TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 2021 11 Tsitsipas learned of grandmother’s Belarus sees BRAVE CF restoring death minutes before French MMA’s former glory in the country Open final Belarus was once a hub of the best MMA fighters but has fallen out of context over the past decade Belarus has plenty to• be proud of as three BETTER of its hometown heroes MMA is developing walked away with their exclusively on a KNOW hands raised in triumph commercial basis, which complicates its Stefanos Tsitsipas at BRAVE CF 51 development. To have AFP | Paris BRAVE CF put a show in Belarus was once a TDT | Manama Minsk, it just gives our hub of the best MMA athletes an avenue to reek tennis star Ste - ith the persistent fighters, producing Gfanos Tsitsipas has re- growth of mixed grow the likes of Andrei vealed that he learned of his Wmartial arts (MMA) in TATSIANA KUKHAREVA “The Pitbull” Arlovski, grandmother’s death just Europe through BRAVE Combat Alexei “Brick” Kudin, minutes before his epic five- Federation, Tatsiana Kukhare- right direction. Dmitry Voitov and Igor set French Open final loss to va—the director of Rukh Sport “We really enjoyed working Litoshik. However, it Novak Djokovic on Sunday. Management—expects a bright Tatsiana Kukhareva with BRAVE CF. BRAVE CF does has largely fallen out In an Instagram post ear- future for the local scene in Be- a lot for the development of the ly yesterday morning, the larus. ning streak to eight matches. Kukhareva is delighted with MMA community and unites of context over the 22-year-old dedicated his Rukh Sport Management re- On the other hand, Vadim the fact that Belarusian MMA people, athletes and business past decade first Grand Slam final to her cently partnered with the Bah- Kutsyi put the entire super wel- rising stars have found a home representatives,” she said. “Con- after Djokovic overturned rain-based promotion to host terweight division on notice by for their elite skills in BRAVE CF. sidering the number of guests Belarus in MMA. Football, hock- a two-set deficit to win 6-7 the historic BRAVE CF 51: THE turning in a masterful perfor- “The development of our we invited and their reaction ey, and basketball are the most (6/8), 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 and FUTURE IS HERE, which took mance against fellow debutant athletes stagnate because the to the event, which was held in popular sports in our country. secure his 19th Grand Slam place at the state-of-the-art Fal- Daniyar “Doni” Abdibaev of non-competitive environment Minsk for the first time in a long But thanks to a promotion like title. con Club Arena last June 4. Kyrgyzstan via unanimous de- does not develop them the right time, we can talk about a great BRAVE CF, the future of MMA in “Five minutes before en- BRAVE CF’s inaugural event cision. way. Because of this, it is impos- success.” Belarus is secured,” Kukhareva tering the court my very on Belarusian soil featured 11 Meanwhile, Vadim Rolich au- sible to attract fans, which is bad Belarus was once a hub of the stated. beloved grandmother lost high-octane bouts, captivating thored a highlight-reel knockout for business,” she shared. best MMA fighters, producing Kukhareva’s claim was sup- her battle with life. A wise the global audience from start at the expense of Kurbonsho “MMA is developing exclusive- the likes of Andrei “The Pitbull” ported by Kutsyi, who is touted woman whose faith in life, to finish. The host country has Jamolov, shutting the lights ly on a commercial basis, which Arlovski, Alexei “Brick” Kudin, to lead the Belarusian MMA in- and willingness to give and plenty to be proud of as three out on the Tajikistani stalwart complicates its development,” Dmitry Voitov and Igor Litoshik. dustry along with Maher and provide can’t be compared of its hometown heroes walked courtesy of a spinning back-kick Rukh Sport Management exec- However, it has largely fallen out Rolich. to any other human being away with their hands raised in and follow-up punches with 25 utive continued. “To have BRAVE of context over the past decade. “We see this as a huge de - that I have ever met,” Tsit- triumph. seconds left on the clock in the CF put a show in Minsk, it just Now, Belarus is poised to re- velopment, for the first time in sipas wrote of the grand- Denis Maher kept his unde- final round. gives our athletes an avenue to claim its position among the years. This is an indicator that mother on his father’s side. feated professional record intact “I believe these fighters we grow.” powerhouse MMA nations in BRAVE CF has done a great job “It’s important to have by stopping previously-unbeat- have now can be successful In restoring the old glory of Europe and the world through to put Belarus back in the MMA more people like her in this en standout Rinat Sagyntay of in world-famous promotions Belarus in MMA, Kukhareva be- BRAVE CF. limelight. I think this is just the world. Because people like Kazakhstan in the opening salvo such as BRAVE CF,” Kukhareva lieves that the recently-conclud- “BRAVE CF has contributed beginning, and I am excited for her make you come alive. to extend his impressive win- quipped. ed show in Minsk is a step in the so much to the reemergence of things to come,” Kutsyi stressed. They make you dream.” Mbappe ‘affected’ by Giroud Federer eases into second-round at Halle AFP | Halle Westfalen criticism but keen to move on oger Federer eased into the AFP | Paris Rsecond round of the ATP grass court tournament in Halle on Monday with a straight sets ylian Mbappe admitted he win over qualifier Ilya Ivashka. Kwas “affected” by public Federer, who turns 40 in comments perceived as criti- August, had few problems in cism from fellow forward Oliv- his first match this season on ier Giroud following a friendly grass to seal a 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 against Bulgaria, but insisted first-round win over Belarus- he did not want it to become a sian Ivashka, ranked 90th in distraction for France at Euro the world. 2020. Federer, the fifth seed in Tensions surfaced between Halle, will meet Canada’s Fe- the two players after Chelsea lix Auger-Aliassime or Herbert striker Giroud complained Hurkacz of Poland in the sec- about not receiving the ball of- ond round. ten enough during Tuesday’s “There is room for improve- 3-0 win over Bulgaria, in which ment, but I am happy with my India’s Cheteshwar Pujara bats during a match (file photo) he scored twice. France’s forward Olivier Giroud (L) and France’s forward Kylian Mbappe take first game here on grass. I feel “I was a bit affected by that part in a training session good,” said Federer, currently but we’re not going to make ranked eighth in the world, who a big story about it,” Mbappe The Paris Saint-Germain star is bidding to win the Halle tour- There is room for told reporters Sunday at the na- claimed it wasn’t what Giroud nament for the 11th time. improvement, but I am tional training centre at Claire- said that bothered him, but the Having had two surgeries on happy with my first fontaine. We’re here to represent public nature of his remarks. his right knee in 2020, Federer, KNOW WHAT “We’re here to represent France and the national “I saw him in the dressing who has won 20 Grand Slam game here on grass. I France and the national team team represents room, I went to congratulate titles, withdrew from the fourth feel good represents the most important the most important him on his goals. He didn’t round of the French Open last Federer is currently ROGER FEDERER thing. We have a big compe - thing. We have a big say anything to me and then I week to give himself more rest. ranked eighth in the tition and these trivial things learned about it in the media. The Swiss is using Halle world and is bidding drew with injury at the start of aren’t going to disrupt our competition and these “I would have preferred that to tune up for his bid to win the third set with the scores at preparation.” trivial things aren’t he come and even be much a ninth title at Wimbledon, to win the Halle tour- 1-6, 7-5. Mbappe, the leading scorer going to disrupt our more scathing about it. In the which starts June 28. nament for the 11th Australia’s Jordan Thompson in Ligue 1 last season with 27 preparation dressing room if I have some- Federer had no problems time is also into the second round goals, revealed he had wanted KYLIAN MBAPPE thing to say to someone I will moving around the court and after a 6-2, 7-6 (7/4) win over to address the matter earlier tell them and it stays there, I when the first set went to a fourth match point to book his Germany’s Daniel Altmaier. in the week but was dissuaded with the coach, it wasn’t the don’t have a problem.” tie-breaker, he raced into a 6-1 place in the second round after Having lost the men’s French from doing so by France coach best moment,” said the 22-year- But Mbappe sought to draw lead, then converted his fourth one hour, 36 minutes.