18 Established 1961

Wednesday, June 3, 2020 Sports Photo of the day Gronkowski loses WWE 24/7 belt after record run LAS VEGAS: Rob Gronkowski’s record reign as WWE’s 24/7 champ is over after nearly two months. Gronkowski, who recently came out of retire- ment to resume his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was pinned Monday by Ron “R- Truth” Killings on the “WWE Raw” show. The former New England Patriots tight end had claimed the 24/7 belt at WrestleMania 36 on April 5 when he pinned Mojo Rawley. In the video shown Monday night, Gronkowski was set to film a TikTok dance video in a front yard, with a friend holding a cell phone to film him. Gronkowski questioned the presence of an unknown gardener in a hat and facemask before starting his dance routine. As Gronkowski’s companion took off his sweatshirt to reveal a WWE referee uniform, R- Truth took Gronkowski by surprise, pulling him down from behind and pinning him before grab- bing the 24/7 belt. After R-Truth clicked his heels and ran away with the belt, Gronkowski shouted, “Seriously?” His friend/referee replied, “I’m serious, man. You got a new career started. C’mon. Let’s go. You’re with the Bucs now. C’mon, let’s do this.” Gronkowski, 31, held the 24/7 belt longer than anyone in a single stretch since the competition was initiated in May 2019. There have been 36 champions, with the belt changing hands 97 times. R-Truth has been the champion 36 times, and Rawley is second on the list with seven reigns. Kriss Kyle performs in Denmark in 2019. —Photo taken from www.redbullcontentpool.com The list of 24/7 champions includes basketball player Enes Kanter, race car driver Kyle Busch and musician Marshmello. —Reuters World champion Hamilton’s attack on ‘white-dominated’ F1 draws support ‘We all have a voice to speak up for what’s right’

LONDON: World champion Lewis Hamilton drew a Monegasque who drives for Ferrari. “And I was rapid positive response from many of his rivals after completely wrong.” accusing the “biggest of stars” in “white-dominat- ed” Formula One of failing to speak out against STAND TOGETHER racism. Leclerc drew a response from Williams driver The Mercedes driver warned: “I know who you George Russell. “We all have a voice to speak up are and I see you” as he accused his fellow drivers for what’s right – and until now I didn’t know how to of “staying silent” following the death of George use mine in this situation. To Floyd, an unarmed black man, during his arrest in echo @charles_leclerc’s words, I just felt out of Minneapolis. place sharing my thoughts on these atrocities pub- The videotaped incident has triggered unrest in licly,” wrote the 22-year-old Briton. several cities and led to an outpouring of condem- Alex Albon, a 24-year old British driver with Thai nation from figures including Michael Jordan and roots, also said he had felt uncomfortable speaking Serena Williams. out. “Truthfully I have been “I see those of you quite hesitant having a who are staying silent, voice around George some of you the biggest Floyd’s death. I grew up in of stars yet you stay a very privileged way, silent in the midst of Staying shielded from racism,” the injustice,” Hamilton wrote Red Bull driver wrote. “It’s on Instagram. silent never too late to change “I would have thought and to address what’s by now you would see wrong, this is about justice why this happens and say and to stand up for racial something about it but equality.” you can’t stand alongside us. Just know I know who Hamilton’s call for stars to speak out seemed to you are and I see you.” strike a chord with Lando Norris. “I have fans and Hamilton’s team responded with a statement of followers,” the 20-year-old Briton who drives for support. “We stand with you Lewis,” Mercedes McLaren wrote. “I have power through this to lead Lewis Hamilton posted on Instagram. “Tolerance is an elementary and inspire so many. But we also stand for what’s principle of our team.” right.” Several drivers also reacted, some addressing Nicholas Latifi, a 24-year-old Canadian of Ricciardo and Mexican Sergio Perez did not refer to man tweeted a video of a non-violent American sher- Hamilton, others finding their voice about Floyd. “To Iranian origin who drives for Williams, posted “This Hamilton in their posts. iff and added the Blacklivesmatter hashtag. Carlos be completely honest, I felt out of place and uncom- has to stop” with a link to a petition and “What happened to George Floyd and what con- Sainz, the 25-year-old Spanish McLaren driver and fortable sharing my thoughts on social media,” JusticeforGeorge and BlackLivesMatter hashtags. tinues to happen in today’s society is a Antonio Giovinazzi, a 26-year-old Italian who dives tweeted Charles Leclerc, a 22-year old Two 30-year-old veterans Australian Daniel disgrace,” said the Red Bull driver. The Racing Point for Alfa Romeo, also condemned racism. – AFP

few breaths in. Africa and Argentina, is the governing body Racing leads the “It wasn’t too bad though, it’s manageable and it’s the Australia want of the four-nation Rugby Championship and sort of thing that in a week you won’t even notice it.” Super Rugby. The 2,000 Guineas, on June 6 at Newmarket, will be Australian and New Zealand officials have way as elite sport the first of the flat-racing season’s “Classic” races. Earlier to host Rugby spoken for weeks of opening up a “trans- in the day, pigeon racing enjoyed a brief moment in the spotlight. More than 4,000 birds belonging to members Tasman bubble” of restriction-free travel returns to Britain of the Barnsley Federation of Racing Pigeons in the Championship ‘hub’ between the two countries, which have north of England were released from a park ahead of a reduced COVID-19 infections to a trickle. MELBOURNE: Rugby Australia is in talks LONDON: Horse racing resumed in England on Monday 90-mile sprint. Organiser John Greenshield, 72, said the New Zealand Rugby did not provide imme- as professional sport got under way again following the restart came earlier than many expected and so many of with the government about allowing New diate comment when contacted by Reuters. easing of coronavirus lockdown restrictions. the birds are far from “match fit”. Zealand, South Africa and Argentina’s teams Clarke confirmed RA was trying to extend Elite sport in Britain has been in a deep freeze since But he said the return of racing would be a blessing for to enter the country and be based in a “hub” the annual Bledisloe Cup series between the March but the government on Saturday approved the many in his community and was “like putting oxygen back for a condensed Rugby Championship later in Wallabies and All Blacks to four tests from return of domestic competitive action behind closed doors into the area”. the year. the usual three. from June 1. Snooker also made a return on Monday, with reigning After a two-month lockdown to contain the world champion Judd Trump recording a 3-0 win over “It’s a great product, gains a lot of atten- Premier League football is scheduled to restart on June spread of COVID-19, Australian authorities tion and we feel at least a four-game series is 17, while cricket chiefs still hope to stage a full internation- David Grace in the opening match of the Championship have allowed sports to restart domestic com- al programme during the summer. League. something we can work into the calendar this The televised tournament, taking place in the central petition but international fixtures remain in year to work for them and us,” Clarke said. Racing has a head start in its attempts to grab the doubt due to travel curbs and border con- attention of fans starved of live sport, but it looks very dif- English town of Milton Keynes, is the first snooker event RA said on Monday it would lay off a third ferent from when it departed before lockdown. since the Gibraltar Open in March. trols. of its full-time staff along with dozens of con- At Newcastle, in northeast England, there were no Matches were held behind closed doors and players “We’re exploring with the Australian gov- tactors and casual workers to cope with spectators to watch the 10 flat races while trainers, jockeys had to use hand sanitiser before the first frame, while fol- ernment whether that can be a bubble here in financial pressures brought by COVID-19. and grooms wore masks. lowing social distancing guidelines during the contest. Australia and we fly in all of the SANZAAR Clarke said RA’s high performance pro- Zodiakos won the first race on English soil for 76 World number one Trump said: “It’s all been a bit partners and they are in a training bubble and strange to be honest. It’s brilliant to have snooker back on grammes would not be affected. “A key part days as the 22-1 shot edged out stablemate Al Ozzdi on then we can quarantine effectively and play a of our financial underpinning is a successful the line. TV and everyone involved has done an amazing job to sort off be the first sport back.” competition,” RA interim CEO Rob Clarke Wallabies,” he said. “That has blown away the cobwebs,” Zodiakos’s jockey told reporters in Sydney yesterday. Jimmy Sullivan told Sky Sports. Trump revealed he was tested for the virus on Sunday “It’s not everything, but it’s certainly key afternoon, with players having to stay in their rooms until SANZAAR, comprised of partner rugby so we’ll be protecting that as much as pos- “In this heat today, riding in the mask, it is very warm unions in Australia, New Zealand, South and after pulling up I pulled it down a little just to get a 1030GMT on Monday. —AFP sible.” —Reuters