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THURSDAY 17 JUNE 2021 NewNew Zealand out to end final jinx, cacaptainp Kohli chases first ICC trophy This holdsh a lot of value, especially this being the first of its kind and in the toughest format. This is like the accumulation ooff allall the hard work of not just the duration of the cchampionshipham but the last five-six years.

ViratViraVi Kohli Sport |15

HALLE OPEN, LAST 16 - A. Rublev bt J. Thompson 6-4, 6-4; F.Auger-Aliassime bt R. Federer 4-6, 6-3, 6-2; M. Giron bt J. Struff 6-7 (1), 6-3, 6-4. FIFA Arab Cup: Sudan arrive in Doha for qualifying game against Libya IN BRIEF Federer fails to make quarter-finals for first time

AP — HALLE

Roger Federer failed to reach the quarter-finals for the first time yesterday when Félix Auger-Aliassime rallied from a set down to stun the former champion 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the second round. The 20-year-old Auger- Aliassime is 19 years younger Sudan’s football team on their arrival at the Hamad International Airport yesterday. Sudan will take on Libya on June 19 at the Khalifa International Stadium, seeking a than the Swiss great, who has place in the main round of FIFA Arab Cup 2021, which will take place from 30 November to 18 December. The qualifying matches will be staged in Doha from June 19 to 25. won the Halle tournament a record 10 times. Federer had been going for his 18th quarterfinal in as many appearances at the grass-court tournament, but was unable to deal with his Locatelli brace guides Italy into young opponent’s change of tactics in the second set. Auger-Aliassime targeted the backhand with his strong serves and the Canadian knockouts; Wales down Turkey player converted three break opportunities to win in 1 hour, REUTERS — Bale was tripped by Zeki Celik 45 minutes. at the edge of the box and Manuel Locatelli bagged a brace awarded a penalty, but the of goals for the first time in his Welsh skipper skied his effort City to begin career as imperious Italy after a stuttering run up. defeated 3-0 at the Wales scored right at the Premier League yesterday to death in injury time when a become the first side into the corner was played short and title defence last-16 of the European Cham- Connor Roberts was on hand to pionship. divert a Bale pass past goal- at Spurs Locatelli, 23, keeper Ugurcan Cakir to seal opened the scoring with a the victory. simple tap-in following Sas- “I’m delighted with the win. REUTERS — LONDON suolo team mate Domenico We fought hard, we worked our Berardi's excellent run down socks off like we always do,” Manchester City will begin the right wing, before he rifled Bale said after the game, adding their Premier League title a shot into the bottom corner of that his contributions compen- defence on Aug. 14 when they the net from the edge of the box sated for the penalty miss. travel to Tottenham Hotspur, “We’re in a fantastic according to the fixture list for position now. If you’d offered the 2021-22 season released us 4 points at the start, we’d yesterday. have bitten your hand off,” Bale Manchester United host said, paying tribute to Welsh Leeds United on the opening Italy’s Manuel Locatelli scores their fans who were heavily outnum- day while Liverpool play away second goal. RIGHT: Wales’ Aaron bered by Turks in the stadium. to newly-promoted Norwich Ramsey (left) in action with Turkey’s back on track in City in their opener. Mert Muldur . Euros after 1-0 win over Chelsea, who won the early in the second half. Ciro Finland Champions League last season, Immobile added a late third to A goal in first-half stoppage begin their season at home to secure back-to-back 3-0 wins time by Aleksei Miranchuk got Crystal Palace before trips to for Italy in the tournament, Russia’s Euro 2020 campaign Arsenal and Liverpool. which extends their unbeaten back on track as they beat Arsenal kick off their cam- run to 29 games, the last 10 of Finland 1-0 in Group B paign at Brentford, who will which have been victories yesterday. play in the top flight of English Results where they have scored 31 goals The Russians, who remain football for the first time in 74 Wales bt Turkey 2-0 and conceded none. unbeaten against the Finns years. Italy 3 bt Switzerland 0 Italy lead Group A with six since their first meeting in 1912, points after two rounds of made amends for their opening Russia bt Finland 1-0 matches and are ahead of Wales loss to Belgium as the group Copa America (four), Switzerland (one) and remains wide open. Today's Fixtures Turkey (zero). They can seal top The Finns, winners 1-0 over registers more 4pm: vs North spot with a draw in their final European Championship after half but scored just before Denmark in their first game that Macedonia pool game against Wales on Aaron Ramsey and Connor halftime when he made a run was marked by Christian Erik- Sunday. Roberts scored in a 2-0 win through the middle to chest sen’s heart attack on the pitch, coronavirus 7pm: Belgium vs Ramsey, Roberts give over Turkey in their second down Gareth Bale’s perfect ball almost made the perfect start Denmark Wales 2-0 victory over Turkey Group A match at Baku’s over the defence and slip it past when Joel Pohjanpalo’s third cases 10pm: vs Wales moved a big step Olympic Stadium yesterday. the goalkeeper. minute header beat the Russian BRASILIA closer to qualifying for the Ramsey failed to convert Wales could have doubled keeper but was ruled offside REUTERS — knockout stages of the two chances early in the first the lead at the hour mark when after a VAR review. The number of COVID-19 cases recorded among people involved in the Copa America Team Qatar gets off to fine start at Al Arabi reach semis rose to 52 on Tuesday, an increase of 11 on two days Asian Taekwondo Championships previously, ’s Health Ministry said. QNA — BEIRUT Two of the new cases were Qatar's Hoda Ali Akbar players or officials embedded Qatar's taekwondo team won the bronze medal with the competing teams, the clinching two medals on the in the women’s singles ministry said. opening day at the 24th Asian under 40 years. It did not reveal any more Championship, which got details or say which of the 10 underway in Beirut. competing South America As many as 334 male and nations were affected. female athletes, representing In total 33 players or offi- 17 countries, are taking part in cials from Venezuela, the event which will conclude Colombia and Bolivia have tomorrow. tested positive since Sunday, Qatar's Hoda Ali Akbar won the day the soccer tournament the bronze medal in the kicked off in four Brazilian An Al Arabi player attempts to score against Kuwait’s Al Salmiyah women’s singles under 40 years cities. during their Asian Club Championship match in Jeddah category, while the duo Huda Another 19 were yesterday. Al Arabi won 35-30 to reach the semi-finals of the Ali Akbar and Othman Abdel employees working at hotels tournament. It was Al Arabi's third straight win. In other match, Al Ghafour Bouleras won the in Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro Duhail beat Al Kuwait SC 30-27 to register their fourth successive win. bronze in the mixed doubles where the delegations are category over 30 years old. staying. Sport THURSDAY 17 JUNE 2021 15 NZ out to end final jinx, Kohli Mercedes hope for more dominance, chases maiden ICC trophy less drama in REUTERS — LONDON

An upbeat will REUTERS — PARIS take on an undercooked India Seven-time world champion aiming to become Test ’s Formula One fans may groan first official world champions but Mercedes will be hoping for Lewis Hamilton won from pole when they clash in the inau- more dominance and a lot less in 2018 and 2019, with no race gural World Test Championship drama at the French Grand Prix last year due to the pandemic, (WTC) final in Southampton this weekend after their street and a hat-trick would do nicely from tomorrow. race setbacks in Monaco and The one-off match at the Azerbaijan. as the Mercedes driver seeks to Rose Bowl marks the culmi- Le Castellet’s Paul Ricard retake the overall lead from Red nation of a two-year cycle of the circuit is loved more for its Bull’s Max Verstappen. WTC, which was launched in history and location, perched 2019 to create ’s on a plateau above the Medi- own pinnacle event. terranean coast in the sunny The governing International south of France, than its layout. two years and locked out the Cricket Council (ICC) wanted To say that the track has front row of the grid. the championship to bring rel- generated few thrills since its This time, France is the first evance and context to Test return in 2018 after a 28-year of a triple-header on successive cricket and New Zealand absence would be an weekends, with two races at Kane Williamson said understatement. Austria’s Red Bull Ring fol- it had been a success. Seven-times world lowing on. “I think we saw it at the end champion Lewis Hamilton won Verstappen, twice a winner of the competition, teams trying New Zealand’s Kane Williamson (left) talks to India’s Virat ohliK in this February 24, 2020 file photo. from pole in 2018 and 2019, this season to Hamilton’s three, to push their case for qualifying with no race last year due to is sure to take the fight to Mer- which made way for a lot of their chance, signalling their pace attack armed with the the pandemic, and a hat-trick cedes, while Mexican team exciting results,” the 30-year- preparedness with a 1-0 series fast-swinging Dukes ball. would do nicely as the Mer- mate Sergio Perez will be old said last week. victory against England. With an animated Kohli and cedes driver seeks to retake the boosted by his win in Baku. “We saw in , in Particularly impressive was This holds a lot of value, a phlegmatic Williamson overall lead from Red Bull’s “I’m feeling good but I’m New Zealand, a lot of teams had how the team under stop-gap especially this being the first leading their troops, the final Max Verstappen. sure that Mercedes will be very a chance to get through.” captain , having of its kind and in the will also be a clash of con- The Briton led every lap in strong on the ‘normal’ tracks New Zealand are looking to made six changes to their toughest format. trasting leadership styles. 2019 as Mercedes celebrated again,” said Verstappen. shed the bridesmaids tag in big squad, triumphed by eight The ICC is happy with how their 50th one-two finish but Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finals, having finished runners- inside four days in the WTC generated more has scored only seven points in will meanwhile be going for an up at the last two 50-overs Edgbaston. interest in Test cricket. the last two races -- seventh in unlikely third pole in a row. World Cups. By contrast, India have not “It was obvious that the Monaco followed by 15th in The race should draw a line They were particularly played a Test match since interest in certain series wasn’t Baku after a rare mistake while under an early season ‘bendy unlucky in 2019 when England March and are yet to win an ICC leaving for England. “This is like just restricted to the two teams second. wing’ controversy, with the won the title via a now- trophy under skipper Virat the accumulation of all the hard involved,” ICC acting CEO Geoff The champion is four points governing FIA introducing new scrapped boundary-count rule Kohli. The importance of the work of not just the duration of Allardice told a virtual news behind Verstappen, who flexibility tests to make sure after the final ended in a tie WTC final was not lost on the the championship but the last conference on Monday. crashed out in Baku after an teams comply with the regula- even after a Super Over. 32-year-old. five-six years.” “It was coming from all over alarming high-speed tyre tions at all times. The WTC final presents “This holds a lot of value, The WTC final could prove the cricketing world and I think blowout, after six rounds. There will also be a revised them with another opportunity especially this being the first of to be a contest between India’s to bring that sort of context to Hamilton’s team-mate protocol for tyre warming and to become world champions its kind and in the toughest star-studded line-up Test cricket is a real step Valtteri Bottas failed to score pressures after two big Baku and they look ready to grasp format,” Kohli said before and New Zealand’s versatile forward.” in either race, through no fault blowouts, with Pirelli indicating of his own in Monaco after the they were caused by how teams team were unable to remove a were running the tyres during wheel from his car until 43 the race. Smith ruled out, hours after he came in for his Experienced Australian Sultans knock Gladiators out of PSL pitstop. Daniel Ricciardo is also looking Cummins, Warner The Finn, out of contract at forward to more predictable the end of the year and with territory as he continues to rested from considerable speculation about settle in at McLaren. his place at the team, needs a “I can’t believe I’m going to Multan Sultans opener Shan strong result. say this, but kind of excited to Masood plays a shot during Windies tour “We come off the back of go to Le Castellet,” Ricciardo a Super League two street circuits unsuited to laughed after crashing in qual- REUTERS — MELBOURNE (PSL) match against Quetta our car, two circuits we knew ifying in Baku. Gladiators in Abu Dhabi would be difficult for us, and “Just get a fairly basic track Australia will send an under-strength squad yesterday. Masood smashed we were disappointed to lose to maybe get away with a few to the Caribbean for the white-ball tour 73 from 42 deliveries to guide a podiumod u finish s aand d a vvictory cto y moreo e mistakes. sta es. The e familiarity a a ty against the West Indies, with Pat Cummins, Sultans to 183-5, who bowled throughough our own mistakes,” withwith tthathat aandnd tthenhen a doubdouble-le- and Glenn Maxwell opting out Gladiators to 73 in 12.1 saidd MMercedesercedes teteamam bbossoss ToTototo headerheader iinn AuAustriastria wiwillll out, and injured. overs to seal 110-run victory. Wolff.olff. hopefullyhopefully makemake Cricket Australia said pace trio Jhye Imran Tahir was pick of the “The“The FrenchFrench GrGrandand PrPrixix thisthis learninglearning Richardson, Kane Richardson and Daniel bowlers from the winning side meansans returninreturningg to a phasephase a bitbit Sams, along with all-rounder Marcus with figures of 3/7. Gladiators moreore tratraditionalditional easier.”easier.” Stoinis, had also opted out of the tour for bowed out of the event circuitcuit and hopefully, “various reasons”. following their seventh loss betterter ffortunesortunes fforor us.” Selector Trevor Hohns said in a team from nine games. PIC: PSL Mercedes have led everyevery release yesterday that while they were dis- practiceactice sessionsession at LeLe Cas-Cas- appointed not to have all their players telletet in thethe available the national selection panel lasts t respected the decisions of those who had opted out of the tour. Australia are scheduled to play five Twenty20 and three one-day internationals in West Indies next month and five Twenty20 matches in Bangladesh in August, subject to biosecurity arrangements and government approvals. AUSTRALIAN SQUAD (capt), Ashton Agar, Wes Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey, Dan Christian, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, , Riley Meredith, Ben McDermott, Josh Philippe,

Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa. Lewis Hamilton Olympics: Japan to decide soon on domestic spectators

REUTERS — TOKYO prefectures including Tokyo and Portugal in their Euro 2020 opener. Osaka. But of the nine, Tokyo, Osaka Other nations are allowing various Japan will decide this month on and five others will instead come under sized crowds, with up to 45,000 whether to allow domestic spectators quasi-emergency measures, they said. expected at both semi-finals and the at the Tokyo Olympics, the govern- Under quasi emergency measures, July 11 final to be played at London’s ment’s chief spokesman said yesterday, just like under a state of emergency, Wembley Stadium. after experts signed off on a plan to spectators at major events are limited Japan’s top medical adviser Shigeru allow crowds of up to 10,000 people to 5,000 or half of a venue’s capacity, Omi echoed the comments from the at events. whichever is smaller - meaning even economy minister that attendance limit The final call on attendance at the if domestic fans were allowed, they plans were not tied specifically to the Games will be made taking into would be in the low thousands. Olympics. Omi told reporters he and account coronavirus infection condi- Foreign spectators have already other experts were in the final stages tions and the prevalence of variants, been ruled out from the Olympics of drafting proposals for the Games, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu beginning on July 23 as part of declining to elaborate on the details. Kato told reporters. measures planned to deliver what Jap- The IOC has tried to quell such con- Economy Minister Yasutoshi anese government and Olympic offi- cerns by saying that most athletes and Nishimura said health experts agreed cials promise will be a “safe and media coming to Tokyo will be vacci- with a government plan that would secure” Games. nated, and that so-called playbooks permit up to 10,000 spectators or 50% Tokyo organisers might be forgiven governing hygiene, movements and of a venue’s capacity, whichever is Yoshiyuki Terajima (51), a pin collector based in Tokyo, shows his collection for eyeing soccer’s European Cham- testing of participants will further mit- smaller, at events, under certain next to the Olympic rings monument as he poses for a photograph outside the pionship with envy, as tens of thou- igate infection risks. conditions. Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) headquarters. sands of fans are expected to gather in The Olympics have already been Allowing such crowds depends on stadiums across the continent postponed by a year amid concerns there not being special infection con- Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told 20 after hearing experts’ views today. throughout the month-long over how organisers can keep volun- trols under a state of emergency or reporters the government would make Broadcaster TBS and other media spectacle. teers, athletes, officials and the Jap- state of quasi emergency, so they may a decision on extending the states of said the state of emergency would not On Tuesday, a full house of 67,000 anese public safe when they begin after still not be possible during the Games. emergency after they expire on June be extended for nine of the 10 supporters watched Hungary take on a fourth wave of infections.