If cricket is played in empty stadiums, so be it, says Stokes WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020 PAGE 14 Aaron Ramsey first back at Juve training, Ronaldo in quarantine AFP MILAN Adel Khamis WELSH international Aaron Ramsey was the first Juven- Qatar 2022 tus player to return to indi- vidual training at the team’s ambassador sports centre in Turin on Tuesday as Cristiano Ronaldo began two weeks’ quarantine Adel Khamis after returning to Italy. Ronaldo flew back to tests positive northern Italy by private jet on Monday night after almost TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK two months in coronavirus DOHA lockdown in his native Por- tugal. Juventus’ Italian defender Leonardo Bonucci, wearing a face mask, RETIRED Qatari midfielder Midfielder Ramsey joined gestures as he arrives in his car at the Juventus’ Continassa training Adel Khamis has tested posi- Juventus this season after ground in Turin. (AFP) tive for novel coronavirus. 11 years with Arsenal, and This was announced by the scored his fourth goal in their sports minister to demonise “There is no opposition Supreme Committee for De- last game against Inter Milan football,” he said. of mine, but the desire to livery & Legacy in a tweet. behind closed doors before “The majority of Italians evaluate the restart only if the Adel Khamis, 54, “was the championship was sus- do not welcome the resump- health of the people within the unfortunately diagnosed with pended on March 10. Juventus’ Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey arrives in his car at the Juventus’ Continassa training ground tion of the championship. team group is safeguarded. the novel coronavirus, COV- Champions Juventus are in Turin, Italy, on Tuesday. Juventus has recalled its 10 overseas players as Serie A clubs were given the “But I’m not looking at “If the government is ID-19,” the SC tweet said. leading Serie A, one point green light to return to individual training on Monday. Players returning from abroad are to follow a health polls at the moment. Football forced, I hope not, to establish “We wish a speedy to all ahead of Lazio, as they target protocol and then begin training at Continassa. (AFP) is an important world in this that there are no conditions those affected”, it added. a ninth consecutive Scudetto. country, I know it well com- (to resume), my effort will be Khamis is one of the pub- Captain Giorgio Chiellini has given the go-ahead for cenzo Spadafora warned that “A realistic prediction can pared to those who want to twofold -- limit the financial lic faces of the FIFA Worl followed shortly after Ram- players to return to club train- training in groups must wait be made in mid-May,” Spada- give a different message. damage to clubs and support Cup 2022 Qatar tournament sey, with fellow Italy defender ing facilities two weeks ahead until May 18, and it remains fora said in an interview with “I hope to start again, but the whole world of sport. along with fellow ambassa- Leonardo Bonucci, wearing a of schedule, offering a glim- uncertain whether matches Corriere della Sera on Tues- the government will decide. “Between ordinary and ex- dors Tim Cahill of Australia black face mask, arriving lat- mer of hope that the 2019-20 can restart as the country day, denying that he wanted We will rely on scientific el- traordinary resources, we will and Barcelona legend Xavi er in the afternoon. season might yet be saved. battles a pandemic which has to call a halt to the season. ements, which are not avail- invest about one billion euros Hernandez. Italy’s interior ministry But sports minister Vin- killed over 29,000. “It would be surreal for a able today. for the sector as a whole.” WTA chief backs Federer’s ATP merger suggestion Barcelona ready for tests as La AFP “I agree, and have been NEW YORK saying so since the early 1970s. Liga prepares for training return One voice, women and men to- THE head of the WTA Tour has gether... Let’s make it happen,” AFP gramme for players to train ernment last week, which voiced support for a merger King tweeted. MADRID alone, then in small groups, allowed adults to exercise out- with the ATP Tour following “I completely agree that it before finally in larger team side on Saturday for the first calls led by Roger Federer and would be great to get out of this BARCELONA have confirmed sessions. time in seven weeks. Rafael Nadal to integrate the world crisis with the union of their players will undergo Barcelona confirmed they In the fourth and final men’s and women’s circuits. men’s and women’s tennis in coronavirus tests on Wednes- had passed their inspection on phase, scheduled for early In an interview with the one only organization,” Nadal day as La Liga’s clubs begin Tuesday morning. “The first June, the government have New York Times published on added. restricted training ahead of the team will return to the train- said outside events can go Tuesday, WTA chief executive In his interview with the proposed resumption of the ing ground on Wednesday to ahead when attended by fewer Steve Simon said a unified cir- Times, Simon said that any season next month. do the relevant medical tests than 400 people. cuit made sense. unification was still some way Real Madrid and Atletico before starting solo training in La Liga is proposing to “I’m not afraid of the full in the distant future. Madrid are also scheduled to the coming days,” a club state- complete its season behind merger; I never have been,” Si- Swiss ATP star Roger Federer and US WTA star Serena Willams could However, the climate of un- carry out tests on Wednesday, ment read. closed doors, with games mon told the Times. be part of the same tennis circuit under a merger plan supported by certainty caused by the corona- with the plan for players to start “La Liga gave the green starting again in the middle “I would certainly be the WTA chief execuitve Steve Simon. (AFP) virus pandemic could provide working individually at training light to carry out these tests af- of June. first to support it ...O bviously the impetus to reach agree- grounds later this week. ter the inspection of the club’s “A staggered return to it’s a long and winding road to “Just wondering... am I the Federer’s statement drew ment on a merger. La Liga has been inspect- facilities was completed this training has been designed get there, but I think it makes only one thinking that now is enthusiastic support, with Na- Both the ATP and WTA ing facilities at every club to morning.” that will range from solo train- all the sense in the world.” the time for men’s and wom- dal and trailblazing women’s Tours have been forced to ensure they comply with strict La Liga’s timetable roughly ing to group exercise prior Simon’s remarks came after en’s tennis to be united and tennis legend Billie Jean King take cost-cutting measures medical protocol. corresponds to the four-phase to the return to competition Federer and Nadal voiced sup- come together as one?” Federer among those aligning with the since the COVID-19 pandemic Once approved, clubs de-escalation programme an- scheduled for June,” La Liga port for a merger last month. asked in a posting on Twitter. Swiss ace. erupted. can initiate the league’s pro- nounced by the Spanish gov- said in a statement Monday. No spitting, no fans: baseball restarts South Korea’s sports season AFP worst early outbreaks of the disease SEOUL outside China, prompting professional sports to suspend or delay their seasons. SOUTH Korea’s professional sport re- But the country appears to have turned to action after the coronavirus brought its outbreak under control shutdown with the opening of a new thanks to an extensive “trace, test and baseball season on Tuesday, while foot- treat” programme. ball and golf will soon follow suit in a The start-up will bring welcome live ray of hope for suspended competitions action in a barren sports world where worldwide. fans have had to make do with sports Friday will see the delayed start of channels and broadcasters airing repeats football’s K-League, and next week some of past events. of golf’s leading women players will tee The K-League, originally due to start up in a domestic tournament as South in February, will kick off Friday with Korea becomes a rare hotspot for live a blockbuster clash between Jeonbuk sport. Hyundai Motors, champions for the past SK Wyverns players wearing face masks watch the game from the Fans were not allowed in when any three seasons, against FA Cup winners dugout during the opening game against Hanwha Eagles for South of Tuesday’s five opening Korean Base- Suwon Bluewings. Korea’s new baseball season at Munhak Baseball Stadium in Incheon ball Organisation (KBO) matches saw And South Korea will next week be- on Tuesday. (AFP) the first pitches thrown, a marked con- come the first country to see women’s trast from the packed stadiums of previ- professional golf resume after COV- ous years when fans sang and cheered SK Wyverns infielder Jamie Romak (right) forces out Hanwha Eagles’ Ha Ju-suk at first ID-19. relentlessly no matter the score. base in the second inning during the opening game for South Korea’s new baseball South Korean players dominate Instead, banners with photos of season at Munhak Baseball Stadium in Incheon on Tuesday.