GGOLFOLF | Page 2 AATHLETICSTHLETICS | Page 3 ‘Monster’ Bromell, Gatlin, Torrey Pines Lyles, Baker – set to test high stakes in golf’s best 100m at US trials Thursday, June 17, 2021 FOOTBALL Dhul-Qa’da 7, 1442 AH Rashford would GULF TIMES relish showdown with Ronaldo SPORT Page 6 Al Duhail, Al Arabi notch wins in Asian club handball Al-Amin clinches silver at Arab athletics in Tunis Action from the match between Al Duhail (in red) and Al Kuwait (in white and red) in the Asian Club Handball Championships in Jeddah yesterday. Al Duhail came from a 15-18 deficit at half time to win the match and improve their semi-final chances with a 30-27 victory. (Right) In an earlier match yesterday, Al Arabi (in red) beat Kuwait’s Al Salmiyah 35-30 to win for the third consecutive time in the tournament. UEFA EURO Qatar’s Hamdi al-Amin poses with his silver medal after he cleared 2.16m in the men’s high jump competition at the Arab Athletics Championships at Rades Stadium in Tunis, Tunisia, yesterday. FOCUS Bale masterminds Japan to set 10,000-spectator Wales’ 2-0 defeat cap ahead of Games The captain sets up goals for Ramsey and Roberts; surprise semi-finalists of of Turkey Euro 2016 now have four points Reuters Baku, Azerbaijan ales captain Gareth Bale set up Aaron Ramsey and Con- Workers attach the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games banner on a lamp nor Roberts to score post in Tokyo, Japan, yesterday. (Reuters) Wfor a 2-0 victory over Turkey in their Group A match at Baku’s AFP slightly more than 14,000 deaths Olympic Stadium yesterday to Tokyo, Japan despite avoiding harsh lock- take a big step towards qualify- downs. ing for the European Champion- But its vaccination programme ship knockout stages. apan is planning to set has moved slower than many a cap of 10,000 fans at other developed nations, with sports events ahead of the just over fi ve % of the population Olympics, a cabinet min- fully inoculated so far. Jister said yesterday, as organisers The decision on Olympic weigh how many domestic spec- spectators is expected only after tators can attend the Games. the virus emergency in Tokyo The proposed measure would ends on June 20 and the govern- come into force after a Covid-19 ment confi rms what restrictions state of emergency in Tokyo and will replace it. other parts of the country ends Recent reports have said “qua- on June 20, and would last until si-emergency” measures could the end of August, said Yasu- be introduced, including curbs toshi Nishimura, the minister in on the sale of alcohol or limited charge of virus measures. opening hours for bars and res- It would limit spectators to taurants. 50 percent of a venue’s capac- Experts and offi cials have ity or 10,000 people, whichever expressed concerns that huge Wales’ Gareth Bale celebrates Wales’ Aaron Ramsey (right) scores their first goal during the UEFA Euro 2020 Group A match against Turkey at Baku Olympic Stadium in is smaller, he said. The plan is crowds attending the virus- their win with teammates. (AFP) Baku, Azerbaijan, yesterday. (Reuters) expected to become offi cial later postponed Games could acceler- this week. ate the spread of Covid-19 after Ramsey failed to convert two vert a Bale pass past goalkeeper splitting passes but both times key upped the pace after the fl ew high and wide to keep the “It is important that we main- the emergency measures end. chances early in the fi rst half but Ugurcan Cakir to seal the vic- he failed to score, with Cakır de- break. Turks in the game, who then tain thorough anti-infection Takaji Wakita, head of the ad- scored just before halftime when tory. nying him from a tight angle in Captain Burat Yilmaz, who forced a good save from keeper measures to prevent a rebound visory panel, warned of possible he made a run through the mid- “I’m delighted with the win. the sixth minute and then thun- had missed a good chance in the Danny Ward when he punched in cases, especially as we fore- surges of infection in the near dle to chest down Bale’s perfect We fought hard, we worked our dering a shot over the bar in the fi rst half, should have scored 10 a Merih Demiral header wide in see a spread of the Delta variant,” future as people start to go out ball over the defence and slip it socks off like we always do,” Bale 24th. minutes after the restart when the 87th. Nishimura told a government more in some regions, including past the goalkeeper. said after the game, adding that There was nothing lucky he was left completely un- With the Turks having run advisory panel, which endorsed Tokyo. Wales could have doubled his contributions compensated about the third time with Bale marked in front of the Welsh out of steam in stoppage time, the plan. “When the government lifts the lead at the hour mark when for the penalty miss. fl oating a superbly-timed cross goal but blazed a volley from Bale cut inside to feed Roberts The move could set the bounda- the state of emergency, it’s im- Bale was tripped by Zeki Celik The surprise semi-fi nalists of in the 42nd minute for Ramsey three metres out well over the for their second goal. ries for a decision by Olympic or- portant that restrictions are and awarded a penalty, but the Euro 2016 now have four points, who brought the ball down per- crossbar. “We’re in a fantastic position ganisers on how many domestic lifted gradually,” he told report- Welsh skipper skied his eff ort after drawing with Switzerland fectly and slotted under Cakir. Wales found space to counter now. If you’d off ered us 4 points fans – if any – can attend Games ers yesterday after the panel met. after a stuttering run up. in their opener. Their fi nal game attack and Ramsey’s low shot at the start, we’d have bitten events when Tokyo 2020 kicks off Under the current state of Wales scored right at the is against Italy next week. Tur- ‘FANTASTIC POSITION’ was blocked before Bale was your hand off ,” Bale said, paying on July 23. Overseas spectators emergency, spectators are death in injury time when a cor- key take on the Swiss. With Turkish and Azeri Presi- brought down just inside the box tribute to Welsh fans who were have already been banned. capped at 5,000 people or 50% ner was played short and Con- Ramsey was twice picked out dents Tayyip Erdogan and Il- to earn a spot kick on the hour. heavily outnumbered by Turks Japan has seen a compara- of a venue’s capacity, whichever nor Roberts was on hand to di- by Bale with superb defence- ham Aliyev in the stands, Tur- But the 31-year-old’s eff ort in the stadium. tively small virus outbreak, with is smaller. Gulf Times 2 Thursday, June 17, 2021 SPORT US OPEN SPOTLIGHT Woodland wanted ‘Monster’ Torrey to be instigator with Pines set to test Koepka, DeChambeau AFP ‘Around the greens, it’s La Jolla, United States o one was more disap- wicked. Spotters will have pointed the US Open to really be on their game’ didn’t place feuding golf’s best rivals Brooks Koepka Nand Bryson DeChambeau in the same trio to start the US Open than Gary Woodland. Woodland, the 2019 US Open winner, was a much speculat- ed third man if 2018 US Open winner Koepka and defending champion DeChambeau were playing together as the past three champions. But the US Golf Association put them on opposite waves Brooks Koepka and compatriot Bryson DeChambeau (right). (AFP) of the event for the fi rst two rounds and put Woodland with in that group would have been As Woodland sees it, any at- two other past US Open win- amazing.” tention is good attention. ners, Webb Simpson and Ger- The dispute began when vid- “Brooks didn’t play for two man Martin Kaymer. eo footage of Koepka showing weeks and he’s all over ESPN, all “I wasn’t approached by the his annoyance at a loud-talking over the sports news,” Wood- USGA at all,” Woodland said. DeChambeau went public from land said. “I think that’s good.” “It would have been great. The an interview area at the PGA Had anyone asked him, fans, all my friends back home, Championship. Woodland was ready to be the everybody was talking about it. That led to a social media middleman in what would have It’s good for the game.” exchange that had Koepka call- been a major attention stealer Woodland joked that he want- ing for fans to yell “Brooksy” at of a grouping. ed to aggravate the situation be- DeChambeau and spectators “I think it would have been tween DeChambeau and Koepka obliging. great. The energy would have,” rather than serve as a referee. While played off as fun and Woodland said. “The fans want “I would have instigated and good natured, the dispute it. That’s the big deal. I defi nite- tried to start fi ghts or whatever gained traction and is sure to ly think the fans want it,” added I could have done,” Woodland benefi t both when it comes to a Woodland, who has fallen to said. “I would have loved to new publicity bonus created by 57th in the world rankings after have played.