TUESDAY, JULY 25, 2017 SPORTS SWIMMING Ledecky on course for historic 12th worlds gold BUDAPEST: Gold-medal machine medals at world championships. for a disappointing sixth in the 400m reports claim she has pulled out of the on Yuliya Efimova of Russia, the Katie Ledecky cruised into the Ledecky is on course to win her final. “It’s parked and we’ve done,” he semis to focus on the 200m individual Olympic silver medallist in Rio, and women’s 1500m freestyle final from third title-of a possible six here-in insisted. “The 200m race felt so much medley final-her strongest event-which 2012 Olympic champion Ruta yesterday’s heats at the world aquatic today’s 1500m final which would make better this morning, there was so much comes later on Monday night. Meilutyte were within a second of King. championships to stay on course for an her the first woman to win 12 world more control, I just feel more relaxed.” Australia’s Emily Seebohm, who Olympic bronze medallist Katie historic 12th worlds gold. championship golds. Fresh from his Mack Horton, who Sun defeated in won the world title two years ago in Meili of the US and Taylor McKeown, Ledecky was the fastest qualifier at 400m freestyle gold medal on Sunday, the 400m final, finished 11th and Kazan, was third fastest at 0.33secs the 200m Commonwealth champion, 15 minutes, 47.54 seconds-nearly 18 Sun Yang was the fastest through the 1.19secs adrift. “Obviously that was behind Masse. In the men’s 100m back- were also in the top five. There is bad seconds ahead of the field-to maintain men’s 200m freestyle heats into tough after yesterday, but with an stroke heats, both the Olympic cham- blood between King and Efimova, who her iron grip on the event. “I feel good. Monday’s semis, but admitted feeling evening and a bit more rest there pion, Ryan Murphy of the US, and served a 16-month doping ban until I just wanted to have a good con- jaded. should be a bit more,” said Horton. Australia’s Mitch Larkin, the defending February 2015, then won the world trolled easy swim and get a good lane RELAXED “It was always going to be tough world champion made it through to five months later in Kazan. for the final,” said Ledecky. “I was a little tired, I didn’t do my backing up and trying to get into that the evening’s semis. Efimova won Olympic silver in Rio The unstoppable 20-year-old best in the heat, but I didn’t have to,” semi, but I should be ok.” Katinka only after winning an appeal to be already picked up two golds on said the 25-year-old Chinese superstar. Hosszu, the Olympic champion, was BAD BLOOD able to race, waving her finger sig- Sunday night, winning the 400m title Despite his fatigue, Sun clocked one the second fastest into the evening’s The strength of the women’s 100m nalling ‘No1’ after winning her semi- for the third championships in a row, minutes, 45.78 seconds with Britain’s 100m backstroke semi-finals, just 0.18 breaststroke field shone through in the final. “You wave your finger ‘No1’ and then helping the United States win the James Guy, the defending world cham- seconds behind Canada’s Kylie Masse. heats with Olympic champion Lilly King you’ve been caught drug cheating ... 4x100m relay. That left her level with pion, just 0.44secs back. Hosszu refused to speak to reporters of the USA the fastest in 1:05.20 mins. I’m not a fan,” retorted King in Rio last Missy Franklin on a record 11 gold Guy is determined to make amends after her heat. Hungarian media But both the defending world champi- year. —AFP Rusty Namibia advance as Zimbabwe pay penalty JOHANNESBURG: Zimbabwe were bun- count toward the monthly FIFA rankings dled out of the African Nations and caps are awarded. Another factor that Championship Sunday by rusty Namibia, seemed to favour Zimbabwe was the rusti- just two weeks after being hailed as nation- ness of Namibia as there has been no al heroes for becoming regional champi- domestic league football for more than a ons. Many of the players who beat Zambia year due to feuding among officials. to win the COSAFA Cup southern Africa Tiny island state Comoros booked a title were in the team that beat Namibia 1-0 third-round tie against Namibia during in Harare, but lost 5-4 on penalties. August despite losing 1-0 to Lesotho at The shootout was triggered by an Setsoto Stadium in Maseru. Reboame aggregate deadlock after Namibia won the Koloti struck after only 12 minutes to get first leg of the second round qualifier 1-0 in the home team off to an encouraging start, Windhoek last weekend. Namibia convert- but they failed to score again and bowed ed all five spot-kicks, but Zimbabwe goal- out 2-1 on aggregate. keeper Herbert Rusawo had his saved to Madagascar upset Mozambique 2-0 in cost the “Warriors” the tie. Prince Dube Maputo after being held at home with scored the only goal on 39 minutes at the goals from Bela Claudel Fanomezana and National Sports Stadium, cancelling the Njiva Rakotoharimalala setting up a show- first-leg advantage Namibia gained down against Angola. through a Hendrik Somaeb scorcher. Another unexpected second leg result The exit of Zimbabwe after the second was Liberia defeating Mauritania 1-0 in of three qualifying rounds for the 2018 Nouakchott through a Christopher Jackson Nations Championship in Kenya next goal six minutes before half-time. But the January and February was a shock. They win was not enough to erase the damage had qualified for the four previous editions caused by a 2-0 loss in Monrovia last week- of a competition restricted to footballers end and Mauritania progressed to face Mali registered with clubs in their country of next month. Benin squeezed past Togo 8-7 birth. With most African nationals squad on penalties after another 1-1 draw composed almost exclusively of Europe- between the west African neighbours, this based players, the Nations Championship time in Cotonou. was introduced in 2008 to give local stars Warris Aboki gave Benin an early second international exposure. half lead that Kodjio Sewonou cancelled Matches have full international status, with 18 minutes remaining. — AFP BREDA: England’s forward Jodie Taylor (L) vies with Spain’s defender Andrea Pereira (R) during the UEFA Women’s Euro 2017 football tournament match between England and Spain at Rat Verlegh Stadion in Breda city on Sunday. — AFP Man United edges Real SOCCER Madrid on penalty kicks England sink Spain to SANTA CLARA: Jose Mourinho has chal- youngsters. They drew level when Victor lenged Anthony Martial to produce the Lindelof brought down summer signing goods on a more consistent basis after the Theo Hernandez in the area and Casemiro Manchester United frontman caught the smashed home the resulting spot-kick. eye against Real Madrid. Martial produced Zidane said he was “satisfied” with the per- close in on quarters a scintillating weaving run to set up Jesse formance, particularly the contribution of Lingard’s opening goal in United’s 1-1 draw the club’s hot prospects. against Real in the International But when asked about the depth of his BREDA: Fran Kirby and Jodie Taylor handed and then seeing her shot tipped onto the post by desperately tried to salvage their campaign. Champions Cup at Santa Clara, California, squad and whether he was chasing a England a 2-0 win over Spain in a game marred keeper Patricia Morais. Scotland found them- Scotland coach Anna Signeul bemoaned the on Sunday, albeit the French international replacement for the departed Alvaro by heavy rain in Breda on Sunday, to make it selves under pressure early in the second half, missed first-half chances. “We should have been blazed over from the spot in the penalty Morata, Zidane was cautious at being back-to-back victories at the women’s Euro tour- with Carole Costa and Tatiana Pinto firing wide, up 2-0 in the first half, but we could not put the shootout that followed the draw. drawn over any transfer business. “I’ve nament. Earlier in the day, Carolina Mendes and just like Weir and Leanne Crichton at the other ball in the net unfortunately, and then a counter The 21-year-old shone during his talked to the president, but we have a ros- substitute Ana Leite gave Portugal a 2-1 win end. Mendes then sent her left-footed effort just and the ball takes that bounce off the defender impressive debut campaign at Old Trafford ter of 28 players and I’m happy,” said the over Scotland in a clash of Euro newcomers in past the post and Leite fired over, while Weir hit and that was an unfortunate goal which put us under Louis van Gaal two years ago, yet Real boss. Rotterdam. England are all but into the quarter- the upright five minutes from the end as Scotland on the back foot,” she said. — AFP struggled under Mourinho last season- “Ultimately, we will see. We have until finals and sit at the Group D summit, having prompting speculation that he could be on August 31, but I have not asked for any thrashed Scotland 6-0 in their opener. the move this summer. (players).” United won 2-1 in a desperately The second knock-out round spot is likely to But after Martial looked back to his best, low quality penalty shootout at the conclu- go to Spain or Portugal, with the former the Monaco’s Mendy completes Mourinho admitted that talent is not the sion of the encounter, but it was an injury favourites as they take on bottom team Scotland issue for the United forward.