappointing outing in Instead, the ‘scarlet scuderia’ pulled who will not be in attendance at Monza overhauled with the introduction of new a good pairing there.” a teammate backing up. So, you Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix where Se- themselves together and scrambled as F1 continues the 2020 season behind regulations this year, following a secret Albon was separated from Ver- equally don’t get the construc- bastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc fi n- through to Q2 and were beaten in the race closed doors due to the coronavirus pan- deal between Ferrari and the sport’s rul- stappen by both Renaults on Sun- tors’ points and then can’t play ished 13th and 14th, Binotto said Ferrari only by one customer car driver — their demic. “We understand the fans. We are ing body, the International Motoring day while Hamilton was followed with strategy on the cars they are needed “reaction and determination” and own old boy 2007 world champion Kimi very sorry. We are the fi rst to admit it and Federation (FIA). home by team-mate Valtteri Bot- racing against.... So he’s kind of had to remain united. “I think it is wrong Raikkonen, of Alfa Romeo, who was 12th. we are sorry for them too. What is hap- Before 2019, Lewis Hamilton had won tas in Mercedes’ 50th one-two there on his own.” to use the word crisis for the moment we Binotto blamed the unique character- pening, in fact, is that we have a car that four of the previous fi ve Italian races in a fi nish since 2010 in the modern Albon, who has fi nished in are going through,” he explained. “Cer- istics of the long and majestic Spa-Fran- has lost power just as all the engine man- run broken only by team-mate Nico Ros- turbo hybrid era. Asked about the the top four only once this year, tainly, this is a very bad result within a corchamps circuit for Ferrari’s problems ufacturers have lost it. We more than the berg’s 2016 triumph en route to winning potency of Red Bull’s challenge received solid support from Red diffi cult season that we are experiencing, last weekend and said the team had to others. Last year, the engine partly cov- the world title. By an ironic quirk of his- to the ‘black arrows’ defence Bull team chief Christian Horner but we knew it was coming. We saw it in use their feelings of bitterness and frus- ered the limits of the machine, but this tory, Ferrari will follow Monza by hosting of their championship crowns, who also heaped praise on the winter testing and then came ‘the freeze’ tration to overcome them. “We all take year it is no longer the case. The limits of the Tuscany Grand Prix to celebrate their Hamilton had suggested that man he replaced midway through and the impossibility to develop the car.” responsibility for this situation,” he told the car are emerging and on that point it 1000th race a week later. Verstappen lacked a team-mate last season, Pierre Gasly.

Tuesday, September 1, 2020 GULF TIMES SPORT

FOCUS Hazlewood reveals IPL coronavirus ‘concern’ AFP positive for coronavirus during ready, ironed out a few kinks, I gan top-scoring with 66, they Manchester tests administered from August suspect. We are probably spend- chased down a stiff target of 196 20-28 and have been isolated. ing more time with each other to beat Pakistan by fi ve wickets “The franchise, we have a than we would normally, which in the second T20 international ustralia fast bowler group WhatsApp, with all the is a good thing.” at Old Traff ord on Sunday. Josh Hazlewood said information that comes through, Hazlewood has played 51 Tests England could include the yesterday he was a “bit it’s, obviously, a little bit of a and 48 ODIS but appeared in just likes of Joe Root and Jos Buttler concerned” by a coro- concern, yeah,” Hazlewood told seven Twenty20 internationals, when they name their squad for navirusA outbreak at his Indian reporters in a conference call the last against India at Mohali the Australia series later Mon- Premier League franchise but in- from Australia’s training base in in 2016. day, having previously kept their sisted he was fully focused on the Southampton yesterday. Nevertheless, Hazlewood, Test and limited overs squads in national side’s white-ball tour of “You ideally would have no who took 1-33 in seven overs separate ‘bubbles’ this season. England. cases. during an intra-squad warm-up “They had a good chase Hazlewood is a member of the “They are, obviously, in quar- match at Southampton on Sun- against Pakistan, so they know Australia squad who are set to antine now and I think they fi n- day as a Pat Cummins XI defeat- their roles and their white-ball face 50-over world champions ish up over the next few days. ed an Aaron Finch XI, still har- team is as good as ever,” Hazle- England in three Twenty20 and All my focus is, obviously, on bours hope of breaking into the wood said. three one-day internationals this tournament at the moment. Twenty20 team ahead of next Asked who had stood out from September 4-16. Once that IPL becomes closer, year’s T20 World Cup in India. for him lately, Hazlewood pin- Following his Australia stint, we will think more about that.” “I am pretty aware of where I pointed two batsmen: “It’s prob- the 29-year-old Hazlewood is The Australia squad are cur- sit roughly,” he said. “The team ably a few of the new guys who set to head to the United Arab rently in a bio-secure bubble at keeps winning and the guys are I haven’t seen a great deal of: Emirates, where this year’s edi- Southampton, the venue for a going well, especially the bowl- Tommy Banton, Dawid Malan - tion of the lucrative IPL T20 T20 series that starts on Friday, ing unit.” I’ve seen him but he’s in the runs franchise tournament is being before they travel to Manches- England beat Australia in the again. staged because of Covid-19, and ter for the one-dayers. Several semi-fi nals of last year’s World “Eoin Morgan runs a really play for the Chennai Super Kings international sides have already Cup before defeating New Zea- good ship in the white-ball stuff . led by India great M.S. Dhoni. toured England this season, with land in a thrilling fi nal at Lord’s. “It is a tough gig...England are But IPL offi cials have reported Hazlewood saying: “They have, They remain a formidable fl ying at the moment. It’s always that 13 Super Kings personnel, obviously, had West Indies, Pa- white-ball side as they showed tough here but we expect to win including two players, tested kistan and England through al- when, with captain Eoin Mor- every game we play.”

SELECTION SPOTLIGHT IPL franchises see glass half-full England’s Root despite fi nancial hit from Covid-19

Reuters Daikin, with the air-condi- New Delhi tioning equipment maker say- returns for Australia ing the new dates did not work for them. he Indian Premier “The reason being the busi- League’s eight teams ness scenario and the timing, are counting the cost which earlier, being the sum- of Covid-19’s impact mer, would call for advertis- Ton their fi nances but having ing eff orts to create awareness faced the prospect of the tour- and recall for the AC catego- ODIs but misses T20s nament being wiped out by the ry,” a Daikin spokesman told pandemic this year they are Reuters. Capitals Chairman ‘Joe plays so much cricket, gives so much to England every time he plays, it’s not taking a ‘glass half-full’ view Parth Jindal said the BCCI of the situation. should look at compensating right for him that we have him in the squad if he’s not likely to be starting’ The IPL’s original March the franchises. “If the BCCI start was scuppered by the doesn’t compensate, there will AFP fi rst wave of the novel corona- be a signifi cant loss to each Manchester, United Kingdom virus and India’s cricket board franchise, about a 30% drop (BCCI) had to pull out all the in revenues,” Jindal told Mint stops to rescue the Twenty20 newspaper earlier this month. ngland announced yes- league, which has an estimated terday they had recalled $6.8 billion brand value. SILVER LINING several World Cup win- The tournament has been But with the BCCI at risk of a ners for their upcoming shifted to the United Arab $547 million drop in revenue white-ballE series against Aus- Emirates, will be played under had the entire season been tralia but Test captain Joe Root a hastily-arranged title spon- cancelled, treasurer Arun Sigh has again been omitted from sor and will start on Sept. 19 Dhumal preferred to look on the Twenty20 squad. Fifty-over – nearly six months later than the bright side. world champions England have scheduled. “When you encounter such been fi elding separate red and After Vivo paused its title challenging times and so many white ball squads in a season hit sponsorship for this year’s edi- impediments, you are bound by the coronavirus pandemic. tion, fantasy gaming company to lose on certain revenues,” But with all six Tests spanning Dream11 took it up for 2.22 Dhumal told Reuters. two series wins against the West billion Indian rupees ($30.36 “Looking at the overall pic- Indies and Pakistan now com- million), roughly half of the ture, everybody should be pleted, England have recalled 4.4 billion the Chinese smart- happy that at least we’ve been some of their multi-format play- phone maker paid annually. able to organise it. ers for next month’s limited- “The discount provided to “At such short notice, we’ve overs matches against Australia. Dream11 would be a major (fi - been able to get a new title Root was the third-highest nancial) hit for the BCCI, along sponsor. It speaks volumes of run-scorer at the 2016 T20 with making arrangements for IPL as a brand, and how it has World Cup but has not played a bio-secure bubble which will grown over the years.” T20 international for over a year, be an additional cost burden Sponsors continue to trickle despite still wanting to feature in on the board,” Santosh N, an in for the franchises and the the format. He has, however, hit external advisor at fi nan- league also welcomed edu- scores of 64 and 65 for Yorkshire cial consultancy fi rm Duff & tech start-up Unacademy as in this season’s Twenty20 Blast. Phelps, told Reuters. a new sponsor on Saturday on But with England white-ball The league shares 50% of a three-year deal, reportedly captain Eoin Morgan and Dawid the title sponsorship money worth 1.2 billion rupees. Malan both compiling fi ne fi f- with the eight franchises, who Santosh said that as the ties during a fi ve-wicket win over will also miss out on gate re- tournament draws closer more Pakistan in the second T20 at Old ceipts and in-stadium revenue would come onboard. Traff ord on Sunday, it is hard to this year while existing spon- “And with the IPL happen- see where Root fi ts into the na- England Test captain Joe Root has not played a T20 International for over a year. sors demand discounts in the ing around the festive season tional side’s Twenty20 XI. absence of fan initiatives. this time around, it’s an added England national selector Ed for both the T20 and ODI series, has been diagnosed with brain “It was a very tough decision The Twenty20s should have The switch has seen Delhi bonus for the companies to be Smith said Root was not cur- while Chris Woakes is back in the cancer. to leave David out of the World acted as a warm-up for October’s Capitals lose shirt sponsor associated with it,” he added. rently in their best T20 team 50-over squad. There was no place in either Cup squad,” said Smith. T20 World Cup in Australia. “although no doors are closed to Jason Roy, another member of squad for David Willey, despite “We work hard on trying to But that tournament has now him in the future”. England’s World Cup winning the left-arm paceman being establish strength in depth and been postponed because of Cov- “Joe plays so much cricket, side, has been ruled out of the England’s man of the series in of course the downside is that id-19 and the next T20 World Cup MI squad had gala time at gives so much to England every T20s with the same side strain this month’s 2-1 one-day inter- sometimes players who’ve done will take place in India in 2021, sprawling recreational centre time he plays, it’s not right for that has sidelined him for all national campaign win over Ire- very well, even recently, still with Smith saying the upcoming him that we have him in the three Pakistan T20s, although land when the all-rounder im- can’t fi nd a place in the squad and series would help England build In a bid to help players bond 13th edition of the cash-rich squad if he’s not likely to be England hope the opener will be pressed with both bat and ball. that’s the situation with David. towards the global event. Eng- during their isolation period league slated to start from starting,” added former England fi t for the one-dayers. This was more England heart- “Everything he achieved land face Australia in the fi rst of and also take care of their September 19 in the UAE. batsman Smith. Ben Stokes, who has not ache for Willey, dropped shortly against Ireland has been noted, three Twenty20s at Hampshire’s mental health during tough Here in Abu Dhabi, Mumbai played for England since this before last year’s World Cup tri- his performances over a number Ageas Bowl headquarters on Fri- times, Indian Premier League’s Indians had their first training WILLEY OMISSION month’s fi rst Test against Paki- umph when Archer, who would of years are well understood day before the teams head north most successful franchise, session last Friday. Meanwhile fellow World Cup stan, was again omitted with the bowl the decisive Super Over in by the selectors. But in this in- to Manchester’s Old Traff ord for Mumbai Indians, have dished Rohit led his team into the winners Jofra Archer, Jos But- all-rounder still spending time in the fi nal against New Zealand at stance, we are giving opportuni- three one-day internationals out a sprawling recreation ground and even as he tler, and Mark Wood all return New Zealand with his father, who Lord’s, was called up in his place. ties to other people,” he added. starting on September 11. centre which is synced with batted, his pace spearhead their secured bio bubble. Jasprit Bumrah ran in to bowl The Team Room – ‘ONE FAM- some quick deliveries and ILY’ area, a 15,000 sq ft of get back his rhythm. In line Daredevils pacer Nortje looks forward to bowling with Rabada recreation centre, was opened with the Standard Operating to players and family for the Procedures (SOPs) issued by Having joined the Delhi Capitals grass, and not on the balcony. I Capitals. I was a late replace- IPL debut due to a shoulder bada. “I look forward to bowling first time on Sunday and as the BCCI, all the players and from Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) can’t explain it, but it feels like ment, and till the time I sat on the injury, also reckons that the team with KG when he gets here, and per pictures shared by the support staff underwent a for 2020 Indian Premier League I’ve been locked up in prison for plane I wasn’t sure if things were environment could be a big fac- I hope that makes us a potent four-time IPL winners, the mandatory six-day quarantine (IPL) sseason, South African some days. So, it’s great to be really happening. I wasn’t sure I tor in the upcoming season. “It’s bowling side. We’ve definitely likes of skipper Rohit Sharma, after arriving in the UAE. pacer Anrich Nortje took part in outside,” he said. “I tried to take was going to finally get here, and a great bunch of guys, and I look got the pace. It will be interesting all-rounder Hardik Pandya RT-PCR tests were conducted his first nets session on Sunday it easy on the first day. It will be if the tournament was going to forward to gelling with them. We to see how the wickets play, but and others were seen having on everyone on Day 1, 3 and 6 evening here, and seemed more intense slowly but surely go ahead; I was just very happy. all know that it’s going to be a I’m sure all captains would want a gala time. of the quarantine. The players delighted to step out on to the over the next few days. But it It kicked in once I got on to long season, but if the team envi- a couple of quicks in their side to The recreation centre has a were already tested multiple field after having spent a week in was so great to be bowling on an the flight,” said the 28-year-old ronment is good, it can often feel make their job a little bit easier,” theatre, pool table, karaoke, times before departure for the quarantine after arriving in the actual square,” said the right-arm player. like fewer days.” Nortje seemed said Nortje, who was named lounge and fun games for UAE. The players and support United Arab Emirates. fast bowler. “It’s a bit surreal to Nortje, who represneted KKR excited on the prospect of bowl- Cricket South Africa’s Newcomer players to re-energise their staff will be tested every fifth “It’s good to be out and on the be out here, and with the Delhi last season but could not make ing with compatriot Kagiso Ra- of the Year for 2020. minds as they gear up for the day of the tournament.