TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2016 SPORTS Burki sidelined Tokyo swimming pool won’t Landa targets first with broken hand have same problems as Rio Giro win for Team Sky TOKYO: The new aquatics centre being built for the 2020 MADRID: Team Sky rider Mikel Landa is gearing up for a big year in which he BERLIN: Borussia Dortmund have been dealt a blow ahead of today’s Tokyo Olympics will experience none of the problems faced by hopes to lead his team to their first success in the Giro Champions League home match against Legia Warsaw with a broken hand rul- organisers of this year’s Rio de Janeiro Games, the d’Italia. The Spaniard was among the favourites in this ing goalkeeper Roman Burki out until January. The 26-year-old International swimming federation (FINA) president said yes- year’s Italian grand tour after finishing third in 2015 first-choice shot stopper suffered the injury in Saturday’s 1-0 terday. The swimming pool in Rio was plagued by construction but he pulled out because of a stomach problem win over Bayern Munich in Germany’s ‘Der Klassiker’, but played delays, and made headlines around the world after the water during the 10th stage. “I want to get to the Giro the 90 minutes and the injury was only diagnosed on Sunday. turned a shade of green during the Games. Many athletes also d’Italia in the best possible condition as it’s once Burki requires surgery which will sideline him until after the complained that the pool had a foul smell. “I visited the place again going to be my biggest aim of the year,” Landa January winter break. In Burki’s absence, ex-Germany veteran where they are beginning to build the new swimming pool told Marca newspaper. “It’s true that I will compete Roman Weidenfeller, 36, will take over in Dortmund’s goal and... it will have all the requirements for an excellent champi- against other riders who have more expe- with Thomas Tuchel’s side top of Group F, two points ahead of onship because the last condition in Rio was different,” FINA rience and have achieved better results Real Madrid. Dortmund are already guaranteed a place in the President Julio Cesar Maglione told the Kyodo news agency. than I have. But in terms of the orogra- last 16 of the Champions League and are hoping to have “We are sure that it will be fine here.” Olympic organisers in phy and the climate, the Giro is the Germany winger Marco Reus back against Legia. The Tokyo are building the pool near the existing Tatsumi race that is best suited for me.” The 27-year-old has yet to play this season after an International Swimming Center and are mulling over whether 100th edition of the Giro starts on adductor injury and his planned comeback the venue should seat 15,000 or 20,000 spectators. Cornel May 5 in Alghero, Sardinia and fin- against Bayern was delayed. “I had problems Marculescu, FINA’s executive director, met Tokyo Governor ishes with a time trial in Milan on with my heel last Wednesday after training,” he Yuriko Koike in October and pitched for the construction of a May 28. —Reuters told magazine Kicker. new venue instead of the renovation of Tatsumi. —Reuters Jimmie seizes record-tying 7th NASCAR championship HOMESTEAD: Jimmie Johnson had the seat to a record-setting - albeit improbable commemorative helmet and a photogra- - championship run. The win was the 15th pher chronicling his every move. He even for Hendrick Motorsports and seventh for ran a symbolic seven miles the night before crew chief Chad Knaus, who now only trails his shot at a seventh championship. Dale Inman’s record eight. He must have known something special Johnson’s No. 48 Chevrolet was seized was coming. Johnson was the dog of the by NASCAR shortly before the race for a championship contenders in a winner- last-minute trip through inspection, setting take-all season finale at Homestead-Miami Johnson up for a mind-boggling race in Speedway. He needed only to beat three which he never seemed to be a legitimate other drivers to tie Richard Petty and Dale contender. He had to start last because of Earnhardt as drivers with seven titles, but the inspection issue and was the worst of he was the worst of the final four for all but the final four, and had no shot until one lap Sunday night. Edwards coughed away the title. Johnson was practically gifted his sev- Petty welcomed Johnson to the VIP sec- enth title when Carl Edwards’ aggressive tion of NASCAR’s most exclusive club. attempt to win the championship ended in “They set a goal to get where they are a wreck that opened the door for Johnson. and circumstances and fate made it a reali- He got the restart of his life in overtime, ty,” Petty said. “Jimmie is a great champion took the lead on the very last lap of the and this is really good for our sport.” He was race, won for the first time in his career at also feted by Hendrick Motorsports team- Homestead and grabbed that elusive sev- mate Dale Earnhardt Jr., who represented enth title. “I had this crazy calmness over his late father in victory lane. myself all day long leading into this,” “I told Jimmie I wish Dad was here to Johnson said. “Even with us running fifth shake his hand,” Earnhardt said. “Dad would and the championship looking like it’s not think he’s such a bad-ass. He’s such a great going to be there, I just felt something.” race car driver. How he won this thing Most of the race was spent talking tonight, I don’t think a lot of people know, about backflips, repeats or a Penske sweep he can will himself to get (his all) out of a because Johnson just wasn’t as good as car when it matters. There’s a lot of circum- ST SIMONS ISLAND: Mackenzie Hughes (C) of Canada poses with his mother Sandra (L) and wife Jenna (R) after winning the playoff in the final contenders Edwards, reigning series cham- stance that played into it, but he put him- round of the RSM Classic at Sea Island Resort Seaside Course yesterday in St Simons Island, Georgia. — AFP pion Kyle Busch or Joey Logano. self in that position.” Then all that conversation took a back Edwards was in position to win until a caution with 10 laps remaining set up a wild sequence that ruined his title hopes. Canada’s Hughes captures Edwards tried to block Logano on the restart, wound up wrecked, and it was Johnson who drove through the carnage to take the championship lead. darkness-hit PGA playoff Johnson withstood two more restarts, and dedicated the final two attempts at the win to the late Ricky Hendrick, who was MIAMI: Canadian rookie Mackenzie Hughes Hughes had an eight-foot birdie putt on the which he celebrated with a hug from his wife. one of 10 friends and family members sank a 15-foot par putt on the third extra hole second playoff hole to win but missed and need- Hughes, who had opened with a 61, had killed in a 2004 plane crash. “My heart was yesterday to capture a darkness-halted playoff ed to two-foot comeback putt to stay in the been second during the week in scrambling, and win the US PGA RSM Classic. hunt. The foursome returned in cold and breezy getting up and down from off the green 17 full because I was thinking of some loved Colombia’s Camilo Villegas, Sweden’s Henrik conditions Monday to a 189-yard 17th hole that times in 20 attempts. ones like Ricky Hendrick and his influence,” Norlander and American Blayne Barber all surrendered only nine final-round birdies but he said. “Something happened from above.” missed shorter putts on the par-3 17th hole at only six bogeys as well. ‘POSITIVE WEEK’ FOR CAMILO Johnson drove the entire 10-race Chase Georgia’s Sea Island resort to make Hughes only All four players missed the green off the tee Villegas, 34, was the only prior PGA winner with a tribute helmet to Earnhardt and the third PGA wire-to-wire rookie winner in the and Hughes was the only one not to reach the among the last four, having sought his fifth tour Petty, the Hall of Famer drivers he’s been past 20 years. green with his second shot, his chip halting just title after the 2008 BMW Championship and Tour chasing since he won his sixth title in 2013. Hughes, ranked 287th in the world, booked short on the fringe. But Hughes found the cor- Championship, 2010 Honda Classic and 2014 Immediately after the race, he gifted the his spot in next year’s Masters and PGA rect line and rolled home his tension-packed Wyndham Championship. helmet to three-time champion Tony Championship as well as the Tournament of putt to swing the pressure onto his rivals. Villegas had not cracked the top 10 since that Stewart, who retired at the end of the race. Champions in Hawaii in January. “I just tried to make it, do my best to make a victory in Greensboro some 27 months ago until Drivers have been giving Stewart special The 25-year-old from Hamilton, twice a par and give them something to look at,” Hughes this week. “It was a very positive week, a lot of helmets the last month, but Johnson had Canadian Amateur champion, took his first PGA said.