Sports Friday, July 19, 2019 13 Yates puts Giro disappointment US swim stars behind with Tour stage win

reuters ute advantage over defending first position and I’m glad it BAGNERES-DE-BIGORRE (France) champion Geraint Thomas. worked out well,” the 26-year- Tim Wellens, part of the old Yates told reporters. aim to lay down Simon Yates put a disap- breakaway, consolidated his “To have won a stage at all pointing Giro d’Italia cam- lead in the mountains classi- three Grand Tours makes me paign behind him when he fication by reaching the top of very proud. This was probably won the 12th stage of the Tour the Col de Peyresourde (13km a unique opportunity for me to de France on Thursday, as the at 7%) first. achieve it this year. main title contenders stayed Yates, Austrian Gregor “My main goal is to help marker for Tokyo quiet in the first Pyrenean Muehlberger and Spain’s Pel- Adam in the mountains and climbs of this year’s race. lo Bilbao were alone in front we thought that wouldn’t be With an individual time at the top of the last ascent needed today, that’s why I AFP trial scheduled for Friday, of the day, the Hourquette took the breakaway. After Los Angeles none of the top guns attacked, d’Ancizan (10km at 7.5%), and (team mate) Daryl Impey’s and 40 riders broke away from they stayed ahead in the final win the other day, we’re hav- Caeleb Dressel and Ka- the peloton in the 209.5-km descent into Bagneres-de-Big- ing a fantastic Tour and hope- tie Ledecky will spearhead ride from Toulouse. orre. fully it will continue.” a powerful US assault when Australian Rohan Dennis Yates took the final bend The spotlight will switch the swimming world cham- abandoned the race on Thurs- first and, with only 100 metres back to the overall contenders pionships begin on Sunday, day, with his Bahrain Merida left, held a decisive advantage for Friday’s 13th stage, when with the Americans looking to team unable to explain the in a three-man sprint with Bil- Thomas will look to gain more make a big statement before reasons of his withdrawal after bao finishing second and Mue- time over his main rivals in the next year’s Tokyo Olympics. he went off the radar for over hlberger third. 27.2-km time trial in Pau. The event in Gwangju, an hour. In contrast to his twin Adam Yates will be one of South Korea, is the biggest Vuelta champion Yates brother and Mitchelton-Scott the riders to watch after he meeting on the 2019 calen- was arguably the strongest team mate Adam, Yates has no flew off the radar in the open- dar, but for team USA it rep- climber of the group and he ambitions in the general clas- ing block of racing. resents a stepping stone on also proved the fastest in a sification this year after fin- He lies seventh overall, the road to Tokyo -- and one small-committee sprint to ishing eighth in the Giro after 1:47 behind Alaphilippe, and they expect to negotiate in complete his set of grand tour starting the Italian race target- his sports director Matt White characteristically confident stage wins after winning three ing the overall victory. believes the climber can limit fashion. times in the Giro d’Italia and “I wasn’t very confident in the damage in the time trial. “While we understand twice at the Vuelta a Espana. beating them. I didn’t know “Ending up within 30 that the worlds is an impor- France’s Julian Alaphilippe how fast these two riders were seconds of Thomas would tant competition, the most retained the overall leader’s but my sports director told be a good result I think,” important competition for yellow jersey with a 1:12-min- me to take the last corner in White said. us is the Olympic Games,” said national team managing director Lindsay Mintenko. A file photo of Katie Ledecky of the US before the women’s 200m freestyle in Budapest. (R EUTERS) There have been no cut- throat trials to produce the swimmer to win seven titles dapest, and Simone Manuel, US squad, which was select- at a single world champion- That allows top swimmers who stormed to the women’s ed based on performances in ships, tops the 100m but- to keep their training 100m freestyle title. the 2018 national champion- terfly rankings at 50.36sec geared toward Tokyo and, “I do believe that I’m set ships and 2018 Pan Pacific -- faster than Singapore’s as a result, few Americans up well for worlds,” Manuel Championships. Joseph Schooling clocked to feature at the top of the told SwimSwam after clock- That allows top swim- win gold at the Rio Olympics. 2019 rankings. ing 53.65sec in June. mers to keep their training Dressel’s performance “I’ve been faster in- geared toward Tokyo and, in Mission Viejo, California, season in my events than I as a result, few Americans last month fired a warning to have to stay focused. I’ve got was last year and training’s feature at the top of the 2019 rivals that by the time they to get better. We’ll go home, been going really well, so rankings. complete their training camp make adjustments, so we’ll I’m pretty confident with Those that do include in Shanghai the Americans be ready.” how I’ll swim at worlds,” superstar Ledecky, who will be a force to be reckoned Five-time Olympic cham- added the two-time Olympic boasts leading times this with in South Korea. pion Ledecky’s gold medal champion. year in the 400m, 800m “It’s just really showing haul from the last worlds in “But also just looking and 1,500m freestyle and where we’re at,” said the Hungary included the 400m, forward to swimming well in Lilly King, who is fastest in 22-year-old, whose seven 800m and 1,500m free and 2020 at Olympic trials and the 50m and 100m breast- golds in Budapest included two relays. Tokyo. stroke as she prepares to individual titles in the 50m Other returning champi- “Obviously I want to renew her rivalry with Rus- and 100m freestyle and ons from 2017 -- when the US swim really well at the world sian Yuliya Efimova. 100m butterfly along with topped the medals table with championships, but it’s kind Dressel, who two years four relay titles. 18 golds and 38 in total -- in- of also a stepping stone to Great Britain’s Simon Yates (left), flanked by Spain’s Peio Bilbao, celebrates as he wins on the finish line of ago in Budapest joined Mi- “I think I’m just in kind clude Chase Kalisz, who won see where I need to be in the 12th stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Toulouse and Bagneres-de- chael Phelps as the only of a weird spot right now. I both men’s medleys in Bu- 2020.” Bigorre, in Bagneres-de-Bigorre on Thursday. (AFP)

CRICKET NEWS IN BRIEF WC win will inspire England Ashes team: Curran

ICC suspends Zimbabwe for government AFP under way on August 1 at Cup final was incredible,” said England cricketer, that’s what former against an Australian interference London Edgbaston. the 21-year-old all-rounder. I’ve always felt. Hopefully we XI earlier this week, taking Curran feels the Ashes “That will provide a buzz for can be lifting the urn at the six for 95 and contributing London: International chiefs on Thursday suspended Sam Curran believes Eng- remains the pinnacle of the everyone across English crick- Oval in September.” a pair of half-centuries in a Zimbabwe over a failure to keep the sport free from govern- land’s historic World Cup tri- cricketing calendar but said et going into the Ashes. Curran, whose older drawn first-class match at ment interference. umph will inspire the Ashes the Test team would be gal- “Days like Sunday get brother Tom was an unused Canterbury. “As a consequence of suspension, ICC funding to Zim- team as attention turns to- vanised by the World Cup, everyone, whether they were squad member during the Curran enjoyed a break- babwe Cricket will be frozen and representative teams from wards their attempt to regain irrespective of whether they involved or not, more excit- World Cup, has been drafted through summer last year, be- Zimbabwe will not be allowed to participate in any ICC events,” the urn. featured or not in the one- ed and desperate to do well into England’s groups for the ing named England player of the International Cricket Council said in a statement. Sunday’s dramatic end to day triumph. so I’m sure it will rub off as one-off Test against Ireland the Test series against India ICC chairman Shashank Manohar said: “We do not take the 50-over tournament has “I don’t think I’m alone in we head into the Test part of next week and a pre-Ashes after star contributions with the decision to suspend a member lightly but we must keep overshadowed the build-up saying that it’s probably the the summer. training camp. both bat and ball, leading to a our sport free from political interference. to the five-Test showdown greatest cricket match ever “The Ashes are the biggest The left armer was Eng- bumper pay day in the Indian “What has happened in Zimbabwe is a serious breach against Australia, which gets and for that to be the World thing you can play in as an land Lions’ standout per- Premier League. of the ICC constitution and we cannot allow it to continue unchecked. The ICC wants cricket to continue in Zimbabwe in accordance with the ICC constitution.” (AFP)

WC champion Bayliss to coach Sunrisers Sajjad named skipper of Qatar T20 team Hyderabad after Ashes Bengaluru: have hired England’s National side to leave for ICC WC World Cup-winning coach Trevor Bayliss ahead of the 2020 season, the franchise (IPL) said on Asia finals in Singapore today Thursday. Bayliss, 56, whose national team contract ends in Septem- ber, had been linked with multiple IPL franchises by the Indian Tribune News Network media since overseeing England’s successful 2019 World Cup DOHA qatar t20 squad campaign. Qatar T20 team: “Trevor Bayliss... has been appointed head coach of Sun- Tamoor Sajjad has been Tamoor Sajjad (), Muhammad Tanveer, risers Hyderabad,” the IPL team said in a statement. named to lead the 14-player Mohammed Rizlan, Kamran Khan (W-K), Noman “Trevor has already won two IPL trophies with KKR (Kolkata Qatar team for ICC World Sarwar, Faisal Javed Khan, Inam-Ul-Haq, Muhammad Awais Malik, Zaheeruddeen Ibrahim, Iqbal Hussain Knight Riders) and has also won the Big Bash League and Cup Twenty20 Asia Finals to Chaudhry, Mohammad Nadeem, Qalandar Khan, Champions League with .” (Reuters) be hosted by Singapore from Gayan Buddikha and Musawar Shah. July 22. QCA President Yousef Jeham al Kuwari and other officials with national T20 team players pose for a group Qatar, who recently edged Officials: photograph at the Asia Town Stadium, Industrial Area. Sombre homecoming by New Zealand Eisa al Yaqoub (Head of Delegation) Kuwait 2-1 in a friendly but Gul Khan Jadoon (Team Manager) after WC blow fierce home series to assess Shahid Mahboob (Coach) December 31. The UAE have their caliber, will take on Sin- Mohammad Jahangir (Physio/Trainer) also confirmed their spot in WELLINGTON: A group of rueful New Zealand players touched gapore in opening match on the ICC Men’s T20 World down on home soil on Thursday, still coming to terms with the July 22. Praising the team further, Cup Qualifier by as hosts of gut-wrenching defeat to England in the World Cup final. In a simple ceremony, he added, “The most impor- the event. Pace bowler Trent Boult was among six Black Caps players Qatar Cricket Association tant thing during the Kuwait Six qualifiers from the making a low-key homecoming at Auckland airport, soaking up President Yousef Jeham Al- series was the tough cricket UAE event will join Afghani- commiserations from a few fans and well-wishers. Kuwari and other officials our players played. We expect stan, Australia, Bangladesh, The left-armer was still haunted by the deflection off Ben were present and wished them to go out in each match pore and Nepal. Qatar’s other November 3. Seven qualifiers England, India, New Zealand, Stokes’s bat in the 50th over that raced to the boundary and good luck to the team. “We and play the same way. Inshal- three matches are as below: from regional finals will join Pakistan, South Africa, Sri helped send the final into a Super Over before England claimed extend our heartiest wishes lah, Qatar will advance to the July 23: Vs Nepal Hong Kong, Ireland, Nether- Lanka and West Indies who the win on the total boundaries scored. of good luck to Qatar who next stage.” July 26: Vs Kuwait lands, Oman, Scotland and have qualified already directly “It’s natural to nitpick, to wonder about all those little are taking part in a signifi- Besides Qatar and Singa- July 27: Vs Malaysia Zimbabwe who missed out for the Men’s T20 World Cup things and how it could have been a totally different game,” cant qualifying tournament pore, Kuwait, Malaysia and Only the winners will on qualifying for the event in Australia after finishing in he told reporters at the airport. “To see the scores level in Singapore. Qatar showed Nepal are other three con- make it to the ICC T20 World proper after finishing outside the top ten of the MRF Tyres (after the Super Over) and still lose, yeah, that was a pretty their strong character against testants during the qualifiers, Cup Qualifier, which are the top ten of the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s T20I Team Rank- unique situation.” (AFP) Kuwait during a warm-up se- which will conclude on July 28 slated in the United Arab ICC Men’s T20I Team Rank- ings as on the cut-off date of ries and won it 2-1.” with a match between Singa- Emirates from October 11 to ings as on the cut-off date of December 31, 2018.