18 Established 1961 Sports Thursday, June 25, 2020

Photo of the Day MLB season to start in July: Commissioner

LOS ANGELES: The 2020 Major League Baseball season is set to start in July, commissioner Rob Man- fred said Tuesday, after players signed off on health protocols and agreed to report to training. The announcement that the season will begin July 23 or 24 comes after weeks of wrangling between owners and players over a framework for a season shortened by the coronavirus pandemic. “Major League Baseball is thrilled to announce that the 2020 season is on the horizon,” Manfred said in a statement. “We have provided the Players Association with a schedule to play 60 games and are excited to provide our great fans with baseball again soon.” Manfred’s comments came after the Major League Baseball Players Association said its members would report to training camps on July 1. “All remaining issues have been resolved and play- ers are reporting to training camps,” the union said. MLB and the MLBPA had been at loggerheads over how to salvage a season that should have begun on March 26. The league proposed a succession of deals that would have seen the players receive only a percent- age of their salaries, prorated by number of games played. Players pushed back against the league proposals, Mohammed Balooshi (ARE) races during stage 4 of Rally Dakar 2020 from Neom to Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia.. — Photo taken from www.redbullcontentpool.com noting that they had already agreed to a pay cut in March and should not be required to accept a further reduction in salary. — AFP Djokovic’s charity event exposes risks faced by professional athletes Kyrgios hits out at Djokovic ‘stupidity’

BELGRADE: aimed to best of intentions but it turns out it was a ing bodies are expected to have strict pro- help people affected by the COVID-19 big mistake.” tocols is place. pandemic with his charity tournament but While the players hugged at the net, “We have to be careful because we also with a number of players testing positive played basketball, posed for pictures and have to be conscious that even with ex- for the virus after attending the event, it attended news conferences together, treme measures, you could actually end up could imperil the resumption of profes- Djokovic also organised nights out in Bel- having some players testing positive,” ATP sional tennis. grade and pictures and videos of him danc- chairman Andrea Gaudenzi told the New The men’s world number one was the ing with the players made it to social media. York Times. fourth player to contract the virus after The players, however, did not break any Bulgarian , Croatia’s Borna government protocols in Serbia or Croatia BUBBLE Coric and previously tested with both countries easing lockdown During the US Open, players and guests positive after playing in the Adria Tour must wear masks when onsite unless event in the Balkan region. practising or competing and testing The tournament was among many will be conducted before travelling to events that have recently been held the United States and at least once while professional tennis remains sus- per week along with daily tempera- pended due to the pandemic. It was a ture checks. But there was one key difference Top players, including Djokovic, about Djokovic’s event. While the big mistake have in recent times expressed their other tournaments were contested displeasure at the stringent meas- without any fans in attendance and ures, something that the ATP and the : Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic (L) talks to his wife Jelena during a match those present adhered to social dis- WTA are also expected to incorpo- at the Adria Tour, Novak Djokovic’s Balkans charity tennis tournament in Belgrade. —AFP tancing rules, Djokovic’s Adria Tour rate at their tournaments. attracted a capacity crowd in the Ser- Gaudenzi said he hoped players bian capital, where players interacted, em- measures weeks before the event. will be more receptive to restrictions fol- themselves at a behaviour where their be- ing to cope and live with,” Djokovic, a 17- braced and partied like they did in But it highlighted the risks of athletes lowing the Adria Tour fiasco. haviour is risky, they’re really taking on a times Grand Slam singles champion, said. pre-COVID-19 days. from different countries being in close Stacey Allaster, the new US Open tour- responsibility of saying what I’m doing is “I am hoping things will ease with time “Djokovic shot himself in the foot by or- proximity to one another, which could be a nament director, said organisers had to not that important to my fellow players.” so we can all resume lives the way they ganising the Adria Tour,” Radmilo Ar- concern for the men’s ATP and women’s take a “leap of faith” regarding players’ Armenulic, however, believes it will take were. “I am so deeply sorry our tournament menulic, a former Yugoslavia Davis Cup WTA Tour when they resume the profes- willingness to follow the protocols. “If you the sport at least a year to go back to has caused harm. We were wrong and it was coach, told Reuters by phone. sional circuit in August after five months. think about it, we really designed this tour- where it was before the pandemic and pro- too soon.” Australian tennis star Nick Kyr- “The organisation of the Belgrade leg The United States Tennis Association nament around a bubble,” said Brian Hain- fessional circuit should not resume before gios has taken aim at Novak Djokovic’s “stu- was catastrophic, the stands were so full (USTA) has also announced plans for the line, the chief medical officer for the NCAA. next year’s Australian Open. pidity” after the world number one that fans were virtually sitting on top of US Open Grand Slam to be held as sched- “If someone becomes infected, that’s a “Unfortunately, this virus is still present, contracted coronavirus at an exhibition ten- each other. He staged this event with the uled from Aug. 31 in New York and govern- possibility, if they go out and they put and it is a new reality that we are still learn- nis tournament in the Balkans. —Agencies

“The legacy is beyond stadia Japan 2019 left facelifts, gym equipment and higher Fahad Al Musallam participation — the legacy for World ‘huge legacy’, Rugby is that it also created the third- discusses quads biggest broadcast market,” he said. “That is a legacy for all rugby be- says World cause our revenues get pushed around KUWAIT: Kuwait’s quad athlete and mo- 120 unions.” tocross champion Fahad Al Musallam has Rugby CEO Gosper said the rugby world had recently been interviewed on the sport. traditionally been reliant on France and Speaking enthusiastically, he shared his Britain and the challenge now was to professional opinion to help those inter- LONDON: The 2019 Rugby World sustain a third sizeable market. ested in also taking the dive into this unique Cup has left a “huge legacy” in Japan “That is the reason we went to Japan all-terrain vehicle. and its success should embolden coun- and Asia, was to create new markets The now ubiquitous 4-wheel vehicle that tries such as the United States to bid for and participation,” he said. seats up to two people can be seen on future events, says World Rugby CEO “It gives us a bigger commercial beachside paths all across the GCC, where Brett Gosper. footprint to put back into other areas of their universal utility is of advantage across The 61-year-old Australian spoke to the world.” dunes and on the grounds of family beach AFP as audit giant EY released its re- houses. port, “The economic impact of Rugby ‘RISKING THEIR LIVES?’ Fahad Al Musallam encourages those World Cup 2019”. Gosper believes the success of Japan who have an interest and are still at a young EY estimated that 46,000 jobs were 2019 will give World Rugby chiefs con- age to begin with a 50cc engine. This will created or sustained for the tournament fidence that rugby-playing nations with give the basics without any extraneous bells 50cc and 90cc quads, and beginning with engine and a lower seated position, so you’ll and £4.3 billion ($5.4 billion) — a a similar profile can host the tourna- and whistles. the 450cc variety. He is secure in his trust be extremely comfortable on it. Plus the record for a Rugby World Cup — was ment. USA Rugby filed for bankruptcy “From there you should upgrade to a in suggesting Yamaha as a maker of quads lower center of gravity ensures a firmer generated in economic output. earlier this year but Gosper said that did 90cc.” Said Al Musallam. “Something along in good standing. As such he has stated that handling grip.” Gosper said “Japan 2019 was one of not rule the United States out of bidding the lines of a Yamaha Raptor 90, for exam- the Yamaha YFZ450R as a contender to But Fahad Al Musallam also made sure to the greatest, maybe the greatest, of all for the 2027 or 2031 tournaments. ple, will expand your knowledge base and consider when researching suitable quads address the needs of casual enthusiasts. World Cups” and exceeded all expec- “I am sure that their time will come,” prepare you for the upscale of even higher for enthusiasts and adrenaline seekers alike. These are people who enjoy quads for the tations. “For Japan there is a huge he said. “The bankruptcy does make it cc quads.” The advantage of the Yamaha YFZ450R sake of the ride, and for whom driving for legacy,” he said via video call. “There slightly more complex but everything is He stressed the importance of gradually is its large body, capable of carrying equip- personal satisfaction was the main goal. was an uptick in participation at more complex in the world now in both upgrading as the quad rider had the current ment with no added stress to its body and “You can’t go wrong trying out the Yamaha schools, younger audiences on social the short term and medium. bike down to pat. Furthermore, Al Musallam engine, and its already proven reliability Grizzly 700. Take it anywhere. Do anything media and, on TV, 58 million watched “We are looking at 2027 and 2031 went on discussing the reasons behind this over the years. with it and just enjoy the ride.” He said. the Scotland v Japan game. (both bids will run at the same time). method as a logical progression and rela- For any person thinking of practicing When it came to the topic of safety, “It shows it was a major national “To put on a Rugby World Cup it tionship between the driver and the motor daily in the pursuit of professional status, he Fahad had a few important words to say on ubiquitous event for all age groups.” requires financial effort beyond any vehicle, wherein one continues to build on also states that the Yamaha Raptor 700R is the subject. “Always wear full gear and a Gosper said the tournament had one union. what they have learned through continuous an equally superb option to the YFZ450R. helmet. It makes all the difference if an un- attracted swathes of new players to “England and France have economic expansion of their understanding and expe- “These two models will definitely help expected tumble should ever happen.” He the sport in Asia and also created a muscle from their governments and in rience until they finally reached the level of you hone your skills as a hobbyist quad also said to consider the corner turn, as new source of income alongside tra- the USA case it would be more private expert. rider.” He said. “The main difference be- oversteering was the most common error ditional markets. concerns. — AFP For adults, he recommends skipping the tween the two is that 700R has a massive that quad users made.