'True Champions Remain Champions Forever': Ronaldo
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June 26, 2021 Clippers bounce back Paul George scored 27 points to power the Los Angeles Clippers past Phoenix Suns 106-92, delivering their first victory in Game 3 of NBA 7 semi-final playoff series, AFP reported. Sports ‘True champions remain champions forever’: Ronaldo responds to Iranian legend Daei after equaling record GETTY IMAGES Sports Desk The Juventus star, meanwhile, responded to INSTAGRAM Daei’s message on the social media, describing him ristiano Ronaldo expressed his gratitude to as “a huge idol”. Ali Daei after the retired Iranian legend con- “True champions remain champions forever,” Cgratulated the Portuguese star for matching Ronaldo told Daei on Instagram, adding: “I’m very his record of all-time international goals. proud to read such kind words from a huge idol like Ronaldo scored twice from the spot during a 2-2 you. Thank you, Ali Daei.” draw against France on at Euro 2020 Wednesday to Daei scored some memorable goals in 149 appear- reach the 109 goal milestone. ances between 1993 and 2006, including four in a 6-2 Former Bayern Munich striker was among the thrashing of South Korea at the 1996 Asian Cup and a first to salute Ronaldo on his accomplishment, writ- superb header against Kuwait at the same competition. ing in an Instagram post: “I am honoured that this Ronaldo will instantly have the chance to surpass remarkable achievement will belong to Ronaldo – the record in his 179th outing for Portugal, when the FRANCK FIFE/REUTERS Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (red) scores his 109th international goal from the spot during a 2-2 draw against France in Budapest, Hungary, on June 23, 2021. great champion of football and caring humanist who defending champions take on Belgium at the Euro inspires and impacts lives throughout the world.” 2020 round of 16 in Seville, Spain, on Sunday. Esteghlal, Tractor Iran’s Foroughi wins to face Saudi sides shooting World Cup gold in neutral venues: Report Sports Desk Thursday. Serbia’s Damir Mikec scored 241.7 Iranian shooter Javad Foroughi claimed points for the silver medal, with a gold medal at the 2021 ISSF World Cup Chaudhary Saurabh of India finishing Rifle /Pistol/Shotgun in Osijek, Croatia. third on 220 points. Foroughi, representing the country A total of 520 athletes from 47 at the men’s 10m air pistol, tallied 243 countries have been participating at points for the top spot in the final on the event, which will conclude July 3. IRNA ‘Golden opportunity’ awaits Serena at Wimbledon Opportunity knocks for Serena Williams on the Grand Slam champion turned ESPN analyst ning... it would be this year’s Wimbledon.” grass courts of Wimbledon next week when she Chris Evert said on a call with reporters. Other threats to Williams apart from top seed faces a diminished field on her best surface at the The combination of a fast surface that favours Barty, including Bianca Andreescu, Aryna Sa- famous All England Club. power hitters like Williams and a field in which balenka, Barbora Krejcikova and Karolina Plis- Williams, 39, continues her quest for a record- rivals such as Ash Barty are competing after in- kova, have yet to establish themselves as great equalling 24th Grand Slam title but her inconsis- jury plus Naomi Osaka missing for personal rea- grass court players, Evert added. t he-afc.com tency has left many to wonder if the hard-hitting sons, opens the door for Williams. “(But) there’s always two sides to any coin. American has the mental and physical strength to “This is to me her golden opportunity,” Evert This new generation is fearless and confident.” Sports Desk string together seven high quality matches, Re- said. Fearless and confident is an apt description of uters reported. “If there was ever a year that has looked good 17-year-old Coco Gauff, who took Wimbledon Persian Gulf Pro League clubs Esteghlal and Tractor will have to play “That’s the question everybody’s been ask- in the last few years, if there ever was a Grand by storm in 2019 when she beat former cham- their AFC Champions League (ACL) knockout ties against Saudi ing,” former world number one and 18-time Slam she is capable, more than capable, of win- pion Venus Williams en route to the fourth round, clubs in neutral venues, according to Al Arabiya. where she bowed out to eventual title winner Si- Esteghlal will play Al Hilal in the last-16 round of the competition in mona Halep, who will miss this year’s event with September, with Tractor taking on against Al Nassr. injury. Political tensions between the two Persian Gulf states had seen Ira- Gauff made the French Open quarter-finals nian and Saudi clubs squaring off in a third country since 2016, before this month and, even though her Wimbledon Esteghlal and Foolad Khuzestan flew to Saudi Arabia in April to play preparations suffered a blip when she lost to their centralized group fixtures of the Asian elite clubs competition in Anastasija Sevastova in a warm-up event on Jeddah and Riyadh respectively. Wednesday, she is poised to take the next step in However, the Saudi-based news channel has been told by the Asian her young career. Football Confederation (AFC) spokesman Nidal Bahran that “Es- “She has developed her skill set to another lev- teghlal and Al Nassr have been given until July 7 by the AFC to name a el during the clay court season,” Evert said. neutral venue for their last-16 round ties against Al Hilal and Tractor.” “She got better and better with each tourna- Esteghlal and Al Nassr had initially been picked as the hosts of the ment. I think if her serve is on, she could very two single-legged ties in the knockout stage draw. well get to the second week, even make a quarter Also in the ACL knockouts, Esteghlal archrival Persepolis will face or a semi, very possible at Wimbledon.” Istiklol of Tajikistan. Former world number one John McEnroe When asked if Iran and Saudi Arabia will also have to meet in a neu- echoed Evert’s view. tral venue, should they be drawn in the same group at the World Cup “I think she could potentially absolutely get to Asian qualifiers, Bahran said, “FIFA is the one to make the final deci- late in the event, semis, finals. It’s conceivable if sion on that issue.” things go well.” The draw for the final round of qualifiers will take place on July 1, The Wimbledon main draw matches begin where 12 teams will be split into two groups. ANDREW BOYERS/REUTERS Monday..