WEDNESDAY JULY 5 2017 SPORT 43 $1m bonus for Mitchell Becker implores critics Street Mile

AUSTRALIA’S richest middle distance race — staged in Dar- win — is now even richer. Lottoland has offered $1 to cut Nick some slack million for any athlete that can break a track mile world record during September’s Mitchell LEO SCHLINK “He’s a proud Australian,” champion. He’s got the men- Street Mile. Becker said. “He’s represented tality, he’s got the firepower, Minister for Tourism and BORIS Becker has pleaded Australia in Davis Cup and he’s got the serve, he’s got the Culture, Lauren Moss, said the with Nick Kyrgios’ critics to done very well. audacity, he’s got the arro- announcement would put cut the embattled Australian “He’s a young man, he’s de- gance, he’s got it all. He needs Darwin on the middle-dis- some slack, predicting the con- veloping but he’s an unbelieva- to put it together.” tance racing map. troversial firebrand will bly talent. Kyrgios will consult a Lon- “Territorians love their eventually win Wimbledon. “Is he perfect? No. But was don specialist to gauge the true sporting events and elevating A triple All England Club John McEnroe perfect? Was I extent of the hip injury. the race to a global attraction is champion, Becker watched perfect? No. “Probably get an MRI to- a real boost for the Territory’s Kyrgios plummet out of con- “Players with a bit of Australia’s Nick Kyrgios receives treatment during his first round morrow,” Kyrgios said after international profile,” she said. tention with first-round retire- character, a bit of dash, we are match French opponent Pierre-Hugues Herbert at Wimbledon logging his worst Wimbledon “Last year we had a couple ment to France’s Pierre- different.” result in four attempts. of Olympians come off the Hugues Herbert with a chronic Becker said Kyrgios will re- win this title one day. He’s got some tie off, do the right rehab “Hopefully get an injection back of their Rio campaign and hip complaint. group from Monday’s savage the quality, he’s got character, because, bottom line, it’s a or something, do rehab, and hopefully we see that again. Becker, who won Wimble- disappointment to become a the confidence — borderline wasted Wimbledon. get healthy, I guess. I can’t re- “It’s fantastic to be attract- don twice as a teenager, says Wimbledon champion. arrogance — that you need to “Bottom line, he loves ten- ally do anything. ing those people at the top of there are similarities between “It’s disappointing. I saw on play on centre court. nis, he loves winning. Give him “You know, it’s just a bit un- their game.” the way he was treated in Ger- his face that he’s really, really “But he’s been struggling some more time lucky what happened. I mean, The current men’s world many to how Kyrgios is down on himself,” the former with that hip. He has to fix it, “He’s got it all, in my opin- yeah, there’s worse things in track record is 3.43.13 set by scorned in Australia. world No 1 said. “I’m sure he’ll see the right doctors, take ion he’s a future Wimbledon the world.” Hicham El Guerrouj in 1999, while the women’s was claimed by Svetlana Masterko- va in 1996 when she ran 4.12.56. Now in its fourth year, the 1609 metre race attracted 800 participants last year. Race Director Richard Welsh said the event was be- coming a highlight for elite Australian runners. “In just a few short years, we’ve positioned the event to be a major focus for many ath- letes on the Australian dis- tance running calendar,” he said. “Ideally situated at the end of the European track sea- son, we are well placed to at- tract many of the world’s best middle distance athletes once again.” Welsh said the race was also strong tool to attract young people to Athletics. Territory hosts netball camp

NETBALL Australia’s inaug- ural Indigenous High Per- formance Camp is scheduled RichieRichie for the weekend and the Northern Territory will be strongly represented. NT athletes Bethany Willi- ams, Courtney Summers, Ga- fights brielle Coffey and Monique fights Chong have been chosen for the program — based at the Australian Institute of Sport. They will be mentored by former Aboriginal Diamonds backback representatives Marcia Ella- Duncan OAM, Sharon Fin- nan-White OAM, and current Australian Diamonds coach Australia's Richie Porte (right) ahead of Spain's during the 212,5km third stage of the between Verviers in Belgium and Longwy in France Lisa Alexander. Netball NT’s community SAM EDMUND Australian’s surprising attack tastic position there in the final Sagan for what would have and he tried in the last 700m. It development manager, Haylee 700m into the 1.6km climb to and I felt good. But I think been the Canberran’s second was a good sign,” BMC sports Gillies, will work in a camp RICHIE Porte will enter the the finish momentarily gapped when I saw that 500m to go, I career Tour stage win. director Fabio Baldato said. management and support role, first big mountain test of the an already-reduced field. knew it was a little far out. Sagan, the two-time world The Tasmanian was aiming while board member Leanne Tour de France with renewed Porte would ultimately fin- “It was probably out of the champion, saw his foot slip off to ease his way through last Bugg has been invited for ath- vigour after a head-turning ish with his main rivals two question for me once Sagan the pedal in the final metres, night’s flat Stage 4 journey lete liaison and support. show of strength on Stage 3. seconds behind Slovakian came across and onto my but was quickly able to clip from Mondorf-Les-Baines to Netball NT’s executive offi- Porte emerged from two stage winner Peter Sagan, but wheel, but it was good. It’s back in to hold off Matthews. Vittel before today’s first cer, Shelley Haynes, said to tough days in the wet to launch in a sport where the mind can good for the team, they were Porte’s dogged ride cata- mountain top showdown — have such a strong represen- a blistering attack that stunned be as important as the legs, this really strong today, and it was pulted him up 24 places on the test to the top of the brutal tation was reflective of the Ter- his rivals at the conclusion of a was a valuable morale boost. a shame we couldn’t quite fin- to 20th La Planche des Belles Filles. ritory’s development thrilling 212.5km mission from “It was good and good for ish it off.” overall and was valuable reas- While coming early in the programs. Verviers to Longwy. the confidence just to have a While Porte went early, fel- surence after losing time on a Tour, the steep 5.9km test will “We will continue to ensure The stage wasn’t considered bit of a crack there,” Porte said. low Australian Michael Matt- wet Stage 1 time trial and be crucial to Porte’s chances of that pathway opportunities are an opportunity for the Tour’s “It wasn’t at all (premeditat- hews went late, falling crashing in the rain on Stage 2. becoming the second Austra- provided for our indigenous overall contenders, but the ed). The guys put me in a fan- agonisingly short of hauling in “Richie was feeling good lian to win the Tour de France. athletes and officials,” she said.

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