Established 1961 Sport WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020 Virus could end Paralympic dream German league hopes for restart Legendary Miami Dolphins 18for British badminton player 19 go-ahead despite ten cases of virus 19 coach Don Shula dead Baseball restarts S Korea’s sports season Football, golf will soon follow suit in a ray of hope INCHEON: Cheerleaders pose during the opening game of South Korea’s new baseball season between the SK Wyverns and Hanwha Eagles at Munhak Baseball Stadium in Incheon yesterday. South Korea’s professional sport returned to action yesterday after the coronavirus shutdown with the opening of a new baseball season. — AFP SEOUL: South Korea’s professional sport returned to put up at the LG Twins club’s Jamsil derby in Seoul, — putting a new complexion on what is South nels and broadcasters airing repeats of past events. action after the coronavirus shutdown with the open- saying: “Even if we are apart, we are TWINS.” Fans Korea’s most popular spectator sport. The K-League, originally due to start in February, ing of a new baseball season yesterday, while football were divided over the unprecedented format. ESPN announced it will show six KBO League will kick off Friday with a blockbuster clash between and golf will soon follow suit in a ray of hope for sus- “Baseball is finally back! But I wonder when I can games per week to fans pining for live baseball in Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, champions for the past pended competitions worldwide. actually go to the stadium,” tweeted one fan. Another the US, while broadcasters in 10 foreign territories three seasons, against FA Cup winners Suwon Friday will see the delayed start of football’s K- online user said: “This doesn’t feel like the opening of have snapped up rights to air K-League matches. Bluewings. League, and next week some of golf’s leading women a season at all. I’m watching South Korea endured one of And South Korea will next week become the first players will tee up in a domestic tournament as South baseball from home, hugging a the worst early outbreaks of country to see women’s professional golf resume Korea becomes a rare hotspot for live sport. pillow.” the disease outside China, after COVID-19. South Korean players dominate Fans were not allowed in when any of Tuesday’s At the stadium, strict health prompting professional women’s golf with eight featuring in the world’s top five opening Korean Baseball Organisation (KBO) checks and hygiene measures sports to suspend or delay 20, including number one Ko Jin-young. matches saw the first pitches thrown, a marked con- were enforced. Players must No spitting, their seasons. The $1.8 million the Korea Ladies Professional trast from the packed stadiums of previous years have their temperature checked But the country appears to Golf Association (KLPGA) Championship begins on when fans sang and cheered relentlessly no matter twice before games, with face no fans have brought its outbreak May 14 in Yangju, east of Seoul with world number the score. masks to be worn in all areas under control thanks to an ex- six Kim Sei-young and 10th-ranked Lee Jeong-eun Instead, banners with photos of masked fans except the playing field and the tensive “trace, test and treat” in the 144-strong field. South Korea has been seeing stretched across the empty bleachers at the Incheon- dugouts, according to the KBO. programme. The start-up will only a trickle of new coronavirus infections in recent based SK Wyverns club’s Munhak Baseball Stadium. Players have also been asked not to shake hands bring welcome live action in a barren sports world days, with three fresh cases reported yesterday tak- Banners carrying messages for victory were also or exchange high-fives, while spitting is prohibited where fans have had to make do with sports chan- ing the total to 10,804. —AFP “I could (play) right now. I have been practicing that after that my season was going really well and I Returning enough to keep my level and then with all the gym stuff was excited to bring that momentum into Indian Wells I have been doing I am in the best shape ever,” he said. and Miami,” said the 22-year-old. “So it kind of sucks that they were cancelled as I thought I had a good before US Open “I am ready to go.” streak going.” The uncertainty provides extra chal- “I think this time is going to be really interesting lenges for players but holding a career-high ATP rank- ‘unrealistic’: Fritz when all the players come back to play because then ing of 24 helps give Fritz some peace of mind. you are going to see which players took the time to “Mentally it is tough without having a start date. It work on their fitness and get stronger and what players would be easier if we had a start date,” he said. TOKYO: Rising American tennis star Taylor Fritz said didn’t work during this time.” The coronavirus outbreak “At least, for me, mindset wise I am in a good place on Monday that he is in the best shape of his life has played havoc with the tennis season, causing the because I have a pretty high ranking so I am happy.” preparing to come out of quarantine but believes it is cancellation of Wimbledon and pushing the French Although focused on being ready when play re- unrealistic to expect that to happen before the US Open back until September. Tournament organisers are sumes, Fritz has been enjoying having a little bit of time Open in August. With both the ATP and WTA tours hopeful that the U.S. Open, scheduled to begin in New away from the tour to relax and play some video games. suspended until mid-July at the earliest due to the coro- York on August 25, can go ahead but Fritz isn’t so sure. He brought his recent real-life good form into Sunday’s navirus pandemic, Fritz is making the best of isolation “They are aiming for a certain time, but I think that time Stay At Home Slam where he won $1 million for charity at his house in Los Angeles. is a little bit unrealistic,” he said. playing Mario Tennis alongside doubles partner, Tik The world number 24 has a gym set up at home and “The goal is to play the U.S. Open but personally I Tok personality Addison Rae.. use of a private tennis court. “I am spending more time don’t know how they are going to be able to do that.” “I was excited for it because I like playing video working out than in training these days. There is nothing “They want to be optimistic but it is tough as it keeps games. I think I am pretty good,” he said. “There was a else I can really do,” Fritz told Reuters on Monday. Fritz being pushed back.” The enforced break came at a bad million dollars for charity on the line so we wanted to ACAPULCO: File photo shows USA’s Taylor Fritz returns said he could play tomorrow if the tour restarted and time for Fritz, who reached his first ATP Final before make sure we practiced a little. From the first time we the ball to Spain’s Rafael Nadal (out of frame) during their Mexico ATP Open 500 men’s final singles tennis believes his extra work during isolation could pay div- losing to Rafael Nadal at the Mexican Open. got introduced we were both serious about winning match in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico. —AFP idends when play resumes. “That was a really big result for me so I would say and she was quite competitive.” — Reuters.