SATURDAY 14 MARCH 2020 SPORTSPORT 18 Sadly, this is the right decision. No one wants this, we all want to get Karachi Kings vs in our cars and get racing, but we have to be realistic and we have to Islamabad United 28th Match, put health and safety first: Lewis Hamilton after Formula 1 decided in Karachi to call off the Australian GP, Bahrain and Vietnam Grand Prix races ACTION TODAY’S TODAY’S Greece cancels Olympic torch relay over virus fears Indoor worlds REUTERS – ATHENS movie “300”, also ran as a US actor Gerard Butler takes part in the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics torch relay in get new date torchbearer. Sparta, Greece, yesterday. Greece’s Olympic Committee Hundreds of people said it had cancelled the gathered to watch as the torch REUTERS – MONACO remainder of the Olympic Torch passed through. relay through the country The Hellenic Olympic Com- The World Indoor Athletics Champi- yesterday to avoid attracting mittee said the opening leg of onships will take place in March next crowds that could raise the risk the relay had attracted unex- year in the Chinese city of Nanjing after of coronavirus contagion. pectedly high crowds, forcing it being postponed due to the corona- The Tokyo 2020 Olympics to suspend the remaining stops virus, the World Athletics Council said torch relay got under way on after consultations with the on Thursday. Thursday when the flame was Greek Health Ministry and the A statement from the organising lit by the rays of the sun in International Olympic body said the championships, which ancient Olympia in a ceremony Committee. were due to begin this week in Nanjing, that was scaled down in the face The handover of the flame will now be held between March 19-21 of the coronavirus pandemic. to the Tokyo Games organisers 2021.The council has also accepted The flame’s journey in will take place as scheduled in amendments to the Anti-Doping Rules Greece had been due to last the Greek capital Athens on and Anti-Doping Regulations that had seven days. Yesterday it arrived March 19 - without spectators. been proposed by the Athletics in the Peloponnese town of By late Thursday, Greece had Integrity Unit in order to maintain Sparta, where Scottish actor registered 117 confirmed cases compliance with the World Anti- Gerard Butler, star of the 2009 of coronavirus and one death. Doping Agency. Masters golf postponed F1: Australian GP called off due to coronavirus REUTERS – MELBOURNE AFP — WASHINGTON, The Australian Formula One This year’s Masters tournament, the season’s first Grand Prix was cancelled major golf championship, has been postponed due to yesterday due to worries about the coronavirus outbreak, Augusta National Golf Club the coronavirus outbreak, after chairman Fred Ridley announced yesterday. a McLaren team member “Considering the latest information and expert tested positive before the first analysis, we have decided at this time to postpone the practice session was scheduled Masters tournament,” Ridley said in a statement. to get underway at Albert Park. The event was delayed, not canceled, so defending “At 9 am today the Aus- champion Tiger Woods might get the chance to capture tralian Grand Prix Corporation a 16th major title at the famed course at some uncertain (AGPC) was advised by future date. Formula 1 of their intention to The outbreak, which has prompted a virtual cancel all Formula 1 activity at shutdown of American sport, also forced Ridley to the Formula 1 Australian postpone the Augusta National Women’s Amateur Grand Prix,” the AGPC said in and youth Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals. a statement. “Ultimately, the health and well-being of everyone “In light of this decision associated with these events and the citizens of the and updated advice this Augusta community led us to this decision,” Ridley said. morning from the Chief Health “We hope this postponement puts us in the best Members of the Ferrari team arrive to pack up their equipment after the Formula One Australian Grand Prix was Officer of the Victorian Gov- position to safely host the Masters tournament and cancelled in Melbourne yesterday. ernment’s Department of our amateur events at some later date.” Augusta Human and Health Services, National typically closes soon after hosting the world’s the Australian Grand Prix Cor- chairman had said they would top players, reopening later each year, so the possi- poration confirms the Formula plough on with the race. Bahrain and Vietnam GPs postponed bility remains that it could be rescheduled later in the 1 Australian Grand Prix is can- Hundreds of fans milled year, potentially in the fall after the 2019-20 US PGA celled immediately.” around closed entry gates AP – PARIS “But given the sharp increase in season is complete given the schedule already booked There were big question before Victoria state Premier COVID-19 cases in Europe in recent through August. The US PGA Tour has canceled this marks over the season- Daniel Andrews announced The Bahrain and Vietnam Grand Prix days, this will be regularly reviewed,” week’s Players Championship and every other tune-up opening race after McLaren that none would be permitted races were postponed yesterday the FIA said. event for the original Masters date, leaving its next withdrew late on Thursday to enter even if the race went because of the coronavirus outbreak, The season-opening Australian event currently on the calendar as the Heritage tour- night when a member of their ahead. the third and fourth races of the GP in Melbourne was called off as nament, set to start on April 16. team tested positive for the There was clearly Formula One season to be called off. thousands of fans queued to get in The next major championship on the schedule is virus. pressure from Formula One Bahrain was scheduled for next for yesterday’s first practice session, now the PGA Championship on May 14-17 at TPC The fourth round of the teams, with Mercedes saying week - at an empty track - and the while teams and drivers were packing Harding Park in San Francisco, an area having been championship in Shanghai in they had requested organisers inaugural Vietnamese GP in Hanoi up to leave. especially hard hit by coronavirus cases already. April has already been post- call it off and that they had on April 5. “Formula 1, the FIA and the pro- “Unfortunately, the ever-increasing risks asso- poned, while organisers of the started to pack up and leave Governing body FIA said in a moters have taken these decisions in ciated with the widespread coronavirus COVID-19 Bahrain Grand Prix said last the circuit. statement that it will consider “the order to ensure the health and safety have led us to a decision that undoubtedly will be dis- weekend that their race would Mercedes world champion viability of potential alternative of the traveling staff, championship appointing to many, although I am confident is appro- go ahead without spectators Lewis Hamilton on Thursday dates” later this year for Bahrain and participants and fans, which remains priate under these unique circumstances,” Ridley said. on March 22. also weighed in, saying it was Vietnam “should the situation our primary concern,” the FIA said “We will continue to work with the World Health Confusion reigned earlier “shocking” that organisers improve.” in a statement Friday. Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Pre- on Friday, with fans flocking wanted to push on even with The season could start in the The Chinese GP in Shanghai vention, the Office of the Governor, the Georgia to the lakeside race-track and the NBA and other major Netherlands, at the Zandvoort track scheduled for April 19 was postponed Department of Public Health, the City of Augusta and local broadcaster Channel sports suspending matches outside Amsterdam, on May 3. on February 12. all other local authorities.” Ridley asked for patience Nine reporting that the AGPC and competitions. from Masters patrons. Qatar Superstock 600: Al Sulaiti clinches Superpole THE PENINSULA — DOHA faster than 2.04 but it was a bit Saeed Al Sulaiti competing in the Qatar Superstock (QSTK) 600 at Losail International Circuit, yesterday. difficult and wind changed Saeed Al Sulaiti got the last direction but in the end I am Superpole of the season at the happy to win the Superpole Qatar Superstock (QSTK) 600 The car is really good and I am ready for the race," held yesterday at Losail Inter- said Al Sulaiti. national Circuit. and I had no issues In the QSTK Trophy, the For the last round of the at all today. Hopefully fastest rider was the French season, three wild card riders rider Jeremy Parola followed joined the QSTK Trophy cat- I can keep it like this by Rayad Al Emadi and Aus- egory, Lambros Kouris from and can get the title: tralian rider Alastair Cunliffe Greece, Patrick Roux from Al Maadheed A total of 25 cars joined the fifth France and the Italian rider and last round of the Qatar Simone Muscolino. Touring Car Championship The defendant QSTK 600 Bulgarian rider Mihail Florov (QTCC) between the two cate- champion, Al Sulaiti, took his finished in third place. gories, QTCC 2K and QTCC second Superpole of the season "I felt very good with the M240. with a lap time of 2:04.440, in two free practices and we were In the QTCC 2K class, the Maadheed with a Lotus Elise technical issues again so we front of Abdulla Al Qubaisi who doing really good lap timings. fastest driver in the qualifying and a lap time of 2:24.923. switched car for the practice QSTK Trophy did a lap time of 2:04.815.