GGOLFOLF | Page 3 SSWIMMINGWIMMING | Page 4 Champ Titmus times scrambles on it perfectly 18 to capture to beat rival third title Ledecky

Tuesday, July 27, 2021 WEIGHTLIFTING Dhul-Hijjah 17, 1442 AH Diaz clinches GULF TIMES fi rst-ever Olympic gold for Philippines SP RT Page 2

OLYMPICS I am ready to give my

MEDALS best for Qatar, says TALLY

Country G S B T Japan 8 2 3 13 United States 7 3 4 14 6 5 7 18 shooter al-Rumaihi Russian OC 4 5 3 12 Great Britain 3 3 1 7 3 0 4 7 ‘I always wanted to be among the elite athletes, and I am happy to compete at Olympics’ Australia 2 1 3 6 Kosovo 2 0 0 2 Italy 1 4 4 9 FOCUS 1 2 2 5 Canada 1 2 1 4 Hungary 1 1 0 2 Swimmer al-Obaidly Tunisia 1 1 0 2 Croatia 1 0 1 2 Slovenia 1 0 1 2 ready to impress in Austria 1 0 0 1 Ecuador 1 0 0 1 his Olympic debut Hong Kong 1 0 0 1 Iran 1 0 0 1 thing is going well, we are working By Sports Reporter Norway 1 0 0 1 Tokyo together in full cooperation, we are doing our best to take up Qatar’s Philippines 1 0 0 1 sport movement to new heights”. 1 0 0 1 atar’s promising swim- Meanwhile, Qatar’s athletes are 1 0 0 1 mer Abdulaziz al-Obaidly all set to begin their campaign in Netherlands 0 3 0 3 is geared up to make his athletics event from July 30. Qa- Taiwan 0 2 2 4 debut at the Tokyo 2020 tar’s track and fi eld stars, including OlympicQ Games. The 19-year-old World high jump champion Mutaz Brazil 0 2 1 3 will be in action today in the men’s Barshim, have been training in Ta- Georgia 0 2 0 2 200m breaststroke heats at the To- kasaki, near Tokyo for the last one Czech Republic 0 1 1 2 kyo Aquatics Centre. week. Barshim will be in action on Indonesia 0 1 1 2 By participating at the Tokyo July 30. Femi Ogunode will partici- Serbia 0 1 1 2 Games and competing against top pate in men’s 100m and 200m re- swimmer, al-Obaidly will have an spectively, Ashraf El Saifi will com- Spain 0 1 1 2 opportunity to develop his swim- pete in the men’s hammer throw and Switzerland 0 1 1 2 ming skills and come back home Abubaker Hayder will take part in Belgium 0 1 0 1 with greater experience. “I will do men’s 800m while Musab Adam and Bulgaria 0 1 0 1 my best and fi ght tooth and nail to Abdulrhaman Saieed will compete Qatar’s trap shooter Mohamed al-Rumaihi trains at the Asaka Shooting Range in Tokyo yesterday. Colombia 0 1 0 1 improve my personal record and gain in 1,500m. Abdulrahman Samba Denmark 0 1 0 1 By Sports Reporter The 32-year-old shooter secured his ympics two years ago, I underwent ex- further experience in swimming, the will take part in men’s 400m hur- India 0 1 0 1 Doha spot at the Tokyo Olympics when he tensive preparations. I was very happy Qatari youngster said yesterday. dles and Bashayer al-Mnawari will fi nished fi fth in the trap event at the with that and now I am ready for the Qatar’s Deputy Chef De Mission be fi rst Qatari female to hit the track Jordan 0 1 0 1 2019 Asian Shooting Championships show. I have arrived in the best condi- Ahmed al-Darweesh said: “Every- in 100m. 0 1 0 1 atari trap shooter Mohamed held in Doha, Qatar. tion at the Olympics,” he said. 0 0 3 3 al-Rumaihi says he is confi - Al-Rumaihi, who was 23rd in the The shooter also said getting the dent of having a memorable world championships in 2015, is ac- opportunity to be a fl ag bearer at the 0 0 3 3 outing at the Tokyo Olym- companied by his coach Robert Tokyo Olympics was a proud moment. Egypt 0 0 2 2 pics.Q Al-Rumaihi, who is aiming for a Mlodzianowski in Tokyo. “Being a fl ag bearer was not a small Mongolia 0 0 2 2 podium fi nish in his debut Games, has The Qatari trained in Italy in the thing. It was a very proud moment for Turkey 0 0 2 2 completed his training session and got run up to Tokyo Games and he feels me,” he said. 0 0 2 2 a feel of the Asaka Shooting Range in it has helped him a lot. “My train- Majid al-Nuaimi, QSAA Secretary- Tokyo, which will host the trap qualifi - ing for the games was very good. The General, is also confi dent of a good Estonia 0 0 1 1 cation and fi nal over two days, tomor- training camp in Italy which lasted for show from al-Rumaihi. “Mohamed Israel 0 0 1 1 row and on Thursday. more than a month was very useful as has a strong chance of achieving good Ivory Coast 0 0 1 1 “I always wanted to be among the I competed in diff erent events there. results in the Olympics. He has shown Kuwait 0 0 1 1 elite athletes, and I am very happy to Truly, it helped a lot,” he said. a lot of commitment in the last two Mexico 0 0 1 1 compete at the Olympics. I am ready Al-Rumaihi started his preparation years. He has left no stone unturned to give my best for my country,” al- for the game just after his qualifi cation in his preparations and I feel he is fully Qatar’s swimmer Abdulaziz al-Obaidly (right) poses with Qatar Swimming New Zealand 0 0 1 1 Rumaihi said yesterday. in 2019. “After qualifying for the Ol- ready,” said al-Nuaimi. Association president Khalil al-Jaber in Tokyo yesterday.

FOOTBALL Cherif-Tijan rise to No. 1 ranking Qatar to face USA in Gold Cup semi-fi nals Doha: Qatar’s beach volleyball stars Cherif Younousse and Tijan Ahmed, who AFP are taking part in the Tokyo Olympic Los Angeles Games, have clinched the World No 1 spot in the International Volleyball Fed- eration (FIVB) ranking for the first time, atar will take on the United States in the Concacaf yesterday. They have ended Norway’s Gold Cup semi-fi nals on Thursday. The US scored Anders Mol and Christian Sorum reign a hard-fought 1-0 win over Jamaica in the quar- at the top of the charts as the new rank- ter-fi nals at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas, ings placed Qatari duo right at the top Qon Sunday. Matthew Hoppe scored the go-ahead goal on a with 5,160 points. Norway’s pair is at the header after taking a cross from Cristian Roldan in the 83rd second spot with 4,960 points. minute for the US. The third seed Qatari pair defeated In the earlier game in Texas, short-handed Canada also Switzerland’s Adrian Heidrich and Mirco punched their ticket to the semis after a dominating 2-0 vic- Gerson 2-0 (21-17, 21-16) in their first Pool tory over Costa Rica. David Junior Hoilett scored to make it C match at the Shiokaze Park on Sunday. 1-0 in the 18th minute by running onto a long ball and lobbing a shot over Costa Rica goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado as Cana- da reached its fi rst semi-fi nal since 2007. Stephen Eustaquio scored Canada’s second goal after a run in the box, fi nding the ball and blasting it into the back of the net to make it 2-0 in the 69th minute. The Canadians will face defending cham- pion Mexico on Thursday in Houston for a spot in the fi nal. Meanwhile, Qatar squad reached in Austin, Texas, ahead of their semi-fi nal. Qatar’s players arrive in Austin, Texas, yesterday, ahead of their Concacaf Gold Cup semi-final against the US. Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, July 27, 2021

SHOOTING Hancock gets gold, Kuwait’s al-Rashidi wins bronze Reuters you could still get in’. I was mad at Rio, but men’s defending champi- her silver medal to the people of Tokyo myself for a little while, just work- on Gabriele Rossetti did not even Italy. “It has been a hard last year ing through the process of under- make the fi nal in Tokyo. Barely because of the pandemic, in Italy standing what went wrong.” an hour before at the same range, especially,” said the 38-year-old. incent Hancock became Jesper Hansen of Denmark English prevailed in a nail-biting “I wanted to come here to have an Olympic champion took the silver and the bronze fi nish over defending champion a new beginning and I wanted to for the third time as went to Kuwait’s Abdullah al- Diana Bacosi to win the women’s confi rm the Olympic title that I he and Amber English Rashidi, who turns 58 next gold with an Olympic record won in Rio and I’m very happy Vhelped the United States sweep month. After regrouping of 56. English pumped her to be a part of the last part of the the skeet gold medals yesterday. quickly, Hancock managed fi st and looked emotional competition for the silver and gold The 32-year-old qualifi ed for the to squeeze himself into the as she fought back tears af- medals.” China’s Wei Meng won fi nal via a shoot-off but went on top six to advance to the ter helping the US beat Italy the bronze. Chiara Cainero, who to win the gold with an Olympic fi nal and there was no look- in the latest round of a skeet won the 2008 title in and record of 59 after a dominant ing back. He missed just one of rivalry between the nations. An fi nished behind compatriot Bacosi display of marksmanship at the the 60 targets before wrapping army offi cer from a shooting fam- in Rio fi ve years ago, could not get Asaka Shooting Range. himself in a US fl ag and standing ily, English said the qualifi cation through the qualifying round. “I came off the fi eld and I’m beaming at the shotgun range lit- round spread over two days and like, I’m done,” the American, tered with shattered clay targets. the drama in the fi nal did make her who won also gold at the Beijing Hancock became the third “extremely nervous”. USA’s gold medallist Vincent and Games, said of the shooter to win a specifi c event at “I’m just so thankful that it’s Hancock (centre), Denmark’s six-shooter logjam chasing the three Olympics, after German Ralf over. One more day of that would silver medallist Jesper Hansen last three places in the fi nal. Schumann in the 25-metre rapid have been a lot. I’m very, very and Kuwait’s bronze medallist “But then one of my coaches fi re pistol and Korean great Jin happy with the result, and happy Abdullah al-Rashidi pose on the said, ‘No, no, you have a shoot-off . Jong-oh in the 50-metre pistol. I was able to perform,” she said. men’s skeet podium in Tokyo It’s going to be a big shoot-off but Italy had won both skeet golds in An emotional Bacosi dedicated yesterday. (AFP)

WEIGHTLIFTING TENNIS Djokovic, Osaka cruise as women’s Diaz wins fi rst-ever seeds tumble

AFP Tokyo

ovak Djokovic strolled Olympic gold medal into the third round of the Tokyo Olympics tennis tournament ‘I’m looking forward Nyesterday as Japanese star Nao- mi Osaka’s path to gold opened now to enjoy my life up further after a host of leading women’s seeds exited. after so many sacrifices’ Djokovic smacked 14 aces in for Philippines a 6-4, 6-3 win over Germany’s 48th-ranked Jan-Lennard Struff Japan’s Naomi Osaka in action AFP for her exploits in Rio and her and will play Spain’s Alejandro during her second round match Tokyo profi le soared when she won Davidovich Fokina for a place in against Viktorija Golubic of Asian Games gold in Jakarta in the quarter-fi nals. Switzerland yesterday. (Reuters) 2018. But on that occasion China The world number one had led eightlifter Hidilyn were suspended by the Interna- calls for organisers to push back Osaka had not played since Diaz made history tional Weightlifting Federation start times to avoid the worst of May, when she walked out of yesterday when she for multiple doping violations. the punishing heat after blazing the French Open saying media became the fi rst China have been dominant sunshine brought the extreme commitments were harming her Wathlete from the Philippines to since their return later in 2018 weather policy into play in round mental health. The second seed win an Olympic gold medal. and have had it all their own way one. But a gentle breeze and is the highest-ranked player left The 30-year-old Rio 2016 sil- so far in Tokyo in the absence of slightly overcast skies at Ariake in the women’s draw follow- ver medallist from the southern fi erce rivals North Korea. The Tennis Park made for less bru- ing the shock fi rst-round exit of city of Zamboanga realised her fi rst three weightlifting golds tal conditions on the third day world number one and Wimble- dream in the women’s 55kg class were all won by Chinese athletes of the Games. “I was struggling don champion Ashleigh Barty. at the Tokyo International Fo- — in the women’s 49kg through with certain things in the Third seed Aryna Sabalenka rum, smashing her personal best Hou Zhihui on Saturday and fi rst round, but today was was beaten by Donna Vekic to see off world record holder men’s winners Li Fabin (61kg) far more pleasant to play, in the second round yester- Liao Qiuyun of China who had and Chen Lijun (67kg) on Sun- just a higher level of tennis day. to settle for silver. day. on my side,” said Djokovic. “It defi nitely would mean With Liao setting a target of Liao was gracious in defeat as “I’m very pleased with the way I a lot for me to win gold here, but 223kg, just four kilogrammes the Chinese gold rush in weight- felt on the court.” I know it’s a process,” said Osa- shy of her own world record, lifting was halted in stunning As Djokovic edges closer to- ka, who next plays 2019 French Diaz was faced with a fi nal clean fashion. wards a Golden Grand Slam, Open runner-up Marketa Von- and jerk of 127kg to win — fully “I really respect Diaz as an after already snapping up the drousova. “I know that these are 5kg more than she had ever opponent because she did the Australian Open, Roland Garros the best players in the world and achieved in competition. best she could, in fact better and Wimbledon titles this year, I honestly haven’t played in a With a massive eff ort she than that and that is the ulti- he appears unfazed by the rising while so I’m trying to take it one hoisted the huge Olympic record mate,” Liao said. pressure. match at a time. But all in all I’m weight and the tears of joy began “She did a better job and it is “I think that once you reach just really happy to be here.” to fl ow even before she dropped claim an unprecedented gold nice for all the people that were the top spots in the rankings Sabalenka lost 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 the bar to the fl oor after a trium- in her fourth and probably fi nal supporting her.” and start winning Slams, you’re (7/3) to Vekic, while 2020 French phant eff ort. Games. Diaz, known as “Haidee”, going to experience diff erent Open champion Iga Swiatek was Liao took the silver, with Ka- “I’m looking forward to going has a huge social media follow- kinds of expectations and pres- left in tears after going down zakhstan’s Zulfi ya Chinshanlo back home to the Philippines to ing in her home country which sure from yourself and people in straight sets to Spain’s Paula the bronze 10kg adrift of the be with my family because I re- is set to grow. Internet plat- around,” said Djokovic. “Being a Badosa. Belgium’s Alison Van top two. It’s unbelievable, it’s ally miss them,” she said, chok- forms instantly turned her into Grand Slam champion and being Uytvanck knocked out Czech a dream, come true,” Diaz said ing up once more with emo- the country’s top trending number one in the world carries 10th seed Petra Kvitova in three moments after the Philippines tion. “I’m looking forward topic on Twitter as news of a lot of weight.” sets as Sara Sorribes Tormo Air Force woman shed more now to enjoy my life after so her win spread, upstaging Osaka raced into the last 16 as backed up her defeat of Barty tears on the podium as she sa- many sacrifi ces.” President Rodrigo Duterte’s she powered past Switzerland’s with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Fio- luted her fl ag and sung the na- Diaz’s medal was just the fi nal State of the Nation ad- Viktorija Golubic 6-3, 6-2 in just na Ferro. tional anthem. 11th by the Philippines since dress. over an hour, playing her sec- Elina Svitolina was in danger “I want to say to the young they fi rst took part in the Olym- “Congratulations, Sgt Hidi- ond match in as many days after of joining the exodus of top play- generation in the Philippines, pics in 1924, and now the only lyn Diaz!” tweeted the Armed lighting the Olympic cauldron ers, but the Ukrainian scrapped ‘You can have this dream of gold gold. Forces of the Philippines where on Friday. “Honestly, I feel like her way past Ajla Tomljanovic too’. This is how I started and fi - Diaz became just the second the weightlifter is enlisted. Vice I was a bit more nervous before 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. French Open nally I was able to do it.” Hidilyn Diaz (also above) of the Philippines during 55kg class athlete from her country to win President Leni Robredo said: the match,” said Osaka. “I felt a champion Barbora Krejcikova Diaz was already assured a weightlifting event in Tokyo yesterday. (Reuters) multiple Olympic medals, join- “Big win for the Philippines!! lot of butterfl ies, but I think as I beat Canadian teenager Leylah place in her country’s sport- ing swimmer Teofi lo Yldefonzo Thank you for making us proud, started playing and feeling more Fernandez 6-2, 6-4 and two- ing folklore, alongside the likes to win an Olympic medal — Diaz spent the last year and who won bronze in the men’s Hidilyn.” Duterte’s spokesman, comfortable, I knew that no time Grand Slam winner Gar- of boxing icon Manny Pac- her surprise silver fi ve years a half training in exile in Ma- 200m breaststroke in 1928 and Harry Roque, congratulated matter what it would be a great bine Muguruza swatted China’s quiao, as the only woman from ago breaking a 20-year medal laysia because of Covid restric- 1932. Diaz “for bringing pride and match.” Wang Qiang aside for the loss of the sprawling archipelago ever drought for the Philippines. tions, so dedicated was she to She became a national hero glory to the Philippines”. Before arriving at the Games, just three games.

Nagornyy’s Russian ‘typhoon’ storms to gymnastics team gold ’s Russian team stormed past music was chosen to play the role of super possible,” Nagornyy said. “I was concerned defending champions Japan and superpower sub, as ’s national anthem cannot be that the judges might want to give the host China to claim the coveted men’s artistic used because the country is under a doping country the medal. I had planned three com- gymnastics gold at the Tokyo Olympics yes- suspension and its athletes are competing binations, including one simpler programme terday with the last tumble on the . under a neutral banner. and one with my named elements. I’d decided The Russians turned the tables on Japan, who The outcome of the first gold on off er at the to go with the simpler programme, but there had pipped them to the title in Rio in 2016. gymnastics competition was in the balance was a mistake before the end so we decided China had to settle for bronze. right until the closing exercise. China were to adjust.” “Do you remember the news about the within less than a point of the Rio silver Ablyazin, winning his sixth Olympic medal, typhoon (Tropical Storm Nepartak) this morn- medallists going into the sixth rotation, with added: “We all know that we needed to do ing? Well, the typhoon has happened, we Japan, the early pacesetters, on course well on the floor. We knew that if we did we took the medal, so don’t worry about the for third. would have a medal, we just didn’t know typhoon anymore,” Nagornyy smiled. But a brilliant last throw of the dice on which one. I was worried when I stepped Nagornyy was joined by the from Tokyo teenager out of bounds because the floor exercise — the 2018 world all-around champion Daiki Hashimoto, earning a high 15.100 is everything. We won by a tenth and that’s who was miraculously competing after re- points, propelled the Games’ hosts back nothing.” covering from surgery on a severed Achilles into at least second. They finished with a total of 262.500 points, tendon in April. With the temperature rising and pulses rac- with Japan on 262.397 and China on 261.894. Also in the team winning Russia’s first men’s ing, Nagornyy chalked up his feet and hands Britain finished fourth ahead of the United team gold since Atlanta in 1996 were David and took to the floor to try to get the Russian States, Switzerland and Ukraine, with Ger- Belyavskiy and Denis Ablyazin. Olympic Committee team over the line. many coming in last of the eight finalists. And they swelled with pride on top of the po- And the reigning world all-around champion Hashimoto and Nagornyy are due to meet dium as Tchaikovsky’s concerto No.1 filtered pulled it off superbly, his score of 14.666 again tomorrow in the all-around competition (From left) Gold medallists Russia’s , Nikita Nagornyy, Artur Dalaloyan and Denis Abliazin out through the sound system at the Ariake securing the ROC a memorable win. “I just after finishing first and second in qualifying. celebrate after winning the men’s team event at the Tokyo 2020 in Gymnastics Centre. The Russian composer’s wanted them to publish the score as fast as (AFP) Tokyo yesterday. (AFP) Gulf Times Tuesday, July 27, 2021 3 SPORT

GOLF HORSE RACING Al Shaqab Racing’s Fowairet wins Champ scrambles Prix des Sables n the colours of Al Shaqab take the lead just before the fi nal Racing, Fowairet (FR) (TM bend on the tight turning track Fred Texas x Balica De Faust) and once in the home straight opened her scorecard in the the Fowairet galloped out well IPrix des Sables-Wathba Stallions to hold off her rivals, winning on challenging 18 Cup, a conditions race for Pure- comfortably by three-fourth of bred Arabians aged 4 and over at a length in front of the JF Ber- Pompadour, France, on Sunday. nard-trained and Tom Pauquet- Trained by Charles Gourdain, ridden Halwicha De Bozouls (FR) Fowairet was making her belated (Mahabb x Jidwicha De Bozouls) seasonal bow. She ran four times with the Eric Dell’ova-trained as a 3YO and was placed once. and Jordan Plateaux Horjamne- This time, she dropped back in ridden coming in third as he was to capture 3rd title trip in this race, over 1,700m, further three-fourth of a length having only run over 2,000m or behind the runner-up. further previously. By Al Shaqab Racing’s Pure- ‘I made it a little interesting. I made a great approach to save par’ Under jockey Maxime Foulon, bred Arabian sire TM Fred Tex- the four-year-old fi lly sat in sec- as, Fowairet was also bred by Al AFP ond behind the pacemaker Hor- Shaqab Racing. Her dam, Balica Los Angeles jamne (FR) (Dormane x Cahrein) De Faust, was placed on multiple throughout. She then came to occasions in Qatar.

ameron Champ sank a tap-in par putt on the treacherous par-fi ve 18th hole Sunday at the 3MC Open for a fi ve-under 66 and his third career victory on the PGA Tour. The 26-year-old American had to overcome a bout of de- hydration on the back nine and a wobble off the tee at the par- fi ve closing hole to top the lea- derboard at the Twin Cities golf course with a 15-under 269. Champ clinched the two stroke victory with a dazzling approach shot on 18 that sailed over the pin then spun back- wards. But Champ didn’t get there without a moment of Al Shaqab Racing’s Fowairet won the Prix des Sables-Wathba Stallions frustration after his drive on 18 Cup at Pompadour, France. PICTURE: Maxime Dupey sailed way left and landed in the tallest grass on the course. “I made it a little interesting,” said Champ. “I made a great ap- proach to save par.” Louis Oosthuizen shot a 66 and tied for second with fellow Rockets coach Flower South African Charl Schwartzel (68) and Jhonattan Vegas (68). American Keith Mitchell fi n- out of Hundred ished in solo fi fth at 12 under and Canada’s Adam Hadwin (68), the second round co-leader, match with Covid highlighted a group of fi ve golf- ers tied for sixth at 11 under, four AFP He was in India working as shots adrift of Champ. Cameron Champ poses with the trophy after winning the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota. (Getty Images/AFP) London Kings XI Punjab’s assistant For the fourth straight day the coach when the Indian Premier fi nishing hole at Twin Cities in to just two feet setting up an this season including missing 11 sank two more birdies on his Leading scores League was curtailed in May, Blaine, Minnesota proved to be easy putt for the victory. Champ, cuts. This is just his second top front nine. The red-hot Oosthu- (USA unless noted, par-71): rent Rockets head coach either side of which he coached back breaker with its mini-lake who earned $1.2 million for the 10 fi nish this year. “Everybody izen was seeking his fi rst win on 269-Cameron Champ 69-67- Andy Flower and two Multan Sultans to the Pakistan at the front that swallowed 124 win, also had to overcome a bout peaks and develops at diff erent U.S. soil after posting four top- 67-66 members of his support Super League title, initially in golf balls. of dehydration on the back nine, times and I have always been a 10s in his past six starts. 271-Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) staff have tested positive Pakistan and then in the UAE Number 18 is ranked the most taking a break between the 15th late bloomer,” he said. The 3M featured a watered 68-68-69-66, Jhonattan Vegas Tfor the coronavirus and will miss after a coronavirus outbreak diffi cult par fi ve on the PGA Tour and 16th holes to clear his head. Oosthuizen, of Mossel Bay, down fi eld as it was being played (VEN) 64-69-70-68, Charl the Hundred fi xture at Trent among players caused a post- for a reason as Champ found out “I got dehydrated,” he said. had a strong fi nishing kick in the alongside the men’s golf tour- Schwartzel (RSA) 67-68- 68-68 Bridge, the England and Wales ponement. this week. His tee shot landed “My body started getting light fourth round, rolling in birdies nament at the Tokyo Olympics. 272-Keith Mitchell 69-70-66-67 Cricket Board have announced. He took over as head coach in the deep grass forcing him to headed.” on three of his fi nal four holes in The next tournament on the 273-Mito Pereira (CHI) 70-67-69- Rockets player Steven Mul- of the Rockets for the inaugural have to punch out to get back on Champ hopes this win means his tournament debut. Tour is the WGC-FedEx Invita- 67, Adam Hadwin (CAN) 67-65- laney and another, also un- season of the Hundred – English the fairway. He would go on to he has turned the corner after a He began his round with a tional starting August 5 in Mem- 73-68, Brian Stuard 70-64-70-69, named, support staff member domestic cricket’s new 100 balls nail his 127 yard approach shot string of disappointing results birdie, followed by a bogey then phis, Tennessee. K.H. Lee (KOR) 69-67-68-69 have been withdrawn from the per side competition – when fi xture against Northern Super- former New Zealand captain chargers after being identifi ed Stephen Fleming, the team’s FOOTBALL as close contacts. Paul Franks, original choice, withdrew be- already a member of the East cause of Covid-related travel re- Midlands team’s backroom staff , strictions. will replace former England boss All-rounder Mullaney played Flower as the Rockets’ coach in the Rockets’ opening fi xture against the Superchargers. of the Hundred, a nine- Ronaldo undergoes Juve medical The Rockets are also the Hun- win against Southern Brave on AFP dred team of England Test cap- Saturday, meaning the team will Rome tain Joe Root, who is due to lead have to make at least one change the hosts in the fi rst Test against to that line-up. India at Nottingham’s Trent And with nine days to go un- ortuguese striker Cristiano Ron- Bridge starting on August 4. til star batsman Root is meant aldo underwent a medical in Tu- It now appears that 53-year- to lead England in the fi rst Test, rin yesterday ahead of his fourth old former wicketkeeper/bats- news of the Rockets’ virus cases season with Juventus, along with man Flower – arguably Zimba- will be a particular worry to the Pfour other returning Euro 2020 partici- bwe’s greatest cricketer – and ECB after they had to select an pants. those of his colleagues who have entirely new squad for the ODI The 36-year-old Portugal internation- tested positive for Covid-19 will series at home to Pakistan earlier al, who has one-year left on his contract, have to isolate for at least 10 days. this month following a dressing fl ew back to northern Italy on Sunday That would mean them missing room outbreak in the preceding night. the Rockets’ next two matches, Sri Lanka series. Yesterday morning the top scorer in against London Spirit at Lord’s on Covid-19 has also disrupted Serie A last season arrived at the team’s July 29 and Birmingham Phoenix the English county circuit, with medical centre for tests where he was at Edgbaston on August 1. Derbyshire abandoning their greeted by about one hundred cheering Flower has been a sought- Championship match against Juve fans and signed autographs. after fi gure on the global Twen- Essex before pulling out of the Also returning were European cham- ty20 franchise circuit. Blast. pionship participants Dejan Kulusevski, Matthijs De Ligt, Aaron Ramsey and Adr- ien Rabiot. Ronaldo was reported to be set to meet Shaw, Yadav to join India coach Massimiliano Allegri and the Ju- squad in England ventus management to clarify his future amid speculation linking him with a move Prithvi Shaw and Suryakumar Yadav will bolster India’s batting to Paris Saint-Germain. Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo wearing a protective face mask takes a photo with fans as he arrives at Juventus medical centre in lineup for their Test series in England after being named as injury The fi ve-time Ballon d’Or winner’s Turin, Italy, yesterday. (Reuters) replacements yesterday. Shaw and Yadav are currently in Sri Lanka future had been in doubt after a diffi cult playing a limited-overs series. They will switch because of injuries campaign during which Juventus lost between the club and the player has been ros, arguing that he did not have the right TOTTENHAM SIGN GIL WITH LAMELA to Shubman Gill, Avesh Khan and Washington Sundar, the Board of their Serie A crown after nine years, ex- signed to end the legal cases that were to collect the bonus money since he cut MOVING TO SEVILLA IN EXCHANGE Control for cricket in India announced. ited the Champions League in the last 16 pending between the two parties: three short his contract with the club. Tottenham Hotspur have signed Bryan It was not immediately clear whether they would take part in the and only sealed fourth place and elite Eu- claims related to labour and a civil case,” Neymar also took FC Barcelona to court Gil from Sevilla, with Erik Lamela joining final two Twenty20 matches in Colombo. Yadav played a key role in ropean football on the fi nal day. the club said in a statement. to demand three million euros which he the Spanish club as part of the deal, the India’s win on Sunday. The BCCI said Sundar had needed an injec- Juventus open the new season at Udi- The Brazilian superstar Neymar en- argued the club owed him relating to his Premier League side announced yester- tion on a finger in his right hand and was ruled out of the England nese with Allegri, who signed Ronaldo joyed a successful spell at Barca between fi nal month at the Spanish side before he day. Gil has agreed a contract until 2026 tour. Khan fractured a thumb in a warm-up game while Gill suff ered in 2018, back at the helm two years after 2013 and 2017 before joining Paris Saint- joined Paris Saint-Germain. with the north London club. a shin injury during the World Test Championship (WTC) final defeat his shock departure despite winning fi ve Germain for a then world record 222 mil- Despite their legal disputes, Barca have The 20-year-old winger will link up to New Zealand last month. consecutive league titles with the Turin lion euros ($261 million). He joined Barca made several attempts to re-sign Neymar. with his new teammates at the Totten- Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has meanwhile recovered club. Former Real Madrid and Manches- in 2013 and signed a new fi ve-year con- But a fresh bid seems impossible for ham Hotspur Stadium following the con- from Covid-19 with two negative tests and started preparations ter United star Ronaldo has scored 101 tract in 2016, which included a renewal now, given Barcelona’s fi nancial problems clusion of the football tournament at the for the five Tests starting August 4 at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. goals in total for the club in 133 games. bonus worth 64.4 million euros. Most of as a result of the coronavirus pandemic Tokyo Olympics, where he is represent- Bowling coach B. Arun, Wriddhiman Saha and Abhimanyu Easwaran the lawsuits concern this bonus. although the deal to settle all outstanding ing Spain. This transfer agreement ends have completed self-isolation in London and joined the squad in BARCELONA SETTLE Barcelona paid 20.75 million euros of lawsuits is bound to renew speculation of Lamela’s eight-year stint at Spurs. Durham, the BCCI said. Virat Kohli’s Test side stayed in England and NEYMAR LAWSUITS this bonus before Neymar left for Paris a possible return. The 29-year-old Argentinian joined were given a break after the WTC final in Southampton. Spanish football club Barcelona said yes- Sant-Germain but then refused to pay the The 29-year-old remains a popular from Roma in August 2013 and made 257 Pant did not stay in the team hotel during that period and tested terday they had “ended out of court in an remaining amount, insisting the terms of fi gure amongst the Barca squad where he appearances in all competitions. “A club positive on July 8. Net bowler Dayanand Garani also tested positive amicable fashion” the various lawsuits his contract had been broken. formed a devastating attacking trio with man through and through, we wish Erik with Arun, Saha and Easwaran identified as contacts and underwent with their former player Neymar.¨ A Spanish court in June 2020 ordered Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez during his all the best for the future,” said Spurs in a 10 days of isolation. (AFP) “As such, a transactional agreement Neymar to pay Barcelona 6.8 million eu- time at Camp Nou. statement on their website. Tuesday, July 27, 2021 GULF TIMES SPORT

SPOTLIGHT Japan top medals table, Britain’s Daley strikes gold Heading the Japanese charge was 13-year-old Momiji Nishiya who took gold in skateboarding street final

AFP Tokyo

apan topped the medals table at the Tokyo Olympics after the host nation won three golds yesterday and British diver Tom DaleyJ was fi nally crowned an Olympic champion at his fourth Games in an emotional triumph. Heading the Japanese charge was 13-year-old skateboarder Momiji Nishiya who took gold a day after the host nation also won the men’s title. “I’m so glad to become the youngest (Japanese gold medallist) at my fi rst Olympics... tears came to my eyes,” Nishiya said. Nishiya fi nished ahead of Brazil’s Rayssa Leal – who at 13 years and 203 days could have become the youngest ever individual Olympic champion – and Japan’s Funa Nakayama, 16. Nishiya starred in the tricks sec- tion to score 15.26 and give the hosts a clean-sweep of the street discipline as skateboarding makes its Olympic de- Britain’s Thomas Daley (left) and Matty Lee poses with their gold medals after wining the men’s synchronised 10m platform but. Her performance mirrored that of diving during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Tokyo yesterday. (AFP) Japan teammate Yuto Horigome, who won the men’s title with a stunning se- powers Australia and the United States third gold of the day. rean men’s team have now taken gold quence of tricks on Sunday. heated up. Ariarne Titmus landed the Day three’s action got under way in the event six times at the Olympics, Shohei Ono, one of Japan’s biggest biggest blow for Australia with a pul- with chaotic scenes at the men’s tria- including in in 2016. judo stars, won his second straight Ol- sating victory over American great Ka- thlon, eventually won by Norway’s In Tokyo, the country has already ympic title with a tense victory over tie Ledecky in the 400m freestyle. Kristian Blummenfelt. In a farcical false won three of the archery events, with Georgian world champion Lasha Shav- In gymnastics, the Russian team start, around two-thirds of the 56 com- the women’s team tying for the long- datuashvili at the Nippon Budokan, claimed their fi rst men’s team gold petitors dived into the water and set off est gold streak in Olympic history with the spiritual home of the sport. Japan’s since the 1996 Atlanta Games as they on the swimming leg only to be hauled nine successive titles. In the semi-fi - third gold, and eighth of the Games stormed past defending champions back. The bungled start was caused by a nals, Japan lost in a shoot-off to South so far, came in a table tennis shock as Japan and left China in bronze medal media boat fi lming the competitors be- Korea, with Kim Je Deok’s arrow being mixed doubles pair Jun Mizutani and Japan’s Momiji Nishiya celebrates after performing a trick during the position. The outcome of the fi rst gym- fore they dived in for the swimming leg. closest to the centre, but the host coun- Mima Ito claimed their country’s fi rst skateboarding women’s street final at Ariake Sports Park in Tokyo. (AFP) nastics gold on off er was in the balance South Korea claimed gold in the ar- try won bronze after defeating Nether- ever Olympic title in the sport. China right until the closing exercise when chery men’s team event extending their lands 5-4 in the third-place match. had won every Olympic table ten- life in the public eye and become an gold. A tearful Daley paid tribute to late reigning world all-around champion reign and winning the country’s third NBA star Luka Doncic made a sensa- nis gold medal since the 2004 LGBT fi gurehead. father Rob, who died of cancer in 2011 Nikita Nagornyy secured the gold with archery gold at the Tokyo Games. Teen- tional Olympic debut, hitting 48 points Games, but Xu Xin and Liu Shiwen blew His Olympic journey began as a at the age of 40. “He never saw me win a superb score on the horizontal bar. ager Kim Je Deok, at his fi rst Olympics, as Slovenia routed Argentina 118-100. a two-game lead in a thrilling fi nal. 14-year-old at the 2008 Beijing Games an Olympic medal, get married, have Britain’s unstoppable Adam Peaty won his second gold medal, helping the “It was very special,” Doncic said. Tears fl owed at the diving venue as and he won bronzes at the 2012 and a child, teach me to drive,” said Daley. extended his dominance of the 100m South Korean team to beat Taiwan 6-0 “Both for me and the whole team.” Britain’s Daley claimed a surprise fi rst 2016 Rio Olympics, but a gold medal “He took me to every training ses- breaststroke, powering to gold in in the fi nal. He took a gold in the mixed- Covid-19 continued to stalk the Olympic gold in the synchronised 10m had remained frustratingly elusive. sion, every competition, he was always 57.37sec ahead of Dutchman Arno team event on Saturday. Games, with Dutch tennis players Jean- platform event with Matty Lee. The However yesterday, Daley and Lee cap- there.” Kamminga to retain his 2016 Olympic Arrows from Kim, Oh Jinhyek and Julien Rojer and Wesley Koolhof pull- 27-year-old Daley is hugely popular in italised after a rare blunder by China’s Elsewhere yesterday, the battle for crown. Tom Pidcock won the mountain Kim Woojin hit six perfect 10s in the ing out of the men’s doubles after Rojer Britain, where he has spent half of his Chen Aisen and Cao Yuan to snatch supremacy between swimming super- bike cross-country title for Britain’s second set of the fi nal. The South Ko- tested positive for coronavirus.

SWIMMING FOCUS Titmus times it perfectly to beat Ledecky Japan’s Mizutani and Mima stun Reuters “In the race I tried to stay as composed as I Tokyo could... and can’t believe I pulled it off .” China to win historic TT gold Hours after losing the 400m freestyle,Ledecky was back in the pool and Reuters ustralia’s Ariarne Titmus drew fi rst posted the quickest time in qualifying for Toko blood in her Olympic showdown the 200m freestyle. Ledecky swam a time with American Katie Ledecky yes- of 1:55.28 while Titmus, was fourth fastest terday after her brilliantly timed with 1:55.88. Canada’s Penny Oleksiak was apan’s dynamic duo of Jun swimA secured a famous victory in the 400m second quickest and Australian Madison Mizutani and Mima Ito nar- freestyle at the Tokyo Games. Wilson third. rowly defeated long-invin- Olympic swimming has, of late, lacked Meanwhile, breaststroke king Adam Peaty cible Chinese pair Xu Xin the excitement of hyped-up, top tier big became the fi rst British swimmer to suc- andJ Liu Shiwen to give the host rivals going head-to-head but this en- cessfully retain an Olympic title. Peaty, ar- country their fi rst Olympic table counter certainly lived up to its billing. The guably the best 100m breaststroke ever, was tennis gold in the mixed doubles rivalry between the pair caught fi re at the also on fi re. event yesterday. Mizutani earned 2019 World Championships when Titmus After setting sub-58 second times in the his third medal and Ito her second stunned an unwell Ledecky to win the 400 heats and semi-fi nals, he ramped it up a since the Rio Olympics, but a fi rst freestyle title. notch to successfully defend his crown, gold for both paddlers — and a fi rst Yesterday’s thrilling race has set the powering home in 57.37, the fi fth fastest of gold for any non-Chinese players swimming competition alight and there is all-time. He turned in 26.73 and was never since 2004. Japan’s Mima Ito (left) and Jun Mizutani celebrate after beating much more to come with the threatened with Dutchman Arno Kammin- The 32-year-old Japanese China’s Xu Xin (second left) and Liu Shiwen (right) to win the mixed pair set to clash again in the 200 ga, the only other swimmer besides peaty to paddler hugged his compatriot doubles table tennis final in Tokyo yesterday. (AFP) freestyle tomorrow and then ever go under 58, taking silver with Italy’s the moment they wrapped up the again in the 800 on Saturday. Nicolo Martinenghi third. title, but he said the embrace was Mizutani and women’s world the sport, winning 28 of the 32 Ledecky, a fi ve-times Olym- Meanwhile, the reign of Swedish defend- so strong that Ito pushed back No.2 Ito, who are from the same golds awarded since it was added pic gold medal winner, grabbed Ariarne Titmus of Australia celebrates after ing champion and world record holder Sarah and told him, “It hurts”. hometown and have known each at the 1988 Games, including an early lead and held it until the 350m mark winning the women’s 400m freestyle final Sjostrom was brought to a halt in the wom- Men’s world No.2 Xu and other since childhood, the all eight women’s singles titles. when the 20-year-old Titmus edged ahead at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. (Reuters) en’s 100m butterfl y by Maggie MacNeil. world champion Liu led af- 4-3 win over Xu and Liu Xu and Liu, who silently tucked and never looked back. The Canadian world champion delivered a ter the fi rst two games but was sweet revenge. They their silver medals inside their “She defi nitely swam a really smart race. Titmus, unsurprisingly, was less in a stunning burst of speed over the fi nal 50m Mizutani and Ito fought lost to the Chinese pair in pockets once they stepped off the She was really controlled up front,” the mood for such a calm analysis of the race. to touch in 55.59 secs, the third fastest in back to win the third game. the mixed doubles fi nals podium, both said their defeat American said. “I felt smooth and strong. I “I can’t believe, it. I’m trying to contain my history to edge China’s Zhang Yufei (55.64) While the powerful Chinese of the ITTF’s World Tour was “unacceptable”. looked up at 300 metres and she was right emotions. To come here and do the job, I’m into second. Australia’s Emma McKeon, made a brief comeback in the Grand Finals and World Tour In bronze-medal match, Lin there, so I knew it would be a battle to the over the moon,” she gushed. “I thanked her who helped Australia’s women smash the sixth game, the Japanese pair Swedish Open in 2019 plus the Yun Ju and Cheng I Ching of Tai- end. I didn’t feel like I died or really fell off . (Ledecky), I wouldn’t be here without her. 4x100m relay world record and claim gold did not lose the momentum and World Tour German Open a year wan had a 4-0 clean-sweep win She just had a faster fi nal 50m or 75m and She set this incredible standard. All credit on Sunday, was third. Sjostrom fi nished trumped their opponents 5-11 later. China have long enjoyed a against French duo Emmanuel got her hand to the wall fi rst.” to her for the swimmer she is,” she added. seventh. 7-11 11-8 11-9 11-9 6-11 11-6. For reputation as the powerhouse in Lebesson and Yuan Jia Nan.

Coach goes wild aft er Australia’s Bonus prize for an Olympic Over half of Tokyo tuned in for Argentine fencer accepts marriage Weight of the world on my Titmus claims freestyle gold medal: 30 seconds mask-free opening ceremony: survey proposal in front of TV cameras shoulders, admits Biles The coach of Australian swimmer Ariarne Olympic athletes have received an extra incen- More than half of Tokyo’s households watched Argentine fencer Maria Belen Perez Maurice American gymnastics star Simone Biles says Titmus delivered one of the moments of the tive for winning a medal after organisers said the Olympics opening ceremony live on televi- accepted a marriage proposal from her long- she sometimes feels like she has “the weight of Olympics so far yesterday by launching into a they could remove their masks for 30 seconds sion – the second-highest figure since the 1964 term partner and coach in front of television the world” on her shoulders. Biles, who begins spectacular celebration after his pupil clinched for photos on the podium. Medal-winners were Tokyo Games, a survey showed. The virus- cameras at the Olympics yesterday, the second her gold medal hunt at the Tokyo Olympics gold in the 400m freestyle. urged not to abuse the relaxation in the rules postponed Games are being held in largely time he had posed the question in similar fash- today, was reflecting on her flawed qualifying As Titmus touched the wall ahead of fierce at the Tokyo Games, which have been marked empty stadiums due to the Covid-19 threat ion. The athlete, after a first-round exit in her performance at the weekend. American rival Katie Ledecky, her coach Dean by their strict anti-coronavirus measures after and polls before they opened showed strong third Olympics, was disappointedly answering “It wasn’t an easy day or my best but I got Boxall turned feral, much to the delight of opening a year late. opposition as cases rose. But that did not stop questions from reporters when her coach, through it,” she wrote in a post on Instagram. “I thousands on social media. The roaring Boxall Athletes are under orders to wear their masks people tuning in to watch the opening on July Lucas Saucedo, appeared behind her with a truly do feel like I have the weight of the world kicked the air and hammered his fists before fi- unless training, competing, eating, drinking 23, according to Japan’s Video Research Ltd. piece of paper in his hand reading, “Do you on my shoulders at times. I know I brush it off nally ripping off his mask and thrusting against or sleeping, and are being tested daily. When It found 56.4 percent of households in greater want to marry me?”. He put one knee to the and make it seem like pressure doesn’t aff ect the barrier in front of him. standing on the podium, they are now shown a Tokyo watched the event, with tennis star ground. Tell me yes, a lot of people are looking me but damn sometimes it’s hard hahaha!” At one point a Japanese girl working as a vol- sign telling them to remove their masks briefly Naomi Osaka lighting the Olympic cauldron af- at us,” he said. In 2010, Saucedo tried a similar The 24-year-old, who won four gold medals at unteer appears to make an attempt to restrain for the photographers. However, Adams urged ter Japan’s emperor declared the Games open. stunt at the world championships in Paris, but the Rio Games in 2016, continued: “The Olym- Boxall, but he remained undeterred. Boxall athletes not to abuse the rules and to keep The figure was second only to the ceremony with far less luck. Back then, she replied: “Is this pics is no joke.” Biles has qualified for all six later broke into tears as Titmus collected her their masks in place unless told to take them that opened the Games in 1964, the last time a joke or what?” Eleven years on, though, she women’s finals, starting with today’s team final. gold medal on the podium at the Tokyo Aquat- off . So far this month, 153 people connected Tokyo hosted the event, when 61.2 percent of said yes. “I was speechless. I said to myself ‘Oh The USA had to settle for second behind the ics Centre, with no fans present. with the Games have tested positive. households in the capital were watching. my God’,” said Perez Maurice. Russians after an error-strewn qualifying.