Djokovic wins Wimbledon for record-equalling 20th Slam

Monday, July 12, 2021Dhul-Hijjah 2, 1442 AH

SPORTGULF TIMES

Cawley hails Barty aft er Wimbledon victory

Hetmyer powers West Indies to series lead

TENNIS TENNIS | Page 2 CRICKET CRICKET | Page 3

TENNIS

FOOTBALL

Messi ends trophy drought as Argentina beat Brazil to win CopaPage 4

‘Roger and Rafa are legends, they are the reason I am where I am today. They showed me what I needed to do to get stronger, physically, tactically and mentally’

DJOKOVIC, FEDERER, NADAL: WHERE THEIR GRAND SLAM TITLES WERE WON

RECENT WIMBLEDON MEN’S CHAMPIONS

NOVAK DJOKOVIC

Australian Open: 9 (2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021)

French Open: 2 (2016, 2021)

Wimbledon: 6 (2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021)

US Open: 3 (2011, 2015, 2018)

ROGER FEDERER

Australian Open: 6 (2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2017, 2018)

French Open: 1 (2009)

Wimbledon: 8 (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2017)

US Open: 5 (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)

RAFAEL NADAL

Australian Open: 1 (2009)

French Open: 13 (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)

Wimbledon: 2 (2008, 2010)

US Open: 4 (2010, 2013, 2017, 2019)

2021: Novak Djokovic (SRB)

2020: Tournament cancelled

2019: Novak Djokovic (SRB)

2018: Novak Djokovic (SRB)

2017: Roger Federer (SUI)

2016: Andy Murray (GBR)

2015: Novak Djokovic (SRB)

2014: Novak Djokovic (SRB)

2013: Andy Murray (GBR)

2012: Roger Federer (SUI)

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic eats some grass after his victory against Italy’s Matteo Berrettini in the men’s singles final at the Wimbledon yesterday. (AFP)

AFPLondon

Novak Djokovic won a record-equalling 20th Grand Slam ti-tle and sixth Wimbledon yes-terday with a four-set victory

over Italian slugger Matteo Berrettini with rival superstar Roger Federer hail-ing the achievement as a “wonderful performance”.

The world number one triumphed 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 to move level on 20 majors with Federer and Rafael Nadal. His win also put him three-quarters of the way to the fi rst cal-endar Grand Slam of all four majors since 1969. “I could defi nitely envisage that happening and I hope I will give it a shot. I’m in great form and played well and having my best form at Grand Slams is my top priority,” said Djokovic.

A sixth victory at the All England Club for Djokovic, who was playing in his 30th fi nal at the Slams, added to his nine Australian Opens, two Roland Gar-ros titles as well as three at the US Open. Should he win a fourth title in New York in September, he will become just the third man in history after Don Budge (1938) and Rod Laver (1962 and 1969) to complete the calendar Grand Slam.

“It was more than a battle. He is a true Italian hammer I felt it on my skin,” said Djokovic of Berrettini. Of shar-ing the record with Federer and Nadal, he said: “It means none of us three will stop. Roger and Rafa are legends, they are the reason I am where I am today. They showed me what I needed to do to get stronger, physically, tactically and mentally. Over the last 10 years it has been an incredible journey that’s not stopping here.”

Federer – who bowed out in the quarter-fi nals while Nadal did not play – tweeted his congratulations. “Con-grats Novak on your 20th major,” said Federer, an eight-time champion at Wimbledon. I’m proud to have the op-

portunity to play in a special era of ten-nis champions. Wonderful perform-ance, well done.”

Djokovic also now has 85 career ti-tles while he has become the fi rst man to break the $150mn prize money bar-rier. A gold medal at the Tokyo Olym-pics could give him the fi rst ever Golden Grand Slam by a male player. “Novak is a great champion, he is writing history on this court,” said Berrettini.

Djokovic overcame a nervy start to break for 3-1, which he stretched to 5-2. He even had a set point in a marathon eighth game which the Italian saved after eight deuces. Reinvigorated, he broke Djokovic when he served for the

set and then dominated the tiebreaker which he sealed with his fourth ace of the contest.

The top seed stormed to a 5-1 lead in the second set on the back of a double break. Berrettini, bidding to be Italy’s fi rst men’s Grand Slam winner since Adriano Panatta at the 1976 French Open, clawed his way back to 4-5, sav-ing three set points, but Djokovic this time served it out for a set apiece. Djok-ovic struck fi rst again for a 2-1 lead in the third set and fought off three break points in the sixth game, a show of de-fi ance which brought watching Holly-wood star Tom Cruise to his feet. That was Berrettini’s last chance of the set as

Djokovic served it out in the 10th game.A weary Berrettini then served up

a double fault on break point to hand Djokovic a 4-3 lead in the fourth set. Djokovic kept coming, sprinting from the back of the court to pull off a won-drous pick-up and he held on for 5-3.

Berrettini, hoping to be Italy’s fi rst singles champion at Wimbledon, saved two championship points in the eighth game. But he was powerless on the third as Djokovic swept to his place in history. “It is not the end, it is the be-ginning for me,” said Berrettini. “With-out my family, friends and team all this would not have been possible so I just say Grazie Grazie.”

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates with the trophy after winning Wimbledon in London yesterday. (Reuters)

The athletes of Refugee Olympic Team arrived in Doha yesterday to start their training camp to be held by the Qatar Olympic

Committee (QOC) ahead of their par-ticipation in the 2020 Olympic Games to be staged in Tokyo, Japan from July 23 to August 08

The training camp comes in light of Qatar’s support to refugees around the world and as an initiative that refl ects the strong partnership between the QOC, the International Olympic Commit-tee (IOC) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees through the Olympic Refuge Foundation. The QOC is a supportive and founding partner of the Olympic Refuge Foundation which aims to continue the eff orts adopted by the IOC over the past years to support refugees all over the world.

The Refugee Olympic Team to par-ticipate in Tokyo Olympics is composed of 29 athletes from 11 countries selected by the IOC Executive Board from the 55 Refugee Athlete Scholarship-holders.

The 29 members of the Refugee Ol-ympic Team will be competing across 12 sports at Tokyo Olympics including; Athletics, Swimming, Badminton, Box-ing, Cycling, Judo, Karate, Shooting, Taekwondo, Weightlifting and Wres-

tling. These athletes will act as a sym-bol of hope for refugees worldwide and bring global attention to the magnitude of the refugee crisis. The Refugee Ol-ympic Team’s Chef de Mission is Te-gla Loroupe. She will be assisted by 20 coaches and offi cials.

Created in 2015, the Refugee Olym-pic Team competed for the fi rst time at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games with 10 athletes from 4 countries including two swimmers, one Judoka, two long-dis-tance runners and fi ve middle-distance runners.

THE TEAM’S ROSTER

Abdullah Sediqi (Afghanistan)-Taekwondo (Men’s 68kg) , Ahmad Badreddin Wais (Syria)-Cycling (Men’s Road Cycling), Ahmad Alikaj (Syria)- Judo, Aker Al Obaidi (Iraq) -Wrestling

(Men’s 67 Greco-Roman), Alaa Maso (Syria) – Swimming (Men’s 50m Free-style), Anjelina Nadai Lohalith (South Sudan)- Athletics (Women’s 1500m), Aram Mahmoud (Syria)-Badminton (Men’s Singles), Cyrille Fagat Tchatchet (Cameroon)-Weightlifting (Men’s 96

kg), Dina Pouryounes Langeroudi (Iran)-Taekwondo (Women’s 49kg), Dorian Keletela- (Congo) Athletics (Men’s 100m), Eldric Samuel Sella Rodriguez (Venezuela)- Boxing (Men’s 75kg), Hamoon Derafshipour (Iran)- Karate (Men’s 67 kg), Jamal Abdelmaji Eisa Mohammed (Sudan)-Athletics (Men’s 5000m), James Chiengjiek Nyang (South Sudan)- Athletics (Men’s 800m), Javad Mahjoub (Iran)- Judo, Kimia Alizadeh Zenozi (Iran)- Taek-wondo (Women’s 57 kg), Luna Solomon (Eritrea)- Shooting (Women’s 10m Air Rifle), Masomah Ali Zada (Afghanistan)-Cycling (Women’s Road Cycling), Muna Dahouk (Syria)-Judo, Nigara Shaheen (Afghanistan)-Judo, Paulo Amotun Lokoro (South Sudan)- Athletics (Men’s 5000m), Popole Misenga (Democratic Republic of Congo)-Judo, Rose Nathike Likonyen (South Sudan) -Athletics (Women’s 800m), Saeid Fazloula (Iran)-Canoe (Men’s 500m), Sanda Aldass (Syria)- Judo, Tachlowini Gabriyesos (Eritrea) -Athletics (Men’s Marathon), Wael Shueb (Syria)- Karate (Men’s Kata), Wessam Salamana (Syria)-Boxing (Men’s 57kg) and Yusra Mardini (Syria)- Swimming (Women’s 100m Butterfly).

Refugee Olympic Team arrives in Doha for training campSPOTLIGHT

Refugee Olympic Team athletes after their arrival at the Hamad International Airport in Doha yesterday.

SPORTGulf Times Monday, July 12, 20212

Cawley hails ‘little sister’ Barty aft er Wimbledon winAFPSydney

Evonne Goolagong Caw-ley yesterday said she couldn’t be more proud of “little sister” Ashleigh

Barty after the Australian won Wimbledon exactly 50 years af-ter her indigenous compatriot achieved the feat.

The 25-year-old clinched her maiden crown at the All Eng-land Club by beating Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3 on Saturday, adding to the French Open title she won in 2019. Her victory came a half-century af-ter her “friend and mentor” fi rst triumphed on the grass courts.

Barty wore a dress inspired by the one Cawley sported in the 1971 fi nal, and the 69-year-old was overcome with emotion watching her win.

“I’m just so very proud of Ash, the way she handles herself not just on the court but off the court too,” said seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Cawley, who won Wimbledon a second time in 1980.

“Ash to me is like a little sister and part of my family. I think we treat each other that way.

“I was just so chuff ed when she wore that dress... wasn’t that lovely. I said to her ‘if it brings you luck, great, because it bought me luck’. She’s amazing.”

Barty spoke with Cawley prior

to The Championships and said she was a role model to her. “I think she has been iconic in pav-ing a way for young indigenous youth to believe in their dreams and to chase their dream,” said the world number one, who has Aboriginal heritage on her fa-ther’s side, after winning.

“She’s done exactly that for me as well. Her legacy off the court is incredible.”

Cawley said one of the last messages she sent Barty was “dreams do come true, they came true for me”.

“All the way through (the fi -nal) I sort of had this feeling that she was going to win, this is her time. Somebody up there is looking down on her.”

MASSIVE PRIDE Barty’s parents Josie and Rob watched their daughter lift the trophy from Australia and said they were ecstatic.

“I’m just proud of the way she treats everybody, she’s still the same person regardless of the tennis,” said her mum.

“Just really excited and so happy she has done it this year too, it’s such a lovely year to do it with Evonne’s anniversary.”

Fellow indigenous athlete Cathy Freeman and Australian tennis great Rod Laver also paid tribute to Barty, hailing her as inspirational.

“Massive pride in our girl!,” tweeted Freeman, who famously

lit the cauldron at the 2000 Syd-ney Olympics and then became the fi rst Aboriginal Australian to win an individual gold medal in the 400 metres.

“Congratulations @ashbarty! We are all so very proud of you.”

Laver, the only player to win all four majors in the same sea-son twice, also noted it was “a wonderful follow up to Evonne’s win on the 50th anniversary”.

“So happy for you @ashbarty, your dream comes true and what a fi ght. Congratulations on your Wimbledon victory,” he added.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison called her triumph “magnifi cent, inspirational” and even Austral-ian pop royalty Kylie Minogue got in on in the act, simply tweeting: “ASSSSSSSSHHHH-BAAAARRRTYYYYYYYY!!!”

Barty will now head to To-kyo for a crack at Olympic gold, where she will be hot favourite, before turning her attention to the US Open, with Australian media holding high hopes.

“Olympic gold and a third slam title is more than achiev-able in the coming months,” said the Sydney Daily Telegraph. “But Ash must also ensure she takes the time to look after herself and her team.”

The Australian broadsheet was eff usive in its praise. “The most worthy of winners. A player universally respected and adored nationwide for her brilliance and sportsmanship,” it said.

TENNIS

‘I’m just so very proud of Ash, the way she handles herself not just on the court but off the court too’

ReutersNew Delhi

India’s top javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra says he has ironed out the kinks in his technique and found the optimal release angle

ahead of the upcoming Tokyo Olym-pic Games.

The mop-haired Commonwealth and Asian Games champion quali-fi ed for Tokyo throwing 87.86 metres last year and posted a personal best of 88.07 in March this year.

An injury to his throwing arm and the Covid-19 crisis kept him sidelined for nearly two years but Chopra would be one of India’s best medal prospects at the Games after addressing his technical issues.

“Even at the (2018) Asian Games, I thought it was throwing it too high, which compromised my distance,” the 23-year-old, who currently train-ing in Sweden, told a news conference arranged by his sponsor JSW Sports.

“Another issue was my throw tended to veer to the left side, at times threatening to go beyond the foul lines. Every time the javelin veers, it’s a waste of power. If the release angle is not right, you are not getting the maximum out of your throw.

“We identifi ed these areas and ad-dressed those issues. I can already see

the improvement. If I get it right, my distance will further improve in

Tokyo.”Chopra was happy with his training

in Sweden, where he plans to increase the intensity before tapering two weeks before his event. The thrower was largely keeping to himself and re-

laxing by listening to music or medi-tating. “I also visualise my throws, I’ve already imagined how I’d perform in Tokyo,” Chopra said.

“I imagine the arena and my throws. By the time I turn up, I’d have performed there several times even if it’s only in my mind.”

Indian thrower Chopra overcomes release glitch before Tokyo Games

SPOTLIGHTFrench Olympic medal hope Lavillenie twists ankle in Tokyo run-inFrench pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie suff ered a potential blow less than two weeks from the Tokyo Olympics when he twisted his ankle warming up for a competition in northern France yesterday. The 2012 Olympic champion, one of the main medal hopes of France’s track and field team, landed awkwardly on the mat and immediately pulled out of the Sotteville-Les-Rouen meet.Medical scans showed a twisted left ankle, with his training group saying his participation in the July 23-August 8 Tokyo Games, with pole vault qualifying scheduled for July 31, was not in doubt.“Clearly not the ideal scenario for my last competition before the Olympic Games,” tweeted Lavillenie, 34.“I leave the clinic with an ‘encouraging’ verdict: no fracture, a big sprain. The countdown begins.”After several injury-blighted seasons, Lavillenie cleared an impressive 6.06 metres this winter before suff ering a calf injury that ruled him out of the European indoor championships in Torun, Poland.

The Frenchman rested up for six weeks, but has come back strongly: he is currently ranked second in the world with 5.92m, behind Swedish world record holder Armand Duplantis (6.10m), one of the big favourites for gold in Tokyo.

Asher-Smith out of Gateshead meeting with ‘tight hamstring’

British sprinter Dina Asher-Smith, one of the favourites for the 100m and 200m titles at the Olympics, has withdrawn from next week’s Diamond League meeting in Gateshead with a “tight hamstring”, organisers said yesterday. “With the Olympic Games so close she does not want to risk anything,” they said in a statement. Asher-Smith, 25, is the reigning world champion in the 200m. Gateshead is the last major athletics meeting before the Olympics which begin in Tokyo on July 23.

Nigeria shock US in pre-Olympic basketball friendly

Nigeria shocked the United States 90-

87 in a pre-Olympic basketball friendly in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday.Nigeria, with six NBA players and former NBA head coach Mike Brown at the helm, became the first African nation to beat the USA, who were play-ing the first of a five of tune-up games before the Tokyo Olympics. The United States were without three players still active in the NBA Finals. Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant led the Americans with 17 points. Nigeria, which had 12 NBA players in its 49-man training camp in California and seven in uniform on Saturday, was led by Gabe Vincent with 21 points.Nigeria’s win came nine years after the United States crushed the Nigerians 156-73 at the London Olympics. The United States, who have won three Olympic men’s basketball titles since settling for bronze in 2004, are look-ing to regain global dominance after finishing in seventh at the 2019 FIBA World Cup. They play Australia, ranked third in the world, in a friendly today. (Agencies)

Matsuyama, Watson out of The OpenAFPLondon

Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama and two-time Augusta winner Bubba Watson have with-

drawn from the 149th Open Cham-pionship over Covid-19 concerns, organisers said yesterday.

Matsuyama, who became the fi rst Japanese man to win a major golf ti-tle when he captured the green jacket in April, had tested positive for Cov-id-19 during the PGA Tour Rocket Mortgage Classic this month and had to withdraw.

“Matsuyama has been in quaran-tine since then and is currently symp-tom free,” the R&A said in an article on the Open website. “Subsequent PCR tests have continued to show positive results.

“I’m feeling fi ne but haven’t been able to practice in preparation for The Open,” Matsuyama said in a state-

ment. “Combining that with the dif-fi cult travel to the UK, my team and I have decided it’s best to withdraw to ensure everyone’s safety.

“I feel badly missing The Open and look forward to playing again at St Andrews next year. I’d like to thank the many golf fans for their contin-ued concern and support as I strive

to return to the game I love as soon as possible.”

Watson withdrew after being iden-tifi ed as a close contact of someone who tested positive for Covid-19.

“While I am vaccinated and have passed the required pre-travel Covid test, not enough time has passed for me to comfortably join the charter fl ight and risk exposure to the other players and personnel on board,” Watson said on twitter.

“I appreciate the R&A’s guidance and help navigating UK policy for such situations.

“Like many of you, I look forward to watching the Open Championship on TV. Since I will be watching from the comfort of my couch I would not mind seeing the fi eld have to deal with a little rain and strong winds!”

Matsuyama, 29, was replaced in the fi eld by American Harold Varner. Brendan Steele will play in place of Watson. The 149th Open Champion-ship begins on Thursday at Royal St. George.

GOLF

Australia’s Ashleigh Barty poses with the women’s singles trophy on the balcony of the Park Plaza in front of the London Eye after winning the Wimbledon championship in London. (Reuters)

SPORT3Gulf Times

Monday, July 12, 2021

Covid-hit England impress Morgan with Pakistan success

Bangladesh see off late resistance to crush Zimbabwe

Hetmyer helps WIthump Australia for 2-0 series lead

Kuss wins in Pyrenees as Pogacar retains overall lead

SPOTLIGHT

ONE-OFF TESTCRICKET

CYCLING/TOUR DE FRANCE

AFPLondon

Eoin Morgan took time out from quarantine to praise the “incredible” eff orts of a completely changed

England side after they clinched a one-day international series win over Pakistan with a com-manding 52-run victory at Lord’s on Saturday

World Cup-winning skip-per Morgan and all of England’s originally-selected squad for this three-match campaign had to self-isolate after three play-ers and four support staff tested positive for Covid-19.

Even so, a new England XI thrashed Pakistan by nine wick-ets in Cardiff on Thursday be-fore, in front of 23,000 fans at the home of cricket, they went an unassailable 2-0 up.

Lewis Gregory was named player of the match, the Somer-set all-rounder making a valua-ble 40 to help take England to 247 after they had slumped to 160-7 before the paceman led the way with 3-44 as Pakistan were dis-missed for 195. Phil Salt (60) and James Vince (56) were also in the runs, while wicketkeeper John Simpson, a longtime Middlesex team-mate of Morgan, held fi ve catches, including a brilliant take down the legside.

It prompted Morgan to hail stand-in skipper Ben Stokes’s side by tweeting: “15 of the cur-rent squad in isolation. (Jos) But-

tler and (Jofra) Archer injured. “What Ben Stokes and the team have achieved is incredible. Looking forward to watching the next game!”

‘PUT OUR HANDS UP’ Meanwhile Gregory, aware

his ODI chances may be lim-ited, said: “To say you’ve played for your country at the home of cricket is a special moment and the crowd was fantastic.

“But this England one-day team is diffi cult to break into. The guys who are in there are diffi cult to get ahead of. All we can do is put in a performance and put our hands up when the chance comes.”

And having helped secure a

trophy for a national side, Gre-gory hoped the England football team could do the same in Sun-day’s European Championship fi nal against Italy at Wembley.

“We’re all going to get together and watch the game tomorrow,” he said.“Hopefully our last two games have kept the momentum going for English sport and they can fi nish the job.”

Pakistan paceman Hasan Ali took 5-51 hit a defi ant 31, includ-ing three sixes, but there was no denying another comprehensive defeat.

“I am feeling proud. It’s an honour for me to get fi ve wickets, but obviously I am disappointed because we lost the series in two games,” he said.

AFPHarare

Some resolute batting and dropped catches held up Bangladesh before they completed a crushing

220-run win over Zimbabwe on the fi nal day of a one-off Test at Harare Sports Club yesterday.

Needing a world record 477 to win, the hosts were all out for 256 after brave innings from night-watchman Donald Tiripano and fast-medium bowler Blessing Muzarabani delayed the tourists’ celebrations.

It was the fi fth Test victory for Bangladesh outside the country and a fi tting send-off for all-rounder Mahmudullah Riyad, who is retiring from the longest format after an unbeaten career-best 150, his fi fth Test century, in the fi rst innings.

The visitors formed a guard of honour for Mahmudullah, play-ing his 50th Test since making his debut in 2009, and let him lead the team on to the pitch for the fi nal day, which began with Zimbabwe 140-3.

New cap Dion Myers added a further 19 in tandem with Tiri-pano before Bangladesh made a telling breakthrough.

Myers eked out 26 from 88 balls, a nuggety innings punctu-ated by two sixes and helped by two dropped chances by wick-etkeeper Liton Das and Shakib al Hasan. He was undone by off -spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz, chipping him straight to Shad-man Islam at midwicket.

The departure of Myers trig-gered a collapse with his wicket the fi rst of four to fall within 19 balls for the addition of 36 runs as Zimbabwe slumped to 176-7 at lunch.

Timycen Maruma and Roy Kaia were both trapped leg be-fore for ducks and wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva made just one before being bowled by Taskin Ahmed who fi nished with 4-82.

But Bangladesh’s hopes of wrapping up a victory swiftly were dashed as Tiripano and Muzarabani dug in to add 41 for the ninth wicket.

Tiripano made 52 off 144 balls before edging a good-length de-livery from Ebadot Hossain and a diving Das made the catch.

Muzarabani fi nished unbeaten on 30, having faced 51 balls in 93 minutes and struck four fours.

But Bangladesh completed the victory when Richard Ngarava went for a big slog against Me-hidy and lost his middle stump.

Mehidy fi nished with 4-66 to give him nine wickets in the match. The all-format tour by Bangladesh resumes on Friday with the fi rst of three one-day internationals, which will be fol-lowed by three Twenty20 inter-nationals.

SCOREBOARDBangladesh 1st innings 468Zimbabwe 1st innings 276 Bangladesh 2nd innings 284-1Zimbabwe 2nd innings (overnight 140-3)M. Shumba c sub (Yasir Ali) b Ahmed 11T. Kaitano lbw b Shakib 7B. Taylor c and b Mehidy 92D. Myers c Shadman b Mehidy 26D. Tiripano c Liton Das b Ebadot Hossain 52T. Maruma lbw b Mehidy 0 R. Kaia lbw b Taskin 0R. Chakabva b Taskin 1 V. Nyauchi c Shakib b Taskin 10 B. Muzarabani not out 30R. Ngarava b Mehidy 10Extras: (b5, lb11, nb1) 17 Total: (94.4 overs) 256 Fall of wickets: 1-15 (Shumba), 2-110 (Taylor), 3-132 (Kaitano), 4-159 (Myers), 5-159 (Maruma), 6-160 (Kaia), 7-164 (Chakabva), 8-198 (Nyauchi), 9-239 (Tiripano), 10-256 (Ngarava) Bowling: Shakib 25-9-44-1, Mehidy 30.4-10-66-4, Taskin 24-4-82-4 (1nb), Ebadot 11-2-39-1, Mahmudullah 4-0-9-0Bangladesh won by 220 runs

AFPGros-Islet, Saint Lucia

Shimron Hetmyer led a formidable West Indies batting eff ort on the way to a comfortable 56-run

victory and a 2-0 lead over Aus-tralia in the second T20 Interna-tional of their fi ve-match series at the Daren Sammy Stadium in St Lucia on Saturday.

Hetmyer’s 61 off 36 balls with four sixes and two fours paced the home side to 196 for four after they were sent in to bat yet again by visiting captain Aaron Finch.

He received excellent sup-port from veteran all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, who contrib-uted an unbeaten 47 to a 103-run fourth-wicket partnership while Andre Russell crashed 24 not out off only eight deliveries to leave the Aussies with a much tougher task than in the fi rst match a day earlier when they had limited their opponents to 145 for six.

Australia’s pursuit of that daunting target stuttered from the start with the loss of Mat-thew Wade to the second ball

of their chase and despite a second consecutive half-centu-ry from Mitchell Marsh, they fell well short in being dismissed for 140.

Leg-spinner Hayden Walsh grabbed three wickets for the second night in a row with the tourists’ lower-order crumbling in a heap yet again to leave them in a must-win situation going into the third match today at the same venue.

This is the sixth time in the last seven T20 matches when they have chased that Australia have lost, and in losing their last seven wickets for just 39 runs, they repeated the indiscretions and poor shot-selection which triggered their capitulation in the series-opener.

In stark contrast to their own batting struggles in the fi rst match, the West Indies found

their scoring rhythm early and consistently via the Hetmyer-Bravo partnership, the best for the fourth wicket for the West Indies against Australia in T20 Internationals.

“This is probably the best in-nings I’ve played in this format and I really have to give credit to Dwayne (Bravo) for his sup-port and guidance through the innings,” said Hetmyer after re-ceiving the “Man of the Match” award.

“I was given the freedom to bat deep into the innings and

everything worked out for us tonight.” Nicholas Pooran, once again leading the West Indies with Kieron Pollard still side-lined by injury, revealed after the match that it was Bravo who suggested a promotion to number fi ve in the batting or-der, the highest position he has featured in a T20 International since 2016, the year the Carib-bean team lifted the World T20 crown for a second time with a dramatic victory over England in the fi nal in Kolkata.

Finch acknowledged the chal-

lenge for his bowlers in attempt-ing to contain the attacking left-right-hand combination in the latter half of the innings.

“That partnership between Hetmyer and Bravo was the dif-ference in the game,” the Aus-tralian skipper admitted.

“And when you lose both openers early in the chase, it puts a lot of pressure on what is really an inexperienced middle-order, at least in this format of the game.”

Australia are playing this se-ries without household names

like David Warner, Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell who would normally be vital elements to their batting line-up.

In contrast, a full-strength West Indies team appears to be regaining something like their best form after going down 3-2 to South Africa the previous fortnight in Grenada.

BRIEF SCORESWest Indies 196 for 4 (Hetmyer 61, Bravo 47*) beat Australia 140 (Marsh 54, Walsh Jr 3-29) by 56 runs.

ReutersAndorra

American Sepp Kuss claimed his maiden victory on the Tour de France with a solo ride in the 15th stage as defending champion Tadej

Pogacar was barely bothered in the 191.3km mountain trek from Ceret to Andorra yesterday.

The Jumbo-Visma rider prevailed from the day’s breakaway thanks to a sharp attack in the last climb before holding off Alejandro Valverde in the descent to the fi nish with the Spanish veteran taking second place 23 sec-onds behind. Dutchman Wout Poels fi nished third, 1:15 off the pace before Pogacar and his main challengers crossed the line 4:51 be-hind Kuss.

Pogacar heads into Monday’s rest day with an advantage of fi ve minutes and 18 seconds on Colombian Rigoberto Uran with Dane Jonas Vingegaard in third place a further 14 seconds adrift.

France’s Guillaume Martin, who had jumped up to second courtesy of his presence in the breakaway on Saturday, was distanced in the descent from the Port d’Envalira, at 2,408 metres the highest point of this year’s Tour.

He could not make it back to the group of overall contenders before the ascent of the Col de Beixalis (6.4km at 8.5%), where Pogacar’s rivals tried to unsettle the Slov-enian.

Ecuador’s Richard Carapaz was the fi rst attacker but he was easily reined in by Pogacar, who also had little trouble staying in the wheels of Uran and Vingegaard when they briefl y jumped away.

‘That partnership between Hetmyer and Bravo was the diff erence in the game’

Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan Miraz.

England’s Lewis Gregory (right) celebrates with teammates after tak-ing wicket of Pakistan’s Haris Rauf (not pictured) during the second ODI at Lord’s in London. (Reuters)

Shimron Hetmyer of West Indies in action during the 2nd T20I against Australia at Darren Sammy Cricket Ground at Gros Islet, Saint Lucia. (AFP)

Team Jumbo-Visma rider Sepp Kuss of the US celebrates winning the stage 15 of the Tour de France yesterday. (Reuters)

Monday, July 12, 2021

GULF TIMES SPORT

Messi ends trophy drought as Argentina beat Brazil to win Copa

FOOTBALL

Sealing a quickfi re dou-ble for connections, His Highness Sheikh Mo-hamed bin Khalifa al-

Thani’s Khateer Alkhalediah (KSA) (Laith Al Khalediah x Edele De Carrere) got up close home to win the Listed Sheikh Zayed Bin Zultan Al Nathan Cup at San Sebastian racecourse, Spain, on Saturday. Notching up a fourth consecutive success for his trainer Elizabeth Bernard and given a strong ride by Gary Sanchez, Khateer Alkhalediah claimed a fi rst win at listed level.

Having been keen in the early stages of the 1,600m contest, Khateer Alkhalediah was mo-mentarily caught for toe as the

sprint was launched at the top of the straight. Once he found his stride, he stayed on powerfully and won by a half a length at the line. Al Shaqab Racing’s Shadad (FR) (TM Fred Texas x Nasrat), and winner of this race last year, was the runner-up for trainer Charles Gourdain and jockey Maxime foulon. The D Watrig-ant-trained and Mickael Forest-ridden Bel’izam (FR) (Nizam x Djesabelle) was a further length behind in third.

A son of Laith Al Khalediah (Tiwaiq), Khateer Alkhalediah was bred by Al Khalediah Sta-bles and is out of Edele De Car-rere (Djourman) a winner over 1,800m.

Maguroor (FR) (Assy x Chamade de Chazel) carried the silks of his owner His High-

ness Sheikh Mohamed bin Kha-lifa al-Thani to victory in the Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Cup at San Sebastian racecourse, Spain, on Saturday. Trained by Elizabeth Bernard and rid-den to success by Gary Sanchez, Maguroor was having his second career start having had his debut at Toulouse, France, a month ago.

Taking a lead throughout the early stages of the 2,000m con-test for three-year-old Pure-bred Arabians, Maguroor always looked to be travelling stronger than his three rivals. Turning for home, jockey Gary Sanchez allowed his mount to stride-on and he quickly had the better of

the long race leader and even-tual second Itchy De Nacre (FR) (Al Mamun Monlau x Nacre Du Croate) by a comfortable 1¾ length-margin. The runner-up is trained by David Morisson and was ridden by Emilien Revolte. The Didier Guillemin-trained and Alexandre Gavilan-ridden HAIBA (FR) (Al Tair x Amannite) was a further length behind in third in the colours of His High-ness Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani.

Bred by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani’s Al Shahania Stud, Maguroor is by top Arabian stallion ASSY (Amer) and is out of group three winner Chamade De Chazel (Dormane) who was also placed at group one level and was also trained by Elizabeth Bernard.

Qatar will participate in the 32nd Summer Olympic Games 2020 to be held in the Japanese capital of Tokyo

from July 23 to August 10. A total of 15 athletes will represent Qatar in seven sports at Tokyo 2020 Olympics as Team Qatar will compete in a total of seven sports and 6 track and fi eld disciplines. Here are profi les of some Qatar’s top stars who will be aiming to return with medals.

ASHRAF EL SEIFYQatar’s hammer thrower Ashraf El

Seify will be one of the Qatari athletic stars to participate in the Olympics. El Seify qualifi ed for the Tokyo Olympic Games by virtue of his world rank-ing of 19. Tokyo will be the 26-year-old Ashraf’s second Olympics. He was sixth on his Olympic debut in Rio 2016.

El Seify won the gold medal of 2012 IAAF World Junior Championships with a record-breaking throw of 85.57m and then again at 2014 IAAF World Jun-ior Championships.

He also claimed the silver medals of 2015 and 2019 Asian Champion-ships and the gold medal of 2018 Asian Games.

BASHAYER AL-MNAWARI Qatari triple and long jumper

Bashayer al-Mnawari has been keep-ing up her amazing performance at the

GCC athletics championships since 2008. This year, al-manwari will raise the scale of challenge in the women’s 100m hoping to lift her regional and continental career to a new level with a distinctive Olympic performance in Tokyo. Most notably, the Qatari prom-ising triple and long jumper has secured a lot of titles in her GCC sport career, she won the triple and long jump gold of the GCC Women Games consecu-

tively in Bahrain 2013 and Qatar 2014. She is a fi ve-time gold medallist in the GCC Championships from 2015 to 2019. Al-manwari made an impressive performance in both Asian Games 2014 (Incheon, Korea) and Gymnasiade 2015.

FEMI OGUNODE AND MUSAA ADAM

Qatar’s sprinter Femi Ogunode booked himself an Olympic spot in the

men’s 100m during the Doha Diamond League meeting in Doha last May. In a 100m ‘B’ race, Ogunode, who ran an Asian record of 9.91s back in 2015, clocked 10 seconds to top the charts, dipping under the Tokyo Olympics standard of 10.05 sec.

Ogunode confi rmed that he is ready for the Olympics by winning the gold medal of 100m and 200m event at 2021 Arab Athletics Championships. Ogun-

ode made history when he was selected by the Association of National Olympic Committees in 2015 as the best male athlete in Asia. He also claimed the gold medal of 100m and 200m events at 2014 Incheon Asian Games.

Meanwhile, middle-distance runner Musaab Adam secured his spot Tokyo Olympics when he won the qualifying 1,500m race held in Doha with a time of 3.32.41 minutes.

After showing promise on her debut second at La Teste, Ouraika (FR) (Zelzal x Sleek Gold)

made the experience when carry-ing the colours of her owner Kha-lifa bin Mohamed al-Attiyah to victory in the Prix Olivier Trilot at Dax racecourse yesterday.

Trained by Didier Guillemin and ridden by Emilen Revolte in seven-furlong race for two-year-old fi llies, the bay fi lly broke quickly from the stalls and was

placed immediately in front of her twelve rivals. On arrival into the home straight, it was clear that Ouraika was going best of all and when asked to extend, she did so with ease. Despite running around inside the fi nal furlong, she went on to win easily by three and a half lengths. The M Alon-so Roldan-trained and Ricardo Sousa Ferreira-ridden Lovely Diamond (FR) (Wings of Eagles x Diamond Light) fi nished second a further neck in front of the C

Ferland-trained and Enzo Cor-allo-ridden Aude (FR) (Shamala-gan x Miss Rail Link) who battled hard back in third.

Bred by her owner Khalifa bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, Ouraika is one of the fi rst winners sired by young stallion Zelzal (Sea the Stars), who stands at Harad de Bouquetot. Her dam Sleek Gold (Dansili) has produced black-type performers Complication (No Nay Never) and Simplicity (Cassamento).

AFPRio de Janeiro

Superstar Lionel Messi won his fi rst trophy with his national team as Angel Di Maria’s goal gave Argen-tina a 1-0 win over hosts Brazil in

the Copa America fi nal on Saturday night.The victory at Rio de Janeiro’s Ma-

racana stadium ended Argentina’s 28-year wait for a major trophy, and also ended Brazil’s unbeaten home record that stretched back more than 2,500 days. Argentina had last tasted success at a major tournament in 1993 when the great Gabriel Batistuta’s brace gave them a 2-1 win over Mexico in the Copa fi nal in Ecuador. “It’s a great title, especially for our people. The fans support the team unconditionally. I think they can identify with this team that never gives in,” said Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni.

It was the fi rst time in six editions playing at home that Brazil had failed to lift the trophy. And while 34-year-old Messi’s odyssey has come to an end, Bra-zil’s Neymar, fi ve years his junior, is still without a major title at international level having missed the Selecao’s win on home soil two years ago through injury.

Argentina edged a brutal and fractious aff air thanks to Di Maria’s goal on 22 min-utes. The 33-year-old winger ran onto Rodrigo De Paul’s sumptuous through ball to lob Brazil goalkeeper Ederson with a fi rst time fi nish.

“We fell short so many times, we dreamt so much about this, fought so hard,” said Di Maria, who was named man of the match. “Many people said we wouldn’t manage it, we were criticised a lot. But we kept knocking at the door and kept going until today we knocked it down and entered.”

Messi could have wrapped up the win two minutes from time but slipped when clean through with only Ederson to beat. “We have to be big enough to recognise (the defeat) regardless of how painful and diffi cult it is,” said Brazil coach Tite.

In a frantic start, Argentina’s burly enforcer Nicolas Otamendi was quickly in with his fi rst foul while Brazilian mid-fi elder Fred picked up the fi rst booking after just three minutes for a studs up lunge at Gonzalo Montiel. Brazil were un-

changed from their semi-fi nal win over Peru while Scaloni made fi ve alterations, notably bringing in Di Maria — who made an energetic and decisive entry off the bench against Colombia last time out.

The fi nal was the fi rst match of the tournament, which was originally due to take place last year, to allow in fans as 7,800 — a tenth of the Maracana capacity — took their seats after authorities par-tially lifted pandemic restrictions.

The fi rst clear chance came on 13 min-utes as Richarlison headed down Mar-quinhos’s long ball into the path of Ney-mar but the Brazilian star was crowded out by a pair of defenders. The brutal na-ture of the early challenges could be seen on the players’ kits, with Neymar sport-ing ripped shorts and Lucas Paqueta be-ing left with a hole in his sock following an intervention by Otamendi.

Argentina played with aggression and

commitment, but no lack of quality with Di Maria tormenting Brazil’s left back Re-nan Lodi, who probably should have cut out De Paul’s pass for the winger’s goal. Di Maria had a shot from 20 yards blocked while Messi fi red just wide following a 40 yard run.

Brazil struggled to create anything of note and even when they had a free-kick from shooting range, Neymar couldn’t beat the wall. When the hosts did fi nally maintain some pressure late in the fi rst half, Everton’s defl ected strike bobbled though to goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

Tite was quick to act, bringing on for-ward Roberto Firmino for defensive mid-fi elder Fred at half-time. Richarlison had the ball in the net soon after but he was fl agged off side. And moments later Ney-mar teed up Richarlison but Martinez parried his near post eff ort.

Increasingly it descended into a frac-

tious, niggly aff air with little fl uid play between fouls and a plethora of theatrics and petulant bickering. It was playing into Argentina’s hands as they looked to run down the clock and hold onto their slender lead. “Only one team wanted to play. It’s a trap we knew about. That’s not an excuse,” complained Brazil captain Thiago Silva. “It’s diffi cult to play such a stop-start match.”

Brazil managed to up the pressure again at the end of the half but they lacked a killer touch against some full-blooded defending — Montiel even fi nished the game with his white sock soaked in blood.

When Brazil substitute Gabriel Bar-bosa fi red a volley on target, Martinez was equal to it. Messi slipped embarrassingly late on with a chance to clinch victory but it mattered little as moments later his teammates were tossing him in the air to celebrate their win.

The victory at Maracana stadium ended Argentina’s 28-year wait for a major trophy

Khateer Alkhalediah completes a quadruple with Listed victory

Maguroor wins in Spain

Ouraika goes one better at Dax

Team Qatar athletes aim high at Tokyo Olympic Games

HORSE RACING

FOCUS

BOTTOMLINE

SPOTLIGHT

Femi Ogunode

Bashayer al-Mnawari Ashraf El Seify

Gary Sanchez rides Khateer Alkhalediah to victory in the Listed Sheikh Zayed Bin Zultan Al Nathan Cup at San Sebastian racecourse, Spain, on Saturday. (Hipódromo San Sebastián)

Maguroor sprints to victory in the Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Cup at San Sebastian racecourse on Saturday. (Hipódromo San Sebastián)Ouraika in action at Prix Olivier Trilot. (Robert Polin)

Argentina’s captain Lionel Messi (centre) holds the trophy as he celebrates on the podium with teammates after winning the CONMEBOL Copa America at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday. (AFP)