6 July 2, 2020

Kazemi Wins FIBA Iran Launches Bid to Host Dunk of Decade Bracket TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian 2027 Asian Cup player Arsalan Ka- zemi has claimed the FIBA Dunk family, I would like to thank all our of the Decade crown. Member Associations for stepping He won the accolade after forward to express their desire and for his high-flying entry from sharing our ambitions to host a world- the FIBA Olympic Qualify- class stage for our players, teams, of- ing Tournament 2016 emerged ficials and fans and I wish all of them victorious in the interactive fan the very best in the bidding process,” voting. he said. The interactive bracket fea- Of the five countries expressing an tured 32 entries from across all interest, two nations have already FIBA regions and a wide range hosted the tournament twice since its of global and continental na- inception in 1956. tional team competitions, with Reigning champions Qatar staged a total of 699,188 votes cast the competition in 1988 and 2011, as over the period of 20 days. well as Iran, who are the only nation Having received 80,658 votes in Asian football history to have won for 55.8 percent in the Final Iranian basketball player the coveted crown twice on home soil Arsalan Kazemi matchup, Kazemi’s dunk over in 1968 and 1976. Ioannis Bourousis bested an- the Asian Conference before Three-time champions Saudi Arabia other highly popular candidate, knocking out Rafael Mineiro of and India, who were recently awarded TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran will com- each Bidding Member Association AFC in a statement late. Angola star Carlos Morais, Brazil in the Semi-Final. the hosting rights for the 2022 AFC pete with India, Qatar, Saudi Arabia on the delivery of the necessary bid- AFC President Sheikh Salman bin who had the backing of 63,887 A runner-up in the overall Women’s Asian Cup, as well as Uz- and Uzbekistan for hosting right of the ding documentation in accordance Ebrahim Al Khalifa thanked the five- supporters for 44.2 percent, standings, Carlos Morais’ wind- bekistan, this year’s host for the AFC Asian Cup 2027, the Asian Football with the bidding process and will an- member associations for showcasing fiba.basketball reported. mill dunk from FIBA AfroBas- U-19 Championship, are all vying to Federation (AFC) revealed. nounce the host for the 19th edition of their support to the Asian Cup. On his path to overall vic- ket 2013 claimed the top honors stage event for the first time. “The AFC will now work with the AFC Asian Cup in 2021,” said the “On behalf of the Asian football tory, Kazemi eliminated Nor- in Africa, while Rafael Mineiro vel Pelle of Lebanon, Rui and Kristaps Porzingis won the Hachimura of Japan and Gabe regional conferences in Americas Barca Title Hopes Dim as Atletico Upstage Messi’s 700th Goal Norwood of the Philippines in and Europe, respectively. BARCELONA (Reuters) - Bar- the spot after the referee ordered celona have given up more ground a re-take when Costa’s initial to Real Madrid in La Liga’s title penalty was saved by Marc-An- Formula One Fires Up, Four race after being held to a 2-2 draw dre ter Stegen who had strayed at home to third-placed Atletico from his line. Months Late, Without a Crowd Madrid as a late penalty from Saul Barcelona then earned a pen- Niguez cancelled out Lionel Mes- alty soon after the interval which si’s 700th career goal. Argentine Messi coolly convert- The draw meant the Catalans ed for a remarkable 700th strike stayed second in the standings on for club and country, only for 70 points and leaders Real Ma- Saul to strike again from the spot drid, who have 71, will go four in the 62nd to earn a share of the points clear at the top with five points. games left if they beat Getafe at “It’s a real shame and the league home on Thursday. title is looking much harder for Barca went ahead at an empty us with each game,” said Barca Camp Nou in the 11th minute coach Quique Setien, whose when Atletico striker Diego Cos- Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, center, kicks the ball in front of Atletico side have drawn three of their ta knocked Messi’s delivery from Madrid’s Angel Correa during the Spanish La Liga soccer match six games since the campaign a corner into his own net. between FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid at the Camp Nou stadium in resumed after the coronavirus Saul levelled soon after from Barcelona, Spain, June 30, 2020. stoppage. Dutch driver Max Verstappen steers his car in front of Red Bull’s French driver Pierre Gasly during the Austrian Formula One Grand Prix in Spielberg. FIFA Bans Former Top Official Kattner for 10 Years LONDON (Dispatches) - Formula “We are preparing the best way One starts its season in Austria this we can for what is going to be the ZURICH (Dispatches) - Soccer’s covered various charges concerning week, nearly four months later than world governing body FIFA has banned bonus payments in relation to FIFA most difficult season that Formula Markus Kattner, a former leading of- competitions that were paid to top planned due to the COVID-19 pan- One and all of us have experi- ficial in the Zurich organization, for FIFA management officials (including demic and against a very different enced,” the 35-year-old said in a 10 years and has fined him one mil- Mr Kattner), various amendments to backdrop even if Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes video. lion Swiss francs ($1.06 million) after a and extensions of employment con- targets remain the same. Since the traditional Australian probe into bonus payments. tracts, reimbursement of private legal The six times world champion opener was cancelled in March, “The adjudicatory chamber of the costs, and Mr Kattner’s duties as an can equal Ferrari great Michael Formula One has agreed changes to independent Ethics Committee has official.” Schumacher’s record seven while help teams hard hit by COVID-19. found Markus Kattner, former FIFA FIFA said in June, 2016, that an inter- his Mercedes team are bidding for Driver moves for 2021 have been deputy secretary general and acting nal investigation revealed that Kattner, an unprecedented seventh succes- announced already, including the secretary general, guilty of conflicts FIFA’s former Secretary General Je- sive drivers’ and constructors’ title departure of Hamilton’s old rival of interest and having abused his po- rome Valcke and the organization’s ex- double. Sebastian Vettel from Ferrari at the sition, in violation of the FIFA Code President had received 79 of Ethics,” FIFA said in a statement on million Swiss francs (US$81 million) The Briton, who has used his pro- end of 2020. file to campaign for greater diver- This year’s only rookie, Canadian In this Nov 24, 2015 file photo, then FIFA Acting Secretary General Tuesday. in compensation over five years, call- sity in the sport and against racism, Nicholas Latifi, could find his Wil- Markus Kattner listens during a conference in Moscow. “The investigation into Mr Kattner ing them “massive payouts”. is raring to compete but aware he liams team are under new owner- faces new and unexpected chal- ship before his first campaign is UEFA Says Fully Committed to Champions League Finale in Lisbon lenges. over. BERN (Dispatches) - UEFA ties underlined they are fully has said it was fully committed committed to working together Lorenzo Shoots Down Rumors to staging a Champions League in a collaborative manner in or- Final Eight tournament in Lis- der to deliver a successful event of 2021 Ducati Return bon in August despite several in Lisbon,” UEFA said. suburbs of the city preparing to Last Thursday, the Portuguese MADRID (Dispatches) - Three-time premier class champion Lorenzo go back into lockdown as novel government said that those retired from racing at the end of the 2019 campaign following a miserable coronavirus cases climb again. people living in the affected debut season on the factory Honda, and has since returned to Yamaha as European soccer’s governing areas of the capital - 19 par- its official test rider in the winter. body said in a statement that its ishes not including downtown Lorenzo was due to make his race return as a wildcard at the Catalan president Aleksander Ceferin Lisbon - would be allowed to Grand Prix with Yamaha, before the coronavirus pandemic resulted in had held a video conference leave home only to buy essen- the race being postponed and MotoGP banning wildcard outings for with Portugal’s Prime Minister tial goods or to travel to and this year to cut down on paddock numbers. Antonio Costa to discuss plans from work. Linked briefly to a potential Petronas Yamaha move for 2021, Loren- zo has since been rumoured to be in the frame to rejoin Ducati – with for the eight-team mini-tourna- The Luz stadium will be the venue for the final match of the Champions The measure will be in place whom he raced in 2017 and 2018, and won three races – amid slow ment. League Final on Aug 23, 2020, UEFA announced on June 17, 2020. from July 1-14 and will then be “During the meeting, all par- reviewed. talks between the Italian marque and Andrea Dovizioso.