Sport FRIday 6 August 2021 James Anderson drags England back into contest in wet Nottingham It's always good to get a world class player out. You want to challenge yourself against the best and he certainly is one of the bests.

James Anderson Sport | 11 TOKYO Olympics: Football BRONZE MEDAL MATCHES: (WOMEN) USA beat Australia 4-3; (Today - MEN) Mexico vs Japan

Fares eyes Paris gold after Tokyo triumph

THE PENINSULA – DOHA After sealing gold, Fares attempted a world record clean and jerk lift of After making his debut at the Rio My preparations started for Tokyo right 232kg but did not succeed. However, Olympics 2016 as a teenager, weight- after my participation at Rio Olympics he is eyeing to set the record in future lifting star Fares Ibrahim made a as the youngest competitor ended. I events. promise to the Qatar Olympic “Between each attempt there is a Committee (QOC) President H E Sheikh promised His Excellency Sheikh Joaan time of two minutes which is a very Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani that he will at the time that I will win a gold medal. short break. My previous lift was 225kg win a gold medal at Tokyo Games. Five Since then we were working tirelessly and that was an Olympic record. I years on, the 23-year-old has etched to achieve this accolade: Fares needed four to five minutes and if we his name in the history books by had that time I would have lifted 232kg,” becoming the first ever gold medallist he said. for Qatar in . “I am looking forward to break the “My preparations started for Tokyo throughout the Qatar led by the Amir world record as soon as possible." right after my participation at Rio H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al He said the Tokyo field was tough Olympics as the youngest competitor Thani, who also gave a congratulatory but preparations made the gold medal ended. I promised His Excellency call to the Qatari star. possible. Sheikh Joaan at the time that I will win “I did not sleep for three days “We were very confident of winning a gold medal. Since then we were because of the excitement and joy after because we covered all aspects during working tirelessly to achieve this winning gold medal for Qatar. I will our preparations. But like in other accolade,” Fares told a media dele- remain proud for the rest of my life to sports, surprises are possible in weight- gation in Tokyo yesterday. make the Qatari people happy. His lifting. For example we were not “This year I hardly took 10 days off Highness the Amir’s call was a big expecting a competition from Vene- as it was all about hours of training and honour for me and it has motivated to zuela’s Keydomar Vallenilla Sanchez, preparations with a gold medal in prepare for Paris 2024. I will do my who ended up as silver medallist,” he Qatar Olympic Committee President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani poses Tokyo in our sights. Thanks to Allah best to win second gold medal for added. for a photograph with Fares Ibrahim after the Qatari weightlifter won the that I was able to achieve the task,” he Qatar,” he added. Fares, who loves equestrian besides country's first ever Olympic gold medal. added. The weightlifter said support from weightlifting, said before events he read Fares won the 96kg category gold, the QOC President and his family par- books and during breaks in competi- setting two Olympic records including ticularly his father Ibrahim, a former supportive, especially my father Excellency Sheikh Joaan’s continuous tions he loves to spend his time on Play- a total of 402kg and clean and jerk lift Olympian, was key to his success in deserves most of the credit of what I’ve support and his presence during the Station. He said he loves steak before of 225kg on Saturday. The 23-year- Tokyo. achieved. He always supports me no competition lifted my moral,” he adding fish is the main meal during old’s feat was followed by celebration “My parents have been very matter what I am going through. His added. training camps and before the events. Cherif and Tijan target bronze after defeat in semi M E D A L S

Cherif Younousse THE PENINSULA – Tokyo 1 China 34 24 16 74 of Qatar shoots to 2 USA 29 35 27 91 score against the Qatar’s Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan suffered a straight 3 Japan 22 10 14 46 Russian Olympic set defeat at the hands of the Russian Olympic Committee’s 4 Australia 17 5 19 41 Viacheslav Krasilnikov and Oleg Stoyanovskiy in the semi- Committee team as 5 ROC 16 22 20 58 Oleg Stoyanovskiy finals of Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games yesterday. 6 Great Britain 16 18 17 5 tries to block his The first set of the semi-final duel between the teams of effort during their Qatar and the ROC was really tight. Cherif and Ahmed 7 Germany 9 9 16 34 semi-final match managed to recover from a three-point deficit and work out 8 France 7 11 9 27 played in Tokyo, a two-point lead of their own, but, in the meantime, Krasil- 9 Italy 7 10 18 35 nikov and Stoyanovskiy stayed more focused to grab a narrow yesterday. 10 Netherlands 7 9 10 26 edge. After 11-11 in the second set, the Europeans took the lead 11 7 6 6 19 for good. They kept the pressure on to increase the gap until 12 South Korea 6 4 9 19 Stoyanovskiy closed it off at 2-0 (21-19, 21-17) with a monster 13 Hungary 5 7 3 15 block. 14 Canada 5 5 8 18 In the other semi-finals match, Anders Mol and Christian SELECTED Sorum of Norway defeated Latvia’s Martins Plavins and Edgars Tocs 2-0 (21-15, 21-16). 18 Spain 3 4 5 12 The Qatari duo will have their sight now set on the bronze 18 Switzerland 3 4 5 12 medal as they will take on Plavins and Tocs in third-place 22 Jamaica 3 1 3 7 match tomorrow. 34 Qatar 2 0 0 2 The two teams have met three times so far with Cherif 39 Kenya 1 2 2 5 and Tijan having a 2-1 lead. The Qatari pair won the last match 41 South Africa 1 2 0 3 between the two teams in 2019 FIVB Gstaad Major 26-24 21-19. 43 Austria 1 1 5 7 MotoGP great Rossi to Barca legend Messi retire at end of season to leave club due to

Reuters – Spielberg know that next year I will not 'financial obstacles' race with the motorcycle. Valentino Rossi (pictured), one Rossi is riding for the REUTERS – MADRID of motorcycling’s greatest and Malaysia-based Petronas most charismatic champions, Yamaha team this season but Argentina striker Lionel Messi (pictured) will leave Barcelona announced yesterday his his form has faded, the veteran despite both parties having reached an agreement over a new retirement from MotoGP at the languishing 19th in the cham- contract, the La Liga club said yesterday, citing economic and struc- end of the 2021 season after a pionship with a best finish of tural obstacles to the renewal of deal. quarter of a century in grand only 10th from nine races. “Despite FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi having prix racing. The only rider to have reached an agreement and the clear intention of The 42-year-old Italian, started 400 or more races, both parties to sign a new contract today, this who races with the number 46, Rossi has 89 wins from the top cannot happen because of financial and struc- is a nine times world champion category and 26 others from tural obstacles (Spanish La Liga regulations),” with seven of his titles won in the junior 125cc and 250cc Barca said in a statement. “As a result of this sit- the top category. categories. uation, Messi shall not be staying on at FC Bar- “I decided to stop at the end celona. Both parties deeply regret that the of the season,” he told a spe- wishes of the player and the club will ulti- cially arranged news con- Al Shaqab Racing’s Shaikha mately not be fulfilled." ference ahead of this Messi was free to negotiate a transfer weekend’s Styrian Grand impresses on debut at Deauville with other clubs after his deal ran out at the Prix at Austria’s Red Bull end of June, but Barcelona had always main- Ring. Jockey Hugo Besnier guiding Al Shaqab Racing-owned Shaikha tained he wanted to stay with the club. “Unfortunately this will to victory in the Prix Equidia – Prix de Lisieux at Deauville, The 34-year-old was reported to sign be the last half season as a France yesterday. Trained by Andre Fabre, Shaikha, who had a new five-year deal. Messi, who MotoGP rider. It’s difficult, been supplemented for yesterday's race, showed ultimate joined Barca’s youth set up aged 13, it’s a very sad moment professionalism throughout the 1,200m contest and won in is the club’s all-time top scorer and because it’s difficult impressive fashion Pic: Scoopdyga appearance maker with 672 goals to say and to in 778 games in all competitions. Sport FRIday 6 August 2021 11

Belgium claim first gold after win over Australia, India take bronze

REUTERS — TOKYO “We were really focused INDIA’S BRONZE Belgium players celebrate after receiving their gold medals. and then I did the job at the India forward Simranjeet Belgium won their first Olympic end,” Vanasch told reporters. Singh scored twice, including men’s hockey title, beating “I’m really happy. I think all the winner. Australia 3-2 in a penalty of the Belgian people are proud “It’s a dream come true,” shootout after the final finished today of the Belgium national Simranjeet said. “We’ve made in a 1-1 draw yesterday. team.” 1.3 billion Indians proud by fin- The sides were locked in a Australia, who won the ishing on the podium.” close fight through much of the silver medal, claimed their last The high-scoring match was match, with Belgium forward Olympic title in 2004. not easy for eight-time Olympic Florent van Aubel giving the “It’s a tough way to lose the champions India. Germany took Red Lions the lead two minutes gold medal,” Australia’s goalie an early lead through a second- into the second half. Andrew Charter said. minute goal by Timur Oruz, and Australia equalised thanks “We didn’t want to go to posed a threat to India in the to a goal by Tom Wickham, shootouts. We had the lion’s first quarter. sending the match to the share (of the game) at the end. After Simranjeet equalised shootout, in which Belgian If you let it go to shootouts it can with a backhand shot, Germany goalie Vincent Vanasch saved be a bit of a coin toss kept their cool, scoring twice to three attempts from the Kooka- sometimes.” take a 3-1 lead in the second burras, including a retake from India took the bronze earlier quarter. Jake Whetton following a video yesterday after a thrilling 5-4 But India pulled level late in referral. victory over Germany, giving that quarter thanks to goals by Rupinder Pal Singh notched in Germany got one goal back outfield player but they could But Vanasch saved Whet- the country its first Olympic Hardik Singh and Harmanpreet a penalty stroke and Simranjeet and tried to force the equaliser, not beat India goalie Sreejesh ton’s second try, winning medal in the sport since the Singh, making it 3-3 at halftime. scored the winner not long into even taking out their goal- Parattu Raveendran who made Belgium the title. 1980 Moscow Games. India took a 5-3 lead after the second half. keeper to bring in an extra nine saves in the match. Durant leads Crouser sets record as US men USA into gold fail to make 4x100m relay final medal game against France REUTERS — TOKYO whose event was shifted to Gold medallist, Ryan Crouser of the Sapporo in the north to beat United States celebrates on the podium. US men continued to splutter the heat. REUTERS – SAITAMA on the athletics track at the Men in the 20km race Tokyo Olympics yesterday, walk poured water over their Kevin Durant and Team USA trounced while kayaker Lisa steaming bodies and also Australia yesterday in the men’s basketball Carrington became New gulped it down as tempera- semi-finals and will play for their fourth Zealand’s most decorated tures hit 33 degrees Celsius consecutive Olympic gold medal when they Olympian and American (91 Fahrenheit). take on France in the final. Ryan Crouser bettered his “We came up here The Americans overcame an early own shot put world record because we thought it would deficit and ran away with the game for a three times. be cool. It’s not - it’s not much 97-78 rout, while France needed a blocked Jamaica’s Hansle cooler than Tokyo,” said shot in the final second to edge Slovenia. Parchment stunned viewers American Tricia Adkins who Today's gold-medal matchup gives the and himself with an upset win came to the northern capital NBA star-filled squad a chance to avenge over the overwhelming Sapporo to watch the race. its lone loss in these Games. favourite, Grant Holloway Just a degree cooler in Team USA’s semi-final was also a from the United States, in the Tokyo, skateboarding con- measure of revenge against a team that 110 metres hurdles. tinued to wow at its maiden had upset them at an exhibition game in The Americans individ- Games, with skaters sweating Las Vegas last month. ually remain bereft of a through their final runs, The Americans, champions at the pre- running gold - a prize they vious three Games, got off to a rocky start, have won every time they shooting poorly and racking up fouls that have entered since the inau- took the other semi. In the He donned a cowboy hat Lisa Carrington of New let Australia build a 15-point lead in the gural 1896 Games. 110m hurdles, world afterwards and celebrated Zealand celebrates second quarter. A bedraggled U.S. 4x100 champion Holloway looked with his countryman and after winning canoe The United States rallied in the second metres performance added set to win until Parchment silver medallist Joe Kovacs, sprint women’s K1 half, opening with 12 unanswered points. to the American woes. surged past him to add a draped in the Stars and 500m gold medal at A barrage of three-pointers and dunks Elsewhere in the Games, gold medal to his Stripes. Crouser, from a Sea Forest Waterway. widened the gap to 19 points by the final which end on Sunday, skate- Olympic bronze in one of family of throwers, held up a buzzer. boarders soared in the Tokyo the biggest athletics shocks card reading: “Grandpa, we “I’ve got to give credit to Australia, they heat, open-water swimmers of the Games. did it, 2020 Olympic came out and hit us with a nice haymaker,” had to navigate elbows as “The greatest feeling, the champion”. said Durant, who in these Games surpassed well as fish, and a Japanese greatest feeling, I’ve worked At the Sea Forest Carmelo Anthony as Team USA’s highest mayor grossed out the nation so hard,” the Jamaican said. Waterway in Tokyo Bay, Car- career Olympic scorer. and prompted a rebuke from “It’s unbelievable that I rington’s gold in the women’s The Americans have historically been automaker Toyota for biting caught this guy.” kayak single 500m brought the team to beat, with 15 men’s basketball a softball player’s gold medal. Sydney McLaughlin her overall medals haul at the gold medals since 1936. US men, who once dom- notched a huge world record Olympics to six, including a a cut and losing his goggles. before taking selfies. Aus- But the team in Tokyo has proven to inated the 4x100m, failed to in the women’s 400m bronze in 2016. Dutch rider Shanne tralian Keegan Palmer glided be vulnerable, dropping two-straight exhi- qualify for the final despite hurdles, besting fellow She is now New Zealand’s Braspennincx came back six to gold at Ariake Urban Sports bition games in July and suffering their first having two individual 100m A m e r i c a n D a l i l a h most successful Olympian. years after a heart attack to Park in what looked an Olympic defeat since 2004 against France finalists on the team. A ragged Muhammad as the super-fast Fellow kayakers Ian Fer- snatch a surprise gold medal effortlessly smooth ride earlier in the event. run, with poor changeovers track and new shoe tech- guson and Paul MacDonald, in the women’s keirin. packed with tricks in the But it all came together in the semi- and a shocking second nology continue to make a and equestrian athlete Mark “A heart attack isn’t like men’s park event. Brazil’s finals, Durant leading the way with 23 handover, dragged them to a mockery of historical Todd each have five medals. something you have when Pedro Barros took silver for points. Three of his team-mates also scored desultory sixth in their comparisons. “It’s something I never you are an athlete,” said his lightning fast run through in double figures. semi-final. ‘THOUGHT MY EYE HAD thought I’d be able to do,” she Braspennincx, 30, who the concrete bowl. Slovenia’s Luka Doncic of the NBA’s Carl Lewis, the superstar FALLEN OUT’ said. “It’s amazing.” required surgery to widen an Less hip, Nagoya Mayor Dallas Mavericks had a triple double - 16 sprinter of the 1980s and Crouser, wearing shades At nearby Odaiba Marine artery that had become Takashi Kawamura suffered points, 18 assists and 10 rebounds - but ‘90s, called his compatriots’ and a hat with the US flag on Park, however, the waters totally blocked and also had an online backlash for having came up just short in a nail biter against performance “a total embar- it, broke his own record in the were more turbulent. a stent fitted. feted softball pitcher Miu France. With time running out, France’s rassment, and completely shot put three times - only the Marathon swimmer ‘GERM MEDAL’ Goto the day before by Nicolas Batum batted away a layup from unacceptable”. third time that has happened Hector Thomas Cheal Pardoe Japan’s punishing pulling down his mask and Slovenia’s Klemen Prepelic that could have China were the surprise - to grab gold with a mark of of Britain got elbowed in the summer continued, offering putting her gold medal put them ahead and Rudy Gobert grabbed heat winners, while Jamaica 23.30 metres. eye on the last lap, sustaining no respite to race walkers between his teeth. the ball to secure a 90-89 win.

James New Zealand to tour Anderson celebrates Anderson drags England back Pakistan after 18 years after REUTERS — LAHORE taking top-ranked side like New the into contest in wet Nottingham Zealand will be a perfect wicket REUTERS – NOTTINGHAM New Zealand will visit start to a mouth-watering of India’s loss, India had a near-perfect Rahane's luck ran out soon when Pakistan in September for and highly exciting home Virat morning session at Trent Bridge. he sensed a single even when Rahul the first time in 18 years season of red and white- Kohli. Seamer James Anderson won the The partnership between their had merely defended a Robinson to play three one-day ball cricket,” PCB chief latest round of his duel with India openers was inching towards the delivery and was beaten by Jonny internationals and five executive Wasim Khan captain Virat Kohli and dragged century mark when Ollie Robinson Bairstow’s direct throw while Twenty20 matches in said in a statement. England back into the contest on a bounced out Rohit Sharma for 36 returning to the non-striker’s end. Rawalpindi and Lahore, New Zealand, who rain-marred second day of the with the final delivery before Cruising at 97 for no loss, India the Pakistan Cricket last toured Pakistan in opening Test yesterday. lunch. slumped to 112-4. Board (PCB) said late 2003, finished Anderson struck twice in two Anderson returned from the After the rain had forced an yesterday. runners-up in the 2019 balls to inject fresh excitement into break to dismiss the dour early tea, two attempts were Top teams have 50-overs World Cup and the match but intermittent rain Cheteshwar Pujara and Kohli in suc- made to get on with the match avoided touring Pakistan are also the reigning played spoilsport, washing away cessive deliveries with Jos Buttler but a total of three balls could be citing security concerns world test champions. nearly the entire final session. taking both the catches behind the bowled before the umpires called after the 2009 attack on Pakistan will also host Opener KL Rahul was batting stumps. it a day. a bus carrying Sri Lanka England and West Indies on 57, while Rishabh Pant was on Pujara made four and Kohli fell India 125 for 4 (Rahul 57n.o,, cricketers to the Gaddafi later this year, while Aus- seven with India still 58 behind Eng- for a golden duck, the India captain Anderson 2-15) trail England 183 Stadium in Lahore. tralia are scheduled to land’s first innings total of 183. looking crestfallen after being (Root 64, Bumrah 4-46, Shami “Series against a visit early next year. Earlier, resuming on 21 for no bested by his nemesis. Ajinkya 3-28) by 58 runs