TTENNISENNIS | Page 2 CCRICKETRICKET | Page 3 Djokovic Hasaranga in last four stars as as Bencic Sri Lanka reaches fi nal clinch series

Friday, July 30, 2021 GYMNASTICS Dhul-Hijjah 20, 1442 AH GULF TIMES succeeds Biles as all-around queen SP RT Page 4 OLYMPICS / ATHLETICS Barshim, Samba carry

Qatar’s medal hopes MEDALS TALLY

Beach volleyball pair Younousse and Tijan will face Gibb and Bourne of USA today Country G S B T China 15 7 9 31 atar’s hopes of winning a Japan 15 4 6 25 medal at Olympics United States 14 14 10 38 will rest on its athletics stars, who will begin their Russian OC 8 11 9 28 campaignQ in the Games today. Australia 8 2 10 20 After winning the bronze medal at Great Britain 5 7 6 18 2012 Olympics and the silver South Korea 4 3 5 12 medal at Rio 2016 Olympics, Qatar’s 3 5 3 11 high jumper Mutaz Barshim has set Germany 3 3 7 13 his sights on winning the gold medal 2 7 10 19 in Tokyo. The two-time world cham- pion will participate in men’s high Netherlands 2 7 4 13 jump qualifi cations to begin at the Canada 2 3 5 10 Olympic Stadium in Tokyo today. Hungary 2 1 2 5 Barshim has scaled 2.40m 11 times Slovenia 2 1 1 4 since 2013 – only world record holder Croatia 2 0 1 3 Javier Sotomayor, with 17, has more Kosovo 2 0 0 2 successful clearances at that for- midable barrier – and with a 2.43m Brazil 1 3 3 7 personal best, is the second-highest Switzerland 1 3 2 6 jumper of all time. 1 3 0 4 The other Qatari medal contender Taiwan 1 2 3 6 Abderrahman Samba will also be in Czech Republic 1 2 1 4 action today. The 25-year-old 400m Qatar’s high jumper Mutaz Barshim poses in Tokyo yesterday. New Zealand 1 2 1 4 hurdler will begin his challenge in Georgia 1 2 0 3 heats. A slight injury slowed him in After securing their spots in the Jiri Liptak led a Czech one-two 2019 but he regrouped enough to take knockout stages of the men’s Olympic after prevailing in a shoot-off , while Serbia 1 1 2 4 the bronze on home soil at the World beach volleyball tournament, Qatar’s Zuzana Rehak-Stefecekova sparked Austria 1 1 1 3 Championships. Samba qualifi ed for Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan celebrations in Slovakia by winning Hong Kong 1 1 0 2 Tokyo Olympics after winning the 400 will take on Jacob Gibb and Tri Bourne the women’s gold. Liptak and 2008 Tunisia 1 1 0 2 hurdles gold medal in the Shanghai of USA at the Shiokaze Park today Beijing champion David Kostelecky Estonia 1 0 1 2 meeting 2019 with a Cherif and Ahmed began their Ol- exchanged amused smiles after fi nd- Ireland 1 0 1 2 world-leading time of 47.27 seconds ympic campaign with a 21-17, 21-16 ing themselves in a stalemate with Uzbekistan 1 0 1 2 and will arrive in Tokyo with a 48.26 victory over Adrian Heidrich and both having shot 43 of the 50 targets in season’s best. Mirco Gerson of Switzerland on Sun- the fi nal. Liptak had topped the quali- Bermuda 1 0 0 1 Meanwhile, Bashayer al-Mnawari day then they edged past Italy’s Adri- fi cation round missing one target, and Ecuador 1 0 0 1 will face a stern test when she partici- an Carambula and Enrico Rossi on the 39-year-old carried that red-hot Fiji 1 0 0 1 pates in women’s 100m heats today. Wednesday. form into the shoot-off . Kostelecky Iran 1 0 0 1 On the other hand, Qatar’s rower Meanwhile, Mohamed al-Rumaihi missed his seventh target to settle Latvia 1 0 0 1 Tala Abujbara will participate in Final fi nished the men’s trap shooting for silver as the teammates hugged, Norway 1 0 0 1 E race of women’s singles sculls event qualifying rounds in the 13th place laughed and sat down together on the today to conclude her historic ap- with 121 points, just one point behind spot at the shotgun range strewn with Philippines 1 0 0 1 pearance in Tokyo Olympics. the last qualifi er to the fi nals. shattered clay targets. Mohamed al-Rumaihi finished 13th in the the men’s trap shooting. Slovakia 1 0 0 1 Thailand 1 0 0 1 Spain 0 2 1 3 HORSE RACING South Africa 0 2 0 2 Indonesia 0 1 2 3 Mongolia 0 1 2 3 Belgium 0 1 1 2 Lady Bowthorpe wins at Qatar Goodwood Festival 0 1 1 2 Bulgaria 0 1 0 1 Agencies Colombia 0 1 0 1 Goodwood, United Kingdom India 0 1 0 1 Jordan 0 1 0 1 he 2021 renewal of the Qatar North Macedonia 0 1 0 1 Goodwood Festival contin- 0 1 0 1 ued with some top quality Turkmenistan 0 1 0 1 racing yesterday, with Lady Venezuela 0 1 0 1 BowthorpeT taking top honours in the Ukraine 0 0 4 4 Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes in the Kazakhstan 0 0 3 3 presence of Yousef bin Ali al-Khater, Egypt 0 0 2 2 Qatar’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, yesterday. The fi rst two Mexico 0 0 2 2 days of the Festival saw some fan- Lady Bowthorpe under Kieran Shoemark wins the Qatar Nassau Stakes Turkey 0 0 2 2 tastic performances with top qual- (Group 1) at the Qatar Goodwood Festival yesterday. Argentina 0 0 1 1 ity participation, in front of racegoers Cuba 0 0 1 1 who turned out in big numbers. Bowthorpe proved much the stronger Group 2 Unibet Richmond Stakes for 0 0 1 1 The Qatari success on the second inside the fi nal furlong and went clear two-year-old colts and geldings over Israel 0 0 1 1 day only added to the resounding of Zeyaadah to score by a length and 1,200m. The duo did very well and at success of the Festival with Khalifa a half. Joan Of Arc rallied well close a certain stage, the race looked like a Ivory Coast 0 0 1 1 bin Sheail al-Kuwari’s Lady Princess home and took third. duel between them. However, in the Kuwait 0 0 1 1 landing the Group 1 PA Qatar Interna- “It’s fantastic! We have dreamt of fi nal stages the Leora Judah-owned Portugal 0 0 1 1 tional Stakes and Al Shaqab Racing’s this race with her for a long time now. Asymmetric, under signals from his San Marino 0 0 1 1 Armor taking the Group 3 Markel Yousef bin Ali al-Khater, Qatar’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, presented She has always shown to be a very jockey Martin Harley, came from be- Molecomb Stakes. The small-sized the trophies to the winners of the Qatar Nassau Stakes after Lady Bowthorpe special mare and we think the world hind to take the lead and win by half- but mighty fi ve-year-old mare added won the Group 1 race at Qatar Goodwood Festival yesterday. of her. I am delighted for the team at a-length for trainer Alan King. a fourth Group 1 PA victory to her tal- PICTURES: Toby Adamson / Dominic James home, it means so much to them and Khunan was just after him in sec- ly and kept the coveted title in Qatari to her jockey Kieran. I was very con- ond. The Richard Hannon-trained QNB Stars League hands for the third year in a row, ce- the Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes Although there were only six run- fi dent that she would stay the trip and and Sean Levey-ridden Gubbass and fi xtures announced menting the country’s standing as the for three-year-old and older fi llies ners, Prix de Diane winner Joan Of she did it well. She has a great turn of the Hugo Palmer-trained and James world-leader in Arabian racing. The and mares over 2,000m. It was Lady Arc set some quick fractions through foot and settles very well in her races. Doyle-ridden Ebro River stayed on : The Qatar Stars League (QSL) two-year-old Armor, on the other Bowthorpe who landed top hon- the early stages, which allowed Lady She is just a superstar, we love her,” strongly to fi nish third by only a nose released the schedule for the new hand, continued his impressive start ours in the colours of Emma Banks Bowthorpe to settle well in mid-divi- said Jarvis, who had not had a Group 1 and fourth by just a neck respectively. season with the QNB Stars League to in the racing world, emerging as a for trainer William Jarvis and jockey sion. As the pace slowed on the turn winner since 1994. The Qatar Goodwood Festival con- start in September. The first round will hero in the making with two victories Kieran Shoemark. Ambassador al- for home, the fi eld stacked up but it tinues today with seven races, with be played on September 11, where Al in only three starts. A Group 3 win on Khater presented the trophies to the was apparent that Lady Bowthorpe ASYMMETRIC WINS the feature the Group 2 King George Gharafa will play Al Shamal, Umm Salal his fi rst attempt tells stories. winners after the race. was travelling well. Asked for an ef- RICHMOND STAKES Qatar Stakes, a 1,000 sprint for three- take on Al Rayyan, and Qatar will face Al Trying 2,000m for the fi rst time fort at the two furlong pole, the mare Earlier yesterday, Al Shaqab Rac- year-olds and older horses. Al Shaqab Ahly. The other opening round fixtures LADY BOWTHORPE MUCH in her career, fi ve-year-old Lady made a slick headway down the out- ing’s Ebro River and Jassim bin Ali Racing’s Qaysar will run in the Unibet are Al Khor vs Al Duhail, Al Wakrah vs Al THE BEST IN NASSAU Bowthorpe stayed on strongly to side of the fi eld, following the move of al-Attiyah’s Gubbass were in the fray Golden Mile Handicap, a class 2 mile Arabi and Al Sadd vs Al Sailiya. Yesterday’s seven-race card featured claim her fi rst Group 1 success. the eventual second Zeyaadah. Lady in the second race in the card, the for three-year-olds and older horses. Gulf Times 2 Friday, July 30, 2021

TENNIS Djokovic romps into last four as Bencic enters fi nal AFP 70 minutes. “My best perform- Djokovic will now be the hot errors as he struggled to fi nd pressing against a high seed by Tokyo ance of the tournament tonight favourite to reach the fi nal for the his usual rhythm, smashing his thrashing Elina Svitolina 6-3, against a very good, very good fi rst time. He holds a 6-2 winning racquet in frustration at the end 6-1. “I don’t feel pressure right opponent,” said Djokovic, who is record over Zverev and has beat- of the match before again com- now. I just feel joy to have a med- ovak Djokovic main- looking to emulate Steffi Graf’s en the world number fi ve in their plaining about the heat. “I al,” said an emotional Bencic. tained his Golden 1988 Golden Slam — winning all last fi ve meetings. The top wanted to change my skin Czech left-hander Vondrous- Slam bid by thump- four majors and the Olympic sin- seed could still win two golds because I was sweating like ova, ranked 42nd, won the pair’s ing Japanese hope Kei gles in the same year. “I feel I had in Tokyo, after he teamed I never did before. It was only previous meeting earlier this NNishikori to reach the men’s Ol- an answer for everything he had.” up with Nina Stojanovic terrible,” he said. Khach- year in Miami. “I can’t believe it,” ympic tennis semi-fi nals, while The Serb did not have to be in to reach the mixed doubles anov had earlier battled past she said. “Maybe it’ll sink in later.” his chief gold-medal rival Daniil peak form against an opponent semis, beating Germany’s Kevin France’s Ugo Humbert 7-6 (7/4), The men’s doubles fi nal will be Medvedev was dumped out yes- who off ered very little and made Krawietz and Laura Siegemund 4-6, 6-3. Earlier ninth seed Ben- just the third Olympic fi nal be- terday. 16 unforced errors. The 34-year- 6-1, 6-2. cic, who also reached the wom- tween the same country — with In the women’s draw, Swit- old Djokovic, whose best Olympic Djokovic’s path to singles glo- en’s doubles fi nal with Viktorija Croatia’s Marin Cilic and Ivan zerland’s Belinda Bencic set up result was a bronze medal in Bei- ry was made easier when second Golubic, had to dig deep to edge Dodig to play compatriots Nikola a fi nal against Naomi Osaka’s jing 13 years ago, will face German seed Medvedev was dumped out out Rybakina after playing for Mektic and Mate Pavic today. conqueror Marketa Vondrousova Alexander Zverev in the last four Belinda Bencic of Switzerland celebrates after winning her women’s by Pablo Carreno Busta. Spaniard two hours and 44 minutes in the Women’s world number one with a marathon victory over on Friday after the fourth seed’s singles semi-final yesterday. (Reuters) Carreno Busta, on his Olympic searing heat fi rst up on centre Ashleigh Barty kept her golden Kazakh Elena Rybakina. World 6-4, 6-1 win over Jeremy Chardy. debut, set up a semi-fi nal with court. She saved fi ve set points dream alive despite defeats in number one Djokovic, who has Djokovic looked comfortable among players to lobby organis- pm. “It’s great that we’re play- another Russian, Karen Khach- in the opening set before winning the singles and women’s dou- already sealed the Australian throughout against Nishikori, ers to change the schedule. ing in the afternoon hours, so we anov, by beating an out-of-sorts 7-6 (7/2), 4-6, 6-3. bles, reaching the mixed doubles Open, and Wimble- with the match played in cooler The day’s start time was don’t experience too much heat, Medvedev 6-2, 7-6 (7/5). Vondrousova, the 2019 French semi-fi nals with John Peers after don titles this season, brushed conditions than earlier rounds pushed back from 11:00 am lo- although it’s still very, very hu- Medvedev, a two-time Grand Open runner-up, stands in her victory over Greek stars Maria aside Nishikori 6-2, 6-0 in just after he and Medvedev were cal time (0200 GMT) to 3:00 mid,” he added. Slam fi nalist, made 26 unforced way on Saturday after again im- Sakkari and Stefanos Tsitsipas.

SPOTLIGHT India’s Sindhu fi nds peace of mind amid Fraser-Pryce, Felix expectations

AFP is what is tomorrow. I’m just fo- Tokyo cusing on that. Yes, I got a medal at the last Olympics, but this is a fresh start.” ndia’s badminton superstar Meanwhile, celebrated men’s feature in day one PV Sindhu is carrying the doubles world leaders Marcus hopes of her country’s 1.3bn Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin San- people, but meditation is jaya Sukamuljo of Indonesia lost Men’s 10,000m final will see a new Ihelping her stay calm in the eye in the quarter-fi nals to a Malay- of the storm. sian pair in about half an hour for champion for the first time since The 26-year-old world cham- the week’s second major upset in pion, who won silver at the 2016 badminton competition. Gideon 2012 in the absence of Mo Farah Rio Games, would become only and Sukamuljo — known fondly at of athletics the second Indian ever to win an home as the “Minions” because of individual Olympic gold if she their diminutive stature — lost 21- AFP triumphs this week in Tokyo. 14 21-17 to world number nine Tokyo With Rio champion Caro- pairing and Soh lina Marin of Spain absent Wooi Yik. with a serious knee injury, The match comes on the he opening day of athletics at Sindhu has as good a chance heels of one of the biggest the 2020 Tokyo Games will take as any in an open fi eld. She upsets in badminton history on place at the Olympic Stadium to- booked her place in the quarter- Wednesday, when men’s singles day. Here is a look at fi ve stand- fi nals with a 21-15, 21-13 win over world number one Kento Mo- outT events. Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt yes- mota’s Olympic dreams were terday, then revealed her secret crushed by number 38 Heo MEN’S 10,000M FINAL for shutting out external noise. Kwang-hee of South Korea in the The only fi nal on the opening day of track “I meditate at times, so I think group stage. and fi eld will see a new champion for the that keeps my mind calm and Denmark’s men’s singles fi rst time since 2012 in the absence of keeps me going,” she said. “We world number two Viktor Ax- two-time defending champion Mo Farah. see a lot of things happening on elsen smashed his way to a 21- The 38-year-old Farah, who swept the social media everywhere. Some- 16 21-14 victory over Taiwan’s 5,000m and 10,000m at both the Lon- times to let go of everything I Wang Tzu-wei in the last 16. don 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics, failed to just meditate for a bit.” Japan’s , the make the British team for Tokyo. Sindhu needed just 41 min- women’s singles world number Star quality in the 25-lap race in To- utes to dispatch number 13 seed three, made quick work of Can- kyo comes in the shape of two Ugandans: Blichfeldt and book her place in ada’s Michelle Li in a tidy 21-9 world record-holder the last eight. “I’m not thinking 21-7 match in the round of six- and world-leader Jacob Kiplimo. Com- about playing in the fi nal,” said teen. Okuhara now faces China’s monwealth champion Cheptegei, who Sindhu. “The important thing He Bing Jiao. fi nished sixth in the event in Rio before winning world silver in 2017 and gold in 2019, and Kiplimo are both aiming for the 5,000m-10,000m double in Tokyo. While Kiplimo might own the world lead, most eyes will be on Cheptegei, who in 2020 broke not only Bekele’s 16-year-old 5,000m world record, but also the Ethiopian’s 15-year-old mark in the 10,000 (26:11.00), before then setting world records in the 5km and 10km road races. In this fi le photo taken on September 29, 2019, Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (left ) fi nishes fi rst ahead of Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson WOMEN’S 100M HEATS in the Women’s 100m fi nal at the 2019 IAAF India’s PV Sindhu hits a shot to Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt in their Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce clocked Championships at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha. (AFP) round of 16 match during the Tokyo 2020 at the 10.63sec to become the second-fastest Musashino Forest Sports Plaza in Tokyo yesterday. (AFP) 100m sprinter of all time in June. The ran 46.83sec when winning the US tri- distance dominance. Hassan became MIXED 4X400M RELAY HEATS 34-year-old Jamaican is now aiming to als, but not to be outdone, Warholm, the fi rst athlete to achieve the 1500 and The mixed relay makes its Olympic debut become the fi rst woman to win a sin- at his home meet in Oslo and in his fa- 10,000m world double in Doha in 2019, having previously appeared at the 2019 gle individual Olympic athletics event voured lane seven, then ran 46.70sec to an astonishing display given that it coin- world championships, where a US quartet HOCKEY three times, to add to the 100m victories break Kevin Young’s world record set at cided with a four-year ban handed down featuring veteran Allyson Felix won gold. she claimed in 2008 and 2012. Second- the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Warholm to her then coach Alberto Salazar, the The 35-year-old elder stateswoman of US quickest this year is Fraser-Pryce’s com- held off Benjamin in a thrilling duel head of the now-disbanded Nike- track and fi eld brings the curtain down on India, Britain and patriot Elaine Thompson-Herah, the at the 2019 world championships in funded Oregon Project. The 5,000m her 17-year Olympic career in Tokyo. defending champion in both the 100 and Doha, and the rivalry between the could prove to be Hassan’s tough- In her fi fth and fi nal Olympics, Felix is 200m. Fraser-Pryce will also be under pair should guarantee a spectacle. est event: in Gudaf Tsegay, Ejgayehu bidding to become the most decorated fe- Dutch enter quarters pressure from Blessing Okagbare, who Athletes chasing a podium fi nish in- Taye, Senbere Teferi, Hellen Obiri and male track and fi eld athlete in Games his- ran a wind-assisted 10.63sec to win the clude Brazil’s Alison Dos Santos and Qa- Agnes Tirop, the Tokyo entry list features tory. She is currently tied with Jamaican Reuters teams a ticket to the quarter-fi - Nigerian trials, and Britain’s Dina Asher- tar’s sub-47sec performer Abderrahman fi ve of the world’s 10 fastest ever over legend Merlene Ottey with nine medals, a Tokyo nals. South Africa pulled off a 4-3 Smith, who won the world 200m title Samba. the distance. There will be no Letesen- dazzling haul that includes six golds and surprise win over 2016 Olympic and also claimed silver in the 100m and bet Gidey, however, the Ethiopian world three silvers. bronze medal winners Germany 4x100m in Doha. WOMEN’S 5,000M HEATS record holder focusing instead on the One more medal in Tokyo — virtually ndia reached the quarter- despite being down a goal at half- Sifan Hassan will kick off her audacious 10,000m, in which she also has the world guaranteed given her place in the domi- fi nals of the men’s Olympic time. South Africa levelled in the MEN’S 400M HURDLES HEATS treble bid when she takes to the track for record, snatched two days after Hassan nant US women’s 4x400m relay squad — hockey tournament yester- second half before sealing the win One of the headline events of the Olym- heats in the 5,000m. The Ethiopian-born had set a new mark. A potential hurdle for will see her pull clear of Ottey. If she wins day thanks to an inspired 3-1 when a pass from 19-year-old pic track events, given that it will pitch Dutchwoman is targeting not just the Hassan is that the 5,000m fi nal comes on two or more, she will overtake Carl Lewis Iwin over Rio gold medallists Ar- rookie Mustaphaa Cassiem de- Norwegian Karsten Warholm againt 5,000m, but also the 1500 and 10,000m August 2, following heats for the 1500m as the most decorated American track gentina, while the Netherlands fl ected off the stick of an opponent American rival Rai Benjamin. Benjamin in an unprecedented tilt at middle- earlier that day. athlete in history. and Britain also progressed. behind the German goalkeeper. Argentina’s women’s team South Africa are unlikely to secured a spot in the knockout progress to the knockout stages stages, after sending hosts due to a negative goal diff er- FM 107 Qatar launches live show Japan out of the tourna- ence but they avoided being ment, while the Span- sent home by the Germans, on Qatar’s Olympic campaign ish team’s win over China who need one more point to meant they also took a big step advance. Qatar Media Corporation’s FM 107 Qa- Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and to progressing to the next round. World champions Belgium tar Radio has dedicated a 30-minute Nepal,” said Radio FM 107 Acting Direc- In the men’s tournament, In- sent Canada packing with a 9-1 morning programme on Qatar’s par- tor Shadab Khan. dia fought back after conced- victory to stay perfect in Pool B. ticipation at the Tokyo Olympics. Titled “Konnichiwa Qatar is a discussion show ing an early goal to their South In the women’s event, Argenti- ‘Konnichiwa Qatar’, a Japanese greet- on the Olympic Games and is aimed to American opponents, pulling na’s Las Leonas joined Australia ing typically from mid-day to early connect with the expats in Qatar. Our level in the second half and then — who had already qualifi ed — in evening, the live talk show focusses on focus is to promote Team Qatar and its scoring another two late on. the knockout stages by beating the Qatari athletes’ performance at the athletes at the Tokyo Olympics through In the other group, the Neth- Japan 2-1. Spain, whose coach Tokyo Games. this dedicated programme.” erlands led Britain 2-0 when the has been quarantined, got closer The show is aired live on FM 107 from The radio station’s FB page also has game went into the fi nal quarter to making it to the next round 9.15am to 9.45am everyday morning an interesting video that features a but gave up their lead after their thanks to a 2-0 victory over Chi- from Sunday to Thursday. “FM 107 compilation of all the participating opponents stepped up the pres- na. The Netherlands, who were is one of the oldest radio stations of Qatari athletes at this year’s Olympics sure. Britain levelled with two also already sure of making the Qatar which caters to the subconti- with the reggae rap that gives an extra goals by Sam Ward, including a quarter-fi nals, claimed a 1-0 win nent communities mainly from India, zing to the message for Qatar. penalty corner with four minutes over Britain. Australia beat rivals to go. The result still gave both New Zealand 1-0. Gulf Times Friday, July 30, 2021 3 SPORT

CRICKET/ FOCUS England’s Bess glad with early-season overs Hasaranga stars as ahead of India series

AFP balance now where I have been London picked for the England squad again.” Bess’ return of 23 at an ngland off -spinner Dom average of 33.08 from 10 County Sri Lanka clinch Bess hopes to benefi t Championship fi xtures so far from plenty of early-sea- this term may not be that sen- son overs should he face sational but early-season con- IndiaE in an upcoming Test series ditions in England are generally after mixed results against Virat not in favour of spinners. ‘It was a diff icult situation for us but as a team, Kohli’s men earlier this year. “It is an exciting time but Bess has been included in a there is no pressure from me to we decided we will stay and play the series’ 17-man squad for the fi rst two put myself under,” he said. series 2-1 encounters of a fi ve-match “I just want to enjoy this series campaign which starts at Trent because I know how much I have AFP Bridge in Nottingham on Au- worked this summer and what I Colombo gust 4. Bess played twice during have done.” England’s 3-1 series loss in India, The India series constitutes a fi ve- haul followed by England’s last Test campaign pinner Wanindu poor return in his other innings before they are scheduled to Hasaranga took four with the 24-year-old omitted begin their bid to recapture the wickets on his 24th from the second and third Tests. Ashes in Australia. Former Eng- birthday to help Sri Lan- Many felt he had been poorly land Michael Vaughan kaS thrash India by seven wickets handled by England captain Joe recently warned players might yesterday and claim the three- Root after taking 17 wickets at pull out if they were unable to match Twenty20 series 2-1. 22 in the fi rst three Tests of the bring their families with them Hasaranga returned career- tour – two games against Sri should the strict Covid-19 reg- best T20 fi gures of 4-9 with his Lanka and the series opener with ulations in several Australian leg-spin as India fi nished on India in Chennai – before he was states remained in force. a paltry 81-8, a total Sri Lanka replaced by fellow off -spinner But Bess said: “Obviously I overhauled in 14.3 overs in Co- Moeen Ali. don’t know what will be happen- lombo. , un- England then asked Moeen, ing or what Australia and their beaten on 23, and Hasaranga, 14 not included in the squad for the regulations are - but I think if , steered the team home fi rst two Tests of the home se- your name was on the ticket and after Indian leg-spinner Rahul ries, to delay a rest break author- you were going to an Ashes se- Chahar sent back Sri Lanka’s top ised by team management, only ries as a 24-year-old, you would three including wicketkeeper- for the all-rounder to decide to never ever turn that down. batsman Minod Bhanuka for 18. leave the squad as planned. “I don’t want to go too far Hasaranga was the star of But Bess believes he will be ahead though. We have fi ve Tests the day after his twin strikes, well prepared for an England re- against India and we know how including Sanju Samson for call after his overs with English good they are home and away. nought in the fi fth over of India’s county Yorkshire. It wouldn’t be the best thing to innings, put Sri Lanka in charge. “This is probably the fi rst think about the Ashes now when Skipper Shikhar Dhawan was time where I have played a load there is this big series coming out for nought in the fi rst over of cricket and found a proc- up.” off pace bowler Dushmantha ess,” Bess said after he attended Bess was speaking following Chameetra after India elected to a community cricket session in a session organised as part of bat fi rst. Nottingham. series sponsors LV= Insurance Number seven Kuldeep Ya- “I have contributed with bat, ‘In With Heart’ tour showcas- dav made an unbeaten 23 to take ball and in the fi eld with York- ing #Funds4Runs, a £1 million India past their lowest ever T20 shire but not put pressure on joint initiative with the England score of 74 against Australia in myself, I just wanted to enjoy my and Wales Cricket Board to help 2008. The total was India’s low- cricket again. grassroots cricket recover from est against the island nation af- “And I guess I have found the the coronavirus pandemic. ter they were bowled out for 101 in 2016. Sri Lanka captain took two wickets includ- ing a sharp caught and bowled to send back Nitish Rana for six. Sri Lanka on Wednesday bounced Sri Lanka’s plays a shot during the third Twenty20 against India at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo yesterday. (AFP) back from an opening loss to win the second match, delayed by one was pushed back by fi ve days tain. Last game was a close one, have a long , you are un- ing to it,” Dhawan said. day due after India’s Krunal Pan- due to a Covid-19 outbreak in today it was an off day for the der pressure. Both teams played dya tested positive for coronavi- the Sri Lankan camp. batting unit but the boys will in great spirit and it’s a beauti- BRIEF SCORES rus putting him in isolation along “It was a diffi cult situation learn from it. We lost too many ful feeling. The Sri Lanka cap- Sri Lanka 82 for 3 (de Silva 23*, with eight close contacts. for us but as a team, we decided wickets today and the Sri Lanka tain and players wanted to know R Chahar 3-15) beat India 81 for India won the three-match we will stay and play the series. bowlers bowled well. When you about my process, so I told them 8 (Yadav 23*, Hasaranga 4-9, 50-overs series 2-1 after its start Lots of learnings for me as cap- lose early wickets and you don’t and I hope they enjoyed listen- Shanaka 2-20) by seven wickets

England off -spinner Dom Bess trio face long bans for virus breach A panel that investigated a breach of the bio-secure international – was recommended an 18-month ban, In a second video, Gunathilaka was seen joining the pair, COMMENT coronavirus bubble during Sri Lanka’s limited over according to sources. violating the coronavirus rules of their stay in England. series in England has recommended bans of up to two The panel said all three should be fined $25,000 each, Under strict coronavirus precautions the team was not years for three players accused, cricket off icial sources the sources said, adding that the Sri Lanka board will allowed out of their bio-secure hotel. said yesterday. take a final decision on the panel’s recommendations. The trio were sent home after the videos went viral and Carey’s captaincy The five-member panel told Sri Lanka Cricket that vice “These recommendations now go to executive commit- were also excluded from Sri Lanka’s ongoing series captain and opening batter Danushka Gu- tee of the board which will take a final decision,” one against India. nathilaka should be barred from all forms of the game off icial told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity Following the breach in England, disgruntled Sri Lankan was outstanding, for two years, the sources said. ahead of any off icial announcement. fans launched a campaign to shun the team on social Niroshan Dickwella – also seen in social media videos Mendis and Dickwella were seen smoking in the streets media, with fans sharing memes asking each other not enjoying a night out on the eve of the first one-day of Durham, where they were based ahead of the ODI. to watch them on television. says coach Langer

Reuters Carey, and he talks about it per- Melbourne sonally and we are talking about MOTORSPORT it as a team now as one of our values or what we are looking oach Justin Langer to achieve as a playing group, is praised stand-in one- calmness. day international cap- “He is so calm and you can see tain Alex Carey after the it in his face when he bats.” ‘I’d do it again’: Hamilton aft er wicketkeeperC led Australia to a Carey took charge of the team 2-1 series victory over the West in the absence of a number of Indies in the absence of regular big-name players, including skipper Aaron Finch. David Warner and Steve Smith, Finch injured his knee during and impressed at the crease. Verstappen Silverstone crash preparations for the three-match The 29-year-old top scored in AFP wasn’t an intentional celebration it was series and returned to Australia the fi rst match as he hit 67 runs Budapest just the joy of seeing so many people and for treatment ahead of the team’s and chipped in with 35 runs in so many people celebrating, being to- six-wicket win over their hosts the series-clinching third clash gether and that’s the natural emotion. I’m in the fi nal game in Bridgetown. between the teams. ewis Hamilton said yesterday he not going to hide my emotions. It was an Carey oversaw a 133-run win “He is easy to work with as a would be ready to repeat his at- amazing feeling,” he added. in fi rst game of the series before captain,” said Langer. tempt to pass Max Verstappen Verstappen distanced himself from the Australians slipped to a four- “He’ll tick every box, he’ll which caused the championship claims made by his team boss Christian wicket loss in the second game, make sure all his due diligence is Lleader to crash out of the British Grand Horner who accused seven-time cham- only to cruise to victory in the done, he will know how his team Prix earlier this month. pion Hamilton of “dirty driving”. decisive third match to clinch the mates are travelling, so he was Dutchman Verstappen was taken to “That’s the fi rst time I heard it like that. series. great to work with. hospital as seven-time champion Ham- No, I think he just misjudged the moment “I thought Alex Carey’s cap- “I loved his calmness, I loved ilton closed the gap to eight points in the in that corner.” taincy was outstanding,” Langer his composure, I loved what he standings before this weekend’s Hungar- Hamilton, 36, received a 10-second said, according to The Austral- does on and off the fi eld, he did a ian Grand Prix. penalty for his role in the collision and ian. really, really good job, he is very “In terms of the move, I’d do it again Verstappen said it was too lenient. “One of the hallmarks of Alex impressive in that role.” exactly as I’ve done it in the past,” he said. “I don’t think the penalty was correct “I think, growing up, wheel-to-wheel because basically you take out your main racing was always the best, from karting. rival and, especially with the speed we The most exciting part of motor sport is Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton addresses a press conference at the Hungaroring have in our cars, we are miles ahead of, Juventus fi rst team under when you see close racing. race track in Mogyorod near Budapest yesterday. (AFP) let’s say, the third-best team. “We’re now seeing two teams incred- “We are easily 40, 50 seconds ahead in quarantine aft er Covid-19 case ibly close on performance. And if there’s “One guy is in hospital, the other guy Mercedes’ Hamilton defended his re- normal conditions. So, a 10 second pen- Juventus’ first team has been put in quarantine after Tunisian more people watching then that tells you is waving the fl ag around like nothing has action after the win. “I don’t believe alty doesn’t do anything so defi nitely that midfielder Hamza Rafia tested positive, the Turin club said in a state- all you need to know,” he added. happened while you pushed the guy into our behaviour was disrespectful. It’s penalty should have been more severe.” ment yesterday. Earlier, 23-year-old Verstappen said the wall with 51Gs,” he said. “And not one thing knowing and then celebrat- The Dutchman holds a slender lead During health checks, “it appeared that the player Hamza Rafia was he remained unhappy with Hamilton de- only that, just the whole reaction of the ing what happened and there’s one thing over Hamilton ahead of the 11th race of positive for Covid-19,” read the statement from Juventus. spite clearing the air with the Briton dur- team. That’s not how you celebrate a win. not knowing and celebrating. Obviously I the season on Sunday, subject to a pos- “This procedure will allow for all individuals who test negative to ing a phone call following their spectacu- Especially a win – how they got it. wasn’t aware,” Hamilton said. sible review of the Silverstone result that perform regular training and game activities, but will not allow for lar crash. The Red Bull driver declined to “That’s what I found really disrespect- “It was my home Grand Prix and we could be triggered by Red Bull’s attempt contact with those outside the group,” it said. go into any detail, adding instead he was ful. In a way, it shows how they really are. worked incredibly hard for who knows to persuade a stewards’ hearing, later on The 22-year-old Tunisian-French midfielder, a former member of the more upset by the defending champion’s It comes out after a pressure situation. I how long to get a result like that. Thursday, that the penalty was insuffi - youth team, was called up to the first team of Juventus last year. post-race celebrations. wouldn’t want to be seen like that.” “Emotions were running high. It ciently severe. Friday, July 30, 2021 GULF TIMES SPORT

SPOTLIGHT Two pole vaulters out with Covid in fresh scare for Olympics

AFP tomorrow. “We knew this Olympic track for a potential haul of six. The safely reach the quarter-fi nals. Tokyo Games was diff erent and with diff erent 24-year-old, heir apparent to the great After Japan denied China a fourth rules, and here I am, it’s my turn,” Chi- Michael Phelps, powered to the wall an straight table tennis team sweep by araviglio wrote on Instagram. “Living Olympic-record 47.02sec to dethrone winning the mixed doubles, they re- wo pole vaulters were ruled through this is very diffi cult, but it will Australia’s Kyle Chalmers. Dressel said asserted their dominance when Chen out of the Tokyo Olympics and also pass,” he added. he was proud to claim his fi rst individ- Meng beat Sun Yingsha in an all-Chi- Australia’s track and fi eld team Preparing for the Olympics has been ual title after two relay golds in Rio and nese women’s singles title. were briefl y forced into isola- tough in the pandemic and athletes are another this week in Tokyo. Aaron Wolf won the -100kg judo for Ttion yesterday in a jolting reminder of under extra pressure at the pandemic- Robert Finke won another gold Japan as the hosts fi nished the day on 15 the risks facing athletes at the corona- delayed Games with strict biosecure for the United States in the men’s golds, the same number as China, with virus-hit Games. measures and the constant threat of 800m freestyle, while Australia’s Zac USA just behind on 14. On the eve of the athletics com- Covid. Athletes’ well-being has been a Stubblety-Cook claimed the men’s Meanwhile organisers announced a petition, 2016 bronze medallist Sam running concern and the women’s all- 200m breaststroke gold in an Olym- daily record of 24 new Games-related Kendricks and Argentina’s German around gymnastics went ahead without pic record 2:06.38. China’s Zhang Yu- infects, three of whom are athletes, Chiaraviglio suff ered heartbreaking superstar , who had with- fei won the women’s 200m butterfl y taking the overall number of positive disappointment when they both test- drawn because of fears over her mental and China turned heads when they cases to 193. The rising fi gure coincides ed positive. Kendricks’ case triggered health. smashed the world record to win the with record numbers of new cases in a panic in the Australian team, which Eighteen-year-old American Su- 4x200m women’s freestyle relay ahead Tokyo and nationwide. went into precautionary isolation for nisa Lee took gold, succeeding Biles as of USA and Australia. But the International Olympic Com- more than two hours before all but champion, with Brazil’s Rebeca An- Unheralded Austrian Sepp Straka mittee said there was no link with the three close contacts were released. drade taking silver and Russian An- was the surprise leader after a storm- Games. “As far as I’m aware there’s not America’s Kendricks, a two-time gelina Melnikova bronze. Earlier, US interrupted fi rst day of the men’s golf, a single case of an infection spreading world champion, and Chiaraviglio swim star Caeleb Dressel grabbed his while Denmark’s and to the Tokyo population from the ath- are both in isolation and will miss the second gold of the Games in the show- Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen were among letes or Olympic movement,” spokes- Two-time pole champion Sam Kendricks of US tested positive for Covid. pole vault competition when it starts piece men’s 100m freestyle to stay on the men’s badminton contenders to man Mark Adams told reporters.

GYMNASTICS Austria’s Straka grabs fi rst-round golf lead

Austrian Sepp Straka carded an 8-under 63 yesterday to secure the first-round lead in damp conditions at the Tokyo Olympics in Kawagoe, Japan. Straka Sunisa succeeds Biles birdied four of his last six holes at Kasumigaseki Country Club to finish one stroke ahead of Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond (64). Germany’s Tho- mas Pieters and Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz are tied for third at 6 under. Xander Schauff ele and Patrick Reed as all-around queen lead the American contingent, tied for 12th place at 3 under. Collin Morikawa is at 2 under and tied for 20th, while ‘The past two years with Covid have been crazy. There was one point I wanted to quit’ Justin Thomas posted 18 consecutive pars and is tied for 41st in the 60-player AFP the all-around. In the normal course field. Morikawa and Reed, playing in the Tokyo of events Biles would have been hot later groups, were pulled off the course favourite to become the fi rst back-to- at 1:55pm local time due to inclement back winner in over half a century. weather and lightning in the area. Play merican teenager Sunisa Few would have bet against that resumed at 4:15pm Japan time, with Lee won the women’s gym- outcome in a discipline where she both players restarting on the 14th hole. nastics all-around Olympic is undefeated since 2013 — an era Ireland’s four-time major winner Rory gold yesterday then imme- of domination that has delivered 19 McIlroy was another big name unable diatelyA video called her parents, say- world championship golds to go with to find his best in a two-under 69. ing “I told them ‘I did it!’ and then we her Brazilian quartet. But fate in the all started crying.” form of an attack of the “twisties” San Marino becomes Lee, 18, succeeded defending left Biles as a mere bystander, with smallest Olympic champion Simone Biles who with- the spotlight normally trained on her drew over concerns for her mental instead illuminating the face of her medal-winning nation health when she overcame a strong smiling compatriot. Tokyo 2020 served up another slice challenge from , the It was the fourth fi nal in four days of history yesterday when San Marino fi rst Brazilian woman to win an ar- to go down to the fi nal rotation, with became the least populated country to tistic gymnastics medal. Russian Lee’s polished fl oor exercise earn- win an at the Summer women’s team gold medallist Ange- ing 13.7 to go into provisional gold, or Winter Games. Alessandra Perilli lina Melnikova fi nished in the bronze with Andrade unable to dislodge her. clinched bronze in the women’s trap medal position. Her trek to the top Andrade it was who led after the top shooting, becoming the first person to of the podium in Tokyo has not been six in qualifying had visited the vault, win an Olympic medal for the micro- without enormous personal trauma with the Brazilian devotee of Beyonce state of around 34,000 inhabitants. — in 2019 her father was paralysed conjuring up an impressive one and a San Marino replaced Bermuda as the from the chest down after a fall from half twisted Cheng, and on the button record holder, two days after Flora a ladder and last year her aunt and on the landing too. Duff y won the island nation’s second uncle perished from Covid-19. She And after a clean routine on the medal, but first gold, in the women’s said: “The past two years with Covid she held a narrow 0.066 triathlon. The tiny nation based in have been crazy. There was one point I point cushion over the chasing group northern Italy also became the least wanted to quit. To be here and to be an led by Lee. But a strong beam rou- populous country to win a medal in the Olympic gold medallist is just crazy.” Gold medallist Sunisa Lee (centre), runner-up Rebeca Andrade and bronze medallist (right) pose tine pushed Lee into the lead going summer or winter games, a record pre- The Olympic debutante was adding with their medals during the medal ceremony after the women’s individual all-around final. (Reuters) into the concluding fl oor exercise, viously held by Liechtenstein, who have gold to the silver she won as part of with Andrade initially lying third but won 10 Winter Olympics medals. the US women’s team on Tues- here. I’m super proud of my par- ration. “They are the most supportive going to happen in the end so don’t promoted into second after a tenth Perilli, who finished fourth at the 2012 day with a points tally of 57.433, ents, they are the most amazing people ever, but many people from ever give up on your dreams.” of a point was added to her diffi culty Games in London, went one better nine 0.144 clear of Andrade, with people in my life, I love them so the Hmong community don’t reach Lee seized her chance after the all- rating following an inquiry. Lee had years later, finishing behind gold medal- Melnikova 0.099 away in third. much.” their goals. It’s very restrictive, so I around crown had been dramatically gold in her grasp after her fl oor rou- list Zuzana Stefecekova of Slovakia and She spoke about how important Lee hails from the close-knit want people to know you can reach left undefended when Biles dropped tine with Andrade unable to prevent USA’s Kayle Browning, who took silver. it had been to win gold for her father. Hmong community, and she said she your dreams and do what you want out of the in-running team compe- her becoming the fi fth consecutive “This was our dream, it’s sad he’s not hoped her success would act as inspi- to do because you never know what’s tition on Tuesday and subsequently American winner of the all-around. Spain, Slovenia into Olympic basketball quarter-fi nals SWIMMING FOCUS Ricky Rubio scored 26 points as world champions Spain defeated Argentina 81-71 to join Slovenia in qualifying for China’s Chen hits back at critics China secure stunning the quarter-finals of the Tokyo Olym- pics yesterday. Spain made it two wins from two going into their game against aft er winning table tennis gold women’s 4x200m relay Slovenia that will determine the win- ners of Group C. AFP AFP hundredths of a second ahead of Rio winner Argentina, the 2004 gold medallists, Tokyo Tokyo Kyle Chalmers of Australia, with Russian must beat hosts Japan on Sunday to Kliment Kolesnikov taking bronze. potentially scrape through as one of It was Dressel’s fourth Olympic gold but the two best third-placed teams. Earlier, hina’s Chen Meng hopes this will be the hina’s women stunned the fi eld to his fi rst in an individual event having picked NBA star Luka Doncic scored 25 points start of “my own era” after she defeat- smash the world record and win up two relay medals in Rio and the 4x100m as Slovenia comfortably beat Japan 116- ed compatriot Sun Yingsha to win the the Olympic 4x200m relay title in freestyle relay in Tokyo. 81 to reach the knockout phase. women’s singles table tennis title at the a major upset yesterday. The team In the 800 free, Finke pulled off a surprise Dallas Mavericks guard Doncic also TokyoC Olympics yesterday. In a battle between ofC Yang Junxuan, Tang Muhan, Zhang Yufei win ahead of Italian world champion Grego- grabbed seven rebounds and got help the top two seeds and teammates, Chen lost the and Li Bingjie touched in 7mins 40.33 sec- rio Paltrinieri, who led all the way until the on scoring from Zoran Dragic, the fi rst game before prevailing 9-11, 11-6, 11-4, 5-11, onds ahead of the United States (7:40.73) and 750m turn when German Florian Wellbrock older brother of Miami Heat player 11-4, 11-9 to grab her fi rst Games gold. Australia (7:41.29). It is the fi rst time nei- moved in front for the last length. But Finke Goran, who chipped in 24 points. Rui Chen and Sun embraced at the end and then to- ther Australia nor the USA have won gold then made his late move and powered Hachimura did his best to keep Japan gether unfurled a large Chinese fl ag. China, who since the event was introduced in 1996. home in a time of 7:41.87. Wellbrock in the game with 34 points and seven have now won 29 of the 34 table tennis golds in All three teams were under the previous faded but Paltrinieri did not, the rebounds. Doncic had scored 48 points the history of the Olympics, will add one more to- world record of 7:41.50 set by Australia at Italian touching 0.24 seconds be- in Slovenia’s opening victory against day — the men’s fi nal is another all-Chinese clash the 2019 world championships. But China hind Finke to take the silver. Ukraine’s Argentina. between the top two seeds. took the title after Li held off a late charge by Mykhailo Romanchuk took bronze. On Monday, China were stunned by the hosts America’s Katie Ledecky, who threatened Japan’s Hamada and in the fi nal of the mixed doubles, Jun Mizutani an incredible comeback during the fi nal leg. Wolf win judo golds to and Mima Ito’s victory bringing Japan their fi rst- Ledecky’s 1:53.76 was the fastest leg of the ever Olympic table tennis title. race. Australia had been the overwhelming match record haul But China, who swept all the golds in the sport favourites coming in, with their women’s Japan’s Aaron Wolf and Shori Hamada at the previous three Olympics, took over the team already winning gold in the 4x100m grabbed gold medals in their respective men’s and women’s singles draws on Thursday to China’s Chen Meng celebrates after defeating relay on Sunday, when they broke their own judo finals, taking the host nation’s tally reassert their table tennis supremacy. compatriot Sun Yingsha in the women’s singles world record. With Australian star Ariarne to eight golds from the sport at the To- Chen said that gold was an emphatic riposte to table tennis final at the Tokyo Games. (AFP) Titmus leading the team off on the back of kyo Games and matching their record those who had doubted her — at 27 she is the old- wins in the 200m and 400m freestyle events haul from Athens 2004. est woman to win the women’s singles crown. “My goal was to win, so I’m glad that I this week, the expectation was they would Wolf, 25 and world champion in 2017, “Over the years I have experienced a lot, I have could win the bronze-medal match, but cruise to another victory. threw South Korean Cho Gu-ham to lost and I have been questioned,” she said de- I feel more frustrated,” said the Japanese. Caeleb Dressel won the blue riband men’s secure a dramatic ippon victory that fi antly. “Only I know how hard it was to win “I’m super frustrated.” 100m freestyle. Alongside Dressel’s triumph ended more than five minutes of today, so I want to tell myself — you did it. I hope In the men’s semi-fi nals, China’s reign- in the marquee event, fellow American gruelling Golden Score sudden-death from this moment that I can really begin to build ing Olympic champion Ma Long needed seven Bobby Finke clinched the 800m freestyle overtime in the men’s -100kg final. my own era,” she added. thrilling games to see off the determined Dimitrij with an impressive late surge. Australia’s In the women’s -78 kg division final, Ito, the home hope who had been seen as a Ovtcharov of Germany. Ma meets compatriot Fan Zac Stubblety-Cook took gold in the men’s 2018 world champion Hamada defeated threat to the Chinese, took bronze having lost Zhendong for gold in another all-Chinese show- 200m breaststroke, also thanks to an in- French world number one Madeleine comprehensively in the semi-fi nals to Sun. Ito, down, but the top seed was also made to sweat by credible late surge to the fi nish. China’s Yang Junxuan, Tang Muhan and Malonga with a quick and solid pin to who like Sun is just 20, admitted that there had Taiwan’s 19-year-old Lin Yun-ju, before emerg- World champion Dressel powered to vic- Zhang Yufei react after winning the women’s win the gold medal. been “a gulf in class”. ing over seven similarly hard-fought games. tory in an Olympic record 47.02, fi nishing six 4x200m freestyle relay final. (Reuters)