Osaka Tops Serena As World's Highest-Paid Female Athlete

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SATURDAY 23 MAY 2020 Osaka tops Serena as world’s Naomi Osaka highest-paid female athlete

AFP – NEW YORK The 22-year-old Asian star, a two-time Grand Japanese tennis star Naomi Slam champion, edges Naomi Osaka has become the world’s US rival Serena Williams highest-paid female athlete, by $1.4m in prize money Osaka making $37.4m in the past 12 and endorsement income months for an earnings record, $37.4m over the past year. Both Forbes magazine reported yesterday. shatter the old single-year The 22-year-old Asian star, a earnings mark of $29.7m Serena two-time Grand Slam champion, set in 2015 by Russia’s edged US rival Serena Williams Maria Sharapova, Williams by $1.4m in prize money and $36m endorsement income over the past year. of a global sports marketingeting Both shattered the old single- icon.” year earnings mark of $29.7m set Osaka, whose father was in 2015 by Russia’s Maria born in Haiti and whose mother Williams had annual incomes Tokyo Olympics and figures to Sharapova, who retired in Feb- is Japanese, ranks 29th on the from $18m to $29m and has col- remain a sponsorship dream ruary with five Grand Slam titles, 2020 Forbes list of the world’s lected nearly $300m, much of it through next year’s rescheduled including a career Slam. 100 top-paid athletes, four spots in endorsement deals. Games. “To those outside the tennis ahead of Williams, who has won Osaka won back-to-back Nike signed a apparel deal world, Osaka is a relatively fresh 23 Grand Slam singles titles. Grand Slam titles at the 2018 US with Osaka last year that paid her face with a great back story,” Uni- The complete list, due to be Open and 2019 Australian Open, $10m in the past year and runs versity of Southern California released next week, has not fea- her controversial and historic through 2025. Other sports business professor David tured two women since 2016, victory over Williams in the endorsement deals include Carter told Forbes. according to the magazine. Flushing Meadows final the first Nissan and Yonex racquets. “Combine that with being Williams, 38, had been the Slam singles crown for a Japanese Since Forbes began tracking youthful and bicultural -- two world’s highest-paid female woman. women athletes’ income figures attributes that help her resonate athlete in each of the past four Osaka was a popular in 1990, tennis players have with younger, global audiences years. Sharapova ruled for the endorsement figure in Japan topped the annual list of female -- and the result is the emergence five years before that. ahead of the now-postponed top income earners every year.

Liverpool’s midﬁelder Mohamed Salah arrives at Melwood in Mexican No quarantine exemption puts Liverpool, as training resumes after the Premier League was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. season called British Grands Prix at risk off with no

AFP – LONDON can be reached that allows the bit that we see and it’s the champion both races to go ahead. most visible bit. Formula One’s hopes of “I am very clear that the F1 organisers are hoping AFP – MEXICO CITY hosting two races at Silver- importance of the industry is to start the season with the stone were dealt a blow understood by government,” Austrian Grand Prix on July 5 Mexico’s top flight Liga MX yesterday as elite sport was he told Sky Sports. behind closed doors, followed cancelled its Clausura not handed any exemption to “So I remain optimistic by a second race at the Red campaign with no title winner the UK government’s plans to that a sensible and pragmatic Bull Ring a week later. yesterday in a bid to protect the introduce a 14-day quarantine solution, which puts the onus It was hoped Silverstone football community in the period for those entering the on the sport quite rightly to could then host two races in country. country. come up with the right back-to-back weekends, also Mexico has two champion- The measures will be solution, can be found.” Seven behind closed doors. ships per year, the Apertura introduced from June 8 to help of the 10 teams on the Formula The quarantine restric- Leeds chief says incomplete and the Clausura, and the latter curb the spread of corona- One grid have bases in tions could also have a major was halted by coronavirus in virus, but will reviewed every England. impact on the participation of league season would be a March with 10 of the 17 rounds three weeks meaning an “This isn’t just 90 minutes British sides in European of matches completed. agreement could still be found of an exciting sporting race. football competition. ‘national embarrassment’ At a general meeting Liga in time for the Grands Prix to This is about getting an Manchester City, Man- MX decided to end the term “to go ahead in July. industry back to work,” added chester United, Chelsea, REUTERS – LONDON Kinnear said it was time English make sure nobody in the F1 stressed the need earlier Pringle. Wolves and Rangers are all still leagues came up with solutions. football family, players, this week for a quarantine “This is about 40-plus involved in the knockout stages Failure to conclude the Premier “England had some of the coaches, directors, referees, exemption by highlighting the thousand people’s livelihoods of the Champions League or League and second-tier Champi- finest sports scientists and football fans or media, get hurt”. impact the new rules will have being ignited. Europa League. UEFA is onship seasons due to the administrators in the game and No start date for the next on “tens of thousands of jobs “The racing is at the very planning for both competitions COVID-19 pandemic would be the time has come for us as a sport Apertura has been decided. linked to F1 and supply top of the pinnacle. Formula 1 to be finished in August. considered a “national embar- to stop repeatedly framing the The move comes a day chains.” However, Silverstone is absolutely the top of the rassment”, Leeds United chief challenges and start delivering on after attempts to restart the managing director Stuart motorsport tree, it’s executive Angus Kinnear has said. the solution,” Kinnear wrote in the league were hampered when Pringle is hopeful that Professional soccer has been Yorkshire Evening Post. eight Santos Laguna players an agreement suspended since mid-March due “It would be a national embar- tested positive for to the coronavirus outbreak but rassment if the Bundesliga, La coronavirus. the Premier League plans to Liga or Serie A were to be able to In mid-April the league had restart the season next month complete safely and the first and already decided to tackle issues while the Championship will vote fifth biggest leagues in the world of stability by suspending pro- next week to decide on how to were not able to follow suit if the motion and relegation for its end their season. context remained comparable.” top two divisions for five years. The German Bundesliga Premier League clubs started With more than 6,000 resumed last weekend without training sessions with small fatalities, Mexico has the fans in attendance while other top groups this week with a view of a second highest COVID-19 death Drivers in action during the 2019 Formula One British Grand Prix European leagues are planning to possible return to normal ‘contact’ toll in Latin America after at the Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone, Britain in this ﬁle photo. restart their campaigns and training next week. Brazil. WADA study finds no meaningful link between TUEs and Olympic medals

AFP – MONTREAL Their WADA medical data, director Dr. Alan Vernec said. am never, ever going to take an stakeholders and there is a US tennis stars Serena including use of TUEs, was “The analysis suggests advantage over someone else. stringent process in place to and Venus Williams and There’s no meaningful link revealed publicly by a hacker there’s no meaningful associ- That is not who I am.” Athletes avoid abuse of the system.” reigning Olympic and world between an athlete having a in 2016. ation between competing with are given TUEs only after a Researchers calculated risk all-around gymnastics Therapeutic Use Exemption The WADA study examined a TUE and the likelihood of review process and evaluation ratios for the probability of champion Simone Biles (TUE) and winning an Olympic athletes with TUEs at the 2012 winning a medal. by a physicians panel on the winning a medal with and are among athletes who medal, a study unveiled by the London and 2016 Rio Summer “The results of this study medical relevance of the without TUEs and adjusted for have used TUEs, special World Anti-Doping Agency Olympics and the 2010 Van- provide objective data to dispel request. WADA and other anti- the fact athletes from nations (WADA) found. couver, 2014 Sochi and 2018 some of the misunderstandings doping organizations then with greater resources might permission to take otherwise US tennis stars Serena and Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and misgivings surrounding conduct further evaluation. produce better performances banned substances for Venus Williams and reigning to see if athletes with TUEs won TUEs.” Biles said in 2016 that “The TUE Program is a nec- due to other factors. medical needs. Olympic and world all-around more medals than those she had been taking medicine essary part of sport, allowing There were 181 TUE users gymnastics champion Simone without. since childhood for Attention athletes with legitimate medical among 20,139 athletes who won There were 181 TUE users Biles are among athletes who “The number of athletes Deficit Hyperactivity conditions to compete on a level 21 of 2,062 medals awarded, among 20,139 athletes who have used TUEs, special per- competing with valid TUEs (in Disorder. playing field,” Vernec said. 0.9% in all. The ratio for mission to take otherwise individual competition) at the Serena Williams defended “It has overwhelming winning a medal with a TUE won 21 of 2,062 medals banned substances for medical selected Games was less than her use of TUEs in 2018, saying acceptance from athletes, phy- was 1.13 compared to a 1.07 awarded, 0.9% in all. needs. 1%,” said WADA medical she regularly used them but “I sicians and anti-doping adjusted risk ratio. SATURDAY 23 MAY 2020 SPORT 05

Two-time Olympic gold medalist track- Australian and-ﬁeld sprinter Natasha Hastings Birthday boy Djokovic to works out at home in Cedar Park, Texas. tennis great organise Balkan event Cooper dies at 83 AFP — BELGRADE suspended since March and will In a statement, a not resume until at least the end spokesman for world Novak Djokovic will gather of July, while Roland number one Djokovic AFP — SYDNEY some off thethe world’sworld’s bestbest Garros was post-post- said that the Adria Tour players fforor a tennis toutour-r- poned to SeSep-p- will be held between Eight-time Grand Slam tournament inn the Balkans next tember and WiWim-m- June 13-July 5 in Serbia, nament winner Ashley Cooper month, wwithith the pprofes-rofes- bledonbledon waswas cacan-n- has died aged 83, Tennis Croatia, Montenegro and sional seasonason on a ccorona-orona- celledcelled fforor tthehe Australia announced virus-enforcedforced hiatus.hiatus. firstfirst time since Bosnia. yesterday, with Rod Laver In a statement, a thethe SeconSecondd hailing him as a “wonderful spokesmanman for world WorldWorld War.War. Along with Djokovic, who champion”. number oonene DjoDjokovickovic saisaidd tthathat TheThe money was celebrating his 33rd The former Australian, the Adriaa Tour will be held gatheredgathered birthday yesterday, world Wimbledon and US singles between June 13-July13-July 5 number three Dominic titleholder, was part of the Olympics followed in Serbia,a, Croatia, Thiem and Bulgarian golden era of Australian men’s Montenegrogro anandd Grigor Dimitrov, ranked tennis in the 1950s, winning Bosnia. 19, will also participate four major singles titles and up by three mega Alongg witwithh four in doubles. Djokovic,, wwhoho in the tournament, the Competing against fellow was cele-ele- statement said. Australian greats Laver, Lew events -- all in China brating his Hoad, Ken Rosewall and Neale 33rdd fromfro the Adria Tour, which Fraser, Cooper won three of birthdaya y startsst in Belgrade on June those singles titles in 1958, AP — TOKYO is no political opposition (by yesterday,ay, 13-14,1 will be used for when he triumphed at Wim- definition) and most delivery worldd variousv regional humani- bledon and the Australian and Uncertainty grips next year’s services are state-run, numberer tariant projects, the USA championships. postponed Tokyo Olympics: ensuring the smooth running threee statements added. “Ashley was also the most Will there be fans or empty of the event,” Grix added. Dominicic It is unknown if the humble of champions and a stadiums in 14 months? And Japanese and Interna- Thiem andnd tournamentto will be open to great family man,” said Tennis how will thousands of tional Olympic Committee Bulgarianan spectatorsspe or will be only Australia CEO Craig Tiley in a athletes, staff, and technical officials have given few Grigor Dim-Dim- broadcastbroa on television. Balkan statement. officials travel, be housed, details about how the Tokyo itrov, rankednked 19, wiwillll countriescoun coped with the “Our hearts go out to his Novak Djokovic and stay safe amid Olympics will be staged, the also participateticipate in thethe COVID-19COVI pandemic with rel- wife Helen and his family, COVID-19? cost of postponement, and tournament,ment, tthehe ativeative success, with fewer than along with his wide and inter- And Tokyo is not alone. who will pay for it. They’ve statementnt sasaid.id. 20,00020,0 people infected and national circle of friends, China - where the teased the problems and The ATPATP andand WTAWTA aroundarou 650 deaths in a region including so many of our tennis COVID-19 outbreak was first floated tenuous solutions. Tours haveave beenbee n ofoso someso 22 million people. family.” detected - will hold three They’ve agreed on one thing: mega-sports events within a If the games can’t open on year after Tokyo is set to July 23, 2021, they’ll be close. cancelled. The World University In a joint news con- Men’s depth stronger than Games in Chengdu in ference last weekend, the western China open 10 days director general of the World after the Tokyo Games close, Health Organization cau- with up to 8,000 athletes. tioned it would not be “easy” Next come the Beijing Winter to make the Olympics a safe for a decade, says Cilic Olympics beginning on Feb- global gathering spot. ruary 4, 2022, and the Asian But Tedros Adhanom Games in Hangzhou starting Ghebreyesus expressed con- REUTERS — MUMBAI 2010, where we had so many place for me at the top of the on September 10. fidence: “I think it’s great, great names in our sport.” tennis world and you have to The previous edition of possible,” With a wave of fast-maturing As well as his 2014 Flushing earn it,” added the Croatian, the Asian Games in Indonesia IOC President Thomas young players ready to chal- Meadows triumph, Cilic made who peaked at number three in drew 11,000 athletes and Bach has been cautious in lenge the established greats of the final at Wimbledon in 2017 the world in 2018. You now have at featured more sports than speculating how the the game for Grand Slam and the Australian Open the fol- “I also believe there is still least 10 guys that the Olympics. Olympics can be held. He’s honours, Marin Cilic says men’s lowing year -- no mean feat in space for me at the top in these are promising and A fourth major event, suggested a possible quar- tennis will be stronger than it a period boasting the likes of next several years -- at top 10, soccer’s 24-team Club World antine for athletes, hinted at has been for a decade when the Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Andy top 15 and I believe I can be really strong and Championship, was to open limited fan access to venues, coronavirus shutdown ends. Murray and Stan Wawrinka. there.” His bid to clamber back they’re showing in China in June of 2021, but and has not ruled out events While Roger Federer, Novak Things were leaner in 2019 up the rankings is on hold until has been postponed because in empty stadiums. Of course, Djokovic and Rafa Nadal have when he failed to win a title for the circuit resumes after the their strength and of scheduling conflicts he says that’s not his won the last 13 majors between the first time since 2007 and the coronavirus shutdown, which their potential on created by the pandemic. preference. them Cilic says the likes of 31-year-old currently lan- has seen lower-level profes- the court and the China is a go-to country IOC member John Coates, Dominic Thiem, Daniil guishes at number 37 in the sionals, who depend on tour- for these mega events, who oversees preparations Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas world. nament winnings for their big tournaments. through expertise gained for Tokyo, has been direct. and Alexander Zverev are Cilic showed he still has income, struggling to pay the And there’s also this from the 2008 Beijing “We’ve got real problems getting closer to breaking the what it takes when, unseeded, bills. Olympics and because it because we’ve got athletes hegemony. he made the Australian Open Cilic, who has banked older generation absorbs the massive costs. It having to come from 206 dif- “TheThe healthhealth of tennistennis hahass fourth round this yeyearar and ssaysays almost $28m in career win-win still. I believe health spent at least $40bn to ferent nations,” Coates said, ggrownrown a lotlot in thethe llastast 12-18 hehe can climbclimb tthehe lladderadder again.again. nnings,ings, saisaidd thethe situation was of the tennis tour is organise the 2008 Olympics, speaking at a News Corp months.months. TThishis mix ofof tthehe yyoungerounger “I alwaysal way s unfair.unfair. and there was no national Australia digital forum and generation,generation, they’rethey’re maturing belbelievediev ed “Tennis“Tennis isis oneone of the extremely strong at debate since the authori- reported in The Australian muchmuch more,”more,” thethe formerformer US tthath at biggest,biggest, best sports gglo-lo- the moment: Marin tarian state prohibits voting newspaper. OpenOpen cchampionhampion saisaidd in an ttherehere ballybally bbut...ut... bbasicallyasically Cilic or referendums. “We’ve got 11,000 ath- interviewinterview ffromrom Croatia. iiss a 100-250 pplayers,layers, are Voters in Europe and letes coming, 5,000 technical “You“You nownow havehave at leastleast 1010 makingmaking a llivingiving anandd North America have officials and coaches, 20,000 guysguys thatthat are promising anandd earning somethingsomething game,game, suchsuch as thethe duplicationduplicatio repeatedly said “no” to ref- media.” rreallyeally strong anandd tthey’rehey’re fromfrom it,”it,” said CilicCilic.. o f men’smen’s ininternationalternation erendums to hold the games. There’s also about 4,000 showingshowing their strength and their “The“The governing teamteam comcompetitions.petitions. China landed the 2022 working on the organising potentialpotential on the court and the bodies, especially TheThe new-looknew-loo Winter Olympics when committee and an expected bigbig tournaments. And there’s Grand Slams,Slams, need DDavisavis Cup finals aandn several European bidders 60,000 volunteers.” alsoalso this older generation still. to allocate enough inaugural ATATP withdrew. Beijing won nar- Some scientists in Japan “I“I believebelieve hhealthealth ooff tthehe funds to supportsupport CupCup took placepla rowly in a vote by the IOC and elsewhere believe a tennistennis tour is extremely strong lower-rankedlower-ranked withinwithin ssixix wweeksee against Almaty, vaccine is needed to guar- at tthehe mmoment.oment. I bebelievelieve ccom-om- players, ofof eacheach ototherh Kazakhstan. antee safety for athletes. But ppetitionetition has come back to the around the new yearye “Telling the citizens of some have asked if young, situationsituation we were in,in, andand Cilic, who playedplayed a Bavaria or Switzerland that healthy athletes should be a aroundaround 22008-008- part in both competitions, sayssa another Winter Olympics priority for vaccination. fansfans sshouldhould be thethe mainmain cocon- would benefit them greatly The biggest challenge siderationsideration when resolvingresolving thet doesn’t work,” Jonathan Grix, might be guaranteeing the issues. who studies sports policy at safety of fans who have low-levellow-level ““ItIt became such a hugehu Manchester Metropolitan already bought millions of tournaments,tournaments, numbernumber of tournaments,tournaments, don’tdo University, wrote in an email. tickets. If there are no fans, futures,futures, chal-chal- wantwant to say a mess, but it’s a lot,l He said voters sense that “cit- will there be refunds? Will lengers and I believe andand difficultdifficult to followfollow fforor a izens rarely benefit the most there be lawsuits? Tickets Marin Cilic therethere is enough funds regularregular tennis fan, or maymaybebe a from such events.” provide at least $800m for those too.” While the fanfan thatthat watcheswatches tennistennis hehere “Authoritarian states income for local organisers sshutdownhutdown has exposed the andand there,”there,” he saidsaid.. have no need to ask the pop- with the added cost of post- financial plight of players in the “T“Therehere nneedseeds ttoo be ffocusocus in ulace, they have no need to ponement estimated in Japan lower ranks it is also being seen which way we want the totourur to compromise on policy, there at $2bn to $6bn. by some as a chance to remedy go and how to make the bestbe structuralstructural iissuesssues withinwithin thethe out ofof iit.”t.” Players’ union mulls protocols for starting the MLB season Major League Baseball AFP — LOS ANGELES experts and players across the training planned which would players have concerns league, including a 3.5-hour start in mid-June. about coronavirus testing Major League Baseball players video conference with 100-plus MLB hopes to open play have concerns about corona- player leaders on Monday,” a without spectators, but in as protocols that the owners virus testing protocols that the spokesman for the union told many of the teams’ home sta- have proposed in an owners have proposed in an the Post. diums as possible. exhaustive new 67-page exhaustive new 67-page health Before the planned start of Under the new safety plan, health and safety plan. and safety plan, The Wash- the delayed season due to the players would be banned from ington Post reported. coronavirus outbreak, the union spitting or exchanging high- The draft of the safety pro- is seeking answers on several fives, taking showers after The draft of the safety tocols was delivered to the 30 key issues including testing fre- games, and not allowed to move protocols was delivered teams and the Major League quency, player compensation, around outside their hotels to the 30 teams and the Baseball’s Players Association protections for family members while on the road. They would Major League Baseball’s on May 15. and social distancing also have to arrive at the Players Association on “The union has spent the guidelines. stadium in uniform. May 15. past several days carefully Baseball is seeking to begin MLB has modified one of its facility. Testing is a big issue week but some players, like Los reviewing the manual and gath- the season around July 4. Before drug testing labs in Utah to be with the players. MLB said they Angeles Angels Mike Trout, are ering feedback from its medical that there is a mini-spring used as a Covid-19 testing would be tested several times a asking to be tested every day. 06 SPORT SATURDAY 23 MAY 2020

Australia confident of BCCI won’t push for T20 World Cup hosting India, could delay to open IPL window: Official

tour England REUTERS — NEW DELHI A ﬁle photo of a Twenty20 International match “Will it make sense to play between Australia and England in Sydney. games without spectators? Will India’s cricket board will not it make sense for CA to stage push for the Twenty20 World such a tournament like that? It’s REUTERS — MELBOURNE Cup in Australia to be post- their call.” poned but would consider If the Australia Cricket Australia chief exec- Australia are a “nine out of staging the Indian Premier government announces utive Kevin Roberts was 10” chance to host India for League (IPL) in the October/ guarded about the prospects of a Test series in the home November slot if it becomes that the tournament staging the tournament as summer and could also available, a senior BCCI official will happen and Cricket scheduled yesteray. tour England for limited has told Reuters. Australia is conﬁdent they “We don’t have clarity on overs series beforehand, This year’s IPL, which is that one, yet. But as the situation Cricket Australia boss worth almost $530m to the can handle it, it will be continues to improve, you never Kevin Roberts said. BCCI, has been indefinitely their call. BCCI would not know what might be possible,” Cricket has been shut postponed because of the suggest anything: BCCI he said. “It’s ultimately a down since March due to COVID-19 pandemic while the decision for the ICC.” the novel coronavirus out- World Cup, which is scheduled treasurer Arun Singh The ICC has said it was break and while travel to begin on October 18, is also Dhumal unlikely to make a final call on curbs remain Australia has in jeopardy. the fate of the World Cup until begun easing social dis- Reports in Australian media August but some boards are in tancing restrictions after have suggested India’s influ- the process of making contin- infections slowed to a ential board may look to push gency plans in the event of a trickle. for the World Cup to be post- postponement. “I guess there’s no such poned to open up a window for While the BCCI recognised thing as certainty in today’s the IPL. an open October-November world so I can’t say 10 (out World Cup contingency window would suit the IPL, of 10), but I’m going to say plans are on the agenda at next Dhumal said there was no point nine out of 10,” Roberts told week’s International Cricket “We’ll discuss it in the While Australia has seen whether the tournament should in making plans until there was a round table held by Aus- Council (ICC) board meeting but meeting and whatever is appro- new infections of the novel go ahead if it had to be played some certainty about the World tralia’s News Corp when BCCI treasurer Arun Singh priate, (the ICC) will take a call. coronavirus slow to a trickle without spectators and said the Cup. asked about the prospects Dhumal said India would not “If the Australia government and is gradually easing travel Australian government would “If we have the window of India touring. be recommending it be pushed announces that the tournament curbs and social distancing play a key role in any decision. available, and depending on “I’d be really surprised back. will happen and Cricket Aus- restrictions, hosting a 16-team “It all depends on what the what all can be organised, we’ll if we can’t get the Indian “Why should the BCCI tralia is confident they can World Cup would be a Her- Australian government says on decide accordingly,” he added. tour away. But I wouldn’t, suggest postponing the handle it, it will be their call. culean task for Cricket this - whether they’d allow so “We can’t presume that it’s hand on heart, suggest we’ll Twenty20 World Cup?” Dhumal BCCI would not suggest Australia. may teams to come and play the not happening and go on have full crowds from the said. anything.” Dhumal questioned tournament,” he added. planning.” start. “We’ll just have to wait and see how that goes.” Australia had planned CSA refuses to back to tour England in July for one-day and Twenty20 series before the COVID-19 Smith’s support of pandemic plunged the international schedule into doubt. England are looking at Sourav Ganguly hosting the West Indies and Pakistan in July and August. AFP — JOHANNESBURG Sri Lanka’s coach Mickey Arthur Roberts said he had walks along the Galle Face spoken to the England and The divisions in South African Wales Cricket Board on Green promenade in Colombo, cricket were exposed again Wednesday and there was yesterday. when Cricket South Africa “some chance” Australia (CSA) president Chris Nenzani could tour England after said Graeme Smith’s call for the West Indies and Sourav Ganguly (pictured) to Pakistan tours. become International Cricket “Obviously we won’t Council chairman did not have jeopardise the safety of official approval. the players, but the best “We must respect both the test of that is that the ICC protocol and our own pro- West Indian and Pakistan tocol in deciding which can- tours... go off without a didate to back,” Nenzani, a con- hitch,” he said. troversial figure who has stayed Roberts was less opti- in office despite several calls mistic about Australia’s for his resignation, said on chances of hosting the Thursday night. any candidates who may be Twenty20 World Cup, “There have been no can- nominated for this important scheduled to start in didates nominated as yet and position to lead the game we October, given the logistical Sri Lanka scraps $40m cricket once such nominations have all love.” challenge of bringing in 15 been made the Board of CSA The administration of teams. will take its decision in terms cricket in South Africa has been “We don’t have clarity stadium on advice of top players of its own protocol.” in turmoil since the constitution on that one, yet. But as the Smith, CSA’s director of of CSA was changed at the situation continues to AFP — COLOMBO Former captains Sanath it could fund the project using cricket, said at a press con- annual meeting last September improve, you never know Jayasuriya and Mahela international loans. ference on Thursday that he to allow Nenzani an extra year what might be possible,” he Sri Lanka’s prime minister Jayawardene slammed During strongman believed India’s Ganguly, a in office after he had already said. scrapped plans for a $40m the proposed grounds Rajapaksa’s decade as president fellow former Test captain, was served the maximum two “It’s ultimately a cricket stadium after local near the capital Colombo, between 2005 and 2010, he the best man to succeed three-year terms. decision for the ICC (Inter- legends of the game warned it built a 35,000-capacity inter- another Indian Shashank The extension was osten- national Cricket Council).” would end up a white elephant. saying the money national cricket stadium in his Manohar, whose term as ICC sibly to guide the organisation Former captains Sanath would be better spent home constituency of chairman is about to expire. through a new system headed Roberts was less Jayasuriya and Mahela Jaya- supporting young players. Hambantota. “We have the highest by then-chief executive optimistic about wardene slammed the pro- But the arena in the south regard for the opinions of our Thabang Moroe. Australia’s chances of posed grounds near the capital Mahinda Rajapaksa’s office said of the island nation has become director of cricket, Graeme But Moroe proved a divisive hosting the Twenty20 Colombo, saying the money in a statement. Information and a white elephant, with no Test Smith, who is a well-respected figure and was suspended in World Cup, scheduled would be better spent sup- Higher Education minister matches played on the grounds. figure in world cricket and has December on charges of mis- porting young players. Bandula Gunawardana had The stadium, named after already made an immense con- conduct. Before his suspension to start in October, “It was decided at a meeting proposed the controversial him, hosted a one-day interna- tribution in fulfilling his he had alienated the country’s given the logistical with former top players today stadium, which was to be built tional between Sri Lanka and mandate to make our cricket players’ association and challenge of bringing in that instead of the proposed in his local constituency. West Indies in February after teams world leaders again,” created a storm when he 15 teams. Homagama stadium it was The governing body Sri Rajapaksa became prime min- said Nenzani. withdrew the accreditation of better to spend money on Lanka Cricket had backed his ister in November under his “At the moment we don’t five journalists who had been building school cricket,” the PM plan and there was speculation president brother Gotabaya. want to anticipate critical of him. Cricket enthusiasts practise in nets in London South Africa plan for resumption by isolating players in bio-bubble REUTERS — CAPE TOWN in South Africa during August the bubble. “We want to intense physical activity on or September. It poses the create a sanitised cricket players infected with Cricket South Africa (CSA) question of how to minimise eco-system that will ensure COVID-19 when they return plan to isolate players and exposure for players, coaches we account for the entire to play? support staff in a “bio- and support staff. Team chain of operations that are “What happens when bubble” to minimise their doctor Shuaib Manjra said sanitised and grant pro- one of our players contracts exposure to COVID-19 and they have worked on a plan, tection to all role-players. COVID-19, and I have no hasten a return to play. having also liaised with the “We have drawn from doubt that many will. When CSA has studied the best cricket boards in England our colleagues in England are they safe to return to practises used by the German and Australia. and Australia, and we have play and what are the Bundesliga, which resumed “The bio-bubble would learned from (soccer’s) La (health) risks to them when last weekend, and hope to be a sanitised cricket bio- Liga and the Bundesliga.” they do? We need to under- implement them when India sphere with strict entry Manjra said they are facing stand this.” are scheduled to visit for standards and limited unknown risk factors, All South African sports Cricket enthusiasts practice in the cricket nets in Brockwell Park in south three lucrative Twenty20 movement out of this including what effect are preparing to petition gov- London. Hot balmy weather across much of Britain have tested the nation’s Internationals in late August. cordon,” he told reporters via COVID-19 has on the health ernment to allow them to resolve in maintaining social distancing in parks and open spaces. The But the tour remains in a teleconference. of infected athletes once they renew activities, with the mercury climbed to 27.8C (82F) near Heathrow Airport on May 20 to doubt as government models “This will require regular have recovered. country still under a tight record the hottest day of the year so far. suggest the virus could peak testing of all of those within “What is the impact of lockdown. SATURDAY 23 MAY 2020 SPORT 07 Al Sulaiti wins QORC MotoGP title THETHE PENINSULAPENINSULA – DDOHAOHA QORC MOTOGP FINAL STANDINGS QatariQatari rider Saeed AAl Sulaiti # RIDER R1 R2 R3 PTS shrugged off an earlyearly mishap 1 Saeed Al Sulaiti 40 40 40 120 to win hhisis tthirdhird cconsecutiveon 2 Soud Al Thani 36 36 36 108 finalfinal of the QatarQatar Online 3 Khalid Al Maraghi 33 33 29 95 Racing Championships’Champio 4 Mohamad Al Zaidan 29 31 33 93 MotoGP class to clinchc the 5 Hade Ahmed 31 28 31 90 inauguralinaugural title at a virtual 6 Jeremy Parola 30 30 28 88 Losail InternationalIntern 7 Abdulla Al Qubaisi 28 27 30 85 Circuit.Circuit. 8 Ali Ahmed Boushehri 27 29 27 83 TheThe 35-year-35-year-oldo three 9 Jassim Al Thani 26 24 26 76 time Qatar SuperstockSuperst 600 10 Hamad Al Sahouti 25 26 25 76 champion who started fromfrom pole positionposi in Thursday’sThursday’s tthird and also earned Soud the second lastlast final,final, suffered place in the final standings. an earlyearl crash Sulaiti bagged the top prize butbut sosoonon caught- of QR1,5000 with 120 points. up wwithit the Soud collected 108 points and leading pack got richer by QR13,000. bbeforeefore oovertakingve Mohamad Al Zaidan finished hishis closestclosest rivalr Soud third in the final leg while Hade AlAl ThaniThani in the Ahmed secured the fourth spot seventhseventh laplap with a massive lead over the TheThe former reigning Qatar Superstock 600 WWorldSBKorldSBK and champion Abdulla Al Qubaisi RACE 3: FINAL STANDINGS (TOP 5) MMoto2oto2 ririderde never who booked the fifth place. llookedooked tthreatenedhr Kuwaiti gamer Khalid Al The 'Flying Frenchman' ffromrom tthatha point Maraghi won the third place of Jeremy Parola was sixth in the onwardsonwards anda went the championship, conducted final standings ahead of Al onon to win ththe 15- lap by Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Qubaisi who had to settle at race at hishi ‘home Federation (QMMF) on Play- the seventh spot. ttrack'rack' wwithi a 11 Station 4 platform of MotoGP Ali Ahmed Boushehri, secondsecond lleadea ahead 19 game. Jassim Al Thani and Hamad Al ofof Soud wwho fin- Al Maraghi won QR10,000 Sahouti completed the top 10. ishedished secondsecon behind in prize money while Zaidan The organiseres will himhim fforor theth third bagged QR6,000, Ahmed deliver the trophies and consecutiveconsecutive time. bagged the fifth prize of medals to residences of the Saeed Al Sulaiti TheThe podiumpodiu finish QR5,000. respective winners. Former Inter coach Finland aims to restart action Simoni dies at 81

REUTERS – MILAN and relive Euro 2020 euphoria Former Inter Milan coach Gigi Simoni, winner of the UEFA Cup with a side which included the Brazilian Ronaldo, has died at the age of 81, the AP – GENEVA Russia - to be postponed for one Armenia and Liechtenstein to seal and the league is working on plans club said yesterday. year. qualification with a game to spare. to allow in up to 400 fans. In all, Simoni coached a dozen sides in Italy, A stellar 2019 for soccer in Finland On June 16, instead of preparing “It was the best situation that I Finland has earned a reputation some of them more than once, plus Bulgarian was meant to hit a new peak in the to face the Russians in nearby St. have ever had,” said Marjamaa, who of coping well in the health crisis, side CSKA Sofia in a coaching career that spanned 2020 season. Petersburg, Finnish fans are looking played in the league and Finland’s with a government led since more than 30 years. The national team qualified last to restart the national cup compe- national team 20 years ago. That era December by a 34-year-old woman, He joined Inter before the start of the 1997-98 November for its first major tour- tition stopped in March. had stars like Jari Litmanen, a Cham- Prime Minister Sanna Marin. season at the same time they signed Ronaldo nament and Finland was going to July 1 is the target, pending gov- pions League winner at Ajax, and The nation of 5.5 million people from Barcelona and led them to second place in spend mid-June obsessed by the ernment approval, to start the Liverpool captain Sami Hyypia. had 306 deaths due to COVID-19 up Serie A behind Juventus and to the UEFA Cup European Championship. 12-team Veikkausliiga season. That’s “Now it might be the worst,” the yesterday, according to the count by final, where they beat Lazio 3-0. Another Nordic nation making almost three months after the league official said during a pro- Johns Hopkins University. “I learned more from Ronaldo than he did a long-shot debut dressed in blue league’s planned opening day and longed shutdown that has frozen the The soccer league plans a late from me that season,” said Simoni, who had been and white, Finland was aiming to more than eight months since a industry’s income. finish for such a cold northern ill since suffering a stroke last June. follow Iceland’s inspiring run to the memorable 2019 title was sealed. “In the worst scenario, some of climate, on November 21. However, he was sacked by Inter the following Euro 2016 quarterfinals. The league trophy won by KuPS the clubs will be out of business if Marjamaa said it could revert to November after a poor run of results, on the same “It was really, really positive. The in October was the team from Kuo- this will last a long time.” A typical just a 22-game regular season if day that he was awarded the Panchina d’Oro award country has never been so enthu- pio’s first in 43 years, and the first Veikkausliiga club budget is around fixture dates are lost to more waves for the coach of the year. A midfielder in his playing siastic,” Finnish league CEO Timo decided in a six-team championship €1m ($1.09m). Around half might be of infections. Soccer players have days, he had three stints at Genoa, two at Napoli Marjamaa told The Associated Press group after the regular season. earned on match days from ticket not been prioritized for testing by and Pisa also coached Lazio, among others. of his home country that is world The backdrop was the antici- sales, sponsorship, food and public authorities The delays in play champion in its top sport, ice pation of Finland advancing to Euro merchandise. have one upside for young Finnish hockey. 2020 with group leader Italy by “The income from matches is players, with extra time to impress The coronavirus pandemic has winning its home games in October really, really important,” Marjamaa coach Markku Kanerva for Euro Slovakia may resume forced Euro 2020 - where Finland and November. acknowledged, though he hopes 2020 selection. was set to play against top-ranked Star striker Teemu Pukki scored empty stadiums can be avoided. A “You have one more year to get top league on June 13 Belgium, Denmark and neighbor twice in each 3-0 win against 500-person limit could be allowed, your game up,” Marjamaa said. REUTERS – BRATISLAVA

Slovakia’s top-tier soccer league will resume on FA Cup could June 13 in a shortened format of five rounds of On this day, in 2015 championship and relegation groups if state be played authorities approve proposed conditions, the Union of League Clubs (ULK) said yesterday. after league The competition was halted in early March after 22 games of the regular season when the wrapped up: government banned all sporting events as it aimed to curb the new coronavirus outbreak. Carragher “I would like to thank clubs that they had fans in mind in these difficult times,” the pres- REUTERS – LONDON ident of ULK Ivan Kozak said. The rules for hygiene proposed by the union The final three rounds of the have yet to be approved by the country’s top FA Cup could be played after public health official. All players and selected the Premier League season is team members will be tested, Kozak said. wrapped up, with the Holders Slovan Bratislava have a 10-point remaining seven matches lead over Zilina, which went into liquidation in staged over eight days, former March but will be able to finish the competition Liverpool defender Jamie as its financial situation does not affect its Carragher has said. Barcelona’s Xavi Hernandez applauds the Camp Nou sporting activities. Eight Premier League crowd after a 2-2 draw against Deportivo La Coruna teams have made it to the in his ﬁnal home game in this May 23, 2015 ﬁle photo. quarter-finals, which were The former Spain international won 25 trophies in 17 scheduled to be played on seasons with Barca, making a record 767 appearances. Danish club opens March 21-22 before the season He left his boyhood club to join Al Sadd in 2015 and was suspended due to the remained with the Qatari team for four years before first-ever ‘virtual COVID-19 pandemic. being appointed their head coach in 2019. “I would love to see this grandstand’ for fans season’s FA Cup rescheduled to resemble the final stages of REUTERS – LONDON a World Cup, all the remaining Former Sevilla star raises $1m to build mosque games played after the con- Fans may not be allowed to support their club clusion of the Premier at stadiums when Denmark’s Superliga season League,” Carragher wrote in ANATOLIA – ANKARA Sevilla, I helped the Insha’Allah. We all know have participated to that resumes amid the COVID-19 pandemic but AGF his column in the Telegraph. Muslim community with that one player alone campaign, or those who Aarhus will allow them to be present at Ceres “Quarter-finals could be Spanish football club their temporary musallah. doesn’t win the match. Join have contributed, whether Park to cheer their team on, albeit virtually. played on the Friday and Sat- Sevilla’s veteran forward They now need your help our team we need your it is with donating money Third-placed Aarhus play Randers in the first urday after the last Premier Frederic Kanoute helped to build a masjid in Seville, support,” he added. or just spreading the match on the league’s return on May 28 and the League weekend. Midweek raise $1m to build a mosque a city that hasn’t had the Kanoute said that the message”. club will allow fans to be present via the video semi-finals could then be in Spain’s southern city of masjid for over 700 years,” campaign reached $1m as Kanoute, 42, converted conferencing tool Zoom, with their feed displayed immediately followed by the Seville. Kanoute shared a video on of Wednesday as he thanks to Islam at the age of 20. on several screens that face the pitch. final, the competition con- Starting more than one Twitter. to people who donate Winning two UEFA Cup Fans can apply for free ‘tickets’ and will be cluded in eight days.” year ago, the French-born “I feel honored to be money or just spread this and two UEFA Super Cup allowed to pick a virtual grandstand, with 22 dif- “It is preferable to prior- Malian player raised $1m in part of this project which I message. with Sevilla in 2006 and ferent sections to choose from. itise the Premier League an online mosque cam- believe is worth supporting. “So thank you very 2007, Kanoute became one Zoom has proven to be a popular platform games and ensure they are paign called A place like this will be a much. May Allah reward of the top scorers in the among millions of people who have been in completed as quickly as pos- Kanoute4SevilleMosque. shining example of the life you and elevate you all 2004 Africa Cup of Nations lockdown across the globe due to the novel coro- sible,” Carragher said. “When I played for of Islam in our day those who with his nation. navirus outbreak.