CCYCLINGYCLING | Page 2 CCRICKETRICKET | Page 3 Van Aert Naim, Sarkar faces Pogacar star in hurdle in Bangladesh’s road race victory

Friday, July 23, 2021 ATHLETICS Dhul-Hijjah 13, 1442 AH ’s Barshim GULF TIMES starts favourite for gold SP RT Page 4

SPOTLIGHT Tala, al-Rumaihi named Qatar’s fl ag bearers for opening ceremony

By Sports Reporter

ower Tala Abujbara and shooter Mohamed al- Rumaihi were named as Qatar’s joint fl ag bear- ersR for today’s opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics. The pair will share the honours following a directive by the International Olympic Committee in March 2020 where each team should have a fl ag bearer to represent both genders. Tala, who will become the fi rst Qatari female athlete to repre- sent Qatar in rowing at the Ol- ympics, said that she is proud of her participation at the Tokyo Games. The 29-year-old will be Qatar’s rower Tala Abujbara trains at the Sea Forest Waterway in Tokyo yesterday. Qatar’s trap shooter Mohamed al-Rumaihi during training at Asaka Shooting Range in Tokyo yesterday. in action today in the women’s singles sculls heats at the Sea three years, said she was delighted The Japanese volunteers’ eff ort ed with a large team and within ously. Currently she is working as try. On the other hand, Qatar’s Beach volleyball duo of Cherif Forest Waterway. to be back in the country of which to serve the athletes refl ects the a group that posed a challenge a management consultant. Bashayer al-Manwari arrived in Younousse and Ahmed Tijan con- “I would like to do my best and she has only good memories. kindness of the Japanese people for me to continue and be able to Meanwhile, during the open- Tokyo yesterday. tinued their training session at work constantly on developing “I am very happy to be back as they are very friendly people,” achieve achievements.” ing ceremony, Greece will be fol- Al-Manwari will be the fi rst the Shiokaze Park ahead of their my skills because reaching a top again. is my second coun- the rower said. Tala holds a bachelor degree in lowed by the Refugee Olympic Qatari athlete to hit the track at opening match against Adrian level requires great eff ort and hard try. I love the Japanese culture Regarding her involvement in biology and neuroscience from Team which had a short training women’s 100m event. She started Heidrich and Mirco Gerson of work. This will only be achieved and its people very much. The the sport of rowing, Tala said: “I Williams College in the United camp in , Qatar before ar- out as a triple jump athlete, then Switzerland on Sunday. through perseverance and dili- atmosphere is very wonderful in started rowing during my univer- States. She has also received a riving to Tokyo. found herself in short distance On the other hand, al-Rumaihi gence. Rowing is very diffi cult and Tokyo, whether in the Olympic sity studies and I loved this sport master’s degree from HEC The refugee team is comprised running. Al-Manwari is a West trained at Asaka Shooting Range. arduous,” she said. Village or the training centres and as it is outdoors and on the water University in management and of athletes who were displaced Asian champion in 2013 and fi ve- The trap shooter will begin his Tala, who had lived in Japan for everyone here is doing their best. as I train on a daily basis. I start- worked at Aspire Academy previ- after fl eeing their home coun- time GCC champion. campaign on July 28.

FOCUS Scandal-hit Tokyo looks to fi nal torchbearer to mend battered image Battered by scandal on the Pandemic, fl agging support eve of the opening ceremo- ny, Tokyo 2020 organisers have the chance to patch up the Games’ image when they reveal who will carry the Ol- ympic flame for the final few steps to light the stadium’s cauldron. to make Tokyo Olympics The identity of the final torchbearer is one of the Games’ most closely held secrets yet speculation has swirled for months around well known athletes such as former Seattle Mariners opener a show like no other baseball player Ichiro Suzuki and Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels, the latest A ceremony devoid of fans and low on athletes will set the tone for a Games mired in coronavirus uncertainty Japanese player to woo the United States. By Justin McCurry in Tokyo In the same week as two of the leading One sports figure who might The Guardian creative minds behind the ceremony were be able to soften public forced out of their roles – one for historical resentment over the hosting bullying, the other for a joke in the 1990s of the Games during the pan- hen a national leader as con- about the Holocaust – medical experts demic is four times Grand servative as Shinzo Abe was warned that by early next month daily Slam tennis champion Naomi persuaded to emerge from a cases in Tokyo could rise to their highest . With a Haitian father giant pipe in Rio dressed as levels since the start of the pandemic. and Japanese mother, Osaka Wthe world’s most famous plumber, it felt On Wednesday they reported 1,832 new represents what a more like Tokyo had already hatched plans to put cases, up by nearly 700 from the same day modern and more diverse on an Olympic show like no other when its the previous week. Japan’s chief health ad- Japan looks like. chance came four years later. viser, Shigeru Omi, said daily infections in Other well-known sports Coronavirus not only forced the summer the capital could reach a record of nearly figures talked about as pos- Olympics to be extended by 12 months; it 3,000 as the Games draw to a close in a sible torchbearers include has guaranteed that nothing as whimsical fortnight. While they sit out the state of three-time Olympic as a cosplaying politician will be making a emergency and wait for vaccines held up champion Tadahiro Nomura, reappearance at the offi cial start of the To- by supply issues, Japanese people denied a breaststroke gold medalist kyo 2020 Games. close-up view of the spectacle are far from Kosuke Kitajima and Saori The London 2012 opening ceremony has convinced by repeated assurances that the Yoshida, an Olympic wres- been touted as the “most popular” precur- Olympics will be “safe and secure”. tling champion who also won sor to the Games over the past quarter of a Appropriately, it will fall to Japan’s em- 13 straight world champion- century, but whatever transpires inside the peror, Naruhito, to refl ect the public mood ships. 68,000-seat main stadium in the Japanese and, perhaps, unite the country behind an Yet some commentators capital today evening will live long in the People take pictures as the Olympic rings lit up at dusk on the Odaiba waterfront in Tokyo yesterday. (AFP) unpopular Olympics about which he re- have called for a non-celebri- memory for very diff erent reasons. portedly harbours doubts of his own. Just ty, who would represent the This week Abe – who recently described licly distancing himself from an opening ings will be in bars and restaurants that only one of its kind Olympics.” as superstition dictates that speeches at country’s recovery from the those calling for the Games to be cancelled ceremony that the Japanese public will be are fl outing offi cial requests to ban alcohol Photographers who spied last night’s Japanese weddings should omit words 2011 earthquake and tsunami as “anti-Japanese” – said he would join forced to watch on TV. Days before the cer- and close at 8pm, risking fi nes in the proc- dress rehearsal in the distance posted such as “separate” to avoid off ending the that caused the Fukushima the list of dignitaries skipping the opening emony, Toyota – a top-tier sponsor – said ess. Although organisers have refused to images of swarms of drones forming the bride and groom, Naruhito will refrain nuclear disaster, devastated ceremony. Media reports said the former it would scrap Olympic-themed TV adverts release details, Marco Balich, an adviser to planet Earth and spelling out lyrics from from describing Tokyo 2020 as a “celebra- Japan’s northeast coastline prime minister thought it inappropriate to in Japan for the duration of the Games, the executive producer for Tokyo, said the John Lennon’s Imagine. tion”, according to media reports. Asked and killed nearly 20,000 attend when the host city, Tokyo, was in the adding that its president, Akio Toyoda, ceremony would be cognisant of public A slimmed-down contingent of digni- when a sceptical public would start look- people. midst of a surge in coronavirus restrictions would not be there on Friday. sentiment in the age of Covid-19. In con- taries will watch a dramatically reduced ing favourably on the Games, the Inter- Japan made a similar choice that forced organisers to ban domestic Other household names from corporate trast to the usual displays of mass chore- number of athletes line up behind their national Olympic Committee president, in 1964 — the last time Tokyo spectators from almost all Olympic events. Japan quickly followed suit: NTT, NEC, ography, giant props and bright lights, it fl agbearers. “It will be very meaningful, far Thomas Bach, confi dently replied: “When hosted the Games — when When successive opinion polls showed Panasonic and Fujitsu, along with the would be “sobering”, but also mindful of from the grandiosity of previous ceremo- the Olympic fl ame shines brightly over Yoshinori Sakai, a 19-year- a majority of Japanese opposed holding leaders of Keidanren, the country’s most the host nation’s history and culture. nies,” Balich said. “The moment is now. It Tokyo.” old college athlete born in the Games this summer, government and powerful business lobby. “It will be a much more sobering cer- is a beautiful eff ort. A very truthful, hon- Previous Olympics had shown that pre- Hiroshima on Aug 6, 1945, Olympic offi cials conceded only that there With the stadium off -limits to all but emony, nevertheless with beautiful Japa- est ceremony, nothing fake. Not smoke show jitters were “normal”, he added. To- the day of the US atomic were “various views” on the wisdom of in- an estimated 950 VIPs – including the US nese aesthetics. Very Japanese but also in and mirrors. It will be about real stuff hap- day, he and TV audiences around the globe bombing, brought the flame viting tens of thousands of people to Tokyo fi rst lady, Jill Biden, and the French presi- sync with the sentiment of today, the re- pening today.” will receive confi rmation the Games of into the stadium. during another wave of the pandemic. Abe, dent, Emmanuel Macron – coronavirus ality,” said Balich. “We have to do our best The “real stuff ” includes the capital’s the XXXII Olympiad are many things, but (Reuters) though, has joined several sponsors in pub- restrictions mean the only public gather- to complete this unique and hopefully the fourth coronavirus state of emergency. normal isn’t one of them. Gulf Times 2 Friday, July 23, 2021

BOXING ‘Magnifi cent Mary’ fi ghts to the last for Olympic glory AFP she competes in the 51kg fl y- lots of experience,” Singh said. said the Olympics had changed New Delhi weight competition. Kom knows Akhil Kumar, who won gold at the her career trajectory. “Becom- India’s Mary Kom (left ) in action this will be the last roll of the 2006 Commonwealth Games, ing an Olympian and winning during Asian Amateur Boxing dice, but is determined. predicts two boxing medals for the bronze changed my life too,” Championship in Dubai. ndia’s boxing queen Mary “Will step into the ring to fi ght India in Tokyo, with Kom win- she said. “It also inspired many Kom is mustering the grit for the gold, to make us all proud ning one of them. Kom, who women to take up sport, espe- and power to make one last again,” Kom, a mother of four, hails from a poor village in the cially boxing. I feel proud. I want bid for an Olympic gold med- said on Twitter. “Tokyo will be northeastern state of Manipur, more girls to come out and fi ght. Ial in Tokyo at the age of 38. Kom’s my last Olympics,” she told won a silver at the inaugural I hope there are no restrictions rags-to-riches story became the the Olympic Channel. women’s world champion- on them to come out and fi ght for stuff of legend when she won a “Age matters here. I am ships in 2001, kickstarting themselves and their country.” bronze medal at the 2012 London 38 now, going on 39. Four her international career. She Kom became the fi rst Indian Games, the fi rst time women’s more years is a long time.” went on to win gold at each woman boxer to win a gold medal boxing was an Olympic event. Kom said she was “pretty sure of the next fi ve world champion- at the , in 2014, and A Bollywood movie – “Mary I won’t be allowed to even if I am ships and clinched her sixth title also triumphed at the 2018 Com- Kom” - was made of her life in willing to carry on till Paris 2024”. in 2018. monwealth Games. 2014 with Priyanka Chopra in Kom will face fi erce competition The diminutive fi ghter - only She moved from her preferred the lead role and fans kept the from Turkish favourite Buse Naz 1.58 metres (5 feet two inches) tall 48kg category to 51kg in pursuit faith even when she failed to win Cakiroglu 0 who beat Kom in the - broke gender stereotypes just of Olympic glory – there were a place at the 2016 Rio Games. world championship semi-fi nals by breaking into the male-dom- just three weight divisions in “Magnifi cent Mary”, as the na- in 2019 – but India is still willing inated sport and then achieved women’s boxing in 2012. tional treasure is known, repaid on its darling. international success while man- In London, just 12 boxers took them when she won a record Vijender Singh, a boxing aging her role as a mother. part in the fl yweight event but sixth world title in 2018. bronze medallist at the 2008 Bei- Kom was the star of the Com- the competition has intensifi ed Now she will be India’s fl ag jing Games, is confi dent Kom will monwealth Games opening and there are fi ve rounds in To- bearer along with men’s hockey succeed. “India’s sporting fra- ceremony in Delhi in 2010 even kyo. Kom has her work cut out captain Manpreet Singh at the ternity is with her. She has an Ol- though women’s boxing was but she has the weight of a nation Tokyo opening ceremony before ympic medal to her name and has still excluded. The veteran boxer behind her.

CYCLING FOCUS Japan’s sparring Abe siblings aim Van Aert faces for judo double

AFP But Hifumi wasn’t able to Tokyo match Uta’s achievement a year later, settling for world cham- pionship bronze as his sister apan’s fi rst family of judo retained her title. Now they’ve Pogacar hurdle in are planning an Olympic got their sights set on winning takeover on July 25 — and Olympic gold on home soil, al- it wouldn’t be the fi rst though Hifumi needed a Her- ‘I’ll go there for a new experience and with timeJ sibling rivalry has spurred culean eff ort just to get to Tokyo. Hifumi and Uta Abe to suc- He came through an unprec- super motivation because it’s the Olympics cess. Twice-world champion edented one-off playoff against Uta is aiming to kick off a golden world champion Joshiro Maru- and it’s only every four — or five — years’ day for her family at the Tokyo yama in December, booking his road race Games by winning the women’s spot after an epic 24-minute 52kg competition at the iconic bout. The match went so deep AFP Nippon Budokan. into extra time that the terres- Tokyo That would set the scene nice- trial TV broadcast ended before ly for big brother Hifumi, a twice the bout had fi nished, but Hi- world champion who is compet- fumi was happy to join Uta at ecently-crowned Tour de France ing in the men’s 66kg event later the Games when he came out champion Tadej Pogacar head- the same day. Japan’s sparring the winner. “I kept her waiting lines a star-studded peloton siblings say they are ready to — now we can say we’ll go for for tomorrow’s road race at the take the Games by storm when gold together,” he told reporters. TokyoR Olympics, a tough 234km course they make their Olympic debut, “I want to make it a stage where worthy of a mountain stage of the Grand but they might never have got I display my absolute best. This Tour. this far without their friendly isn’t my goal yet — I’ll roll up The demanding circuit starts at To- family rivalry. “We’re both my sleeves again and strive kyo’s Musashinonomori Park and cli- rooting for each other,” Uta to win.” maxes at the Fuji International Speed- told Tokyo 2020’s offi cial Uta had already locked way racing circuit, with riders facing fi ve website this year. “We don’t up her place at the Games climbs around the iconic Mount Fuji, the talk about it directly, but even before they were postponed last highest point in Japan at an altitude of without words we both feel it.” year. After chasing her brother’s 3,776m (12,388ft). The course seems best Hifumi took up judo at the shadow for most of her early life, suited to the peloton’s explosive climb- age of six, and it wasn’t long she is now the one leading the ers, with 4,865 metres of elevation gain — before little sister Uta, three way. She has established herself more demanding than the major moun- years his junior, wanted to try it as one of judo’s most dominant tain stages of the 2021 Tour de France. too. Their fi refi ghter father Koji athletes, and at one point racked After an almost fl at start, the riders thought playing the piano would up 48 consecutive wins against will gradually change gear in the 40km of be a more suitable hobby for his non-Japanese opponents. ascent leading to Doshi Road. They will daughter. But Uta was deter- But she says she has Hifumi to continue with the climb of the Kagosaka mined, and she soon began to thank for the part he has played Pass and then dive into a long descent to show even more promise on the in her career. “I couldn’t have Fuji Sanroku (14.3km at 6%). mat than her older brother. Both made it this far without my old- The peloton will cross the fi nish line ripped through the judo youth er brother,” she told the Tokyo twice then take on the dantesque Mikuni circuit, racking up a glut of titles 2020 website. “It’s impossible to Pass: its 10km has an average of 10.6% before making their senior de- know if I would have even started with sections at more than 20%. won Mont Ventoux, billed as the tough- the Tour. “Tokyo is coming really fast. It’s champion Geraint Thomas, Teo Geoghe- buts. Hifumi won his fi rst world learning judo without him.” Its summit is 30km from the fi nish and est stage of the race, and a long time-trial not so much time to recover, also with the gan Hart, and the Yates brothers, Simon title in 2017, and Uta joined him Now the siblings are hoping to while breakaways are expected through- run through the Saint-Emilion vineyards jet lag, and Japan is super hot with a lot of and Adam — all proven competitors. a year later, making it a golden turn that partnership into Olym- out, guaranteeing to split the pack, there as well as the mass bunch sprint in Paris. humidity,” said Pogacar. “I’ll go there for And the Colombians will also be tar- double for the Abe family in pic success, and July 25 could be should be no little game of cat-and- “I’ll try to win the gold medal there, a new experience and with super moti- geting a podium after naming Sergio Hi- . a day the Abe family remembers mouse on the long descents as the peloton but right now I’m overwhelmed with vation because it’s the Olympics and it’s guita, Rigoberto Uran, Esteban Chaves “My target, more than win- forever. Hifumi posted a New bids to reel in the front riders in what what I’ve done here,” he said in the only every four — or fi ve — years. I will and Nairo Quintana. Also among the 130 ning consecutive titles, was for Year photo of he and his sister on is expected to be very hot and hu- French capital before his departure grab it and try to race for the win.” riders will be veterans Vincenzo Nibali of us to win as brother and sister,” Instagram after a visit to a shrine, mid conditions. Belgium’s Greg Van for Japan. Van Aert also warned: The Slovenian will notably be part- Italy, 36, who quit the Tour to better pre- Hifumi told reporters after de- after making their prayers for the Avermaet won gold in Rio in 2016, “Anyone who can follow Tadej will nered by Primoz Roglic, whom he pare for Tokyo, and 41-year-old Spaniard fending his world crown in 2018. year ahead. The message was and he is back as part of a strong Bel- be close to victory.” trumped for Tour victory in 2020 on the Alejandro Valverde, who will appear in his “Once my younger sister won, I simple: “In 2021, we’ll win gold gian quartet that also includes Remco Pogacar, who also won the king-of- fi nal day. Roglic was an early withdrawal fi fth Olympics having made his Games went into my fi nal even more de- medals at the Tokyo Olympics as Evenepoel and Wout van Aert, winner the-mountains polka dot jersey on the on the Tour this time around, leaving debut back in Athens in 2004. termined to win.” brother and sister.” of the Tour’s fi nal showcase stage on the Tour for the second year running on the open the question as to whether he will be France are deprived of the discipline’s Champs-Elysees last weekend. back of two impressive mountain pass perfectly primed or badly undercooked reigning world champion, Julian Alap- One-day specialist Van Aert, who stage wins, will surely be among the fa- for the gruelling one-day test around hilippe, and Vuelta-bound Romain Bar- fi nished 19th overall, emerged from the vourites for a podium placing although Mt Fuji. Van Aert and the Slovenian duo det, but boast capable climbers Guil- Tour covered in glory and a burgeoning it is diffi cult to fathom how much the aside, Britain named an experienced laume Martin and David Gaudu, 8th and reputation as a complete rider having 22-year-old will have left in the tank after foursome featuring 2018 Tour de France 11th on the Tour respectively.

More Covid-19 disruption for South Africa’s rugby sevens squad Five South Africa rugby sevens players who were close “I am fortunate to have worked with Neil for many sea- team to four, while two other staff also tested positive. contacts of coach Neil Powell will not stay in the Tokyo sons now, including at the previous Olympics in Rio. Add “I don’t like this one bit. I don’t understand how it could 2020 Olympic Village, off icials said yesterday, meaning the fact that Neil is still in contact with us virtually, so I happen,” Babis told reporters. Nausch Slukova’s Austrian more disruption to the preparations of one of the gold am quite confident that we can get the best results. We coach and husband Simon Nausch tested positive ear- medal contenders. have a seven-hour gap between matches, and we will lier this week along with another beach volleyball player, In this file photo taken on September 21, 2018, blood runs out of the Powell is self-isolating after testing positive for Covid-19 get together on a call to sort out any problems or tactics Ondrej Perusic, and table tennis hope Pavel Sirucek. nose of of Japan during his fight against of Korea in on arrival in Japan last week and will miss the men’s sev- if needed. We are lucky with a strong leadership group Czech Olympic team doctor Vlastimil Voracek tested the under 66kg men category of the 2018 Judo World Championships ens competition that runs from Monday to Wednesday in the squad as well, and all of us are still on the same positive on arrival in Tokyo. Czech Olympic Committee in Baku. (AFP) next week, off ering support via video link only. ticket and drive. We have a clear focus, and the guys are spokesman Tibor Alfoldi confirmed to AFP that all five The five unnamed players, who travelled with Powell really working hard and at good intensity and that is were on the same flight. from Tokyo to the training base in Kagoshima last week, what we needed.” Schlegel’s positive test was confirmed later yesterday. have been barred from the Olympic Village over fears South Africa open their campaign against Ireland on The cyclist also arrived on the same plane. they may be incubating the virus. They will stay at a Monday, and will also face Kenya and United States in Nausch Slukova’s positive test rules her and teammate separate hotel on the team’s return to Tokyo on Friday, Pool C. Barbora Hermannova out of the Olympics. though they can train with the squad at the weekend. “I don’t know what to say, I’m terribly disappointed,” “There is not much we can do about that, so we will CZECH PM BLASTS ‘SCANDAL’ AS SIX POSITIVE Nausch Slukova, who was fifth at London 2012 with have to make it work,” assistant coach Renfred Dazel FOR COVID AT OLYMPICS Kristyna Kolocova, said in a statement. said in a statement from South African Rugby. “We have The Czech Olympic team received sharp words from “We keep persuading people to get vaccinated, and the been adapting since we arrived and it is not easy, but their prime minister yesterday as six athletes and of- doctor was not vaccinated. It’s unfair to the athletes credit to everyone who keeps smiles on their faces and ficials on the same flight to Tokyo tested positive for above all,” Prime Minister Babis said. working hard.” coronavirus. Prime Minister Andrej Babis called the Olympic team head Martin Doktor said the Czech Ol- South Africa are among the favourites to win a gold situation “a scandal” as beach volleyball player Marketa ympic Committee had launched a probe into the Covid medal after collecting bronze in five years Nausch Slukova and road cyclist Michal Schlegel tested cluster. “The situation is serious but since the problem ago. Dazel was also part of the technical team then so is positive in the Olympic Village. emerged, we have done our best to stop the spread,” In this file photo taken on September 21, 2018, Japan’s Uta Abe confident there is the know-how to be successful. They took the tally of Covid-hit athletes in the Czech said Doktor. celebrates after winning the gold medal in the under 52kg women category of the 2018 Judo World Championships in Baku. (AFP) Gulf Times Friday, July 23, 2021 3 SPORT

CRICKET/TWENTY20 MOTORSPORT Losail Circuit to host fi nal round of Naim, Sarkar star Gulf Radical Cup

By Sports Reporter Club, with the round scheduled Doha from March 24-26, 2022. What distinguishes this season from other seasons is that it will in- atar Motor & Mo- clude 21 races instead of 14 races. in Bangladesh win torcycle Federation 7 rounds, each contains 3 races. (QMMF) in co-oper- Drivers will have the option to ation with Losail Cir- take part in a 3 hours private Gulf cuitQ Club announced that Qatar Radical Cup test on the Thurs- will host the 7th and fi nal round day, followed by 30 minute free of the Gulf Radical Cup for cars. practice on the Friday morning. The hosting of the event is Friday will then see the Sprint another step by the QMMF as it Race qualifying session and two over Zimbabwe strives to promote motorsports Sprint Races: a busy day! Satur- in Qatar and the gulf region. day features a qualifying session The QMMF said the cham- and the 45 minute Enduro Race. ‘WE WANTED TO SHOW INTENT, AND CREDIT GOES TO OUR TOP-ORDER BATTERS’ pionship is important, and it’s The season offi cially kicks considered as a regular event on off on the November 1 with a AFP their calendar. preseason test at the Dubai Au- Amro al-Hamad, CEO of todrome, followed by the fi rst QMMF said: “We are pleased to rounds of the championship just host the 7th round of the Gulf 2 weeks later. 102-run opening stand Radical Cup, as it will be a new between Mohamed and exciting challenge for driv- SCHEDULE Naim and Soumya ers and all the participants. 1st round: Dubai Autodrome, Sarkar set up Bang- Hosting this event comes from November 11 – 13 ladeshA for an eight- win the federation’s keenness to de- 2nd round: Dubai Autodrome, over Zimbabwe in Harare yes- velop our motorsport racers and December 2-4 terday in the fi rst of three Twen- we welcome all the participants 3rd round: Yas Marina Circuit, ty20 internationals. in this event.” January 20-22 Zimbabwe won the toss, chose The fi rst season of the Gulf 4th round: Dubai Autodrome, to bat and were bowled out Radical Cup started in 2006 and February 3-5 for 152 in 19 overs. Bangladesh lasted for 15 years. 5th round: Yas Marina Circuit, reached the target with seven The last season was held in February 24-26 balls to spare to register their Qatar on 2014. And now, 2021/22 6th round: Dubai Autodrome, 33rd win from exactly 100 T20 season will start on November 1 March 10-12 internationals. in Dubai Autodrome Circuit and 7th round: Qatar Losail Circuit, Naim struck an unbeaten end in Qatar at Losail Circuit March 24-26 63 from just 51 balls, with six fours, while Sarkar hit two sixes and four fours in his 45-ball 50 which was ended by a fi ne piece of work by wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva that brought a run out. Captain Mahmudullah Riyad contributed 15 before becom- ing another run out victim, this time courtesy of a superb direct throw from Blessing Muzaraba- ni, leaving Nurul Hasan, 16 , to help Naim steer Bangla- desh to victory. “We wanted to show intent, The final round of Gulf Radical Cup will be held from March 24-26, and credit goes to our top-order 2022 at Losail International Circuit. batters. The bowlers also came back nicely after the fi rst 10 Bangladesh batsman Mohamed Naim plays a shot during the first Twenty20I against Zimbabwe in Harare yesterday. (AFP) overs,” said Mahmudullah. FOOTBALL With both falling to without being able to press on. two runs a ball, slamming two Raza, who was out for a duck. They began by winning a one- run outs, no Zimbabwe bowler The only strong partnership sixes and fi ve fours in his enter- Mustafi zur Rahman was the off Test and then triumphed in registered a wicket with captain came from Chakabva and open- taining cameo. Madhevere was pick of the Bangladesh bowlers, all three one-day internationals. Sikandar Raza - 0-16 off two er Madhevere, who put on 64 for considerably less brisk with his taking the wickets of tail-enders The T20 series continues today Al Sadd start training overs - the least expensive of the the second wicket. 23 runs coming from as many Richard Ngarava and Muzara- and concludes on Sunday. six. Madhevere was fi rst to go, balls and a single six was the bani for a 3-31 return. Chakabva top scored in the caught and bowled by Shakib Al highlight of his stay. Victory maintained the domi- BRIEF SCORES for the new season Zimbabwe innings with 43 from Hasan in the eighth over. Chak- “We were looking at 170-plus. nance of the Bangladeshi Tigers Bangladesh 156 for 2 (Naim 66*, 22 balls while Dion Myers (35), abva departed 12 balls later after I think the middle and lower on a fi rst all-format tour to the Sarkar 50) beat Zimbabwe 152 By Sports Reporter vailable is Salem AlaHajri, who Wesley Madhevere (23) and being run out by Nurul Hasan. middle order did not fi re. I take southern Africa nation since (Chakabva 43, Myers 35, Rah- Doha suff ered an Achilles tendon injury Luke Jongwe (18) all made starts Chakabva averaged virtually responsibility as well,” said 2013. man 3/31) by eight wickets. towards the end of last season. NB Stars League Wednesday’s training session was champions Al Sadd attended by club general man- launched their prepa- ager Turki al-Ali, sporting direc- Van Gaal to coach Dutch football team: Report rations on Wednesday tor Mohamed Ghulam al-Balushi forQ the new 2021-22 season, with and the administrative staff of the Dutch football and Louis van Gaal have last-16 elimination by the Czech Republic. Gaal announced his “retirement” in Jan- goalkeeper Asmir Begovic to the blue their fi rst training session at the fi rst team. closed a deal which will see the “Iron Since then, the KNVB has scrambled to uary 2017. “Both the football federation half of Merseyside with new manager club’s training facility. The Wolves are scheduled to Tulip” return for one last stint as national find a replacement ahead of the team’s and fans believe that the coach that took Rafael Benitez and director of football The session saw the partici- continue training on a daily basis coach, a news report said late Wednes- next international against Norway on the team to bronze in 2014 - especially Marcel Brands re-shaping the squad for pation of the available players, until August 1, when the squad day. Van Gaal, 69, has agreed to lead the September 1. The Netherlands, under De after the Euro 2020 disappointment - the season ahead. “The manager, with amidst the absence of several will travel to the Spanish region talented but inexperienced Dutch eleven Boer, already lost 4-2 against Turkey in a can get the maximum out of the team,” his ambition and what he has won in stars who are currently with the of Olot (100km from Barcelo- to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the World Cup qualifying game and a further said De Telegraaf. the past, is important and we’ll look to Qatar national team in the United na) for the overseas pre-season tabloid De Telegraaf reported. reverse against Norway will make quali- push forward and compete with the top States for the Golf Cup. camp. The camp will last until The Royal Dutch Football Federation fication much harder, the paper pointed Everton make third signing as clubs,” Gray told the club’s off icial web- Twelve Al Sadd players are cur- August 14, and will include three and Van Gaal, “have just reached an out. Van Gaal’s second stint with the na- Demarai Gray joins from Leverkusen site “I think a club of this magnitude has rently away on national duty with friendly matches in preparation agreement that will see the new national tional team in 2014 saw them take third Premier League side Everton made all the potential to be right up there. Qatar: Saad al-Dosari, Meshaal for the new season. coach set off on his third stint,” the pa- place at the World Cup in Brazil. He then their third signing of the summer with “Everton are a very big club and the Barsham, Pedro Miguel, Abdelka- During the fi rst training ses- per said. After years as a “temporary went on to take up a coaching job with the arrival of Demarai Gray from Bayer main objective is to be pushing and rim Hassan, Khoukhi Boualem, sion on Wednesday, Al Sadd pensioner in Portugal, he inevitably Manchester United, but was unceremoni- Leverkusen, the club announced yester- competing back up there in the table.” Hassan al-Haydos, Akram Afi f, players underwent physical and has pushed back his retirement again,” ously axed by the club two days after day. The 25-year-old former Leicester Gray, who has been capped by England , Ahmed Suhail, technical training with the ball it said. The KNVB did not immediately winning the FA Cup in 2016. Van Gaal at winger has signed a three-year deal up to Under-21 level, began his career Musaab Khidir, Yousuf Abdurisag in order to get revitalised and to confirm the report. The no-nonsense the time said winning the FA Cup with with the option of a fourth and joins with his hometown club Birmingham and Mohamed Waad. Also una- prepare for the upcoming period. manager’s appointment follows the res- the Red Devils “was the greatest achieve- for an undisclosed fee after just six City before joining Leicester in January ignation of Frank de Boer late last month ment of my career.” months in the Bundesliga. He follows 2016, becoming a Premier League win- after the Netherlands’ dismal Euro 2020 The often brash and straight-talking Van fellow wideman Andros Townsend and ner at the age of 19.

HORSE RACING Al Shaqab Racing’s Sayyal gets off the mark in style he Al Shaqab Racing-owned Sayyal (IRE) (Sha- laa x Bea Remembered) took the Prix Vichy Laboratories, a seven-furlong Maiden for two- year-olds, at Vichy, France, on Wednesday. THaving only his second start, Sayyal, who is trained by Henri François Devin, improved on his debut fi fth place over the same distance at Chantilly to land this maiden with ease, under a confi dent ride from Max- Al Sadd players train at the club’s facility on Wednesday. ime Guyon. The Joanna Francis Hughes-trained and Theo Bachelot-ridden Barney’s Gift (FR) (Johnny Barnes x Le Mans double winner Jaussaud dies aged 84 Diamond Surprise) cut out the early running and took the fi eld along at a steady gallop, with Sayyal set- Jean-Pierre Jaussaud, two-time winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours, tled in mid-division. With the fi eld tightly bunched has died at the age of 84, the race organisers, the Automobile Club as they turned for home, Guyon angled Sayyal to the de l’Ouest (ACO), announced yesterday. Jaussaud won his first Le outside of the fi eld, but sat patiently as the sprint for Mans in an Alpine Renault A442 in 1978, driving with Didier Pironi, home started. who died in a motorboating accident in 1987. After taking a moment or two to get rolling, Sayyal He triumphed again two years later in 1980, sharing the wheel of a stayed on strongly on the wide outside and swooped Rondeau M379 with Jean Rondeau, the constructor of this proto- past his rivals to win by two lengths at the post. Bar- type car which they proudly said was 100 percent “made in France” ney’s Gift took second place and his half-brother the and built close to the track at Le Mans. Matthieu Palussiere-trained and Alexis Pouchin- “Papy Jaussaud has passed away, but the memories will remain in- ridden Mr Gnok Barnes (FR) (Johnney Barnes x Celes- tact,” said Pierre Fillon, president of the ACO, in a press release. “His teen) was third by a further half-length margin. Bred emotion at the podium in 1978 marked a generation of enthusiasts. by his owners, Sayyal is by Shalaa (Invincible Spirit), “His victory in 1980 with his teammate and friend Jean Rondeau will who stands at Haras de Bouquetot. forever remain as one of the greatest achievements of motor sport.” Sayyal’s dam Bea Remembered (Doyen) produced Unlike many of his contemporaries, such as Jean-Pierre Beltoise, Stormy Antarctic (Stormy Atlantic) who landed four Gerard Larrousse and Henri Pescarolo, he never got the chance to Group wins and was runner-up in the Group One Prix drive in Formula One. d’Ispahan. Sayyal won the Prix Vichy Laboratories at Vichy, France, on Wednesday. (Scoopdyga) Friday, July 23, 2021 GULF TIMES SPORT

The 30-year-old is widely considered the best high jumper of the past decade, if not of his generation

ATHLETICS / HIGH JUMP Qatar’s Barshim starts as hot favourite for gold

By World Athletics years later. He had a particularly strong indoor season, capped by a 2.37m national indoor record to take the European indoor utaz Barshim’s Olympic jour- title. He equalled that mark outdoors in ney seems to have a logical Szekesfehervar on 6 July, another national progression. The Qatari high record. jumper hopes so, at least. Rising US star JuVaughn Harrison will MBronze in London (later upgraded to sil- also attract considerable attention, given ver) in 2012. Then silver in Rio in 2016. the 22-year-old’s penchant for high level Back-to-back world titles followed in high jump/long jump double victories in 2017 and 2019, the latter in front of a vo- 2021. The Alabama native won both titles ciferous home crowd in Doha that capped at the Southeastern Conference indoor a marvellous comeback from career- championships, the NCAA indoor and threatening injury. Gold is the only place outdoor championships and, incredibly, at to go for the 30-year-old, who is widely the US Olympic Trials last month where he considered the best high jumper of the topped 2.33m in the high jump and sailed past decade, if not of his generation. a lifetime best of 8.47m in the long jump. Barshim has scaled 2.40m 11 times since That made him the fi rst US athlete to qual- 2013 – only world record holder Javier ify for both events since the legendary Jim Sotomayor, with 17, has more successful Thorpe in 1912. His 2.36m PB leap at the clearances at that formidable barrier – and SEC championships has him third on the with a 2.43m personal best, is the second- world list at the moment, so, Harrison fi g- highest jumper of all time. ures, why not continue his extraordinary But Barshim hasn’t jumped that high Mutaz Barshim with a 2.43m personal best, is the second-highest jumper of all time. double duty in Tokyo? since a 2.40m clearance at the Gyulai His busy four-day schedule kicks off Memorial in Szekesfehervar, Hunga- fell, almost with hesitation, softly to the four times this season, but better than he with high jump qualifying on Friday ry, on 2 July 2018. He later had the bar ground. He would later characterise it as did in his Doha lead-in, topping 2.30m morning (30) then continues with long raised to a would-be world record of one of his best jumps ever. A decent second on three occasions. Assuming a similar jump qualifying on Saturday evening (31) 2.46m and came tantalisingly close on try followed before he landed clutching his approach, Barshim’s competitive feroc- followed by the high jump fi nal on Sunday his fi rst try, ankle after this third. The verdict? Rup- ity will be diffi cult to beat. We can expect night (1) and long jump fi nal on Monday grazing tured ligaments that would end his season the season’s top jumpers, authorised neu- morning, 15 hours and 10 minutes later. the bar and cast doubt on a successful world title tral athlete Ilya Ivanyuk and Maksim Ne- Others to watch include authorised slightly on defence. dasekau of Belarus, to put on maximum neutral athlete Mikhail Akimenko, the his way up When he returned to action in 2019, he pressure. Doha silver medallist who has topped before it competed only three times prior to the Ivanyuk topped a then-PB of 2.35m in 2.33m twice this season and beat a strong World Championships, producing mod- Doha to take surprise bronze. This year fi eld in Monaco on 6 July. est results: a pair of back-to-back 2.27m he kicked off his outdoor season with a Six other men have topped 2.33m in clearances and a 2.20m in Zurich – just 2.37m PB on 17 May and followed up with 2021, including Australian Brandon Starc, one month before Doha. Back home and Wanda Diamond League victories in Doha the Oceania record holder at 2.36m, and on centre stage, he performed admirably, and Rome. His only off night came in his another Doha fi nalist, Italy’s Gianmarco staying alive with a third attempt clearance last competition, where he topped just Tamberi, the 2016 world indoor champi- at 2.33m before taking command of the 2.25m in Monaco on an evening when most on who continues to battle back from in- competition with fi rst attempt successes jumpers seemed to struggle. jury, plus Swiss record-holder Loic Gasch at 2.35m and 2.37m. Nedasekau, who fi nished fourth in Doha and Canada’s Django Lovett, the 2018 Similarly, Barshim has competed just at just 21, is a much-improved jumper two Commonwealth Games bronze medallist.

FOOTBALL TENNISTENNIS Mexico thrash France, Brazil win Murray faces tough fi rst hurdle AFP Tokyo in bid for Olympic hat-trick

Reuters sit out as well, along with Wim- rance’s bid for men’s Olympic foot- Tokyo bledon fi nalist Matteo Berrettini ball glory got off to a nightmare start and Canada’s Denis Shapovalov. with a 4-1 defeat by Mexico yester- Djokovic, 34-3 this season, day, while Richarlison scored a hat- ndy Murray has over- is the undoubted favourite for trickF as reigning champions Brazil beat Ger- come career-threaten- the men’s title. He starts against many in a six-goal thriller. ing hip surgery to give 139th-ranked Hugo Dellien of Sylvain Ripoll’s France are looking for a himself a shot at com- Bolivia. If successful here, he fi rst Olympic medal since winning gold in pletingA a hat-trick of Olympic would need the US Open to be- 1984, but collapsed in the second half at tennis titles, but the Briton will come the fi rst man to capture the Tokyo Stadium. Mexico took the lead less have to hit the ground running in Golden Grand Slam. than two minutes after the break through Tokyo after being given a tough Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka will Alexis Vega, before Sebastian Cordova dou- fi rst-round draw yesterday. have the support of the host na- bled their advantage in the 55th minute. The Murray’s limited court time tion behind her as one of the stars 35-year-old captain Andre-Pierre Gignac over the last year has seen him of the Olympics. Osaka will draw pulled one back from the penalty spot with drop out of the top 100 and left plenty of attention as she returns 21 minutes remaining. him unseeded at his fourth Ol- following her shock French Open But any thoughts of a comeback were Brazil’s Richarlison (centre) scores against Germany during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic ympics. The result is a pairing pull-out over mental health con- quashed as Uriel Antuna and Games men’s Group D group stage match in Yokohama yesterday. (AFP) with Canadian ninth seed Felix cerns. Serena Williams is missing Eduardo Aguirre netted late on Auger-Aliassime, the 20-year- from the women’s draw, while for 2012 champions Mexico. threatened an unlikely second-half come- but created few chances in a 0-0 draw with old world number 15, who beat the other absentees are Simona France now face a tough task back. Bayer Leverkusen’s Nadiem Amiri Egypt. Spain, winners on home soil in 1992, the Scot in straight sets a t Halep, who is still nursing a calf to get out of Group A with a pulled one back before the hour mark, next take on Australia in three days’ time be- the US Open last problem, former US Open win- top-two fi nish, ahead of games and although Maximilian Arnold was sent fore their fi nal Group C match with Argenti- year and reached an Olympic tennis tournament ner Bianca Andreescu and sur- against Covid-hit South Africa on off shortly afterwards, substitute Ragnar na. Australia took early control in the table, the quarter-fi nals that may not fl oat every profes- prise 2016 gold medallist Monica Sunday and hosts Japan on July 28. Ache cut the defi cit to one goal with seven as goals from Lachlan Wales and Marco Tilio at Wimbledon two sional’s boat but holds a special Puig. Osaka’s route to gold at Japan saw off South Africa, who had two minutes of the 90 left. But it was another saw them beat 10-man Argentina 2-0. weeks ago. Murray, place in the Scot’s heart. Ariake Tennis Park begins with players test positive for Covid-19 on Sun- Leverkusen player, Paulinho, who came off New Zealand made a successful start in 34, also showed signs Novak Djokovic will pursue an a fi rst-round tie against China’s day, 1-0 thanks to Takefusa Kubo’s second- the bench and put the match to bed for Brazil Group B as Burnley striker Chris Wood, one of his improving form at Wim- elusive Olympic gold medal in Zheng Saisai. half strike. Brazil, who won gold for the fi rst in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Ivory of the three over-age players in the squad, bledon, reaching the third round an event decimated by a raft of Poland’s Iga Swiatek, last time when inspired by Neymar on home soil Coast also picked up three points in Group secured a 1-0 victory over in after winning two consecutive withdrawals, including those of year’s French Open winner and fi ve years ago in Rio, downed Germany 4-2 D as AC Milan’s Franck Kessie netted the Kashima with his 72nd-minute winner. Grand Slam matches for the fi rst Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. a doubles gold medallist at the in a dramatic match which saw forward Ri- match-clinching goal in a 2-1 victory over It was their fi rst-ever win in Olympic time in four years. Still fi ghting Five of the men’s top 10 players 2018 Youth Olympics in Bue- charlison net a fi rst-half hat-trick. Saudi Arabia. football, having managed just one draw in back to fi tness after a second hip will be absent including 2008 Ol- nos Aires, could await her in the The Everton man scored three times in- Spain struggled in Sapporo, as a team each of the 2008 and 2012 tournaments. An surgery, he could certainly have ympic champion Rafel Nadal and quarter-fi nals, with Ashleigh side the fi rst half an hour, but Matheus featuring six players who reached the Euro own goal saw Romania edge out Honduras done with an easier start, but he Roger Federer. Barty, the newly-crowned Wim- Cunha missed a penalty and Germany then 2020 semi-fi nals dominated possession 1-0 in the group’s other game. is determined to give his all for Dominic Thiem has opted to bledon champion, the top seed.

Guinea reverses decision to Gymnast Biles gets own Double Olympic champion Russian swimmer Borodin fails Pele hails Marta aft er withdraw from Olympics ‘G.O.A.T’ Twitter emoji Mellouli to take part in Tokyo Covid test, out of Olympics Olympics landmark The West African state of Guinea yesterday Win or lose, Simone Biles has already claimed Double Olympic champion Oussama Mellouli European 400m individual medley champion Brazilian legend Pele hailed Marta as “much said it was scrapping its decision to withdraw a slice of history at the Tokyo Olympics. The has reversed his decision to boycott Tokyo Ilya Borodin has been ruled out of the Tokyo more than a footballer” and an “inspiration” its five-person team from the Olympics, a move reigning all-around champion — long-regarded 2020 due to a dispute with the Tunisian swim- Olympics after testing positive for Covid-19, after she scored in a fifth on that it had said was prompted by worries over as the greatest gymnast of all time — has be- ming federation. Mellouli won gold in the men’s Russian team off icials said. Wednesday. The 35-year-old scored twice as coronavirus. “The government, after receiv- come the first athlete to be awarded their own 1,500m freestyle in Beijing in 2008 before The 18-year-old, who was expected to contend Brazil opened their Tokyo Olympics campaign ing assurances from the health authorities, is emoji on Twitter. The social media platform an- sealing victory at the 10km open water event for a medal, failed a test during a final training with a 5-0 rout of China. giving its agreement for our athletes to take nounced that it had given Biles her own emoji in London four years later. camp in Vladivostok before departing for “I hope you’re dreaming about what you did a part,” Sports Minister Sanoussy Bantama Sow — a goat wearing a leotard and a gold medal. The 37-year-old is in after a legal dispute with Japan. few hours ago. Speaking of which, how many said. However, a source close to the govern- The symbol is a reference to Biles’ status as the Tunisian federation, who have accused “European champion Ilya Borodin passed a dreams do you think you inspired today?” ment had said that the decision not to send the “G.O.A.T: Greatest of all time” — a tag the Mellouli and his mother of forgery, relating positive test for Covid-19, which is why he will wrote Pele on Instagram. “Your achievement its five-person team stemmed from financial 24-year-old Olympian has embraced in recent to his funding for training. But Mellouli has not take part in the Olympic Games in Tokyo,” means much more than a personal record. constraints. Guinea has never won a medal years. “Witness greatness. Tweet with great- reconsidered following discussions with the Russian Swimming Federation said in a This moment inspires millions of athletes from in 11 appearances at the Olympics. Guinea’s ness,” the off icial Twitter Sports account wrote Tunisian Olympic Committee president Mehrez statement late Wednesday. so many other sports, from all over the world, five-strong team comprises Fatoumata Yarie in announcing the emoji. The symbol is gener- Boussayene. Mellouli said that Boussayene had It added that all other athletes and off icials who fight for recognition. Congratulations on Camara (freestyle wrestling), Mamadou Samba ated by inputting #SimoneBiles or #Simone in “promised to settle the dispute after the Tokyo tested negative. Borodin claimed the European your trajectory. Congratulations, you are much Bah (judo), Fatoumata Lamarana Toure and Tweets. Biles recently began competing in a Olympics and insisted on me competing”. title in in May in 4mins 10.02secs, a more than a football player. You help build a Mamadou Tahirou Bah (swimming) and Aissata leotard decorated with silver rhinestones in the Mellouli will race in Tokyo’s 10km open water world junior record and the sixth fastest in the better world with your talent, in which women Deen Conte (athletics, women’s 100m). shape of a goat’s head. event, in what will be his sixth Olympic Games. world this year. gain more space.”