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Frazier’s run-scoring Dhawan, Pujara triple play helps centuries hurt Sri Yankees13 top Reds Lanka in first Test THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017 14 Germany, Sweden into women’s Euro q-finals Page 15 BUDAPEST: (L to R) Australia’s Emma McKeon (silver), Italy’s Federica Pellegrini (gold) and USA’s Katie Ledecky (silver) pose during the podium ceremony for the women’s 200m freestyle final during the swimming competition at the 2017 FINA World Championships in Budapest, yesterday.—AFP Pellegrini wins 200m freestyle world title Peaty seals breaststroke double with 50m gold BUDAPEST: Katie Ledecky surged to the plete another sprint double. Peaty, already a Pellegrini, the world-record holder, distances ranging from 100 meters (on a worlds, finishing behind Franklin in 2013 at wall. Someone else was already there. For winner over 100m, clocked 25.99 seconds, avenged a close defeat at the hands of relay) to 1,500 (the grueling metric mile) - Barcelona and Ledecky two years ago. Now, the first time ever at the world champi- just 0.04sec short of his record-setting time in Ledecky two years ago in Kazan, Russia. This finally caught up with her along the banks of the Italian is back on top. “I honestly onships, Ledecky knows what it’s like to Tuesday’s semi-finals, with Brazil’s Joao time, it was the Italian touching first in 1 the Danube. Missy Franklin will remain the thought the one to win the race would be lose. Bidding to become only the second Gomes Junior taking silver, 0.53sec behind. minute, 54.73 seconds. Ledecky and only female swimmer to win a half-dozen Katie,” Pellegrini said. “And,” she quickly female swimmer to win six golds at a single Britain increased their swimming gold Australia’s Emma McKeon tied for the silver at events at worlds, while Ledecky can still take added, “it wasn’t.” worlds, Ledecky settled for silver in the 200- medal tally in Budapest to three with 1:55.18. “I knew it was going to be a tough comfort in being the winningest female McKeon got off to a blistering start, mak- meter freestyle yesterday evening Peaty retaining the two titles he field and that I’d have to have a really good swimmer overall. Twelve golds leave her ing the first turn more than a half-second when Italy’s Federica Pellegrini won in Kazan in 2015 to add race and I just didn’t really have it today,” trailing only fellow Americans Michael below the world-record pace, while Ledecky - surged to a stunning victory on to Ben Proud’s victory in Ledecky said. “I can’t complain really with the Phelps and Ryan Lochte for the most victo- normally a slow starter because of her dis- the final lap. the men’s 50m butterfly silver medal.” ries. And now she’s got one silver, too. “It tance background - was lagging in fifth. Britain’s Adam Peaty narrow- on Monday. South While Pellegrini covered her mouth in happens,” said Ledecky, who will be a heavy Ledecky rallied to second by the midway ly missed breaking his own Africa’s Cameron van delight and climbed atop a lane rope to cele- gold medal favorite in her last two events, point, and was just one-hundredth of a sec- world record again as he won der Burgh, the 2009 and brate, Ledecky stared blankly at the score- the 800 free and 4x200 free relay. “It happens ond behind the Aussie when they made the the men’s 50m breaststroke 2013 world champion in board. She had never seen a “2” beside her to every athlete at some point. I know this final flip. But the two leaders, having spent so gold at the world champi- the 50m breaststroke, name at the world championships. race will really motivate me moving forward much energy dueling with each other, didn’t onships on Wednesday to com- earned bronze at But there it was in Budapest, where and the rest of the week as well.” Of course, have anything left for the final lap. 0.61sec and promptly Ledecky’s unbeaten streak in the second- losing to Pellegrini was hardly an embarrass- Pellegrini sure did. Her closing 50 was a blis- paid tribute to Peaty’s biggest swimming competition after the ment. The 28-year-old became the first swim- tering 28.82 - nearly a full second faster than Adam Peaty powerful performanc- Olympics finally came to an end. “I didn’t real- mer in the history of the championship to both Ledecky and McKeon. “Everything es. “I think I have to ly feel at the end that I had that extra gear capture seven medals in a single individual seemed to be in slow motion to me in the retire and give it a few that I normally have,” said the 20-year-old event. Pellegrini’s incredible run in the 200 water,” Pellegrini said. “At 150 meters on the years and come back from the Washington, D.C., suburbs. “I didn’t free began at the 2005 worlds in Montreal, turn we were all there, so I closed my eyes. But when he’s older,” really see much for the last 50, so I was just where she grabbed a silver. She was third in I didn’t think I was ahead in the last strokes. I joked the 29-year- trying to put together a good race.” Ledecky 2007 at Melbourne, then won the event at was seeing the splashes ... .” She paused for a old Van der had been 12 of 12 over the last three champi- back-to-back worlds, including a world-record moment, as if trying to convince herself that it Burgh. onships, including three golds in this stately performance in 2009 (1:52.98) that still stands really happened. “It’s incredible,” Pellegrini said. European capital. But her most audacious from the rubber-suit era. “I didn’t believe I would make it. I still can’t schedule yet - six freestyle events covering Pellegrini was runner-up at the last two believe it.” — Agencies Novak Djokovic to miss rest Neymar-PSG transfer saga of 2017, including US Open doubts grow in Barcelona MADRID: Confusion surrounding the colleagues say ‘no, don’t leave, don’t BELGRADE: Novak Djokovic will sit out the rest bounce back strong after the recovery period.” Neymar-Paris Saint-Germain transfer leave’. Even to France, which is not at the of this season because of an injured right Djokovic made his announcement via saga was rife in Barcelona yesterday, with same level as the Spanish Liga.” Neymar elbow, meaning he will miss the US Open and Facebook , his website and at a news confer- the player staying silent on his future. departed the MetLife stadium without end his streak of participating in 51 consecu- ence in Belgrade, Serbia. “Doubts, doubts and more doubts,” ran addressing reporters after scoring a tive Grand Slam tournaments. “It is the most Djokovic’s last match was on July 12, when the headline on the front page of brace in a 2-1 pre-season friendly win he stopped playing during his Wimbledon important for me to recover, to be able to play Catalan daily Sport, above a photo of the over Juventus in New Jersey on Saturday. injury free for as long as possible, to compete in quarterfinal against Tomas Berdych because of striker lost deep in thought. Barca cen- “The situation is eroding confidence the sport that has given me so much, the sport the elbow. Djokovic said that day he was in tre-back Gerard Pique had sparked panic at the club,” columnist Tomas Andreu I love,” Djokovic said yesterday. “Of course I pain when he hit serves and forehands. At the after appearing to backtrack on his ‘he wrote in the newspaper Sport. “What want to return to the winning form, to win time, Djokovic said he had been struggling stays’ tweet about his team-mate. PSG really hurts here is the silence of the again, to win the trophies. But now it is not the with the elbow on his racket-swinging arm for are trying to lure the 25-year-old player himself, which in the end says a time to talk about it. At this point, I’m focusing about 11/2 years and so far had opted against Brazilian to France and are ready to pay great deal.” on recovery.” having surgery - and he reiterated Wednesday his 222-million-euro ($256.8 million) At the same press conference where Until now, Djokovic has never missed a that he does not need an operation. release clause to make him the best-paid Pique spoke, Argentine defender Javier major tournament since he entered his first, the But he also said then that he would serious- and most expensive footballer on the Mascherano said he had told Neymar to 2005 Australian Open. That is the third-longest ly consider taking a prolonged break from the planet. Last week Pique took to social carefully weigh up the pros and cons. active run among men and seventh-longest in tour. Since winning the 2016 French Open to media to say “he’s staying”-but when Mascherano added all the players, history. In that time, the 30-year-old Serb has complete a career Grand Slam and become the pressed on the matter Tuesday ahead of including Messi, had spoken to the play- won 12 Grand Slam titles, including the US first man in nearly a half-century to win four a pre-season friendly in the United States er to ask him to stay.