BOXING | Page 5 ATHLETICS | Page 6 WBO review Mo Farah rules Horn set for one did beat fi nal double Pacquiao title blast Wednesday, July 12, 2017 FOOTBALL Shawwal 18, 1438 AH Wenger keen on GULF TIMES teen sensation Mbappe SPORT Page 3 OLYMPICS Paris, LA guaranteed to host 2024 or 2028 Games AFP from IOC members at a meeting yes- the 2028 question, insisting it was fo- in a tweet, without making reference to Lausanne terday in Lausanne, Switzerland. cused narrowly on 2024, the centenary a particular year. With the deal in place, the IOC now anniversary of the city’s last Games. has a two-month window to negotiate “I am here to convey a message to ‘GREAT’ OLYMPIC CITIES he International Olympic with Paris and Los Angeles over which say our people are ready to host these The Olympic movement has been stained Committee agreed yesterday city will go fi rst. Games,” Macron told reporters. by Games that erected grand multi- to award the 2024 and 2028 Bach said he wants a “tripartite “After three failed bids we don’t want million dollar facilities that were left to Games at the same time, eff ec- agreement” before the IOC’s main an- to lose a fourth one,” he said. crumble and rot, while the billions spent Ttively guaranteeing that Paris and Los nual meeting in Peru’s capital Lima on Paris mounted losing bids for the in public money off ered no long-term Angeles will be the hosts. September 13, when a vote on the 2024 1992, 2008 and 2012 Games. benefi t to the host communities. The French capital is tipped to stage host had been scheduled. The Los Angeles team did little to Los Angeles has stressed its near en- 2024, with the California metropolis Immediately after the double hosting quell speculation it was open to 2028. tire reliance on private funding while having hinted that it was prepared to deal was approved, Los Angeles Mayor “LA is ready to throw these Olympics vowing to use the Games to broaden wait four more years. Eric Garcetti and his Parisian counter- in two months if we are asked, or two access to sports across the city, some- The two cities were the remaining part Anne Hidalgo appeared on stage decades if it came to that because we thing it won praise for doing following candidates for the 2024 Olympics, a arm-in-arm to thank the IOC mem- have everything ready,” Garcetti said, the 1984 edition. contest that IOC boss Thomas Bach bers, a clear sign that the desired three- while noting the city was still “compet- While Paris has equally focused on said created “a golden opportunity”. way pact was achievable. ing for 2024.” leaving a positive legacy, Macron also The Olympic movement has had in- Bid chairman Casey Wasserman re- highlighted the opportunity for France to creasing trouble attracting prospective International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach (C), Mayor of PARIS ‘READY’, LA TO WAIT? minded that Los Angeles had not given rally around the “Olympic values” of tol- hosts given the soaring costs and tax- Los Angeles Eric Garcetti (L) and Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo gesture during the Delegations from the two cities — led the IOC “ultimatums” over the 2024 erance and inclusivity, saying they were payer support required. press conference after the voting at the IOC extraordinary session in Lausanne. by French President Emmanuel Macron question. embedded in the country’s “DNA.” Paris and Los Angeles mounted pro- and LA’s Garcetti — were in Lausanne “Working hard to get the Olym- “It truly is a tale of two great Olympic gressive, exemplary bids that would ties, the IOC said, making clear that it Bach lobbied for a double hosting to make fresh pitches to IOC voters. pics for the United States (L.A.).Stay cities,” said a report released last week by trim expenses by using existing facili- did not want to reject either candidate. plan, which won unanimous approval Paris has maintained a tougher line on tuned!” President Donald Trump said the IOC’s 2024 Evaluation Commission. WIMBLEDON CRICKET Shastri named India History girls Konta, coach till 2019 WC Venus into semis ‘Right now it’s a little bit surreal just because it’s quite incredible how quickly things go in tennis. I’m definitely digesting things a little bit still’ AFP London ohanna Konta became the fi rst British woman to reach the Wim- bledon semi-fi nals for 39 years yesterday, while fi ve-time cham- pionJ Venus Williams also made history as File picture of Indian cricket coach Ravi Shastri. the oldest semi-fi nalist since 1994. Konta thrilled the patriotic Centre Reuters with one loss. Court crowd with a pulsating 6-7 (2/7), Mumbai Kumble, India’s most success- 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 victory that ended second ful bowler, also guided the team seed Simona Halep’s bid to become the to one-day international series new world number one. ormer all-rounder Ravi wins over New Zealand and Eng- In a potentially classic semi-fi nal tomor- Shastri has been ap- land with losses coming only in row, Konta faces American star Venus. pointed India coach until a Twenty20 series against West Williams had her own landmark mo- the 2019 World Cup, the Indies and in the Champions ment on Centre Court with a 6-3, 7-5 win Fcountry’s cricket board (BCCI) Trophy fi nal, which they lost to over French Open champion Jelena Os- said in a statement yesterday. Pakistan. tapenko that made her the oldest semi- The 55-year-old Shastri will Shastri was among fi ve can- fi nalist at the All England Club since replace former captain Anil didates interviewed by the CAC Martina Navratilova 23 years ago. Kumble, who stepped down as on Monday to fi ll the vacant Halep’s defeat means Czech Karolina coach last month after falling out position with Indians Virender Pliskova, who lost in the Wimbledon sec- with captain Virat Kohli despite Sehwag and Lalchand Rajput, ond round, will replace Angelique Kerber enjoying a successful run during Australian Tom Moody and Eng- on top of the WTA rankings. his year in charge. lishman Richard Pybus being the Konta, 26, is the fi rst Briton since Vir- The BCCI also named former others. ginia Wade in 1978 to make the women’s India seamer Zaheer Khan as the The fi rst assignment for the semi-fi nals. team’s bowling consultant while new coaching set-up will start Wade, the last British woman to win former batting great Rahul Drav- later this month when India tour Wimbledon in 1977, was watching from id was appointed as batting con- Sri Lanka to play three tests, fi ve the Royal Box as Konta reached the sec- sultant for overseas test series. one-dayers and one Twenty20 ond Grand Slam semi-fi nal of her career, Shastri, also a renowned TV international. the other ending in a 2016 Australian Britain’s Johanna Konta reacts during her match against against Romania’s Simona Halep yesterday. commentator, was appointed Open defeat against Kerber. India’s team director in August “Right now it’s a little bit surreal just ing just two weeks after she feared her “I love this game. That’s why I put in the 2014 with Duncan Fletcher as because it’s quite incredible how quickly participation in the tournament might eff ort and the time. It’s a beautiful game. head coach. things go in tennis. I’m defi nitely digesting be ruined by a back injury suff ered in the It’s been so good to me,” Venus said. The former test all-rounder things a little bit still,” said Konta, who was Eastbourne warm-up event. “The competition keeps you growing. was put solely in charge after ranked outside the top 150 two years ago. Standing in Konta’s way is world You have to get better if you want to stay Fletcher’s term came to an end “I knew Simona was not going to give number 11 Williams, who was beaten in relevant. I love the challenge.” following India’s semi-fi nal de- me much for free. I had to be the one to this year’s Australian Open fi nal and is Having stunned the tennis world by feat at the 2015 World Cup in create my own chances. I feel fortunate chasing a fi rst major title since winning becoming the fi rst unseeded player to win Australia and New Zealand. enough that I took a few of them.” Wimbledon in 2008. the French Open last month, Ostapenko Last year the BCCI formed Born in Australia to Hungarian parents, Williams reached the last of her eight was riding an 11-match winning streak at the Cricket Advisory Commit- Konta didn’t move to England until she Wimbledon fi nals in 2009, but the Amer- the majors. tee (CAC), comprising former was 14, switching her allegiance from the ican’s victory over Ostapenko equalled But the 20-year-old was the youngest players Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav country of her birth to Britain when she her sister Serena’s total of 86 main draw player left in the tournament and Venus Ganguly and VVS Laxman, who gained citizenship in 2012. match victories at Wimbledon, the most has scythed through the draw by dis- chose Kumble for the India’s Adapting to the grass courts of south- among any active player. patching a series of opponents almost head coach position ahead of west London hadn’t been so easy for half her age.