THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020 14

Benoit St. Denis says military background forged him to MMA Smith is ‘strange’ but TDT | Manama

ome may say that the MMA a ‘genius’, says Stokes Straining routine is so intense and demanding that it would be considered military-like, but Ben Stokes considers a “genius” but does not think only a handful of athletes can the Australian’s intense approach will work for him actually say that they have ex- perienced both to make a fair AFP | London comparison. BRAVE Combat Federation’s ngland’s Ben Stokes has Benoit St. Denis is one of these said his Australian rival professional athletes, as the un- Eand IPL teammate Steve defeated Frenchmen served in Smith is a “genius” as well as the special forces of his home “strange” as he hailed the num- country before turning the ber one Test batsman. Mixed into his “He’s still strange to play main mean-of-life. against and he’s still strange to “I’ve always had this fight- Benoit St. Denis makes an entry before a bout (file photo) play with. And the best thing er spirit within me”, St. Denis about it is that he admits it,” states. “From my years in the serving in the military helped Stokes said in a podcast broad- French Special Forces to my him in many ways as a fighter cast by their Indian Premier first pro MMA fight this has but nothing compared to the League side BETTER been what defines me as a per- mindset change he felt. on Tuesday. son and professional athlete. “My mental side was com- “But I feel to be a genius you I’m a fighter, that’s what I am pletely transformed after the have to be a bit strange and England bowler Ben Stokes reacts as Australia batsman Steve Smith picks up and that’s what I do”. time I served”, he guarantees. KNOW you know he’s certainly both,” some runs (file photo) At age 24 and with becoming “My will to win also improved Stokes said from Britain. professional as soon as January a lot while I was part of the “Personally, I could not think when it comes to batting,’” said 2019, St. Denis has a lot more special forces but if I have to At age 24 and with about in the way that he Stokes, who scored 441 runs in experience in the battlefield highlight just one aspect from does when it comes to batting. five matches during the series. becoming profession- Even though he plays than he had so far inside the my previous career that I take al as soon as January I could never be like that. Ob- “You have to be on a different MMA cages. with me to the Mixed Martial viously, he’s on all the time but for Australia, biggest level with something to be like “I’ve spent 5 years with the Arts would be definitely how 2019, St. Denis has a that’s why he averages 60-plus rivals England and those guys when it comes to Special Forces”, Benoit tells. “I strong it made me mentally, lot more experience in in .” Australia, you’ve just batting.” can say I became a man there. how it improved my mental the battlefield than he The 30-year-old Smith av- got to hold your hands The flamboyant all-rounder I was deployed on multiple oc- game”. had so far inside the erages over 62 in 73 Tests and up sometimes to also threw his backing behind casions to warzone operations. A judo practitioner from his MMA cages improves to 65.11 when playing Test cricket, saying the five-day Of course, we can not share infant days, Benoit St. Den - against arch-rivals England. players like that and format is the “pinnacle” for him much but I can say I’ve made is started training Brazilian Smith was the leading scor- go ‘yeah you’re on a and there is no room to tinker quite a few trips, including a Jiu-Jitsu while still serving and In January 2020, less than a er in the 2019 Ashes in Eng - different level when it with it. long operation in Tombouctou, joined Venum Training Camp year after turning pro, St. Denis land, retained by Australia af- comes to batting The International Cricket as soon as he finished his time managed to keep his unblem- ter the series finished 2-2, with Council has floated the idea Mali”. BEN STOKES According to the “God of in the military, under the guid- ished record and clinched his a whopping 774 runs in four of four-day Tests to deal with War”, a nickname that, despite ance of master Daniel Woirin -- first BRAVE Combat Federation matches. the cluttered cricket calendar, coming from a famous videog- the former coach of victory, with a submission win “Even though he plays for got to hold your hands up some- but the plan met with intense ame relates just as fine with the legends such as over Ivica Trušcek at BRAVE CF Australia, biggest rivals Eng- times to players like that and go criticism from many within the athlete’s background, the time and Anderson Silva. 34 in Slovenia. land and Australia, you’ve just ‘yeah you’re on a different level game.

Tokyo games ‘difficult’ if pandemic not contained: Abe Derby thank Rooney after Reuters | Tokyo “must be held in a way that agreeing wage deferral shows the world has won its rime Minister Shinzo Abe battle against the coronavirus AFP | London Psaid on Wednesday that the pandemic,” and cautioned that Tokyo Olympics could not take Japan should “brace for a pro- erby County have thanked place next year unless the coro- tracted battle”. Dcaptain Wayne Rooney navirus pandemic is contained, Tokyo confirmed 47 new for the leading role he played as the city’s governor requested infections on Wednesday, pri- in the club agreeing a wage an extension of Japan’s state of vate broadcaster Nippon Tel- deferral with players to help emergency. evision reported. The national the English Championship The International Olympic tally stands at 13,895 infections, club survive the coronavirus Committee and the Japanese including 413 deaths, national crisis. government last month post- broadcaster NHK said. Manager Phillip Cocu, his poned the Games until July While that tally is still low coaching staff, executives and 2021 because of the coronavi- compared to other nations, non-playing staff have also de- rus crisis. critics say Japan is not doing ferred part of their salary. Derby County’s Wayne Rooney reacts during a match (file photo) With the epidemic’s world- enough testing to reveal the “First team players have vol- wide infection rate climbing scope of a problem that has untarily agreed a substantial been held in the spirit of unity The cauldron is seen on the stage in front of the aircraft transporting the and experts suggesting a vac- driven some hospitals to the deferral that is considerably and co-operation, and every- Olympic flame ahead of the Flame Arrival Ceremony in Tokyo (file photo) cine is a long way off, doubts brink. more than has been report- one has been fully committed have been raised about the impossible to hold the Games in was hoping for a boom in tour- Reflecting that view, Tokyo ed in the media, while Phillip to help and play their part. chances of holding the huge such a complete form unless the ism and consumer spending. governor Yuriko Koike told Cocu and his coaching team, “The club would specifically event next year. coronavirus pandemic is con- Japan gathered some $3 billion reporters that the situation in and Chief Executive Officer like to thank Wayne Rooney, “We’ve been saying the Olym- tained,” Abe said in response to in domestic sponsorship, an the Japanese capital remained Stephen Pearce and his staff the team , and Curtis pic and Paralympic Games must an opposition lawmaker. Olympic record, and spent close “difficult” and called on Abe’s have also agreed significant Davies, the Professional Foot- be held in a complete form, in Abe staked part of his legacy to $13 billion on preparations. cabinet to extend the nation- deferrals,” Derby said in a ballers Association’s club rep- that athletes and spectators can as Japan’s longest-serving pre- The prime minister said on wide emergency, which is due statement. resentative, for their help and all participate safely. It would be mier on holding the Games and Wednesday that the Olympics to end on May 6. “Talks across the club have support.”

PSG will look at playing Champions League games abroad says club president

Reuters | Paris Al-Khelaifi said on Tuesday. France has the world’s season but European govern- agreement, wherever and when- PSG beat German side Borus- French Prime Minister fourth-highest death toll from ing body UEFA is considering ever it is held,” Al-Khelaifi was sia Dortmund 3-2 on aggre - aris St Germain will look at Edouard Philippe earlier an- the virus -- behind the Unit - the possibilities for resuming its quoted as saying by French me- gate to reach the Champions Pplaying Champions League nounced that professional soc- ed States, Italy and Spain Champions League and Europa dia. League quarter-finals before home matches in another coun- cer, rugby and other league -- with nearly 23,300 deaths League competitions. “If it is not possible to play in the pandemic forced the sus- try after the French government sports would not be allowed to reported. “We respect of course the France we will play our matches pension of the season -- with on Tuesday decided to end the return before September due to The French football league French government decision. abroad, subject to the best con- the second leg in Paris having 2019-20 domestic season, the the COVID-19 pandemic that has is expected to decide in May We plan on competing in the ditions for our players and the been played without fans in the Ligue 1 club’s president Nasser hit the country hard. exactly how to end the Ligue 1 Champions League with UEFA safety of all our staff.” stadium.

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