Sport SATURDAY 8 MAY 2021 WorldW Champion Lewis Hamilton fastestf on first day of Spanish GP practice It'sI been a good start to the weekend, the track is awesome anda our balance is similar to what we had in the last race. It looksl close but I think we've got good pace.

LewisL Hamilton Sport | 15

FOOTBALL: EUROPA LEAGUE (SEMI-FINALS) Arsenal FC 0-0 Villarreal (Agg 1-2), AS Roma 3-2 Manchester United (Agg 5-8) Team Qatar eyes medals at Shotgun World Cup SL 'rebels' face

THE PENINSULA – DOHA Committee, our main supporter. sanctions after Thanks to QOC, we had a lot of A six-member Qatari shooting team, opportunities to compete along with led by Tokyo-bound Mohammed Al top shooters in the world and gain defectors sign Rumaihi, is currently taking part in experience while boosting our con- the Shotgun World Cup in Lonato, fidence. So we have confidence in deal with UEFA Italy. the capabilities of our athletes to a The Qatari contingent, accom- great extent, as our team includes panied by Mohammed Ahmed outstanding shooters,” Taher said. REUTERS – MANCHESTERSTER Taher, Executive Director of the Champion shooter Al Rumaihi Qatar Shooting and Archery Asso- said that preparations went well The three teams ciation, also includes prominent ahead of the World Cup which will that remain shooters Saeed Abusharib (Trap see many international stars and involved in the Men), Rashid Hamad Al Athba (Trap Mohammed Ahmed Taher, world champions. breakaway Super Men) Abdulaziz Al Attiyah (Skeet Mohammed Al Rumaihi Chef de Mission It is a huge competition by all League oper- Men), Nasser Al Hamidi (Trap Men) standards, but we are striving to ation, Real and Ali Al Ishaq (Skeet Men). Al achieve honourable results among Madrid, Barcelonaa Rumaihi, who has already booked countries in action. Chef de Mission World and Olympic champions, but the top stars of the sport, and we and Juventus, facece a ticket to the Summer Olympics, Taher confirmed that the Qatari we have experienced shooters who have faith our abilities and skills. sanctions from UEFA,EFA, will compete in Men’s Trap event. team is ready to make its presence are ready to battle for medals. Our We have already achieved good who have reached an The 10-day event which kicked felt during the event and the shooters have gained a lot of expe- results, and we certainly hope to agreement with the nine other clubs. off yesterday, sees a record number shooters are targeting good results. rience over the years thanks to the achieve more medals,” Al Rumaihi European soccer’s governing body said on of over 400 shooters from 57 “The event will see a number of involvement of Qatar Olympic said. Friday the nine clubs who backed out of the plan had signed a ‘Club Commitment Declaration’ including a series of “reintegration” steps. The six English clubs -- Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham Zverev beats Nadal in straight Hotspur and Arsenal along with AC Milan, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid, all signed the agreement, UEFA said in a statement. “These clubs recognised their mistakes quickly and have taken action to demonstrate sets to reach Madrid semis their contrition and future commitment to European football,” said UEFA president Ale- AP – MADRID Germany’s Alexander Zverev ksander Ceferin. celebrates winning his quarter UEFA said it was now starting disciplinary Rafael Nadal’s bid to reach a 75th semi- final match against Spain’s Rafael proceedings against Juventus, Real and Barca. final at a Masters event ended yesterday Nadal yesterday. The nine clubs back in the UEFA fold have with a 6-4, 6-4 loss to Alexander Zverev. agreed to “take all steps within their power” to The sixth-ranked German beat Nadal end their involvement in the Super League for the first time on clay and for the third company. time in a row overall. Zverev broke The clubs also agreed to a five percent with- Nadal’s serve twice in the first set and holding of any revenues they would receive from once in the second. His previous two wins Champions League or Europa League involvement over Nadal were on indoor hard courts. for one season. Zverev will next face Dominic Thiem The deal involved the clubs accepting they in a rematch of the 2018 final. Thiem, would face a €100m fine if they seek to play in who lost to Zverev in straight sets in the an unauthorised competition or a €50m fine if Spanish capital three years ago, defeated they breach any other commitment they have John Isner 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. entered into in the Club Commitment Declaration. Nadal, who is preparing to play for a A breakaway Super League set up by the 12 was 14th title at the French Open, had been announced last month but fell apart after just 48 improving after a slow start to his clay hours. season. He lost to Andrey Rublev in the Monte Carlo quarter-finals before beating Tsitsipas in the Barcelona Open final. Turkey put on Nadal played well in his first two matches in Madrid, comfortably defeating youngsters Carlos Alcaraz and red list, England Alexei Popyrin in straight sets. In the early match, Thiem capitalised again at 4-4. He then served out the could host CL final on two of his four chances to break match. Isner’s serve, and that was all he really Isner served more than 100 aces in AP – LONDON needed. his four matches in the Spanish capital, Thiem broke the tall American on his where the high altitude adds speed to The all-English Champions League final could be first chance in the second set and then the balls and makes the clay courts faster. played at home after Turkey was added to once more in the third to reach the semi- The American had 18 aces on Friday England's "red list” of countries where all but finals in Madrid for the fourth straight and 29 in his three-set win over sixth- essential travel is banned due to severe corona- time. seeded Andrey Rublev on Thursday, virus outbreaks. “He is one of the best servers in including two consecutive to close out Chelsea and Manchester City are due to meet history, especially here in the altitude. the match. He said he was outplayed and on May 29 in Istanbul and UEFA was hoping to His serve is bouncing so high and it’s so only stayed in the match thanks to his allow around 10,000 fans into the biggest club difficult to return,” Thiem said. serve. The 39th-ranked American had game of the European football season. “I really stayed focused, with a good lost in the round of 16 in his last two tour- But the British government yesterday warned fighting spirit. Against guys like him, a naments, with his other quarterfinal supporters not to travel to Turkey after imposing few points decide and that’s when I saved appearance this year coming in March the new travel restrictions, and said the English the break points in the beginning of the in what was his first tournament since Football Association was in talks with Champions second set.” last year’s French Open. League organizer UEFA about staging the game in Thiem saved four break points in the Thiem, last year’s US Open champion, Britain, instead. The most logical English venue to fifth game of the second set, then broke was coming off a break after a slow start. Zverev and move the game to is Wembley with the London Isner’s serve in the next game to take the The fourth-ranked Austrian hadn’t Nadal after stadium staging eight games of the European match to a third set. The Austrian squan- played since March. The Madrid Open their match. Championship across June and July, so it has UEFA's dered another break chance in the first was not played last year because of the required logistics and broadcasting infrastructure game of the deciding set but capitalized coronavirus pandemic. already in place. Nadal, Osaka scoop top Laureus awards

REUTERS – LONDON LIST OF WINNERS named the Team of the Sportsman of the Year: Rafael Nadal Year. Spain’s Rafa Nadal was named the 2021 Laureus Sportswoman of the Year: Naomi Osaka Britain’s Formula Sportsman of the Year on Thursday, while fellow Team of the Year: Bayern Munich One world champion tennis player Naomi Osaka won the top women’s Breakthrough of the Year: Patrick Mahomes Lewis Hamilton claimed honour. Comeback of the Year: Max Parrot the inaugural Athlete Japan’s Osaka won her second US Open title Sport for Good Award: KICKFORMORE by KICKFAIR Advocate of the Year last year, while Nadal equalled Roger Federer’s Lifetime Achievement Award: Billie Jean King Award for his record of 20 Grand Slam titles by claiming his Athlete Advocate of the Year: Lewis Hamilton involvement in the fight 13th French Open crown. Sporting Inspiration: Mohamed Salah against racism. Nadal picked up his fourth Laureus honour, Sporting Moment of the Year: Chris Nikic Quaterback Patrick having previously scooped the Breakthrough, Mahomes won the Break- Comeback and men’s individual awards. Tennis dominated the digital awards cer- through of the Year Award after “The rest of the sportsmen probably deserve emony in Seville as American great Billie Jean helping Kansas City Chiefs in the trophy the same as me, but this was the year King received the Lifetime Achievement award. 2020 to their first Super Bowl for me and I can’t be happier,” the 34-year-old German soccer champions Bayern Munich, appearance and win in 50 years, at Rafael Nadal with his Nadal said. who won last season’s Champions League, were the age of 24. award. Pic: Laureus Naomi Osaka Sport SATURDAY 8 MAY 2021 15 IOC chief's visit to Japan expected to be cancelled: Media Abid, Azhar REUTERS – TOKYO might be “difficult” with coronavirus Bach would attend a torch relay cer- “No dates for the visit of the IOC centuries cases showing no signs of abating and emony in the western city of Hiroshima President to Japan have been decided International Olympic Committee head the government keeping infection coun- on May 17, but Hashimoto said his visit yet,” an IOC official told Reuters Thomas Bach’s visit to Japan is now termeasures in place to slow the spread had not been confirmed. yesterday. put Pakistan expected to be cancelled given that the of the virus. Tokyo 2020 organisers will keep a Yesterday, Japan extended a state state of emergency has been extended “I suspect that coming to Japan in the close eye on the coronavirus situation of emergency in Tokyo and four other in strong in Tokyo and other areas, broadcaster midst of this very severe situation would and make a decision on Olympic spec- areas until the end of May, meaning the NHK said yesterday citing unnamed also be an emotional burden for Pres- tators in June based on that, Hashimoto measures would end less than two position sources. ident Bach,” she said at a news con- also said. months before the Olympics start on Tokyo 2020 President Seiko Hash- ference held yesterday. The IOC said the trip by the President July 23 after being postponed for a year AP – HARARE imoto also said on Friday that Bach’s visit Japanese media reports have said Bach to Japan had not yet been finalised. due to the pandemic. Pakistan reached 268-4 against Zimbabwe on the opening day of the second Test Mayweather on Friday after centuries by Abid Ali and Azhar Ali, and returning Champion Hamilton fastest on would have been in an even stronger position if it hadn’t for June 6 lost three wickets for 16 runs just before stumps. exhibition fight first day of Spanish GP practice Opener Abid Ali, 118 not out, and No. 3 Azhar Ali, 126, AP – MIAMI GARDENS REUTERS – BARCELONA Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton The 23-year-old has fallen drove the tourists to a com- in action during practice foul of track limits in recent pletely dominant 248-1 at A month before he returns to Seven times Formula One yesterday. races, having times deleted for Harare Sports Club after their the ring at age 44 for an exhi- world champion Lewis going too far wide, but Horner huge second-wicket part- bition bout, Floyd Mayweather Hamilton led doubted that would be a big nership of 236 - a record for wound up in a brawl. Valtteri Bottas in a issue this weekend. the second wicket and fourth The boxing Hall of Famer Mercedes one-two “I certainly highest for any wicket at the will face Logan Paul in a pay- in practice for the hope it won’t, it’s ground. per-view event on June 6 at Spanish Grand Prix not that type of Their stand lasted nearly Hard Rock Stadium in Florida. yesterday. a circuit,” he the whole day as they came On Thursday, he squared off Championship said, adding together in the eighth over with Paul’s brother, Jake, who leader Hamilton’s that there after Imran Butt went for 2. prompted the scuffle when he closest rival Max Ver- would Azhar Ali fell just before took Mayweather’s cap. stappen had been second Hamilton is be stumps after hitting 17 fours Mayweather had a 50-0 fastest in the morning for Red eight points clear of more discussion about the rules and a six, and captain Babar record with 27 knockouts Bull but dropped to ninth, 0.615 Verstappen after winning two encouraging sign.” Bottas, who between team principals today. Azam (2) and Fawad Alam (5) during a career in which he off the pace, in the afternoon at of the three races so far. The dismissed questions on The opening session was were also out in the last eight won world titles in five weight the Circuit de Catalunya. Briton has won in Spain for the Thursday about his future and halted with 15 minutes overs of the day to give Zim- divisions over three decades. Bottas had set the morning past four years and five times the possibility he could be remaining when Alfa Romeo babwe some respite. Among the opponents he beat pace with a lap of one minute in total. replaced mid-season, will be reserve Robert Kubica, Abid Ali was unbeaten with were Canelo Alvarez, Manny 18.504 seconds, 0.033 faster “Less than a tenth between chasing his second successive making his first Friday 17 fours at stumps and Pacquiao and Oscar De La than Verstappen, but Hamilton ourselves and Mercedes, at a pole position today. appearance of the season, Pakistan - despite the late Hoya before he retired in 2015 put in a 1:18.170 effort on soft track like this that’s been a Verstappen’s Mexican team went off into the gravel at the wickets - was in the kind of - though he stopped mixed tyres after lunch when the con- stronghold for them for the last mate Sergio Perez was only revised turn 10. strong position it planned to martial arts fighter Conor ditions were warmer. seven years or so, that’s ninth and 10th in the two Haas’s Nikita Mazepin also be in after opting to bat first in McGregor in 2017. That was 0.139 quicker than encouraging,” Red Bull prin- sessions. spun, something that has the last Test of the short series. In the 26-year-old Paul, Bottas’s best effort in the cipal Christian Horner told Sky Sunday’s race will be Ver- become a regular occurrence Mayweather will face a star session. Sports television after first stappen’s 100th start for Red for the Russian rookie. SCOREBOARD created on the internet. Fol- Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc practice. Bull, and marks a return to the The virtual safety car was PAKISTAN, first innings lowed by more than 20 million ended the second session third “Mercedes have been truly circuit where the Dutch driver deployed in the afternoon Imran Butt c Tiripano b Ngarava ...... 2 Abid Ali not out ...... 118 on YouTube, Paul began boxing fastest, with Alpine pairing dominant here for the last few became the sport’s youngest when some bodywork came off Azhar Ali c Shumba b Muzarabani ...... 126 in 2019 with a six-round bout Esteban Ocon and Fernando years. I think if we can get close ever winner on his team debut Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari and had Babar Azam c Kasuza b Muzarabani ...... 2 against fellow YouTube star Alonso fourth and fifth. to them here that’s a really as an 18-year-old in 2016. to be retrieved. Fawad Alam b Muzarabani ...... 5 KSI. Sajid Khan not out ...... 1 Extras (b4, lb5, nb2, w3) ...... 14 Total (4 wkts, 90 overs) ...... 268 Fall of wickets: 1-12 (Butt), 2-248 (Azhar), 3-252 Manchester United’s (Babar), 4-264 (Fawad) Chelsea aim Edinson Cavani scores Bowling: Muzarabani 19-4-41-3 (1w), Ngarava 17- their second goal. 4-35-1 (2nb, 1w), Jongwe 10-1-32-0, Tiripano 12-4- 46-0 (1w), Chisoro 26-6-80-0, Shumba 6-1-25-0 to slow City To bat: Mohammad Rizwan, Hasan Ali, Nauman Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Tabish Khan. Zimbabwe: B. Taylor, K. Kasuza, T. Musakanda, R. Chakabva, M. Shumba, R. Kaia, T. Chisoro, L. Jong- in EPL clash we, D. Tiripano, B. Muzarabani, R. Ngarava

AP – LONDON

Chelsea manager wants Shami, Jadeja to stall the Manchester City “winning machine” when they square off today return to and three weeks later in the Champions League final. India’s Test City can clinch their third English title in four seasons at squad for home and without having to tune in tomorrow or midweek hoping for Man- England tour chester United to lose. But the Blues can boost their top- REUTERS – NEW DELHI four hopes in what is setting up to be a dress rehearsal for the May 29 final in India seam bowler Mohammed Istanbul. Shami and spin all-rounder “It’s on us to close the gap for 90 Ravindra Jadeja returned to the minutes, and then we will do the same United through to Europa League squad yesterday for next thing in the final,” Tuchel said month’s World Test Champi- yesterday. onship (WTC) final against New The teams met three weeks ago, Zealand in Southampton and when Chelsea beat the league leader 1-0 final despite defeat to Roma the subsequent five-match in the FA Cup semifinals. Tuchel hinted series against England. at lineup changes and “fresh legs” in a Both players sustained bid to keep pace with his counterpart REUTERS – ROME injuries during the tour of Aus- . tralia and missed the home “He transforms any team into a Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reached a major Villarreal hold Arsenal series against England earlier winning machine,” Tuchel said. final as Manchester United manager for this year. “It was like this with Barcelona, it the first time after a 3-2 defeat to AS REUTERS – LONDON him in 2019. The Spanish May 26 final in Gdansk in All-rounder Hanuma Vihari was like this with Munich and it’s the Roma at the Stadio Olimpico was enough side, who had lost their what will be the biggest is also back from injury to join same with Man City. They are the to earn his side an 8-5 aggregate win in Villarreal held out for a four previous European night in their history. the Virat Kohli-led squad, who benchmark in the league, obviously. It’s the Europa League semi-finals on 0-0 draw on a nerve- semi-finals, one to Arsenal, who now will play New Zealand in the a big gap.” Thursday. jangling night at Arsenal Arsenal in the 2005-06 face the prospect of final of the inaugural WTC at Both clubs enter the match at Etihad United will face Villarreal in the final on Thursday to reach the Champions League, having no European Southampton from June 18-22. Stadiums on highs, and City with an in Gdansk on May 26 after the Spaniards Europa League final 2-1 protected their first-leg football next season for India will take on Joe Root’s extra day’s rest. City dispatched Paris beat Arsenal 2-1 on aggregate. on aggregate as visiting advantage with a disci- the first time in 25 years, England in a five-test series Saint-Germain in the Champions League Solskjaer had lost his last four semi- manager Unai Emery plined display. looked flat and never beginning at Nottingham on semifinals 2-0 on Tuesday and 4-1 on finals during his Old Trafford reign and returned to haunt the They will now play managed to exert any Aug. 4. aggregate. A night later, Chelsea put the despite Thursday’s defeat in Rome, the London club that sacked Manchester United in the sustained pressure. Left-arm unorthodox finishing touches on Real Madrid, 2-0 Norwegian’s side progressed comfortably spinner Kuldeep Yadav and all- and 3-1 on aggregate. thanks to last week’s commanding 6-2 rounder Hardik Pandya were The Blues are holding on to fourth first leg win. but another exit never looked likely in racing through on goal to fire home. dropped from the squad, which place as several teams scramble for Edinson Cavani fired home a pow- the Italian capital. Roma drew level in the 57th minute includes batsman KL Rahul and spots in next season’s Champions erful finish after 39 minutes to open the Earlier this week Mourinho, who led when Dzeko headed in from close range, second wicketkeeper Wrid- League. Seven points separate third- scoring, but Roma found the net twice in United to their last trophy by winning the and Paulo Fonseca’s side quickly com- dhiman Saha subject to clearing placed Leicester from sixth-placed Tot- the space of three second-half minutes Europa League in 2017, was surprisingly pleted the comeback when Cristante fitness tests. tenham with four games left. Liverpool through Edin Dzeko and Bryan Cristante named as Roma’s new coach from next scored from the edge of the area three Rahul has had surgery for is seventh and has a game in hand. to turn the game on its head. season. minutes later. appendicitis, while Saha tested Leicester played at Leeds. United had goalkeeper David de Gea Hence the hosts started like a team De Gea produced a superb double positive for COVID-19 earlier Chelsea can also guarantee itself a to thank for not going further behind as with a point to prove. save on a Dzeko header and Pedro shot, this week. spot in Europe’s premier club compe- the Spaniard produced a string of superb De Gea superbly denied Gianluca before blocking a Mkhitaryan effort from INDIA’S SQUAD: tition next season by beating City in saves. Cavani headed the visitors level Mancini from point-blank range, Henrikh point-blank range. Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Mayank Istanbul. but 19-year-old debutant Nicola Zal- Mkhitaryan headed into the side-netting United survived the onslaught and Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli has four goals in two ewski’s shot took a big deflection off Alex and Dzeko drew another smart save from drew level after 68 minutes when Cavani (Captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Premier League starts under Tottenham Telles to beat De Gea as Roma secured the Spanish goalkeeper. headed home a Bruno Fernandes cross, Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), interim manager Ryan Mason. the win on the night -- but it was United But United grew into the game and but Roma soon threatened again as Mkhi- Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Bale had a hat trick in a 4-0 win over who were left celebrating at the final came close when a clever Cavani lob taryan’s shot thumped the foot of the Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Jasprit bottom-side Sheffield United last whistle. clipped the top of the bar, before a pow- post. Substitute Zalewski made an imme- Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Sunday. Solskjaer’s team had tripped up in erful shot from the Uruguayan was saved diate impact when his volley caused the Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Spurs are at Leeds today needing a the semi-finals of two League Cups, the by Antonio Mirante. Roma winner on the 83rd minute, but it Thakur, Umesh Yadav, KL Rahul (subject victory to keep their hopes alive for a FA Cup and the Europa League since he The visitors took the lead soon went down as a Telles own goal after to fitness), Wriddhiman Saha (subject top-four finish. succeeded Jose Mourinho in Dec. 2018, after, when a Fred pass sent Cavani taking a heavy deflection. to fitness)