Sydney Wiese first WNBA player to test positive PAGE 13 SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 2020 Qatar’s squash star Tamimi says he’s using the break to recover & be ready Positivity and you can just keep training as Abdullah advises looking forward in summer break already. “This current period is af- all to stay at home such situations is fecting us all on all levels. How- to be safe the key. I look at this ever, athletes I guess are more situation as a test and I trained to deal with injuries and IKOLI VICTOR will do my best to pass extremely tough situations that DOHA that test. I would advise might be career threatening and imposes sudden change to ABDULLA al Tamimi is not everyone to look at it the their usual life. This is out of the only Qatar’s top-ranked squash same way sporting experiences. We have player but he’s also one of the Abdulla al Tamimi learned to adapt faster. We will driving forces of the country’s come out of this phase, all of us sporting ambitious. and beat the virus. This a chal- With the coronavirus pan- lenge that we all have to face demic taking its toll on sport and we will overcome it.” even as the world seeks to con- Evaluating the implica- tain it, many countries are still tions and cost of recent post- locked up with people forced poned or cancelled sporting to stay in their homes to avoid events, Tamimi said: “The contracting or spreading of virus has forced the whole COVID-19 disease. world to slow down and The World No. 32 Tamimi pause. This is affecting a lot of supports the government’s di- Abdulla al Tamimi doing exercises at his home. He supports government’s directive for citizens and residents to stay at home. sponsors and people who put rective for citizens and residents a big investment into sports. to stay at home as a preventive ply with the rules issued by the cases on the rise almost every elling for competitions. Now can do to keep fit. These would with the kids. I am sure you’ll Same goes for us athletes. measure to curb the spread of Qatari Government and stay day so we have to do whatever is a good time to invest in re- only take 20 minutes of your like if you can try it.” However, as athletes, we need coronavirus. The squash star at home, if that’s what it takes it takes to stop the transmis- covering these days. I’m also time to include squats, lunges, Speaking on how he will to keep going and be ready shared his thoughts on how to put an end to coronavirus sion of the disease.” spending a lot more time with jumps, and running sprints in maintain his shape in the ab- for the competitions to come the sporting world has been af- spread across the nation and Describing his daily self- the family as I’m always away the safe environment of your sence of competition, the Qa- back stronger anytime. I will fected by the unprecendented help cure the affected cases. quarantine routine and how so I’m loving it.” own home. These can substitute tari athlete said: “I’m kind of be ready to move on and for- lockdown, his training ideas for We should all follow every- he spends his time at home, Advising residents on how being locked out of the gym for lucky it was almost the end of get about this virus. Positivity residents who want to stay fit at thing our government recom- he said, “Looking at the posi- to maintain fitness drills at the time being. the season for squash. We still and looking forward in such home, and positive tips for com- mends for our safety, security, tive side of it, I see it as a home, the 26-year old said: “It “I like to play “keram” tradi- have three or four more tour- situations is the key. And as I ing out of this impasse. and well being. break gifted to me by God. I is very important to keep work- tions at home with the family. naments left so I don’t think it said earlier, I look at this situ- Tamimi says Qatari citi- “Because this virus is a very have 14 days to cover fasting ing on your well being in such This is something we are doing affects a lot as we can just call ation as a test and I will do my zens and residents must abide serious threat and is not a joke. from last Ramadan when I times and try to stay fit, even these days. We absolutely love it an early off season where we best to pass that test. I would the rules of staying at home: We can see the amount of needed to be on heavy train- while at home. There are a lot it! We also spend time playing normally have few weeks off advise everyone to look at it “We should all definitely com- confirmed and active infected ing and was constantly trav- of body weight exercises we cards and some other activities anyway. If you think positive the same way.” New date for Tokyo QOC extends suspension of all local sport activities until April 14 TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK Qatar to limit the ties of all age groups The first postponement The club coaches in the Olympics ‘won’t satisfy DOHA spread of coronavi- across the country period ends on March 29 due Qatari league have developed rus by banning pub- have been suspended to the coronavirus, as the special training programmes THE Qatar Olympic Commit- lic gatherings also until further notice. league stopped before round for players during the post- everybody’, says Coe tee (QOC) has announced that in accordance with 18 and after the round 17 that ponement of competitions, it has extended the suspen- the recommenda- QFA extends concluded on March 7. especially after coordination AFP sion of all local sport activi- tions of Ministry of suspension QFA decided to official- with the Qatar Stars League PARIS ties and events until the 14th Public Health and The Qatar Foot- ly postpone the QNB Stars Foundation and in the pres- April to ensure more safety National Pandemic ball Association League matches for a speci- ence of a representative of the WORLD Athletics president for all employees of sport or- Preparedness Com- (QFA) also an- fied period in consultation Ministry of Health at a meet- Sebastian Coe admitted on ganizations and community mittee. nounced that based with the parties concerned, ing held with the coaches to Friday that settling on a new members against coronavirus Few days ago, on the circular issued while all indications are hear their proposals on train- date for the Tokyo Olympics (COVID-19). the Qatar Olympic by the Qatar Olympic that the league and the cur- ing for teams, in light of the in 2021 will not satisfy every- The QOC’s decision is a Committee has suspended all Committee (QOC) it has de- rent season’s championships conditions of the spread of body. complementary move which the sport activities and events cided to extend the suspension will be completed during the coronavirus which disrupts “All sports have made it comes in line with the pre- until 29th of March and an- of all of their sports activities next period after reaching its many or most of the activities pretty clear they have particu- ventive measures taken by nounced that sport activi- and the matches till April 14. final stages. worldwide. lar challenges at particular times of the year,” said Coe. “We are probably not go- The 2020 Olympics, which ing to reach a solution that were set for July 24-August 9 meets with the approval of this year, were postponed Former La Liga winger dons white coat to take on coronavirus every sport. until 2021 by the “But there does have to be AFP and for me I need to put fears an element of flexibility and International Olympic CORUNNA (SPAIN) for my own safety to one side there is going to be flexibility Committee because of and help in any way that I can. for the next two years.” the coronavirus. JOURNEYMAN footballer “There are shortages The 2021 World Athletics Toni Dovale put his football of many things and we are Championships, for example, 2020 but not later than sum- boots to one side and slipped struggling to get enough are scheduled to be staged in mer 2021”. into a pharmacist’s white of the simple things like August next year in Eugene, There have been sugges- coat in the front line struggle thermometers, paracetamol, Oregon. tions even that the rebooted against coronavirus in Spain. gloves and hand gels.” The 2020 Olympics, Olympics could be held in the The 29-year-old pharmacy Dovale has played foot- which were set for July spring and so allow athletes to graduate and former top-level ball for Spanish top flight 24-August 9 this year, were avoid competing in the brutal sportsman had been playing clubs Leganes and Rayo Val- postponed until 2021 by the heat and humidity of Japan’s football for a Thai club, but lecano, Sporting Kansas City International Olympic Com- summer. was visiting his family in Spain in the United States and also mittee (IOC) this week be- “There are clearly de- when the COVID-19 pandemic Bengaluru in the Indian Su- cause of the coronavirus.