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US Open: Tiger, Thiem apologises Koepka, McIlroy for playing in among golfers to get Djokovic's exemption tennis event FRIDAY 26 JUNE 2020 First title for Reds in 30 years as Chelsea down City Australia and New Zealand Liverpool win Premier League named hosts for 2023 Women’s crown with 7 games to spare World Cup

LAUSANNE REUTERS — LONDON REUTERS — Flags, scarves and cutout Liverpool’s 30-year English photos of Liverpool players, Australia and New Zealand were title drought ended yesterday Liverpool manager Juergen handed the right to host the 2023 as they were confirmed as Klopp and the Premier Women’s World Cup soccer tour- Premier League champions League trophy are seen nament by a comfortable margin after courtesy of second-placed outside the house of a vote by the FIFA Council yesterday. Manchester City’s 2-1 loss at Liverpool fan Emily Farley, Their joint proposal beat a rival Chelsea. yesterday. bid from Colombia to host the tour- The result at Stamford nament which is being expanded to Bridge means Liverpool have 32 teams. an unassailable 23-point lead Japan, who had also put forward over City with seven games a bid to stage the event, pulled out on left. Monday after they were ranked below Liverpool were last cham- the joint bid by world governing body pions of England when they FIFA’s evaluation report. won the old First Division title The report highlighted the infra- in 1989-90 after which a structure and organisational advan- decline in fortunes saw Man- tages of the Australia/New Zealand chester United and Arsenal, bid which FIFA believed would make then Chelsea and Manchester for a commercially successful City seize power. tournament. Manager Juergen Klopp “The FIFA Women’s World Cup has rekindled the Anfield 2023 in Australia and New Zealand flame though and delivered will be ground-breaking in many the club’s 19th title, one ways,” said a delighted Chris Nikou, behind arch-rivals United’s president of Football Federation Aus- record of 20, after finishing tralia (FFA). runners-up to City in a “Not only will it be the first ever thrilling title race last season. Liverpool’s coronation, they United (2000-01) and Man- CHAMPIONS SINCE 2010 matching Manchester City’s co-confederation hosted FIFA World Despite the COVID-19 have won the title with a chester City (2017-18), who record, before their hopes of Cup and the first ever FIFA Women’s pandemic forcing a three- record seven games to spare. sealed their respective titles 2010_Chelsea an unbeaten season were World Cup in the Asia-Pacific region, month suspension of the They eclipsed the record with five games left. 2011_Manchester United dashed by a 3-0 defeat at but we will unlock the huge potential season and delaying jointly held by Manchester Had it not been for the 2012_Manchester City Watford, a result that was for growth in women’s football in the unprecedented stoppage Liv- 2013_Manchester United merely a blip. Leading the Asia-Pacific region.” erpool were on course to 2014_Manchester City charge has been Mohamed There had been media reports that smash the record for the ear- 2015_Chelsea Salah, the Egyptian forward the vote could be tight with UEFA’s liest league title. Instead they 2016_Leicester who is the first Liverpool European representatives backing are now the first team to lift 2017_Chelsea player to score 20 goals in all Colombia but in the end the margin the coveted trophy as late as 2018_Manchester City competitions in three consec- of victory was wide with Australia and

June. 2019_Manchester City utive seasons since Michael New Zealand gaining 22 votes to

Liverpool ended last Owen at the start of the Colombia’s 13. 2020_Liverpool season with nine consecutive millennium. The 2019 World Cup in France league wins and, after City were the first team to was hailed as a watershed for global claiming the Champions have set a record-breaking breach the 100-point barrier interest in the women’s game and Chelsea’s League, began the new cam- pace and were 25 points clear in the Premier League two FIFA President Gianni Infantino per- players paign in relentless fashion to in February -- the biggest lead seasons ago but Liverpool are sonally drove the campaign to celebrate their leave all of their rivals trailing in Premier League history. on course to shatter that increase the field to 32 teams from 24 scoring goal, in their wake. When they beat West Ham mark, as well as records for for 2023. yesterday. With 28 wins and just one United that month it was their most points at home (55) and Infantino had also expressed a defeat in 31 games, Liverpool 18th successive top-flight win, most wins in a season (32). preference for the successful Aus- tralia/New Zealand bid during the FIFA Council meeting. Colombia, who were hoping to AFC Cup: Qatar U-19 QSL clubs continue preparations for restart become the first South American nation to hold the tournament, were squad's training disappointed at the decision but vowed to keep fighting to host a major FIFA event. camp begins today “We wanted the seat of the Women’s World Cup 2023 for THE PENINSULA — DOHA Colombia and we gave everything to get it,” the country’s sports Ministry The Qatar U-19 squad will launch its prepar- wrote on twitter. atory camp for the AFC U-19 Cup today, Qatar “We will work more strongly to Football Association (QFA) announced bring another World Cup to Colombia. yesterday. With the efforts of all, women’s soccer The players and the backroom staff with the (here)...will keep growing.” squad will undergo medical protocols before Infantino said the women’s tour- starting the training sessions which will end on nament should head to South America July 27. soon and suggested that increasing The squad is preparing to take part in the the regularity of the tournament to AFC U-19 Cup which will be held in Uzbekistan every two years, instead of a four- from October 14 to 31. year gap, was worth considering. Qatar are in Group D alongside Tajikistan, “It is something we will look at,” Malaysia and Yemen. he told reporters after praising the A total of 16 teams will feature in the tour- bid process’s transparency. nament with the top two in each group of four FIFA published details of their bid reaching the quarter-finals. evaluation process and released all The top four teams in the tournament will the individual votes of members of represent Asian at the FIFA U-20 World Cup to the FIFA Council, in contrast to the be held in Indonesia next year. secrecy of some of the hosting votes TOP: Al Sadd players take in the past. QATAR U-19 SQUAD part in team's training session as the reigning Joint bid beats rival proposal Qatar Squad: Mustafa Tariq Mashaal, Karim Haider, Youssef Abdullah champions continue to from Colombia. FIFA Council Blida, Abdullah Badr Al Yazidi, Talal Ibrahim Faraj, Faisal Muhammad, prepare for QNB Stars votes 22-13 for Australia-New Abdul Rahman Masoud Al-Nuaimi (Al Sadd), Abdul Rahman Al Has- League (QSL) restart. The san Al Abdul Rahman, Mustafa Essam Shawqi, Muhammad Mansour QSL will resume on July 24, Zealand. Musa, Saif Al Din Hassan, Shalban Al Din, Abdullah Nasser, Abdullah with Al Sadd meeting Al It will be the first women’s Sir Al Khatem (Al Gharafa). Muhammad Imad Ayyash, Diab Haroun Khor the same day. RIGHT: World Cup to be held in the Taha, Jassim Muhammad Al Muhairi, Lutfi Madjer, Ali Muhammad Al Rayyan player during a Asia-Pacific region. (Al-Duhail), Jassem Jaber Abdul Salam, Abdullah Issa Al Sulaiti, Abdul team's training session. Al Rahman Bilal Al Sadiq, Faisal Yusef Al Obaidli (Al Arabi), Mustafa Es- Rayyan will take on Qatar Infantino had also expressed a sam Abu Ali, Al Makki Mohsen and Nayef Abdul Rahim Al Hadrami (Al SC on July 24, which will preference for the successful Rayyan). Osama Abdul Karim Al-Tairi, Ali Nasser Al-Marri, Muhammad be the first game at the Australia/New Zealand bid Abdul-Fattah Seraj (Muaither), Hadi Ali and Abdullah Mahmoud brand new Education City during the FIFA Council

Stadium, a FIFA World Cup

Awad (Al-Sailiya), Muhammad Abdul-Wahhab (Al-Khor) and Jassem meeting. Mohammed Al-Sharshni (Al-Ahli). 2022 venue. FRIDAY 26 JUNE 2020 SPORT 05

Al Thumama Stadium: A sign of culture, history and NBA legend Carter symbolism of Qatar and the region announces retirement after 22 seasons AFP — NEW YORK

Eight-time NBA All-Star Vince Carter (pictured) announced his retirement yesterday after a 22-season career that included 2000 Sydney Olympic gold and spectacular slam dunks during his “Vinsanity” heyday. Carter, who turned 43 in January, came off the bench for the Atlanta Hawks this past season and played his final NBA game on March 11, the same night 1999 NBA Rookie of the Year, his the league shut down after Utah’s high-leaping acrobatics bringing Rudy Gobert tested positive for a 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest COVID-19. title and the nickname “Air “I’m officially done playing Canada.” professional basketball,” Carter Carter also played for the said on his podcast “Winging It.” New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic, The Hawks went 20-47 Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, before the NBA went on hiatus Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento and were not among the 22 clubs Kings and Atlanta as a shooting who qualified to compete in the guard and small forward. NBA restart bubble starting in In 1,541 regular-season July at Orlando, ending their games, Carter averaged 17.2 A view of Al Thumama Stadium, a football venue that reflects the culture and history of those living in Qatar and the region. This season and Carter’s career. points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists 40,000-seat venue will host FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 matches through to the quarter-finals. Located 12km south of Doha’s glittering Carter was selected fifth in and 1.0 steals a contest. skyline and seafront promenade, Al Thumama Stadium’s design represents the gahfiya – a traditional woven cap worn by men and the 1998 NBA Draft by Golden At the 2000 Olympics, Carter boys across the Middle East. PICTURE: ABDUL BASIT/THE PENINSULA State and traded to the Toronto led the gold-medal US squad Raptors, where he became the with 14.8 points a game. NHL: Iginla US Open: Tiger, Koepka, McIlroy headlines 2020 Hall of among golfers to get exemption Fame class REUTERS — NEW YORK AFP — NEW YORK Tiger Woods, a 15-time major champion, and Koepka, was 61stt in the March 15 editieditionon Amateur Golf RankinRankingsgs seeking a third consecutive PGA Championship victory of the rankings,ankings, to compete in pointpoint lleaderseaders ffromrom Jarome Iginla, Marian Reigning Masters champion in August, will join defending champion Gary Woodland the event.nt. TThehe six-time US Open August 19 not ototh-h- Hossa, Kevin Lowe and Tiger Woods and four-time among 11 US Open winners set to compete in the runner-upup needs a victorvictoryy in tthehe erwise exempt will bebe Doug Wilson will be major winner Brooks Koepka 120th US Open on September 17-20 at Winged Foot in event too completecomplete a career added to tthehe fifield.eld. among those inducted into are among the exempt players Mamaroneck, New York. Grand Slam.Slam. An averageaverage ooff 1515 the Hockey Hall of Fame for this year’s US Open Playersyers can alsoalso earn a amateamateursurs havehave com-com- in November, the organi- announced yesterday by the US World number one Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell berth in the lineup through perper-- peted in the past fifiveve US sation said. Golf Association. formancesnces in thethe lastlast six Opens,Opens, includingincluding 20182018 US Kim St-Pierre of the of Northern Ireland, Britain’s Justin Rose and Germany’s Woods, a 15-time major scheduleded US PGPGAA eveeventsnts ooff the AmateurAmateur winnerwinner ViktorViktor Canadian women’s champion, and Koepka, seeking Martin Kaymer will join fellow US Open winners Woods, current sseason,eason, whichwhich resumeresumedd HovHovland,land, a NorwNorwegianegian national team will also be a third consecutive PGA Cham- Koepka, Woodland, Lucas Glover, Dustin Johnson, Webb two weekseks agoago after a threethree-- who shared 12th last year given the honour and Ken pionship victory in August, will Simpson and Jordan Spieth. month hiatus.hiatus. at PebblePebble BeacBeach.h. Holland will be inducted join defending champion Gary The ttopop fivefive playersplayers on thethe ExemptionsExemptions remaremainin under the builder category, Woodland among 11 US Open The coronavirus pandemic forced a postponement of final US PGA FeFedExdEx Cup season unchangedunchanged fforor winnerwinnerss in the Hockey Hall of Fame winners set to compete in the the US Open from its traditional June dates and wiped points llist,ist, tthehe top 10 in severalseveral USGA events as said. 120th US Open on September out all qualifying for the tournament, forcing the USGA aggregateate points fromfrom thethe firstfirst well as forfor winwinnersners of thethe Longtime Calgary 17-20 at Winged Foot in to determine exempt categories for entry into the five eventsents on the EuropeEuropeanan otherother majors,majors, Flames forward Iginla Mamaroneck, New York. major championship. Tour’s UUKK Swing and the toptop thethe PlayersPlayers scored 1,300 points (625 World number one Rory five onn thethe develop-develop- ChampionshipChampionship goals, 675 assists) in 1,554 McIlroy and Graeme McDowell mental Korn andand BMW PGAPGA games during 20 NHL of Northern Ireland, Britain’s mirror a representative US following the scheduled con- Ferry TTour’sour’s Championship.Championship. seasons with the Flames, Justin Rose and Germany’s Open field and we are excited clusion of the 2019-20 US PGA regular sseasoneason OtherOther spotspotss Pittsburgh Penguins, Martin Kaymer will join fellow that players will still have an Tour season and as the second points andnd finafinalsls to fill the fieldfield Boston Bruins, Colorado US Open winners Woods, opportunity to earn a place in major event of the year after the lists willl be exempt wwillill be tatakenken Avalanche and Los Koepka, Woodland, Lucas the field through a variety of PGA, with the British Open into the US OpenOpen.. from the AugustAugust Angeles Kings, according Glover,G ove , Dustin ust JoJohnson, so , Webb categories.”catego es. Thee havingav g beebeen cacanceledcel and the The ffinalinal 2019 23 editionedition of tthehe to NHL.com. SimpsonSimpson and Jordan Spieth.Spieth. USUS OpenOpen Masters pushed back from April Order off Merit cat-cat- worldworld golf The prolific scorer is “Th“Thee decdecisionision to cacancelncel will be to November due to the deadly egories forfor the Japan rankings.rankings. just the fourth Black player localocal and final qquali-uali- plaplayedyed virusvirus outboutbreak.reak. Golf Tour,ur, SunshineSunshine to be inducted, following fyingfying forfor thisthis year’s US EntriesEntries wiwillll be accepted Tour, Asianian Tour andand Aus-Aus- Grant Fuhr, Willie O’Ree OpenOpen was deeplydeeply dis-dis- fromfrom JulyJuly 15 ththroughrough August 26. tralasia Tour will helphelp and Angela James. appointing,appointing, bbutut we TheThe USGA hashas notno given up to completeplete a “This selection is hard aarere ppleasedleased to stillstill onon having at leastleast a limited field of 114444 to believe and makes me pproviderovide the world’s number of spectspectatorsat at the playerss reflect and look back on bbestest professionalprofessional and event, to be stagedstaged in what had at the my career,” said Iginla, amateuramateur plaplayersyers thee been the first majormajo US epi- who was selected in his oopportunitypportunity to competecompetee ccenterenter of the COVID-19C first year of eligibility. forfor thisthis historichistoric andand outbreak.outbreak. “I was always just covetedcoveted chamchampionship,”pionship,”” - MiMickelsonckelson mamakes it in - trying to make the NHL saidsaid USGAUSGA seniorsenior man-man- ThisThis year’syear’s US Open willw include and this recognition means agingaging director of champi-champi- thethe top 70 players inin the world a lot to me and my family.” onshipsonships John Boden-Boden- golf rankings asa of March Slovak Hossa, a five-time hamerhamer said.said. 1515 insteadinstea of the All-Star who won the “The exemptionexemption usual topto 60. suburbanan Stanley Cup three times categcategoriesories for this ThatT New YorkYork with the Chicago Black- yyear’sear’s champi-champi- expansionexp will layout. hawks, was also chosen in onshiponship at Winged Rory McIlroy allowa Six amateursamateurs his first year of eligibility Foot GolfGolf ClubClub 50-year-old50 are ccurrentlyurrently Tiger Woods by the 18-member werewere carefullycarefully PhilPh Mick- exempt aandnd the toptop selection committee. developeddeveloped to elson,el who seven World

MotoGP: Petrucci Danilo Petrucci Formula 1 chairman donates $1m joins Tech3 KTM towards diversity foundation

REUTERS — LONDON “That is why we will paternal grandparents came team for 2021 establish a Task Force to to Britain from the Car- chairman listen and ensure the right ibbean, has been critical of REUTERS — MILAN Chase Carey is donating $1m initiatives are identified to the lack of diversity around to set up a new foundation as increase diversity in Formula him. Experienced Italian MotoGP rider Danilo Petrucci part of an initiative to One. The Briton has also called will leave Ducati and race for the non-factory Tech3 increase diversity in the “We want to ensure we out his sport’s initial silence KTM team in 2021, the Austrian manufacturer sport. give people from all back- over the killing of George announced yesterday. Formula One said in a grounds the best chances to Floyd, an unarmed Black The departure was expected, with Ducati having statement yesterday that the work in Formula One man who died in Minneapolis already signed Australian Jack Miller for next year “We believe they have the determination nec- foundation would finance regardless of their gender, after a white US police officer and Andrea Dovizioso set to stay. essary to push our MotoGP project forward. primarily internships and ethnicity, sexual orientation, knelt on his neck last month. Petrucci, 29, will partner young Spaniard Iker “The same goes for Red Bull KTM Tech3 where apprenticeships for under- or physical abilities.” The Mercedes driver last Lecuona at Tech3, with Portuguese rider Miguel we’re happy to bring Danilo into the family.” Pol represented groups. The plan, in partnership week announced his own Oliveira moving up from the satellite outfit to the Espargaro will leave the KTM factory team to make “We fully recognise that with the governing FIA, also commission to help motor- factory KTM team alongside South African Brad way for Oliveira. The Spaniard is widely expected Formula One needs to be aims to promote driver sport engage more young Binder. Binder, 24, and Oliveira, 25, were team-mates to move to Repsol Honda alongside Marc Marquez more inclusive and diverse. diversity by “identifying and people from Black back- in the junior Moto2 and Moto3 categories. in place of the reigning world champion’s brother While we set out our strategy systematically eliminating” grounds. Formula One, “Brad and Miguel have a productive working rela- Alex. last year to improve the barriers to entry. owned by US-based Liberty tionship and have shown the talent and the desire to Alex Marquez, the Moto2 champion who has position of our sport, we Six times world champion Media, announced a win races through all stages of grand prix,” said KTM yet to race in the top category, has been tipped for need, and want, to do more,” , the sport’s diversity and equality task boss Pit Beirer. a move to the non-works LCR Honda team. said Carey. first black champion whose force on Monday. 06 SPORT FRIDAY 26 JUNE 2020 Revised sports calendar for June-August 2020

Global sport has been almost entirely shut down since March, but is slowly beginning to return to life. There is a host of post- poned events still to be fitted in this year and, while uncertainty still surrounds many of them, it promises an unusually crowded calendar for the rest of the year. Here is the revised calendar for June-August 2020, as of June 26:

JUNE 27 - FOOTBALL - Bundesliga season ends, originally scheduled May 16 27 - RACING - The Irish Derby at the Curragh 27-28 RUGBY UNION - Super Rugby Aotearoa (New Zealand), Round 3

JULY 2-5 - GOLF - US PGA Tour Rocket Mortgage Classic, Detroit, originally scheduled May 28-31 3-5 RUGBY UNION - Super Rugby Australia begins 4 - FOOTBALL - Japan’s J-League resumes 4-5 - RUGBY UNION - Super Rugby Aotearoa (New Zealand), Round 4 4 - RACING - Epsom Derby and Oaks, originally scheduled June 5-6 4 - FOOTBALL - German Cup final, originally scheduled May 23 5 - FORMULA 1 - (Spielberg) 5 - French Derby and Oaks at Chantilly, originally scheduled May 31 and June 16 respectively May 23 Trafford, August 7-11 8 - August 11 - Football - MLS is Back tournament, Disney 1 - CYCLING - Strade Bianche classic (Italy), originally 14-21 - TENNIS - ATP season restarts in Washington World, Orlando (Florida) scheduled March 8 14 - ATHLETICS - Diamond League Monaco, originally 8-12 - CRICKET - England v West Indies first Test at the Rose 1-2 - RUGBY UNION - Super Rugby Aotearoa (New Zealand), scheduled July 10 Bowl, Southampton, originally scheduled Oval, June 4-8 Round 8 14-15 - RUGBY UNION - Super Rugby Australia, Round 7 9 - ATHLETICS - Inspiration Games, exhibition event, Zurich, 2 - FOOTBALL - Italian Serie A season ends, originally 15 - CRICKET - Australia v Zimbabwe, 3rd ODI (venue TBA) replaces season-ending Weltklasse, originally scheduled for Sep- scheduled to end May 24 15 - RUGBY UNION - New Zealand v Australia (Wellington) tember 11 2 - FORMULA 1 - (Silverstone), originally (TBC) 9-12 - GOLF - US PGA Tour, Workday Charity Open, Dublin scheduled July 19 15-16 - RUGBY UNION - Super Rugby Aotearoa (New Zealand), (Ohio), added event, replaces Round 10 John Deere Classic; 15 - MOTOR RACING - World Endurance Champi- European Tour, Austrian onship WEC) - 6 hours of Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium), Open, Vienna, replacing originally scheduled April 25 Scottish Open 15 - CYCLING - Tour of Lombardy, monument (Italy), 10-11 - RUGBY UNION originally scheduled October 31 - Super Rugby Australia, 16 - FORMULA 1 - (Barcelona), Round 2 originally scheduled May 10 11-12 - RUGBY UNION 16 - CYCLING - RideLondon-Classic (London) - Super Rugby Aotearoa 16 - MOTOGP - Austrian Grand Prix (Spielberg) (New Zealand), Round 5 16 - ATHLETICS - Diamond League (Gateshead, 12 - FORMULA 1 - England) Styrian Grand Prix 18-19 - FOOTBALL - UEFA Champions League 2020/21 (Spielberg), added event first qualifying round 15-18 - GOLF - 19-22 - RACING - York’s Ebor Festival European Tour, Euram 20 - FOOTBALL - UEFA Europa League 2020/21 pre- Bank Open, Ramsau liminary round (), new event, 20-23 - GOLF - European Tour, Wales Open, Newport replacing British Open (Wales), new event, replacing Czech Masters; US PGA Tour, 16-19 - GOLF - US PGA Northern Trust, Norton (Massachusetts), originally Tour Memorial Tour- scheduled August 13-16; Women’s British Open, Troon nament, Dublin (Ohio), (Scotland) originally scheduled June 21-25 - CRICKET - England v Pakistan third Test at 4-7 the Rose Bowl, Southampton, originally scheduled Trent 16-20 - CRICKET - Bridge, August 20-24 England v West Indies 21-30 - FOOTBALL - Women’s Champions League second Test at Old Trafford, final eight (Bilbao and San Sebastian, Spain) Manchester, originally 21-28 - TENNIS - ATP and WTA Cincinnati (now being scheduled Edgbaston, June played in New York), originally scheduled August 15-22 12-16 3-9 - TENNIS - WTA season restarts in Palermo, Italy 21-22 - RUGBY UNION - Super Rugby Australia, Round 8 17-18 RUGBY UNION - Super Rugby Australia, Round 3 4 - FOOTBALL - English Championship Play-off final, orig- 23 - ATHLETICS - Stockholm Diamond League, originally 18-19 - RUGBY UNION - Super Rugby Aotearoa (New inally scheduled May 25 scheduled May 24 Zealand), Round 6 5-6 - FOOTBALL - UEFA Europa League round of 16 remaining 23 - INDYCAR - , originally scheduled for 19 - FOOTBALL - Spanish La Liga season ends, originally ties May 24 scheduled to end May 24 5-9 - CRICKET - 19 - MOTOGP - Spanish Grand Prix (Jerez), originally England v Pakistan first scheduled for March 26 Test at Old Trafford, 19 - FORMULA 1 - (Hungaroring, Manchester, originally Mogyorod), originally scheduled August 2 scheduled Lord’s, July 30 22-25 - GOLF - European Tour, British Masters, Newcastle, - August 3 rescheduled from July 30- August 2 5-9 - CYCLING - 23-26 - Golf - US PGA Tour, 3M Open, Blaine (Minnesota) Tour of Poland, origi- 24-28 - CRICKET - England v West Indies third Test at Old nally scheduled July 5-11 Trafford, Manchester, originally scheduled Lord’s, June 25-29 6-9 - GOLF - PGA 24-25 RUGBY UNION - Super Rugby Australia, Round 4 Championship, San 25-26 RUGBY UNION - S Super Rugby Aotearoa (New Francisco, originally Zealand), Round 7 scheduled May 14-17; 26 - MOTOGP - Andalucia Grand Prix (Jerez), added event LPGA Marathon Classic, 26 - FOOTBALL - English Premier League season ends, orig- Sylvania (Ohio), added inally scheduled to end May 17 event 28- AUGUST 1 - RACING - Glorious Goodwood (ends August 7-8 - FOOTBALL - 1) UEFA Champions 30- AUGUST 2 - GOLF - European Tour, English Open, Bir- League, four remaining mingham, new event replacing Olympic gold tournament Champions League 30- August 2 - Golf - US PGA, European, Asian tours, World round of 16 second legs Golf Championships-St Jude’s, Memphis (Tennessee), originally (location tba) scheduled July 2-5, replacing Olympic golf tournament; LPGA 7-8 - RUGBY Drive On Championship, Toledo (Ohio), added event UNION - Super Rugby 30 OR 31 - BASKETBALL - NBA resumes in Disney World, Australia, Round 6 Orlando (Florida) 8-9 - RUGBY 31- 1 AUGUST - RUGBY UNION - Super Rugby Australia, UNION - Super Rugby Round 5 Aotearoa (New Zealand), Round 9 23 - MOTOGP - Styrian Grand Prix (Austria), added event AUGUST 8 - FOOTBALL - UEFA Champions League 2020/21 prelim- 25-26 - FOOTBALL - UEFA Champions League 2020/21 1 - FOOTBALL - Scottish Premiership season begins inary round second qualifying round 1 - FOOTBALL - English FA Cup final, originally scheduled 8 - CYCLING - Milan-San Remo, one-day monument, orig- 25 - CYCLING - Bretagne Classic, Plouay (France) inally scheduled March 21 27 - FOOTBALL - UEFA Europa League 2020/21 first quali- 9 - CRICKET - Australia v Zimbabwe, fying round 1st ODI (venue TBA) 27-30 - GOLF - European Tour, UK Championship, The 9 - FORMULA 1 - 70th anniversary Belfry, Sutton Coldfield (England), replacing European Masters, Grand Prix (Silverstone), added event Crans-sur-Sierre (Switzerland); US PGA Tour, BMW Champi- 9 - MOTOGP - Czech Republic Grand onship, Olympia Fields (Illinois), originally scheduled August Prix (Brno) 20-23; 10-21 - FOOTBALL - Europa League 27-30, LPGA NW Arkansas Championship, Rogers (Arkansas), final eight (Germany) added event, replaces UL International, St Albans (England) 11 - FOOTBALL - UEFA Champions 28 - CRICKET - England v Pakistan first T20 international at League 2020/21 preliminary round the Rose Bowl, Southampton, originally scheduled Headingley, 12-23 - FOOTBALL - Champions August 29 League final eight (Lisbon) 28-29 - RUGBY UNION - Super Rugby Australia, Round 9 12-16 - CYCLING - Criterium du 29 - RUGBY UNION - New Zealand v Argentina (Wellington) Dauphine, originally scheduled May 31 (TBC) - June 7 29 - RUGBY UNION - Australia v South Africa (Perth) (TBC) 12 - CRICKET - Australia v Zim- 29-20 SEPTEMBER - CYCLING - Tour de France, originally babwe, 2nd ODI (venue TBA) scheduled June 27 - July 19 13-16 - GOLF - European Tour, Celtic 29-30 - ENDURANCE MOTORCYCLING - Le Mans 24 Hours, Classic, Newport (Wales), added event; originally scheduled April 18-19 US PGA Tour, Wyndham Championship, 30 - FORMULA 1 - Greensboro (North Carolina), originally (Spa-Francorchamps) scheduled, August 6-9; Ladies Scottish 30 - CRICKET - England v Pakistan 2nd T20 international at Open, North Berwick (Scotland) the Rose Bowl, Southampton, originally scheduled Cardiff, August 13-17 - CRICKET - England v 31 Pakistan second Test at the Rose Bowl, 31- SEPTEMBER 31 - TENNIS - US Open (Flushing Meadows, Southampton, originally scheduled Old New York) FRIDAY 26 JUNE 2020 SPORT 07 Al Mohannadi joins World Table Tennis

QNA - LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) announced the selection of Khalil Al Mohannadi (pictured), President of the Qatar and Arab Table Tennis Federations, and ITTF and ATTF First Vice-President, to join the World Table Tennis (WTT). It is expected that this new body will contribute to increasing global table tennis investments, and better marketing the game through the introduction of strong competitions with large financial rewards and huge returns from tele- vision broadcasting and sponsoring companies, as expectations indicate QORC: Kent wins as Al Sulaiti that the value of mar- keting and investment will exceed the $100m mark for the first time helps QMMF stay in lead in its history. The ITTF announced THE PENINSULA - DOHA during the last period an intensive development Leopard Racing’s British rider Danny Kent plan for the game, with grabbed the honours in Round 2 of the the beginning of 2021. Qatar Online Racing Championship (QORC) Despite the challenges as Saeed Al Sulaiti’s second-place finish of the Coronavirus helped QMMF retain its overall points lead (COVID-19) crisis, work in the team competition. is underway to complete this. Kent, who won the 2015 World Moto3 Al Mohannadi is in constant contact with the game family Championship, completed a commanding and the international federation’s team in Singapore through win in a time of 26:16.933 seconds in the video calling technology to follow up the latest developments 19-lap digital race held at Austria’s iconic and develop new ideas to implement the desired quantum leap. . Al Mohannadi was chosen by the Executive Committee to Popular Qatari rider Al Sulaiti, who won be a Managing Director and representative of the ITTF in the Round 1 on Tuesday, on Wednesday night WTT, in recognition of his great role and his efforts to advance secured the second place 12.480 seconds the world table tennis. A number of heads of Arab and continental federations congratulated Al Mohannadi on his selection for this important Race 2 Results position, expressing their unlimited confidence in his ability to advance the game. 1. Danny Kent 26:16.933 Al Mohannadi thanked the ITTF and the world table tennis 2. Saeed Al Sulaiti +12.480 behind Kent. Al Sulaiti was just behind Kent In the riders’ standings after Round 2, family for its great confidence in him, acknowledging the dif- 3. Xavi Artigas +21.903 when he crashed in the 14th lap. He could Al Sulaiti (76 points) still leads the pack fol- ficulty of the mission, especially with the challenges of Coro- 4. Saoud Al Thani +26.550 not recover as Kent - who started on pole lowed by Al Thani (67), Artigas (66) and Al navirus pandemic, which imposed a new mechanism in dealing 5. Marcos Ramirez +28.285 - cruised to his comfortable win Sahouti (59). with all sporting events. Leopard Racing’s Xavi Artigas finished After two rounds, QMMF Racing have The President of the Qatar and Arab Table Tennis Associ- Riders standings in third spot (+21.903 seconds), a notch a tally of 231 points while Leopard Racing ation said that he understands very well that the international 1. Saeed Al Sulaiti 76 points above QMMF’s Saoud Al Thani (+26.550 have managed to accumulate 193 points federation puts all its weight in this new body because it rep- 2. Saoud Al Thani 67 seconds). from two rounds. resents the future of table tennis in the world during the coming 3. Xavi Artigas 66 Marcos Ramirez was the third Leopard The next four rounds will be held in years, and that they will work as one team with great diligence 4. Hamad Al Sahouti 59 Racing rider in the top five, posting the fifth Phillip Island (Australia), Jerez (Spain), in order to make a quantum leap in world table tennis. fastest time (+28.285 seconds). Mugello (Italy) and Losail International He stressed that he will always remain interested in the Team standings Jassim Al Thani (QMMF), Hamad Al Circuit (Qatar). Arab table tennis, pointing out that cooperation and solidarity 1. QMMF Racing 231 Sahouti (QMMF) and Jaume Masiá (Leopard The series winners will be decided on are always the only way to achieve the desired goals and Leopard Racing 193. Racing) finished in sixth, seventh and eighth the collective tally of points the two teams aspirations. spots respectively. muster over the course of the week. UK government under pressure to lift cricket virus ban

AFP - LONDON mothballed, with professional county Prime Minister and cricket enthusiast, “England is not England without England’s training camp at the Ageas cricket delayed until at least August 1. John Major, during a speech to rally cricket. Bowl after his latest test for the coro- Prime Minister Boris Johnson was told Earlier this week, while announcing support for his position of keeping “Leader, would you persuade the navirus returned a negative result. “England is not England without a lifting of lockdown restrictions on Britain in the European Union in 1993, chief umpire to stroll across from Fast bowler Archer was initially cricket” by one of his own Conserv- pubs and restaurants, Johnson said club said that “fifty years from now, Britain Number 10 next week and make a delayed from joining up with 29 other ative MPs yesteray as the British cricket could not resume because the will still be the country of long shadows statement in this House that play can England cricketers in Southampton government came under renewed ball is a “natural vector of disease”. on county (cricket) grounds, warm bev- resume?” after he reported a member of his pressure to lift a ban on recreational But with social tennis and golf cur- erages, invincible green suburbs (and) Somerset supporter Rees-Mogg household feeling unwell on Tuesday. cricket during the coronavirus rently allowed, his comments were dog lovers”. replied that few MPs missed cricket as The 25-year-old Sussex paceman pandemic. labelled “utter nonsense” by former Bone, the MP for Wellingborough, much as he did. had shown no symptoms and was During a debate in Parliament, England captain Michael Vaughan. central England, appeared to tap into “All my tickets to go to watch among a wholly negative batch of 702 Peter Bone MP urged Jacob Rees-Mogg, Many British politicians have been that spirit yesterday when he recalled various Test matches across the course test results announced by the England the leader of the House of Commons, cricket lovers. visiting his local cricket club last of the year, my visits to Taunton (Som- and Wales Cricket Board this week. to “persuade the chief umpire (Johnson) Clement Attlee, Labour’s Prime weekend. erset’s headquarters), have all had to Nevertheless, the Barbados-born to stroll across from Number 10 next Minister in the years immediately after He said he had “heard the ripple of be cancelled,” he said. “And worst still, quick was required to undergo an addi- week” and announce the amateur the Second World War had an agency applause from the boundary and the there was a chance that Somerset tional test on Wednesday. game can resume. ticker machine installed at 10 Downing occasional shouts of “owzat?’” before might win the County Championship But an ECB statement issued yes- International cricket is set to get Street so he could receive the county realising he was imagining it. for the first time in its history.” terday said: “Jofra Archer has tested underway for the first time since scores. Bone added: “Up and down the Rees-Mogg agreed the absence of negative for COVID-19. He will join the lockdown when England face the West Alec Douglas-Home, briefly Prime country thousands and thousands of cricket was a “real loss” but added “we England camp at Ageas Bowl later Indies in a three-Test series starting at Minister in the 1960s, played 10 first- men and women and boys and girls have to be as safe as we possibly can today and will be free to start training Southampton on July 8. class matches in the 1920s. are desperate to play competitive be”. tomorrow (Friday) with the rest of the But the amateur game remains Meanwhile another Conservative cricket. Meanwhile, Jofra Archer will join group.”

In this file Thiem apologises for playing photo taken on June 14, 2020 Austrian in Djokovic’s tennis event tennis player Dominic Thiem poses for a VIENNA, AUSTRIA AP - government’s corona rules, but Images from photo with we have been too optimistic,” Novak Djokovic Third-ranked tennis player he said. Adria Tour after winning Dominic Thiem apologized Thiem, a two-time French the final match yesterday for taking part in an Open finalist who lost to ‘disappointing’: against Serbian exhibition series hosted by Djokovic in the Australian Open Wimbledon chief tennis player Novak Djokovic in which four final this year, said he has been Filip Krajinovic LONDON players tested positive for the tested five times in the last 10 REUTERS - at the Adria coronavirus. days but is negative for the virus. Images of players hugging at the Tour, Novak Thiem wrote on Instagram: The final for the event in net, playing basketball together Djokovic’s “Our behaviour was a mistake, Croatia was cancelled and sub- and partying at Novak Djoko- Balkans we acted too euphorically. I am sequent matches in other coun- vic’s charity exhibition in Serbia charity tennis extremely sorry.” tries were also called off. and Croatia were “disap- tournament in The top-ranked Djokovic Djokovic said on Tuesday pointing” and tennis must learn Belgrade. tested positive on Tuesday. that he and his wife tested pos- its lesson, outgoing Wimbledon Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric itive and admitted it was “too chief Richard Lewis has said. and Viktor Troicki have also said soon” to host such an event. Djokovic, Grigor Dimitrov, they tested positive after taking The coronavirus outbreak Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki part in the Adria Tour exhibition led to the suspension of the ATP contracted the novel corona- series in Serbia and Croatia. and WTA professional tennis virus after playing in the Adria everybody involved - not just Grand Slam on the calendar and say the US Open and Roland Thousands of spectators tours in March. Plans were Tour, which drew big crowds players, but administrators, organisers plan stringent Garros, but also the other inter- attended the matches in Bel- announced last week for the and saw players pose for organisers, entourages - under- measures to keep those taking national tournaments - that grade and the Adriatic resort of sport’s sanctioned events to pictures. stands that the protocols, rules part safe. protocols will be easier to Zadar, and no social distancing return in August. Lewis, who will step down and regulations are in place for Some top players, including enforce and observed than they was observed. But the infections have as the CEO of All England Lawn a reason. Djokovic, had initially called otherwise might have been,” Thiem won the opening raised questions about the full- Tennis Club in July, told British “That’s a really important those measures “extreme”. said Lewis. event in Belgrade on June 14. fledged return of competitive media he hoped everyone made lesson to learn.” With the Serbian world “I sincerely hope that when “We played without an tennis, including the US Open, a speedy recovery but that the The pandemic forced the number one heading the men’s international tennis tourna- audience for weeks, so we have which is scheduled to begin on mistakes of the event must not suspension of the professional players council, Lewis urged ments resume, the sport will be been more than happy about the Aug 31 without spectators. be repeated. season in early March and the athletes to play a bigger lead- more disciplined and follow the fans at the event,” the Austrian Djokovic has called the rules “The images were disap- 2020 Wimbledon champion- ership role. protocols in place at whatever wrote. to keep everyone safe at the US pointing and I think that... what ships were then cancelled. “I would hope from an tournament is being staged at “We trusted the Serbian Open “extreme.” needs to come out of it is The US Open is the next organisers’ point of view - let’s the time.”