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1 IMPHAL, SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2020 Manchester City honour Liverpool India hosting AFC Women's Asian Cup MANCHESTER, Jul 3 Manchester City generously 2022 a huge motivation: Bala Devi applauded new champions NEW DELHI, Jul 3 lot of energy into women's Liverpool onto the field before football. All eyes will be on their Premier League match on Indian women's football team the girls, and we need to give Thursday — and promptly forward Bala Devi feels that the a good account of ourselves." showed no mercy by thrashing announcement of India as the Apart from preparing her- them 4-0 at the Etihad stadium. hosts for the AFC Asian Cup self for the Scottish Premier With the title secured a 2022 has further motivated her League season and upcoming week ago, there was little at to remain at peak fitness as and national duties, Bala Devi has stake for Juergen Klopp’s when she can hit the training also taken up her time to sup- Liverpool side who showed ground once again. port children in need, back in far from their usual levels of The Indian striker is qui- India. With over 33 million intensity but the loss, just etly working away at her own children being affected by their second of the league fitness at her home away child labour, Bala has taken campaign, was an emphatic from home in Glasgow, Scot- up the cause to raise funds reminder that City will be land, where she also awaits with the help of which, these desperate to regain their minute. “They drank a lot of beers story in the direction that we the restart of the Scottish Pre- children will be sent to crown next season. Sterling doubled the lead this week but they arrived we’re not focused, then do mier League. while maintaining social dis- hosting, Bala feels that a lot schools and not work. Klopp was quick to de- 10 minutes later when after a here with no beers in their it,” Klopp said. “I liked my "There really isn't a lot to tancing. has indeed mobilised on the "I have experienced how fend his team’s attitude, swift break, Phil Foden found blood which is why I give us teams’ attitude – I saw a bril- do as of now, apart from train "Due to the current situa- football front in the country. the lack of amenities and ac- rejecting any suggestion they him inside the box and the a lot of credit.” liant attitude – I saw boys and keep yourself at the peak tion we are all doing our own "As a footballer, you re- cess hampers the growth of had taken the game lightly. ex-Liverpool forward cut in- The loss was the joint- who were fighting with all of fitness," Bala Devi told individual practice and fit- ally can't ask for much bigger children and becomes a bar- “I saw a brilliant attitude. I side Gomez and slid the ball heaviest defeat by a side they have. AIFF. ness," she informed. "When platforms than to play a rier in them achieving their saw fight. We didn’t behave home. already crowned Premier “It has nothing to do with "I was really excited when the team does report together World Cup and an Asian Cup dreams," said Bala. "It is like somebody who became The 20-year-old Foden League champions. Arsenal last week, to be honest. It I saw India were announced we will see what the plans in your own backyard," said prevalent all around us and champions a week ago. We made it 3-0, firing past were beaten 4-0 at Liverpool hurts like defeats hurt. What I as the hosts. It really is an are. I will train and play for Bala. "The U-17 World Cup everyone knows it. No child lacked fluidity. And in some Alisson after a swift ex- in 1997-98 in the game after wanted to see tonight was a honour to host such a pres- my club Rangers FC once is a terrific platform for the deserves to have to do that," 50-50 situations they were change with Kevin De they clinched the title. team who is ready to fight tigious tournament. It means things open up after the young girls, and I hope they she said. quicker than us,” he said. Bruyne. Juergen Klopp and Pep against Man City, who obvi- so much for women's football lockdown and hope to be at come out of it with a lot more "Children have their “Man City are incredible. I City were showing an unu- Guardiola insisted that Liver- ously had a point to prove,” in India – the announcement peak fitness." experience.” dreams, be it completing their saw their season, they didn’t sual willingness to play long pool had been fully focused the German said. has given us all that extra With the addition of the "The Women's Asian Cup education, or entering the play a bad game even when balls and after Rodri launched and hadn’t taken their foot off “If there is a team in the motivation." AFC Women's Asian Cup to will be the biggest tournament world of sports. By sending they lost,” he said. a pass deep to De Bruyne, the the gas, despite Manchester world that can smash us like Bala has been altering her the long list of prestigious in- that we (the Indian women's them to work from such an After the guard of honour, Belgian found Sterling inside City’s comfortable 4-0 win this, it is probably City but schedule as per the pandemic ternational tournaments (AFC team) will play at home. I early age, we only hamper that which included City manager the box and he slipped the over the newly crowned we will come again. Make a situation and has kept herself U-16 Championship 2016, hope that the entire country dream. I urge everyone to join Pep Guardiola, the visitors ball goalwards, with substi- champions at the Etihad on few things better and it could busy working on indoor ex- FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017, comes out to support us," she in on this effort and help save started brightly and Ederson tute Alex Thursday. look differently, but for to- ercises, yoga, or maybe going FIFA U-17 Women's World continued. "I am hoping these our kids from child labour." had to be alert to keep out a Oxlade-Chamberlain’s out- City looked sharper and night that is it,” he added. in for jogging at nearby parks Cup 2021) that India will be two tournaments will pump a ANI fourth-minute effort from stretched touch only turning hungrier for most of the City manager Guardiola Mohamed Salah. it into his own net. game, taking a 3-0 lead by said there was no question of Salah then struck the post It could have been even half-time, while Klopp’s Liv- Liverpool having suffered any after a clever pass from worse for Liverpool with erpool were well below their kind of ‘hangover’ from their Challenging to spend time without Roberto Firmino, whose hair Riyad Mahrez’s fine solo ef- usual levels of intensity. title win. was coloured red, but if Liv- fort in the final moments but Liverpool had previously “I think they drunk a lot of erpool thought they were in VAR spotted a handball by lost only one league game this beer the last week, but they teammates at SAI centre: Suraj Karkera for another night of festivi- Foden in the build-up. season, leading some observ- were here with no beer in their NEW DELHI, Jul 3 ation due to the COVID-19 ney for the goalkeeper, who ties, they were in for a rude “We beat the champions, ers to suggest last week’s title blood and to win this game,” pandemic was a big challenge played his last match for In- awakening. an extraordinary team,” win – their first in 30 years – the Spaniard said. When Hockey India announced and the situation taught the dia at the Tokyo 2020 Joe Gomez could not cope Guardiola said. and subsequent celebrations “I saw a team with incred- a month-long break for all players how to stay mentally Olympics Test Event in Au- with Raheem Sterling’s twist- “We tried to play football, had affected play on Thurs- ible focus, with energy and a members of both men's and strong in difficult times. gust 2019. Since then, PR ing and turning in the box, take risks against the best day. desire to win the game, and I women's teams on June 19, "It was certainly a chal- Sreejesh or Krishan B Pathak pulling him to the ground team I have ever faced in my But manager Klopp was saw from the first minute they everyone except Suraj Karkera lenge adapting to the has been guarding the posts before Kevin De Bruyne con- life at high pressing,” he having none of it. were focused to play hard,” decided to make their way lockdown. The situation for the national team. verted the penalty in the 25th added. “If you want to lead this he added. Reuters home. taught us how to be mentally "It has been difficult to be The goalkeeper had to take strong by maintaining our fit- on the sidelines for a long the tough decision of not ness and dribbling with our time, but I am sure my Novak Djokovic and going back to Mumbai since stay back here, even though hockey sticks in our rooms. chances will come. Sreejesh Real Madrid beat Getafe with his city is one of the worst my teammates had decided to Everyone adapted to the situ- and Krishan have been keep- wife test negative for affected in India as far as the leave. ation in the best possible ing very well in the last few COVID-19 COVID-19 pandemic is con- "It's been challenging way. tournaments and that's great team spirit, says Zidane cerned. without my teammates, but "I have been reading a lot for the Indian team. BELGRADE, Jul 3 thing without suffering.” "I spoke to my parents they all have been staying of motivational books to draw "I have continued to put in Real knew victory against once the month-long break connected with me through positivity. I have some time the hard yards during the Novak Djokovic revealed on Getafe would give them a was announced. They asked phone calls. I meet some of to catch up on many TV national coaching camps and Thursday that he along with his cushion over Barca, who me if I could stay back at the the support staff members shows as well during this that's what has kept me moti- wife have tested negative for the drew 2-2 with Atletico Ma- SAI campus because the situ- during the day, so it's been period. We kept ourselves vated so far. I just want to coronavirus. The world drid on Tuesday and have ation isn't great in Mumbai. fine here at the campus," said busy with many activities keep honing my skills and be number one had tested positive dropped six points since the After thinking about our the 24-year-old. during the lockdown," said absolutely ready when an 10 days ago after playing in an campaign returned after the safety, my parents and I de- The goalkeeper expressed the goalkeeper. opportunity is presented to exhibition series in Serbia and coronavirus stoppage. cided that it's best for me to that adapting to a tough situ- It hasn't been an easy jour- me," said Karkera. IANS Croatia with zero social Zidane’s side, meanwhile, distancing amid the pandemic. have been on a relentless run “Novak Djokovic and his and defender Dani Carvajal, wife Jelena are negative for who earned the decisive pen- Bayern finally get their man, sign COVID-19. That was shown alty, revealed the coach had by the results of the PCR tests set the team the target of win- that both had in Belgrade,” MADRID, Jul 3 rivals Barcelona with five ning all of their matches when Leroy Sane from Manchester City his media group said in a games left. the campaign started up again statement. MUNICH, Jul 3 munity Shield against Liver- Real Madrid coach Zinedine “We can be very happy last month. “The coach’s pool on Aug. 4. The injury It also added that both had Zidane said his side used their today because we did an in- message after the break was exhibited no symptoms and Bayern Munich has ended a put a hold on the move and team spirit to finally break credible job today against a that we had 11 finals left and long pursuit and finally signed Sane only returned for City will remain in self-isolation. down and beat a resolute side who caused us loads of we had to try and pick up all Djokovic was the fourth Germany winger Leroy Sane as a late substitute against Getafe side 1-0 at home on problems, but we got the vic- 33 points. We’re on the way from Manchester City. Burnley on June 22. It was player to come down with the Thursday to inch ever closer to tory because of our team to doing that,” Carvajal said. virus after participating in The Bavarian powerhouse his only league appearance winning their first La Liga title spirit,” Zidane told a virtual “It was clear that this was said Friday that the 24-year- since the injury. matches held in Belgrade and for three years. news conference after his side not like any other game and we Zadar, Croatia. The others old former Schalke player has Sane is Bayern’s third re- The league leaders created won their sixth game in a row. had to make the most of Barca’s signed a five-year deal inforcement for the new were three-time Grand Slam scant chances against their “Me and the players have slip-up. Today was like a final semifinalist Grigor Dimitrov, through June 2025 and will season after the free transfers gritty neighbours but finally been suffering a lot because for us and we treated it like one. start preparing for the of goalkeeper Alexander Borna Coric and Viktor Troic. got the goal they craved when we have had to work so hard “Getafe put us under a lot of Sports Desk upcoming season next week. Nubel from league rival captain Sergio Ramos con- in all of these matches. It’s pressure but we produced a Bayern chairman Karl- Schalke and 18-year-old de- verted a late penalty, sending not easy to do what we are serious performance and proved Heinz Rummenigge says, “He fender Tanguy Nianzou Harbhajan Real four points clear of title doing. You can’t achieve any- we are a real team.” Reuters is an outstanding player who contract with the Premier ing 50 million euros ($56.3 Kouassi from Paris Saint- has proven his qualities over League side. Coach Pep million) for the player, less Germain. Singh turns 40 the past few years, especially Guardiola said Sane had re- than half what the club ex- Sane has five goals in 21 NEW DELHI, Jul 3 in the national team. Our goal jected “two or three” offers to pected to pay last year before appearances for Germany Lionel Messi unwilling to extend contract : Report is to gather the best German extend his contract. he sustained a serious knee since making his debut in Harbhajan is regarded as one 33-year-old has now changed converted a spot kick to reach players at FC Bayern and the Bayern is reportedly pay- ligament injury in the Com- 2015. AP of the finest spinners ever to his mind and will instead leave the milestone on Tuesday, has signing of Leroy emphasizes grace the sport as he scalped when the deal ends. scored 630 times for Barca in this goal.” 417 wickets in the longest The report said that Messi 724 appearances in all compe- City was already resigned format and 269 wickets in and his father Jorge had be- titions and another 70 for to losing the pacey forward, ODIs. Cricket fraternity took gun discussing renewing his Argentina in 138 caps. IANS who had one year left on his to social media to wish veteran last deal with the club, which India off-spinner Harbjahan was signed in 2017, but he no Singh on his special day as he longer wishes to stay with turned 40 on Friday. Barcelona. Earlier this season Nine more NBA players test Harbhajan is regarded as Messi, and the players, were one of the finest spinners BARCELONA, Jul 3 blamed by Eric Abidal for the ever to grace the sport as he departure of manager Ernesto positive for COVID-19 scalped 417 wickets in the According to a report in Spain, Valverde, following the loss longest format and 269 Lionel Messi is not willing to to Atletico Madrid in the Span- wickets in ODIs. Besides, he sign a new contract with ish Supercopa. Messi, has also played 28 T20Is in Barcelona. however, had denied his in- which he picked up 25 wick- Star striker Lionel Messi volvement in the decision. ets. has reportedly expressed his Recently, Messi scored his He was also part of the unwillingness to renew his 700th career goal after he Indian teams that won the in- contract with Barcelona, scored from the penalty spot augural edition of the WT20 which is set to expire next in Barcelona's 2-2 draw in South Africa in 2007 and year. However, according to a against Atletico Madrid at the World Cup 2011 on home report by Spanish radio sta- Camp Nou in the ongoing La soil. IANS tion Cadena Ser, the Liga. The Barcelona star, who NEW YORK, Jul 3 until they satisfy public health protocols for discontinuing iso- A total of 25 players have so far lation and have been cleared by Khabib Nurmagomedov reacts to UFC ‘Fight Island’ tested positive for novel a physician, the American bas- MOSCOW. Jul 3 640,000 square meters. Khabib is expected to fly coronavirus in the first eight ketball league added. White had posted a video to ‘Fight island’ later this days of testing, the NBA has The 2019/20 season of the Khabib Nurmagomedov has of ‘Fight Island’, captioning month. His cousin Umar announced. NBA is scheduled to restart on approved UFC president Dana it: “This is the first look at the Nurmagomedov, is set to "In tests conducted of 344 July 30, after four months of White’s ‘Fight Island’ on testing and infrastructure be- make his octagon debut NBA players between June 24- break caused due to the Thursday. Last evening, White ing built on Fight Island (Yas against Nathaniel Wood. 29, an additional nine players COVID-19 pandemic. had revealed the first look at the Island, Abu Dhabi).” Earlier, White spoke about have tested positive for the Under the competitive for- testing and infrastructure being “This experience is going ‘Fight Island’ and said, “The coronavirus. 25 of 351 players mat for the restart, the 22 built on Yas Island, Abu to so BADASS for my fight- fighters are not going to walk have tested positive since test- participating teams will be the Dhabi, for ‘Fight Island’ where ers and my staff!!! out lined up with tiki torches ing began on June 23," NBA eight teams in each conference UFC will hold a total of four #InAbuDhabi.” on the side. said in a release. with the highest current win- events – including the stacked Nurmagomedov reacted to “I will not be sitting in a "In tests conducted of 884 ning percentages and the six UFC 251 card on July 11. the stunning set up in the big throne overseeing the oc- team staff between June 23-29, teams that are currently within With an on-site medical Middle East and wrote: “You tagon and watching the fight.” 10 have tested positive for the six games of the eighth seed in operation that can provide made this. You crazy, Dana.” He added: “We actually coronavirus." either conference. space for coronavirus tests, The UFC president re- have an arena. We built a lit- Any player, coach or team Teams are scheduled to travel the fight venue is made from plied: “Time to have some fun tle arena there that’s very, staff member who tested posi- to Orlando on July 7 for the start 350 tons of metal and coveres my friend.” very cool. Sports Desk tive will remain in self-isolation of formal training camp. IANS