Sport SATURDAY 12 JUNE 2021 11 Pavlyuchenkova, Krejcikova Fahd wins set to make history in Paris triathlon REUETRS – PARIS sport’s four majors. Previously, Italian Roberta Vinci has played the most Grand gold in Egypt After one of the most wildly unpredictable Slams before reaching her first title match, women’s singles draws in French Open contesting the 2015 U.S. Open final in her Qatar's Fahd Al Mohammed and history, Russia’s Anastasia Pavly- 44th. Abdullah Shaheen Al Kaabi with uchenkova stands on the threshold of Should Pavlyuchenkova, who turns officials after wining medals finally delivering the title long predicted 30 next month, avoid that fate she will be at the 2021 Africa Triathlon since she was a precocious teenager. the second oldest first-time Grand Slam Championships in Sharm El It has been a protracted journey for women’s winner in the professional era, Sheikhm Egypt, yesterday. Fahd the 29-year-old, who at the 52nd time of behind Flavia Pennetta (aged 33 at 2015 won the gold medal in the asking has reached her maiden Grand U.S. Open). 30-34 Age Group Sprint while Slam final in which she takes on unseeded Whatever the outcome on Court Abdullah clinched a podium Czech Barbora Krejcikova, who has also Philippe Chatrier today, a first-time spot when he finished second broken new ground this fortnight. No women’s Grand Slam winner will be in the 35-39 years age group. other player has ever had as many crowned in Paris for the sixth successive attempts to reach a final of any one of the year. NEWS IN BRIEF Danes relishing ‘dark Spain horse’ tag ahead of vaccinates team after clash against Finland virus scare REUTERS – COPENHAGEN Denmark are relishing their status as Euro 2020 dark horses ahead AP – MADRID of their opening Group B clash with Finland today, the first of three home games at the Parken Stadium for the Danes. Worried that a coronavirus A string of good performances has many commentators tipping outbreak could derail its the Danes as possible winners of the tournament, which they won chances at the European in stunning fashion in 1992 after being called up as late replace- Championship, Spain sent in ments for the former Yugoslavia. the army yesterday to “It’s probably because we’ve got good results, played football vaccinate the national football that’s worth watching and won some matches that we take with team three days before its us,” playmaker Christian Eriksen told a media conference. opening match at the tour- “We have a lot of confidence, but to go and win, that’s what nament. we have to do if we want to go far. I think there’s a lot of bumps Medics from Spain’s we need to get over first,” he added. Armed Forces administered Belgium’s Michy Batshuayi trains Denmark face Belgium, the top-ranked side in the world, in the shots at the team’s training with team-mates yesterday. their second Group B match, likely adding to the pressure for a facility near Madrid. result against Finland, who next take on Russia. “We have had the privilege Coach Kasper Hjulmand, who has taken over the reins after and the good fortune that the Age Hareide orchestrated the successful Euro qualifying cam- government decided to vac- paign, bristled with confidence as he said the tournament was cinate us,” said Spain mid- Euro 2020: De Bruyne to the biggest thing ever to happen on Danish soil. fielder Thiago. “We are in a good place, we have a good balance in the squad. Spain will play Sweden in We are well-prepared, we are full of energy, we are excited, we Seville on Monday in its are confident and respectful of our opponent. We are where we opening Euro 2020 match. miss Belgium’s opener need to be,” he told reporters. AP – ST. PETERSBURG really important, just to get him when Martinez expects De back to really being able to Bruyne to play a part. Mostovoy Kevin De Bruyne will not play move freely and start getting Another key Belgium player for Belgium today's opening the exercise needed before he missing against Russia will be tests positive, group game against Russia at can come to the group,” Mar- defensive midfielder Axel Witsel, the European Championship tinez said of De Bruyne, who who was surprisingly included cut from because he is still following an was recently voted as the in the Euro 2020 squad despite individual training program Premier League’s player of the missing the final four months of Russia squad after an operation on his frac- season for the second straight the club season with Borussia tured nose and eye socket. year. Dortmund because of a torn AP – MOSCOW Belgium coach Roberto De Bruyne only linked up Achilles tendon injury. Martinez said yesterday he with the squad on Monday after Martinez said Witsel, who Russia winger Andrey expects the Manchester City having a minor operation fol- didn’t play in Belgium’s Mostovoy was cut from the midfielder to join full training lowing the injuries sustained warmup games ahead of the national team for this year’s with the squad when the during City’s loss to Chelsea in tournament, was “progressing European Championship players return to their training the Champions League final on well” and had been training yesterday after testing positive camp in Tubize, near Brussels, May 29. with the full squad. for the coronavirus. after the game against Russia Belgium’s second game in “I don’t expect Axel will Mostovoy is the first player in St. Petersburg. Group B is against Denmark in need a lot more work with the Denmark’s Kasper Schmeichel during a training session. to be cut from a team at the “The next two days will be Copenhagen on Thursday, group,” Martinez said. tournament because of the virus. The team wrote on Twitter that Mostovoy has been Conway, Young put New Zealand South Africa grow lead replaced by defender Roman Evgeniev “in connection with over West Indies in 1st Test an unfavorable result of PCR in charge against England testing.” Russia is scheduled to AP – GROS ISLET, ST. LUCIA play its opening Euro 2020 match against Belgium today REUTERS – EDGBASTON Former captain Quinton de Kock pushed South Africa’s lead past in St. Petersburg. 100 against West Indies in the first Test yesterday. Mostovoy made his debut Devon Conway and Will Young De Kock was 44 not out at lunch on the second day in St. Lucia for Russia last year and played scored half-centuries as New and South Africa’s main hope of a sizeable first-innings advantage eight of the team’s last 11 Zealand finished the second day as it ended the session on 205-5. games, mostly as a substitute. on 229-3, 74 runs behind South Africa blew West Indies out for 97 on the first day and Evgeniev’s only appearance England’s first innings score in reached 128-4 at stumps. The Proteas continued to forge ahead on for his country was in a 5-0 the second and final Test against day two. Rassie van der Dussen made 46 to build on Aiden loss to Serbia last year. at Edgbaston yesterday. Markram’s 60 from day one. West Indies were fighting to stay in Left-handed batsman the game but had one positive in the performance of 19-year-old New Zealand’s Conway, fresh from his brilliant fast bowler Jayden Seales, who had figures of 3-50 in his debut Devon double hundred on debut at Test. Seales removed Keegan Petersen (19), Markram, and Kyle Pukki set to Lord’s in the opening Test, Conway bats Verreynne (6) late on the first day. smashed 12 boundaries for his as England But after a 14-wicket opening day at Darren Sammy Stadium, start against 80 and alongside Young added players look West Indies broke through only once in the first session yesterday 122 runs for the second wicket. on. when Jason Holder pitched up to Van der Dussen and produced Denmark Young showed incredible an edge to Shai Hope at gully. patience for his 82 off 204 balls SCOREBOARD De Kock, in his first test since giving up the captaincy and taking STOCKHOLM REUTERS – before he became Dan Law- ENGLAND 1st Innings (overnight: 258-7) Bowling: Boult 29-6-85-4; Henry 26-7-78-3 a break for mental health reasons, steadied his team with five fours rence’s maiden test wicket in the R. Burns c Latham b Boult ....................................81 (2nb, 1w); Wagner 21-6-68-1; Mitchell 11-2-23-0; and a 43-run stand with Wiaan Mulder, who was 21 not out. Striker Teemo Pukki raised the final over of the day. D. Sibley c Blundell b Henry ..................................35 Patel 14-4-34-2 BRIEF SCORES fever of Finnish fans a notch The tourists finished the day Z. Crawley c Mitchell b Wagner ..............................0 NEW ZEALAND 1st Innings WEST INDIES: 97 (L. Ngidi 5-19, A. Nortje 4-35) vs SOUTH AFRICA: 205-5 (A. by declaring has himself fit to with Ross Taylor unbeaten on J. Root c Blundell b Henry .......................................4 T. Latham lbw b Broad .............................................6 Markram 60; J. Seales 3-50) lead the line against Denmark 46 at the other end. O. Pope c Blundell b Patel .....................................19 D. Conway c Crawley b Broad ..............................80 in their opening Euro 2020 New Zealand’s stand-in D. Lawrence not out ...............................................81 W. Young c Pope b Lawrence ...............................82 Group B clash at the Parken skipper Tom Latham was J.