Sport Saturday 21 AUGUST 2021 Medvedev advances to Western and Southern quarter-finals; Osaka stunned It was definitely a great level of tennis. It was pretty hot for both of us. I saw Grigor struggling, so I figured that’s how it is. It’s the same for everybody. Our bodies are getting more used to the heat.

Daniil Medvedev Sport | 11 PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES: Liverpool vs Burnley, Aston Villa vs Newcastle United, Leeds United vs Everton, Man City vs Norwich City Home athletes win 12 more golds on second day in Doha Qatar swimmers dominate GCC Championships

The Peninsula – Doha Hosts Qatar emerged overall champions at the conclusion of the swimming competitions on the second day of the 28th GCC Aquatics Championship at the Hamad Aquatic Centre in Doha, yesterday. Qatari swimmers bagged an outstanding medal haul of 30 gold, 15 silver and seven bronze medals to emerge on top for the fifth occasion in a row. Saudi Arabia, with a total of 29 medals (8 gold, 12 silver and 9 bronze), were placed second while Kuwait came third with 35 medals (3 gold, 15 silver, 17 bronze). Bahrain (3 gold, 3 silver, 9 bronze), UAE (3 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze) and Oman (1 gold, 2 silver, 3 bronze) are in the fourth, fifth and sixth spots respectively. Also, Qatari swimmers also President of the Qatar Swimming Association, Khaleel Al Jaber emerged on top in all three age presents a certificate to Omar Hassan, the best swimmer in the categories. Ziad Morsi (three gold 15-17 age group. BOTTOM: A member of the Qatari team competes Medal table two silver) was named the most during the 400m medley relay for the 15-17 age group. promising swimmer in 11-12 years G S B category while Abdullah Al Ghemri was adjudged the best in Qatar 30 15 7 52 the 13-14 years age group. Saudi Arabia 8 12 9 29 Omar Hassan was named the best swimmer in the 15-17 age President of the Qatar Swimming Association, Khaleel Al Jaber Kuwait 3 15 17 35 poses for a photograph with officials and the Qatari swimmers who group. All three Qatari swimmers Bahrain 3 3 9 15 received their trophies and cer- won medals at the 28th GCC Aquatics Championship at the Hamad tificates from President of the Aquatic Centre in Doha, yesterday. Qatar bagged an outstanding UAE 3 1 3 7 medal haul of 30 gold, 15 silver and seven bronze medals in the Qatar Swimming Association, Oman 1 2 3 6 Khaleel Al Jaber. swimming competitions. Pictures: Ahmed Oukda /QSA Nadal to miss rest of the season due to foot injury Reuters – MADRID to recover the best possible shape to keep competing for the things that really Spaniard Rafael Nadal (pictured) said motivate me. yesterday that he will end his 2021 season “I’m convinced that with the recovery early due to a left foot issue that has been of the foot and obviously a very important troubling him for a year, ruling him out of daily effort... this can be achieved. I will this month’s US Open. work as hard as I can to make it happen.” The world number four suffered a Nadal’s great rival and fellow 20-times shock exit in Washington this month, Grand Slam winner Roger Federer is also where he kicked off his lead-up to the final out of the US Open and will be sidelined Grand Slam of the year, and pulled out of for many months because he needs knee the Cincinnati Masters and the Canadian surgery. Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring their Ligue 1 match Open. It is the second straight year in which against Brest at the Stade Francis-Le Ble, in Brest, yesterday. “I wanted to inform you that unfortu- the duo will be out of the hardcourt major, nately I have to end the 2021 season,” with Nadal missing the previous Nadal tweeted yesterday. edition due to COVID-19 concerns Doha to host China vs Japan qualifier The recurring issue flared up at the and Federer opting out due to French Open, where he fell to eventual surgery. REUTERS – HONG KONG The game is the second of China’s champion Novak Djokovic in the Austria’s Dominic Thiem qualifiers to be relocated after Australian semi-finals. will also not defend his title China’s World Cup 2022 qualifier against officials said earlier this month that the “Honestly, I have been suffering much at this year’s US Open, which Japan on Sept. 7 has been switched to Sept. 2 game against the Socceroos, orig- more than I should with my foot for a year runs from Aug. 30-Sept. 12, Doha, the Asian Football Confederation inally scheduled for Sydney, would have and I need to take some time... to find a due to a wrist injury, leaving announced yesterday. to be played overseas. solution to this problem or at least improve world number one Novak The match was due to be played in A new venue for that game, when it in order to continue to have options for Djokovic as the favourite China but has been moved due to the countries kick off the final phase of the next few years,” Nadal said. to claim the title and com- stringent quarantine restrictions put in Asia’s final round of preliminaries for “I’m with the maximum enthusiasm plete a calendar Grand place by authorities as they continue to the 2022 World Cup, has yet to be and predisposition to do whatever it takes Slam. battle the coronavirus pandemic. announced. Arab Club Championships: Qatar SC Junior Worlds: Alabsi qualifies for the final women’s team wins bronze in Jordan

The members of the Qatar SC and Al Ahly women's teams pose for a photograph with officials during the Arab Club Table Tennis Championships which is currently being held in Jordan. Qatar SC lost to Qatar's Saeed Othman Alabsi (left) competes during the 110m hurdles heats at the Junior World the Egyptian side 0-3 in the semi-finals and settled for a bronze medal yesterday. Meanwhile, Qatar Athletics Championships in Nairobi, Kenya, yesterday. Alabsi advanced to the semi-finals and SC men advanced to the final yesterday after defeating a Jordanian club 3-1. then qualified for today's final after clocking a time of 13.52 secs yesterday. Sport Saturday 21 AUGUST 2021 11 Al Shaqab Racing’s Lusail completes Gr2 double Saudi Arabia to The Peninsula – York Shadow (Dark Angel) was slow host ACL final out of the stalls and was never Taking his record to four wins towards the early pace. REUTERS – HONG KONG from five career starts, the Al Inside the final three fur- Shaqab Racing owned two- longs, Dobbs began to nudge Saudi Arabia will host the final of this year-old Lusail (Mehmas x Lusail and the colt moved up year’s Asian Champions League (ACL) Diaminda) proved much too between the two early leaders on Nov. 23, the Asian Football Confed- good for his rivals in taking the and gradually worked his way eration (AFC) confirmed yesterday. Al Basti Equiworld Dubai to the front of the field. Inside No venue city has been Gimcrack Stakes (Gr.2) at York the final furlong, Lusail saw off announced, but the quarter-final and racecourse in North Yorkshire, all challenges and galloped semi-final matches involving teams England, yesterday. strongly through the lineto win from the west of Asia - due to be held Trained by Richard by two lengths. The Kevin on Oct. 16 and 19 respectively - will Hannon, Lusail was adding a Ryan trained and Kevin Stott- also be played in the Gulf state. second straight Group 2 ridden Gis A Sub stuck on well Two clubs from Saudi Arabia success to his CV, following his to claim second, while The M remain involved in the competition, win in the Tattersalls July Cup D O’Callaghan-trained and with former champions Al Hilal due at the Qatar Goodwood Fes- Leigh Roche-ridden Twilight Pat Dobbs guides Lusail to Gimcrack Stakes win at York Racecource, yesterday. to play Iran’s Esteghlal in the last 16 tival last month and justifying Jet (Twilight Son) put in good while Al Nassr will face off against being the favourite of the six- late work to take third, further Tractor, also from Iran. Both teams furlong contest at York. three quarters of a mile behind. especially carrying a penalty. Lusail was purchased at His dam, Diaminda are based in Riyadh. Ridden by Pat Dobbs, “We brought him here for We think he will be better next Tattersalls October Book 2. (Diamond Green) won her The AFC has had to alter the Lusail was ideally drawn in his maiden and he surprised year and he stays seven fur- Bred by Tally Ho Stud, maiden at Ascot and is a format of the competition because of stall 7 and chased early leaders us that day”, said the winning longs. The Guineas could be on Lusail is a son of Memhas daughter of Lominda COVID-19 travel restrictions in place Last Crusader (Oasis Dream) trainer Richard Hannon after the cards and we will have him (Acclamation), who was also (Lomond), who produced in many Asian nations, with games in and Gis A Sub (Acclamation) the race. in all the right races. We have owned by Al Shaqab Racing Group One Golden Jubilee the knockout rounds played on a through the first two furlongs. “You have to be delighted a lot to look forward to with and was Champion First- Stakes winner Fayr Jag single-match basis rather than as The second favourite,Berkshire with what he has done here, him. Fantastic!,” he said. Season Sire in Europe in 2020. (Fayruz). home-and-away clashes. Round of 16 games will be held from Sept. 13 to 15 around the region, with the draw for the quarter-finals to be held on Sept. 17. Medvedev advances to W&S The quarter-final and semi-final matches for clubs from the east of the confederation will be hosted in Jeonju quarters; Osaka knocked out in South Korea on Oct. 17 and 20. AP – MASON, Ohio Switzerland's Jil Teichmann Benzema extends No Novak, no Roger, no Rafa celebrates her win over Chris doesn’t mean winning his Naomi Osaka of Japan contract with Real Cairns second Western & Southern during the Western and Open championship will be Southern Open. through 2023 easy for top-seeded Daniil Cairns off life Medvedev. AP – MADRID He’s just making it look support after that way. Karim Benzema (pictured) has signed Medvedev, the 2019 a contract extension with Real Madrid champion and last year’s through 2023, the Spanish club said heart surgery runner-up to Novak Djokovic, yesterday. advanced to the quarterfinals The 33-year-old France striker REUTERS – Sydney of the US Open tune-up event has helped Madrid win four Cham- Thursday with a 6-3, 6-3 pions League titles and three Spanish Former New Zealand all-rounder victory over Grigor league titles since he joined from Lyon Chris Cairns is off life support and Dimitrov. in 2009. recovering in hospital after emer- “It was definitely a great Benzema became the gency surgery in Sydney for a heart level of tennis,” Medvedev main attacking threat problem, his lawyer said yesterday. said. “It was pretty hot for for Madrid when Cris- “I’m pleased to advise that Chris both of us. I saw Grigor strug- tiano Ronaldo left in is off life support and has been able gling, so I figured that’s how 2018. He scored two to communicate with his family it is. It’s the same for eve- goals in Madrid’s from hospital in Sydney,” Aaron rybody. Our bodies are getting first game of the Lloyd said in a statement. more used to the heat.” season last Cairns, 51, had surgery in Can- Second-ranked Naomi Osaka wasn’t to win most of those.” weekend. berra after a “major medical event” as lucky. In the second match of her first Former tournament earlier this month but the seri- tour appearance since late May, Osaka women’s champion ousness of his condition required sprayed balls all over the court in a 3-6, Karolina Pliskova him to be transferred to St Vincent’s 6-3, 6-3 loss to No. 76 Jil Teichmann. advanced with a 6-4, 7-6 for another operation. Osaka repeatedly punched her left (5) win over Jessica Cairns played 62 Tests, 215 thigh with her left wrist and talked Pegula.. Olympic Naomi Osaka greets Jil Teichmann after their match. one-day internationals and two loudly to herself, trying to get herself champion and third- Pulisic tests Twenty20 matches for New Zealand going, but she was impassive as she seeded Alexander Zverev between 1989-2006. shook hands at the net with the giddy also moved on, beating Guido Pella 6-2, actually have a bruise on my calf. A positive for Teichmann. 6-3, while Roland Garros-finalist and bruise is a bruise. It’s nothing serious.” Top-ranked Ash Barty rolled second-seeded Stefano Tsitsipas was The second-ranked Russian, the COVID-19 ahead Sri Lankan players through the first 10 games of her match pushed by Lorenzo Sonego to three sets winner last week in Toronto, won when with defending champion Victoria Aza- before prevailing, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. Dimitrov double-faulted on match of WC qualifiers sign new contracts renka in a 6-0, 6-2 win to reach the Medvedev bounced back up after a point. Medvedev has been on the court women’s quarterfinals. nasty fall early in the second set and for only 2 hours, 28 minutes while AP – LONDON to end dispute “I think sometimes the scoreline in went on to close out the win. winning his first two matches in straight tennis can fool you,” Barty said. “Though “You can’t see this on video, but my sets after a first-round bye. Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic has REUTERS – COLOMBO it seemed like a quite convincing racket got between my legs and hit the While his matches have been short, tested positive for COVID-19 less than scoreline in the match, each and every back of my calf,” Medvedev said. Medvedev feels winning will go a long two weeks before United States players Eighteen Sri Lanka cricketers have game had crucial poits and I was able “I don’t know how that happens. I way. are due to report for camp ahead of signed new national team contracts their 2022 World Cup qualifying until the end of the year, ending a campaign. player-board dispute, the country’s Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel cricket board said yesterday. Crutchlow replaces Vinales at Yamaha said Friday that the 22-year-old Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) rolled American had tested positive and was out new contracts in May offering Reuters – LONDON said an immediate separation had now been in self-isolation, ruling him out of Sat- lower base salaries and more per- agreed. urday’s game against Arsenal. formance-based incentives which Spanish MotoGP rider Maverick Vinales and Crutchlow announced his retirement at the “Unfortunately I tested positive for the players rejected, calling them Yamaha parted ways with immediate effect end of last season but returned with the Petronas COVID-19 earlier this week,” Pulisic “unfair and non-transparent”. yesterday with British rider Cal Yamaha non-factory team at Austria’s Red Bull wrote yesterday in a message on his However, they went ahead with Crutchlow (pictured) drafted in as a Ring as a stand-in for injured Italian Franco Mor- Instagram Stories. tours of Bangladesh and England replacement for his home round at bidelli. The 35-year-old winner of three races now The United States have three and also played a home series Silverstone next week. joins the full factory team alongside France’s games crammed into a seven-day span against India while the dispute Yamaha had already suspended Vinales and championship leader Fabio Quartararo. when World Cup qualifying starts in lingered. withdrawn him from the Austrian GP for Aprilia have signed Vinales for next season, September. Ex-skipper Angelo Mathews is allegedly trying to destroy his bike’s engine at with the Spaniard joining the Italian outfit on a United States coach Gregg Berh- taking an indefinite break from the previous race. one-year deal with an option to renew. He will alter plans to announce his roster next national duty, while Danushka The nine-times MotoGP race winner partner compatriot Aleix Espargaro. week. American players from Gunathilaka, Niroshan Dickwella was due to leave at the end of the Vinales, who started out in 125cc with Aprilia, European clubs and Major League and Kusal Mendis are serving one- season after terminating his con- won the Moto3 championship in 2013 with KTM. Soccer teams will report to Nashville year bans from international cricket. tract a year early, but Yamaha He is seventh overall in the standings. starting Aug. 29.

Jon Rahm studies his putt Rahm, Thomas tied for first-round lead at Northern Trust on the 17th green. Agencies – New Jersey They lead Harold Varner III 15-17 and finished with eight. hadn’t used since before the a bogey on No. 9 and joined the by three shots. Behind Varner Despite positive COVID-19 tests Scottish Open and Open tie at 4-under 67 instead. Justin Thomas and is a six-way tie at 4 under that knocking him out of two sep- Championship. Bryson DeChambeau had Spain’s Jon Rahm includes Australian veteran arate events, Rahm is looking “I was like, why am I not a wild afternoon, making five separated themselves Adam Scott. to continue a stellar season using this thing?” Thomas said. bogeys, two double bogeys, from the pack late in Rahm, the world No. 1, and with the US Open victory as its “I’ve had a lot of success. It’s nine birdies and just two pars the first round and Thomas, ranked No. 5, are off cornerstone. not like I’m making a lot of - adding up to an even-par 71. carded rounds of to a hot start at the first leg of Thomas’ tee shot on the putts with what I have. If you’re DeChambeau’s score fluc- 8-under 63 to share a the FedEx Cup playoffs. Only final hole hooked far left and putting well, any of us can go tuated all day so that he was three-shot lead on Thursday 125 players qualified for the landed up on a hill to the out and putt with anything. I never lower than 1 under par at the Northern Trust at Liberty field based on points accrued outside of the cart path. But he don’t know, it kind of hit me.” and never higher than 2 over. National in Jersey City, NJ. during the regular season. played an outstanding second Varner’s 66 featured seven Defending champion Rahm played his final four Their low scores came at shot from 188 yards away, birdies and two bogeys and Dustin Johnson, the three- holes at 3 under and finished the end of a day marked by stopping the ball 3 feet from the was the low score on the board time winner at the Northern bogey-free, while Thomas unpredictable winds. pin to set up his ninth and final for much of the day. Kevin Na Trust, shot a 1-under 70. recovered from an errant tee Rahm strung together three birdie of the day. nearly matched the score after FedEx Cup points leader shot on No. 18 to finish off with birdies twice during his round: Thomas credited a switch converting an eagle at No. 6, Collin Morikawa turned in a a string of three birdies. at Nos. 6-8 and again at Nos. back to a former putter he but he finished his round with 3-over 74.