18 Established 1961 Sports Thursday, April 30, 2020 Photo of the Day MotoGP boss ‘optimistic’ of July start PARIS: MotoGP chief Carmelo Ezpeleta said on Monday he was hopeful the season would start in July after having to cancel or postpone the opening eight races due to the coronavirus pandemic. “Right now we are optimistic to make a season be- tween July and November,” Ezpeleta, the CEO of MotoGP promoter Dorna, told broadcasters BT Sport. “If it’s possible then we will be able to but it depends on the situation because we need to take care about different things,” he added. Ezpeleta said the two other options being consid- ered are commencing in September as well as start- ing later in the year. Six of the of the season’s 12 races not to be postponed or cancelled are set to be held in Europe. Despite his positivity the Spaniard said having borders closed across the world poses a problem. “One is any individual country will need to allow us to do it when the doors are open and second is the possibility of travelling from one country to an- other,” he said. “In principle we will concentrate on trying to make a championship in Europe. “Depending on what the situation is, we will consider the possibility of going to the end of they year if the countries allow us to do it,” he added. Ezpeleta said if the campaign is to start then the races will be held behind closed doors. “We con- sider right now the most possible scenario is without spectators because unfortunately we don’t think for this season it will be possible unless there is vaccine. VERMONT: Sean Neary rides during the Red Bull Slide In Tour at Stratton Mountain, Vermont, USA. — Photo taken from www.redbullcontentpool.com It will be difficult to have spectators,” he said. Confir- mation regarding the MotoGP season will be published in the coming days, a source told AFP. — AFP Andy Murray says resuming season stalled by pandemic not top priority Tennis players want to get back to competing as soon as possible LONDON: Resuming the tennis season stalled by competing in sport.” the coronavirus pandemic is not the most important Murray said reopening borders for international thing as players first want to live their normal lives travel could stall the progress made in curbing the again, former world number one Andy Murray said. spread of the virus. “If we get back to international Professional tennis has been suspended since travel, then maybe there could be a second wave of March because of the outbreak and the ATP and infections,” he said. WTA Tours have said the hiatus will continue at least “That would slow everything down again and until mid-July. Murray that’s not what anyone had previously said that wants. Let’s just get tennis would be one of things back to normal the last sports to resume. first.” Murray also had a “I’m sure all tennis We want bit of banter with Nadal players want to get back after handing out the to competing as soon as our normal Spanish 19-times Grand possible,” Murray said Slam singles champion a following his win over lives back lesson in video game. Rafa Nadal in the virtual In a post-match inter- Madrid Open esports view, Murray said: “If tournament. you speak to Rafa, tell “But right now, that is him not to be such a bad not the most important thing. First of all, we want to loser next time.” “I don’t need to train a lot to beat get our normal lives back. Then, hopefully, over time him in this game. He’s not very good,” Murray joked, things will start to allow for travelling and sport will after his 3-0 win during which he lost only one point. Andy Murray be able to go back to normal. “If I practised a lot, it would have been even worse “But I don’t see that happening very soon ... The for him today!” first thing is to try and find a way to stop the virus Nadal said he was not in the frame of mind to go again and to go out for a party or to the sea to swim,” ones, as I’m a loving person. spreading and once we’ve done that we’ll be able to out and compete on a tennis court when the lock- the 33-year-old told the Spanish press recently. “I “I can’t conceive a future where I can’t hug players do more normal things rather than thinking about down ends. “My hope is to see my family and friends want to feel free again and be able to hug my loved I haven’t seen in months.” — Reuters tle displayed when ending a reign marked by Ryder Cup may Dave committed a series of crises and escalating financial prob- lems exacerbated by sport’s coronavirus shut- down. The coach, who led Waikato Chiefs to go ahead without to coaching back-to-back Super Rugby titles in 2012 and AIBA moves 2021 2013 before moving to Europe, said he had fans: Harrington Wallabies spoken with Rugby Australia’s board about world boxing plans for the post-Castle era. “I am still very committed and we have NEW YORK: Staging this year’s Ryder Cup without SYDNEY: Incoming coach Dave Rennie been doing a lot of work in and around prepa- championships fans is not in the event’s best interests but it might have says he remains committed to joining the ration for when the new season comes to “take one for the team” and proceed that way amid Wallabies, despite deep divisions that forced around,” he said. However, the landscape Ren- nie will navigate when he takes over remains NEW DELHI: The 2021 Men’s World Boxing Champi- the COVID-19 crisis, Team Europe captain Padraig out Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene uncertain. He was originally due to start in onships have been moved to Belgrade from New Delhi, the Harrington told The Times newspaper. Castle last week. time for a two-Test series at home against International Boxing Association (AIBA) said on Tuesday. The golf calendar has been severely affected due Castle played a key role in recruiting Ren- Ireland in July, which Rugby Australia con- In a statement, AIBA said it had terminated New Delhi’s to the coronavirus pandemic, which has infected nie to coach the struggling Australia Test side cedes is now “highly unlikely” to proceed due contract after it did not pay an agreed host fee, meaning more than 3.11 million people globally, causing over but quit the governing body after a sustained to virus restrictions. that India will have to pay a cancellation penalty of 216,000 deaths. campaign mounted by her critics. Rugby Championship matches against $500,000 (461,366 euros). Three of the year’s four majors have been resched- New Zealander Rennie said he was “gut- South Africa and Argentina are also in doubt, The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) blamed AIBA for uled and the British Open has been cancelled, but the ted” at her departure but it would not stop him with Castle raising hopes before her depar- its inability to pay the host fee, saying that AIBA’s bank ac- Ryder Cup is scheduled in Whistling Straits, Wisconsin taking the reins at the Wallabies when he com- ture that Bledisloe Cup Tests against New count in Lausanne was “frozen”. “AIBA could not resolve during Sept. 25-27 with PGA of America chief Seth pletes his contract at Glasgow Warriors. Zealand could be salvaged. these issues,” Indian media quoted the BFI as saying. Waugh saying it may be held without fans. “She’s a big part of the reason I decided to Both Australia and New Zealand have en- “We have reasons to believe that the decision to change “Everyone wants fans to be there, but the question sign with Australia,” Rennie told reporters in joyed success containing the virus, raising the the venue of WCH-2021 was taken in haste without due is does sport need the Ryder Cup and should the Britain. “I was really impressed with her. She prospect the Tests will be played if trans-Tas- consultation with BFI ... the penalty that is imposed is Ryder Cup take one for the team?” Irishman Harring- had a real clear plan of what the next few years man travel restrictions are eased before the shocking and surprising.” ton told the Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edi- would look like, so I’m really disappointed.” year’s end. — AFP The BFI added that it feels it has no obligation to pay tion/sport/padraig-harrington-ryder-cup-may-have-t Rennie praised the “dignity and class” Cas- any cancellation or penalty fees to AIBA and is working to- o-take-one-for-the-team-and-play-without-fans- wards “an amicable solution”. The AIBA was last year 00p9fr80s. stripped by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) of “Would it be for the greater good of sport? It its right to run boxing at the Tokyo Games due to serious wouldn’t be in the Ryder Cup’s best interests but it mismanagement. Boxing competition at the Tokyo Games, could be in the best interests of enough people who which have been postponed by a year due to the coron- want to see a big sporting occasion on TV.” avirus pandemic, is instead being organised by the IOC The PGA Tour plans to restart its season in June Boxing Task Force.