01-08-2021

SunDAY, AuGuST 1, 2021
9
Paris Saint-Germain warmed up with a draw with Sevilla in midweek.
Photo: AP
'Bitter' PSG face nemesis Lille
in Tel Aviv
SPORTS DESK
French Cup winners Paris Saint-
Germaincan exact revenge on league
champions Lille in the Tel Avivhosted
FrenchChampions Trophy on
Sunday as Mauricio Pochettino
embarks on his first fullseason at the
helm of the club, reports BSS.
The Argentine has warned
whoever lines up in any match for
the Parisiansthis season must play to
win, and rather than gain revenge on
anyone the clubhad to buck its own
ideas up.
PSG take on the modest team that
pipped them to the title last
seasonwithout many of their top
stars, nor even their new signings
Spanish defenderSergio Ramos or
Italian 'keeper Gianluigi
Donnarumma.
Neymar is still in Brazil but French
striker
KylianMbappe,
Italianmidfielder Marco Verratti and
Argentine winger Angel Di Maria are
all back atthe club.
Ledecky targets
2028 Olympics
after winning
seventh gold
SPORTS DESK
Katie Ledecky warned her
rivals she could still be racing
in 2028 after the American
stormed to her third straight
Olympic 800m freestyle gold
on Saturday and banked her
fourth Tokyo medal, reports
UNB.
The 24-year-old touched in
8min 12.57sec to outpace
Australian arch-rival
AriarneTitmus, who clocked a
personal best 8:13.83 to earn
silver ahead of Italy's Simona
Quadarella (8:18.35).
Ledecky now has 10
Olympic medals -- seven
golds and three silvers. She
was incredulous when asked
if it might have been her last
race."That was not my last
swim," Ledecky said. "I'm at
least going to 2024, maybe
2028, we'll see. I knew it
would be my last swim here.
You never take anything for
granted, you just try to take it
all in."
BCB head curator
Gamini not part
of Australia series
SPORTS DESK
Bangladesh chief curator
Gamini de Silva won't be
available in the field during
the upcoming home series
against Australia as he is not
part of their bio-bubble,
confirmed a Bangladesh
Cricket Board official on
Wednesday, reports UNB.
The Sri Lankan arrived in
Bangladesh on Wednesday
and went straight to the
Sher-e Bangla National
Stadium, raising quite a few
eyebrows considering a
strict bio-bubble is
maintained since July 21
that saw 140 people
related with the series
being part of it.
Dutch midfielder Xavi Simmons
has been earning rave reviews in the
warm-upsand Pochettino says he
won't shy away from change.
"We'll have a look Saturday to
decide who travels and who doesn't,"
saidPochettino.
"It's not so much a revenge match
against Lille as a revenge match
againstourselves," said the coach.
"Losing the title, losing in the
Champions League semis left us with
abitter taste in our
mouths,"Pochettino said at the Parc
des Princes beforethe team embark
for Israel."We want to win all the
competitions," he insisted.
"We don't have our best team, but
we are allowed no excuses, he said.
"As coach of this team I don't want
to see any other side line out
asfavourites."
Lille won Ligue 1 by a single point
to end a three-year run from
theParisians, who lost eight league
games and took only one point from
their twomatches with Lille.
After celebrations that caused
police to block off the city centre,
theclub lost their coach Christophe
Galtier to Nice while French
internationalgoalkeeper Mike
Maignan left them to join AC Milan.
"We'll remember winning the title
forever, but now we have to
lookforwards," club captain Jose
Fonte said.
Lille, who now have former
Bordeaux and Guingamp coach
Jocelyn Gourvennecat the helm, are
promising to fight for the 'Trophy'
with Fonte pointing to arelatively
bare cabinet as ample motivation.
"It's a real title, and Lille doesn't
have too many of those," he said.
"It'll be a nice one to put in the
shop window," he said.
Unlike others Fonte said he had
never considered leaving Lille.
"It was important for me to stay
here at Lille and try and write a
newchapter in the history of the
club," the 37-year-old Portuguese
said.
Sangakkarasympathises with
Stokes over mental health break
SPORTS DESK
Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara
saidplayers could "only deal with so much"
after it was announced England all-rounder
Ben Stokes was taking an indefinite break
from all forms of cricketto "prioritise his
mental well-being", reports BSS.
Stokes, the latest high-profile sports star to
step away from the pressureof international
competition, has now withdrawn from
England's squad ahead ofa five-match series
against India starting at Trent Bridge next
week.The England and Wales Cricket Board
added Friday the 30-year-old World
Cupwinner was also stepping aside to rest his
left index finger.
He had rushed back from injury to lead
England in a one-day internationalseries
against Pakistan earlier this month after all
those originallyselected were ruled out by a
coronavirus outbreak within the hosts'
camp.
Stokes' decision came just days after
American superstar gymnast SimoneBiles
pulled out of two events at the Tokyo
Olympics to also protect hermental health.
The 24-year-old's struggles followed those
of Japanese tennis star NaomiOsaka,
another face of the Games who lost in the
third round on her returnfrom a mental
health break, having withdrawn from the
French Open and skippedWimbledon saying
she had been battling depression and
anxiety. 'Very tough time' -England team
managing director Ashley Giles, offering his
support toStokes, said the prolonged impact
of playing international cricket inbiosecure
bubbles during the coronavirus pandemic
had been "extremelychallenging".
Meanwhile, Sangakkara told Sky Sports:
"It must be a very, very tough timefor Ben
and his family. It won't be a decision made
easily but (it) bringsinto focus the level elite
players play at-your coping mechanism can
onlydeal with so much.
"A lot of time away from home, in bubbles,
restrictions in terms offreedom of
movement, then the added pressures of
performing at such a highlevel in the public
eye.
He added: "We've had a host of elite
athletes who've spoken about
mentalwellbeing and the effects of Covid and
the pressure around it, and of
coursepressure in the limelight, that have led
to them making some very toughdecisions."
Stokes, who in normal circumstances
would be vice-captain to Test skipperJoe
Root, is a key figure for England.
In 71 Tests, he has scored 4,631 runs at
37.04 as a dynamic left-handedbatsman,
including 10 hundreds, and taken 163
wickets at 31.38.
More than raw figures, however, it is his
ability to balance the side andabove all, turn
a game with either bat or ball that makes
Stokes such avaluable player.
'Mental health': England's Ben Stokes will take break from cricket. Photo: AP
Zverev hails beaten
Djokovic as
'greatest of all time'
SPORTS DESK
Alexander Zverev said he felt
sorry forending Novak
Djokovic's tilt at a Golden
Grand Slam at the Olympics
onFriday, hailing the beaten
world number one as "the
greatest of all time", reports
BSS.
Djokovic needed a maiden
Olympic singles gold medal
and the US Open tocomplete
a calendar Golden Slam after
winning the first three majors
of theyear.
His victory at Wimbledon
earlier this month also drew
him level with long-time
rivals Roger Federer and
Rafael Nadal on 20 Slam
titles.
But the world number one
blew a one-set lead to lose 1-6,
6-3, 6-1 to aninspired Zverev
in the semi-finals at Ariake
Tennis Park.
"I feel sorry for Novak, but
he's won 20 Grand Slams,
550 (36) Mastersseries or
whatever, you can't have
everything," said fourth seed
Zverev, whoconsoled
Djokovic at the net after the
match.
"He's the greatest player of
all time, he will win the most
Grand Slamsout of anybody
on tour, but I'm also happy
that I'm in the final."
Best effort not
enough for
Ariful, Junaina
SPORTS DESK
Bangladesh swimmers Ariful
Islam and Junaina Ahmed
created personal records but
they weren't enough to reach
the next round as both
suffered elimination from
their respective qualifying
event of the Tokyo Olympics
on Friday, reports UNB.
Ariful finished his 50m
freestyle race in 24.81
seconds, surpassing his
previous best record of 24.92
seconds to finish third among
eight swimmers in the men's
50m freestyle - Heat 4 at
Tokyo Aquatics Centre.
However, the 22-year old
failed to qualify in the semis
(top 16) as he finished 51st
among 73 swimmers in the
event.Ariful's previous best
record was made during the
FINA World Aquatics
Championships in 2019 in
South Korea.
Meanwhile, the 18-year old
Junaina finished fifth in the
women's 50m freestyle - Heat
3 after managing to end the
race in 29.78 seconds.
Overall, Junaina finished
68th among 81 swimmers in
her event. Junaina's previous
best record was 30.96
seconds which she made in
FINA World Aquatics
Championships in 2019.
Guatemalan Cordon continues
Olympic badminton fairytale
SPORTS DESK
Guatemalan Kevin Cordon's parents
havenever seen him play badminton beforethey
might have to tune in on TV nowthat the
world number 59 is in the Olympic semifinals,
reports BSS.
Cordon continued his fairytale run at the
Tokyo Games on Saturday, beatingSouth
Korea's Heo Kwang-hee 21-13, 21-18 to move
one win away from hiscountry's second-ever
Olympic medal.
"I'm still a kid, playing like a kid, having
fun, trying to do my best," said the 34-yearold,
who left home at 12 to pursue his
Olympic dream.
"Can you believe that I'm in a semi-final
right now?
This feeling is justamazing."Unseeded Heo
stunned world number one KentoMomota
to reach the quarter-finals, but Cordon went
straight on the attack and wrapped up the
first gamein 17 minutes.
He crumpled to the ground in disbelief
after hitting the match-winningpoint, then
lay sobbing on the court until the result had
sunk in."If you compare Guatemala with any
country in Europe or Asia, it won't bethe
same-this is our reality," he said.
"But we have one thing in common-we are
equal when you play with yourheart."
Guatemala has only ever won one Olympic
medal, when Erick Barrondo claimedsilver
in the 20 kilometre race walk at the 2012
London Games.
Cordon said people in the Central
American nation are glued to his
matchesdespite being 15 hours behind
Tokyo, but his parents have yet to tune in.
"I'm 100 percent sure that they didn't
watch the match," he said.
"They are quite old people. They have
never seen me play in all my career.It's not
because they don't love me-they get nervous.
When I play, mybrother watches and he tells
them 'Kevin won or Kevin lost.'"
Cordon, whose father named him after
English football great Kevin Keegan,will play
Denmark's world number two Viktor
Axelsen or China's Shi Yuqi inthe semifinals.
"It's very difficult to play with all these top
players that you onlywatch on TV or the
internet," said Cordon."When you train with
your heart, when you train with patience, all
thesegood things will come into your life."
reacts after scoring a point against South Korea's Heo Kwang-hee.
Photo: AP
US hurdlers sparkle at Olympics,
Nigerian sprinter cast out for doping
SPORTS DESK
The good and the ugly side of Olympic
athletics were on show on Saturday as
Sydney McLaughlin and Dalilah
Muhammad sparkled on the track
while Nigerian sprinter Blessing
Okagbare was thrown out of the Games
after failing a doping test, reports UNB.
McLaughlin and Muhammad, her
predecessor as women's 400 metres
hurdles world record holder, should
put up as eye-catching a duel as the
potential clash between
KarstenWarholm and Rai Benjamin in
the men's race.Okagbare by contrast
will not be lining up in the women's 100
metres semi-finals later on Saturday
after it was announced she had tested
positive for human growth hormone.
Both McLaughlin and defending
champion Muhammad eased through
their heats.
McLaughlin said her world record of
51.90sec could be under threat due to a
fast track at the Tokyo Olympic
Stadium and the overall quality of the
field."It feels pretty fast, I must say,"
said the 21-year-old American.
"You can feel the bounce. Some
tracks just absorb your bounce and
your motion, this one regenerates it
New badminton partner gives
Indonesia's Polii new lease of life
SPORTS DESK
Indonesia's GreysiaPolii wanted to
quitbadminton five years ago, but a freshfaced
partner has given her a new leaseof life
and taken them to an Olympic final, reports
BSS.Polii, 33, and ApryaniRahayu, 10 years
her junior, beat South Korea's LeeSo-hee
and Shin Seung-chan 21-19, 21-17 on
Saturday to move within one win ofan
unlikely women's doubles gold medal.
Polii was ready to quit the sport in 2016
after her partner NityaKrishindaMaheswari
needed knee surgery following the pair's
quarter-final defeat atthe Rio Games. But
her coach persuaded her to stay on and team
up with risingstar Rahayu, and the decision
has paid off in spades.
"She was still very young, just into the national
team, and I was like 'ohmy god, I need to run
again for another four years',"Polii said of
herjunior partner.
"I was just like, keep it going, day by day, time
by time. She really wantsto be a champion."
and gives it back to you.
"I think anything is possible. It is a
really great group of girls, so I wouldn't
put it past anybody to go out and do it
(break the world record)."
Muhammad has not had the
smoothest of preparations but her
ability to rise to the occasion of a major
championships could give her an edge.
"I am feeling good now, Covid is
thankfully behind me and the injuries
that followed," she said.
"So, I am feeling good and ready to
run."Whilst McLaughlin's dreams of
gold remain firmly on course, British
hurdler Jessie Knight's campaign did
not get past the first hurdle.
The 27-year-old lost her balance
before the hurdle and crashed into itonce
back on her feet she put her hands
to her face and trudged off in tears.
'A mimic ' If there is to be a challenge
to the American duo it is likely to come
from Femke Bol.
The 21-year-old Dutch athlete put in
an assured performance in her heat,
cantering home well clear of her rivals.
"I love the track and these conditions.
I am feeling well, sleeping well and am
in great shape," said Bol.
"It is great to be in this shape coming
into this tournament."
Rahayu describes Polii as "my role model",
and said the veteran did notneed much
persuading to go back on her retirement
plans."I just kept telling her 'don't quit-just
play with me'," said Rahayu.
"But Greysia herself felt convinced through
her hard work, her motivation,her grit and
her desire to be a champion."
The unseeded Polii and Rahayu will play
China's Chen Qingchen and JiaYifanin the
final, after the number two seeds beat South
Korea's Kim So-yeong andKong Hee-yong
21-15, 21-11.Polii and former partner
MeilianaJauhari were thrown out of the
2012London Games for deliberately losing a
group match to secure a morefavourable
draw in the knock-out round.
Now Polii is looking for redemption at the
Tokyo Games with a gold medalfor
badminton-mad Indonesia."So many
people, not only me, have been through
adversity and unforgettablemoments," she
said."I guess the London Olympics has
taught me to never give up on yourdreams.
The USA also hold a strong hand in
the 100m hurdles with world record
holder Kendra Harrison praying that
this time she ends her major
championship jinx.
The 28-year-old failed to qualify for
the Rio Games, was fourth in the 2017
world final and had to settle for silver
behind compatriot Nia Ali at the 2019
world championships.
"I'm just trying not to emphasise the
word 'Olympics' and just trying to take
it like I do every meet, and not to put
pressure on myself," said Harrison.
"I'm going to give it everything I've
got. It's semis, a mimic of the final."
Injuries have robbed Kenyan great
David Rudisha of a shot at a 'threepeat'
in the 800 metres.
Nijel Amos, the man who took silver
behind Rudisha when he broke the
world record in the 2012 final, has
battled with injuries but he looked
mighty smooth in his heat.
American champion and 2016
Olympic bronze medalist Clayton
Murphy is another who believes he is in
a better place than a couple of years ago
when he finished stone last in the world
final. The rough and tumble of the
800m played out badly for refugee
team runner James Chiengjiek.