SPORT SPORT | 18 SPORT | 19 Mahomes, Chiefs Batting sign richest holds key to NFL contract England-Windies in history Test series WEDNESDAY 8 JULY 2020 Qatar athletes, backroom Nadal to play in Madrid, raising staff undergo virus tests doubts over US Open participation QNA – DOHA According to Head of the Sports AFP – MADRID spoken to my friend Rafael NadalNadal LeadingLeading players, including woworldr Association section in the Sports Affairs whowho confirmed his participation in numbernumber three Dominic Thiem, havehav Coronavirus (Covid-19) tests for athletes Department of the Qatar Olympic Com- Rafael Nadalal (pictured)(pictured) saidsaid MadridMadrid in September. As always, we saidsaid theythey expect a decisiondecisio and supporting staff of Qatar national mittee (QOC) Ishaq Al Hashimi, the tests yesterday that hehe will take part in the awaitawait you with open arms in thethe fromfrom US OpenOpe teams, conducted over two days, were have been conducted to ensure that all Madrid Open, raisingraising doubts about CajaCaja Magica!” organisersorganiser concluded at Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah athletes supporting staff of the national whether he intendsends to defend his titletitle Nadal answered: thisthis week.week Arena. teams are healthy, prior to the at the US Open.n. “That’s right Feli. Four hundred and seven athletes resumption of sports activities. The US Open,pen, whose fate stillstill and staff members have undergone the Al Hashimi said that the tests, which hangs in the balance,alance, is scheduled to tests, of them 210 from nine sports asso- covered most sports associations, were run from Augustust 31 to September 13 SeeSee you in ciations (Swimming; Cycling; Special carried out on three periods per day to on the hard courtsurts of New York whilewhile September in needs; Taekwondo; Shooting; Bas- avoid crowding, in the context of the main draww at the Madrid event Madrid. Mean-Mean- ketball; Handball; Table tennis and applying precautionary measures to on clay starts onon September 14. whilewhile everythingeverything Gymnastics) were tested on the first day, limit the spread of COVID-19. Madrid willll serve as a warmup is going well!” while 179 from eight sports associations Ishaq Al Hashimi extended thanks for the rescheduleduled French Open, the The United StatesStates (Tennis; Athletics; Golf; Weight Lifting; to the sports federations for their coop- claycourt Grandd Slam that begins on hashas seen a sharp resurgence of Wrestling; Volleyball; Equestrian; eration in conducting the tests, praising September 20. new coronavirus cases, leading to Rugby; Hockey and Cricket) were tested at the same time the great efforts of the The Madrid totournamenturnament directodirectorr freshfresh doubts about whether the USUS yesterday. medical teams who conducted the tests. Feliciano Lopezz tweeted: “I have Open will take pplace.lace. Chelsea close in Team preparations in full on CL spot with 3-2 win at Palace swing ahead of QSL restart REUTERS – LONDON Chelsea kept up their push for a top-four QNA – DOHA finish in the Premier League and Cham- pions League football next season with a Qatari clubs have continued their 3-2 victory at London rivals Crystal Palace ongoing preparations with the start yesterday thanks to goals from Olivier of the countdown for the return of Giroud, Christian Pulisic and Tammy the Qatar Stars League (QSL) compe- Abraham. titions on July 24, after a long period Chelsea moved into third, leapfrogging of interruption that lasted for more Leicester City who were visiting Arsenal than three months due to the Coro- later yesterday, to stand five points clear of navirus (COVID-19) crisis. fifth-placed Manchester United, who visit The Qatari league competitions Aston Villa on Thursday. Palace stay 15 have been suspended since last March points clear of the relegation zone. due to the Coronavirus, which led to Frank Lampard’s Chelsea side went the suspension of sporting activities ahead in the seventh minute when former in all countries of the world and can- Al Rayyan's goalkeeper Mahmoud Ahmed Blues defender Gary Cahill pulled up with celed many major global competi- reaches for the ball during a training session an injury, giving Willian all the time he tions, especially in light of the high held in Doha, yesterday as the teams gear needed to cut the ball back for an easy finish number of infections and the high up for the restart of the QNB Stars League by French striker Olivier Giroud. number of deaths as well, a matter season. TOP RIGHT: A healthcare worker The visitors doubled their lead 20 which forced most countries to conducting a test on an Al Arabi player, minutes later as Willian fed Pulisic on the announce the suspension of all sports yesterday. BOTTOM: An Al Duhail player in edge of the box and the American shrugged activities to uphold the safety of all. action during a training session. off his marker Joel Ward to fire a fierce The clubs’ preparations began a angled shot past goalkeeper Vicente long time ago and in many phases in Guaita. order to preserve the safety of all, as stadiums to be used to two (Al Janoub friendly scheduled against Al Shamal Chelsea looked in complete control and all the clubs were subjected to the and Al Sadd) in order to minimise the on July 10 as part of its preparations only a fine save by Guaita prevented necessary medical tests in the midst pressure on operations and medical to play against Al Rayyan. Willian from adding a third goal after Pulisic of strict health procedures by the QSL, teams, against the backdrop of Al Wakra Club announced that the burst through the Palace lines. the Qatar Football Association (QFA) COVID-19 pandemic. team will play two friendly matches But the visitors, who threw away a lead and the Ministry of Public Health. The kick-off timings and venues during the current camp period with to lose another London derby at West Ham With all the clubs completing their of matches in the last two weeks (21 the teams of Al Shahaniya and Al United last week, allowed Palace back into quarantine period, more preparations and 22) will be finalized later based Markhiya. Its first match will be the game in the 34th minute when defender began for the return of the league and on the results and standings of teams against Al Shahaniya on July 10, while agreement with the Croatian star Reece James misplaced a pass and Wilfred its remaining five rounds, as compe- in the table, as the QSL is keen to the second will be against Al Markhiya Mario Mandzukic to end a contract Zaha fired a powerful shot past surprised titions will be tough for all who are provide all clubs with equal on July 17, one week before the start by mutual consent, while Moroccan keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. seeking to win points and make more opportunities. of the official matches. Mbark Boussoufa refused to renew In the 71st minute, substitute Tammy gains. In the meantime, Umm Salal will Meanwhile, Al Sadd announced with Al Sailiya. Abraham seemed to have wrapped up the The QSL had made an amendment play a friendly match against Al that Mexican player Marco Fabian will Al Arabi Club announced the win for Chelsea when he fired a low shot to the schedule of matches in Weeks Rayyan on July 17, as part of the prep- leave the club as his contract expired renewal of the contract of the team in off the post after being set up by Ruben 18, 19 and 20 of 2019-20 season after arations of the two teams related to on June 30. player Fahad Khalfan for two seasons, Loftus-Cheek. But Palace hit back within a reviewing the latest developments the resumption of the league matches. Also, Spanish midfielder Gabi left to continue with the club until the end minute when Patrick Van Aanholt got to and recommendations, and in co- Al Rayyan is preparing to face Qatar the team following the end of his con- of the season (2021-2022). the byline and squared for Christian ordination with the authorities club on July 24 in round 18 at Jassim tract. Gabi played two seasons with Al Arabi had previously renewed Benteke to tap the ball in. concerned. bin Hamad Stadium, while Umm Salal Al Sadd, where he won the league, contracts of a number of players, Palace defender Scott Dann hit the post It had been decided to hold is preparing to meet Al Duhail on July Super Cup, and Qatar cup titles. including Jasser Yahya, Khalifa Al in added time as Palace pushed for an matches in each round over three 25. Al Duhail Club recently Maliki, Jassim Jaber, and Mohamed equaliser and only a last-ditch tackle by days and reduce the number of Qatar Club decided to cancel the announced that it had reached an Saad Al Badr. Kurt Zouma denied Benteke. ‘Do it your way’: Root tells stand-in skipper Stokes REUTERS – LONDONLONDON knows that he will be able to turn to Root for “It’s not very often that we’ve been in a situ- advice at any stage during the match. ation where we’ve got six or seven bowlers to Stand-inStand-in EnglandEngl captain Ben Stokes says “Because of Joe’s personal situation, we’ve choose from,” Stokes said. regular skipper JoeJo Root has given him a simple been letting him deal with that and I haven’t been “It’s a real head-scratcher as somebody who’s piecepiece of advice aheada of Wednesday’s first test on him too much. got to choose the side but as a bigger picture it’s with West IndiesIndi -- do it your way.