ARAB TIMES, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021 SPORTS 15 North Korea says it won’t participate in Tokyo Games Tokyo Olympics to call off water polo test event TOKYO, April 6, (AP): Tokyo Olym- pic organizers have called off a water polo test event set for this weekend, Japanese media reported Tuesday. National broadcaster NHK and na- tional news agency Kyodo both cited Stanton’s 471-foot grand slam helps unnamed offi cials. Organizing com- mittee offi cials declined to confi rm the reports. The reports said technical offi cials were unable to go to Japan because of strict procedures to enter the country. Yankees hand O’s 1st loss of season The news comes less than four months before the opening of the postponed Olympics and could be a setback as organizers and the IOC at- tempt to hold the Tokyo Games in the middle of a pandemic. The Olympics open on July 23. Two other test events also appear to be off. Swimming governing body FINA said on its website that a diving World Cup event set for April 18-23 in Tokyo had been canceled, and it reported the same for an artistic swimming event for May 1-4. FINA said it would issue a complete statement later this week. FINA said the “decision of re-allocating the FINA Olympic qualifi ers planned in Japan is under review.” Tokyo organizers did manage over the weekend to pull off a test event for Paralympic wheelchair rugby. The BBC reported last week, citing a letter from FINA it had viewed, that the diving event was canceled because it “will not properly ensure” athletes’ safety. OLYMPICS Japan has attributed about 9,200 deaths to COVID-19. It has handled the pandemic better than many coun- tries, but not as well as most in Asia. The Olympics and Paralympics will involve 15,400 athletes entering the country, and tens of thousands of of- fi cials, judges, media and broadcasters. Fans from abroad have been banned from attending. North Korea on Tuesday became the fi rst country to drop out of the Tokyo Games because of coronavirus fears, a decision that underscores the challeng- es facing Japan as it struggles to stage a global sporting event amid a raging pandemic. A website run by North Korea’s Sports Ministry said its national Olym- New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (right), hits a grand slam during the fi fth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, on April 5, at Yankee Stadium in New pic committee decided during a meet- York. Orioles catcher Pedro Severino, (left), looks on. (AP) ing on March 25 not to participate in the games to protect athletes from the “world public health crisis caused by Japanese Olympic Minister Tamayo Dodgers rout winless A’s 10-3 COVID-19.” Marukawa told reporters she was still Last week the city of Osaka asked confi rming details and couldn’t imme- organizers to cancel a leg of the torch diately comment on the matter. NEW YORK, April 6, Reds 5, Pirates 3 relay that is to go through the city North Korea sent 22 athletes to the MLB Results/Standings In Cincinnati, Nick Castellanos hit a on April 14. The city is experienc- 2018 Winter Olympics in South Ko- (AP): Giancarlo Stanton hit go-ahead homer in the seventh inning ing a spike in COVID-19 cases. The rea, along with government offi cials, a grand slam over the visi- hours after deciding to appeal a two- torch relay started on March 25 from performance artists, journalists and a tors’ bullpen that landed in game suspension for his part in a brawl, northeastern Japan. It is circulating the 230-member all-female cheering group. WASHINGTON, April 6, (AP): Results and standings from the MLB games on and Cincinnati beat Pittsburgh. country and is to reach Tokyo on July At the Pyeongchang Games, the the left-bleachers 471 feet Monday. Mike Moustakas tied it at 2 in the fi fth 23. It involves about 10,000 runners. North and South Korean athletes jointly from home plate, helping Twins 15 Detroit 6 LA Angels 7 Astros 6 with his fi rst home run of the season, a marched under a blue map symboliz- KC Chiefs 3 Cleveland 0 St Louis 4 Miami 1 solo shot to right fi eld off Luis Oviedo. Meanwhile, North Korea said it will New York hand Baltimore Toronto 6 Texas 2 Cincinnati 5 Pittsburgh 3 not participate in the Tokyo Olympics ing a unifi ed Korean Peninsula, while NY Yankees 7 Baltimore 0 Phillies 5 NY Mets 3 Moustakas also doubled and scored in because of the coronavirus pandemic. the red-clad North Korean cheerleaders its fi rst loss this season. Boston 11 TB Rays 2 Chic Cubs 5 Brewers 3 the eighth. Sean Doolittle (1-0) struck A website run by the North’s sports captivated global attention. The Koreas New York was ahead 1-0 on LA Dodgers 10 Oakland 3 SF Giants 3 SD Padres 2 out two in a perfect seventh, and Amir Aaron Judge’s fourth-inning hom- Chic W. Sox 6 Seattle 0 Garrett allowed a run but completed his ministry said the decision was made also fi elded their fi rst combined Olym- East Division East Division during a national Olympic Committee pic team in women’s ice hockey, which er when starter Jorge López (0-1) W L Pct GB W L Pct GB fi rst save. meeting on March 25 where members drew passionate support from crowds walked the bases loaded in the Baltimore 3 1 .750 _ Philadelphia 4 0 1.000 _ Castellanos connected off Sam How- prioritized protecting athletes from the despite losing all fi ve of its games with fi fth, and Shawn Armstrong forced Toronto 3 1 .750 _ Washington 0 0 .000 2 ard (0-1) for his third homer of the sea- “world public health crisis caused by a combined score of 28-2. New York 2 2 .500 1 New York 0 1 .000 2-1/2 son. He admired the shot as he walked in a run with a walk to slumping TB Rays 2 2 .500 1 Miami 1 3 .250 3 out of the box, whipped his bat toward COVID-19.” Those games were also much about Aaron Hicks. Boston 1 3 .250 2 Atlanta 0 3 .000 3-1/2 South Korea’s Unifi cation Ministry politics. The North Korean contingent Central Division Central Division the home dugout and yelled toward Stanton sent a 92 mph fastball soaring W L Pct GB W L Pct GB teammates as he shuffl ed toward fi rst. on Tuesday expressed regret over the included the powerful sister of North for the longest home run of the young Kansas City 3 1 .750 _ Chicago 3 1 .750 _ North’s decision, saying it had hoped Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who con- major league season and his eighth ca- Twins 3 1 .750 _ Cincinnati 3 1 .750 _ Red Sox 11, Rays 2 that the Tokyo Olympics would provide veyed his brother’s desire for a summit Detroit 2 2 .500 1 St Louis 2 2 .500 1 In Boston, Xander Bogaerts had four reer slam. Chicago 2 3 .400 1-1/2 Milwaukee 1 3 .250 2 an opportunity to improve inter-Korean with South Korean President Moon New York improved to 8-0 when Cleveland 1 3 .250 2 Pittsburgh 1 3 .250 2 hits, including a Little League home run relations, which have declined amid a Jae-in, a move which helped it initiate Judge and Stanton homer in the same West Division West Division - a double, with two ill-advised throws stalemate in larger nuclear negotiations diplomacy with South Korea and the game, including three postseason wins. W L Pct GB W L Pct GB that allowed him to score - and Boston between Washington and Pyongyang. United States. Houston 4 1 .800 _ Los Angeles 4 1 .800 _ got on the board with 16 hits and its fi rst Left-hander Jordan Montgomery (1- Los Angeles 4 1 .800 _ San Diego 3 1 .750 -1/2 0) allowed four hits in six innings with Seattle 2 2 .500 1-1/2 SF Giants 1 2 .333 2 win of the season. seven strikeouts and no walks. Texas 1 3 .250 2-1/2 Arizona 1 3 .250 2-1/2 J.D. Martinez banged a three-run Dodgers 10, Athletics 3 Oakland 0 5 .000 4 Colorado 1 3 .250 2-1/2 homer halfway up the Pesky Pole in the eighth, and Franchy Cordero, Alex Ver- In Oakland, California, Will Smith dugo and Hunter Renfroe all had two homered off the left-fi eld foul pole, Co- off Craig Stammen (0-1). sixth - Narváez also broke up a no-hit hits apiece after coming into the game rey Seager and Zach McKinstry each Blue Jays 6, Rangers 2 bid in the eighth inning Saturday against batting .000. drove in three runs, and Los Angeles Minnesota. Narváez added a three-run pounded winless Oakland. In Arlington, Texas, Steven Matz homer in the seventh. Royals 3, Indians 0 Justin Turner also went deep as the struck out nine in his Toronto debut, Williams (1-0) was making his Cubs In Cleveland, Danny Duffy pitched defending World Series champions Marcus Semien and Cavan Biggio hit debut after fi ve seasons with Pittsburgh. six innings of two-hit ball to beat a provided plenty of support for starter back-to-back homers and the Blue Jays He pitched into the seventh, allowing longtime nemesis and Whit Merrifi eld Dustin May (1-0).