Olympic guests get view of Tokyo from bus amidst pandemic
Tokyo, July 18: As the bus rumbles along a Tokyo thruway, passengers steal a fleeting glance at the Olympic rings floating on a barge in the bay. Colorful shop signs that dot the Kabukicho entertainment district pass by in a blur. The Tokyo Tower glows, if only briefly. For many of the visitors under strict protective protocols, the only way to get a glimpse of this unique capital city is from a vehicle, whisking the sporting guests from athlete village or hotel to venue. For the Japanese, life goes on with little indication a massive sporting event is about to begin. (AP)
Badminton star Momota grateful for Oly chance after deadly crash
Tokyo, July 18: Japanese badminton star Kento Momota says he plans to play “with a sense of gratitude in my heart” when he makes his Olympic debut at the Tokyo games. The Olympics will be the biggest test Momota has faced so far in his comeback from a fatal highway accident in Malaysia a year-and-a-half ago that injured him and several Japan team members and took the life of his driver. The men’s singles world number one fractured his eye socket in the crash then suffered through a bout of double vision in his return to training that had him fearing his career might be over. (AP)
Gitika makes winning start at youth national boxing c’ships
Sonipat, July 18: Reigning world champion Gitika dished out a solid performance to defeat Payal Zala in the opening round of women’s 48kg events at the youth national boxing championship here on Sunday. The tournament marked a return of domestic boxing action in the country after a gap of more than a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Gitika was among the seven Indian women boxers who clinched gold medals and scripted history at the youth world championships in Poland earlier this year. (PTI)
Ivanisevic, Martinez inducted in tennis Hall of Fame
London, July 18: Former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic became the first Croatian to earn an induction in the tennis Hall of Fame during virtual ceremony on Saturday evening. The former world No. 2 had won the Wimbledon singles title in 2001, besides lifting 22 tour-level trophies. Others inducted on Saturday included 1994 Wimbledon singles champion Conchita Martinez of Spain and South African-born American tennis administrator Dennis Van Der Meer, who passed away in 2019. (IANS)
Second seed Carreno Busta reaches Hamburg Euro Open final
Hamburg, July 18: Second seed Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain continued his quest for a second ATP Tour title of the season as he overcame Federico Delbonis of Argentina 7-6(2), 6-3 to reach the final at the Hamburg European Open. Carreno Busta will now have the opportunity to claim a sixth tour-level title and first ATP Tour 500 trophy on when he takes on Filip Krajinovic in the final. (IANS)
Hany Mukhtar scores fastest hat-trick in MLS history
NASHVILLE, July 18: Hany Mukhtar scored three goals within a six-minute span and Nashville beat the 10-man Chicago Fire 5-1 on Saturday night. Mukhtar scored in the 10th, 13th and 16th minutes, the fastest hat trick in MLS history. C.J. Sapong made it 4-0 for Nashville (5-1-7) in the 39th minute with a putback off the rebound of Randall Leal’s shot off the post. Brian Anunga capped the scoring in the 62nd. Ignacio Aliseda scored a tap-in for Chicago in the 47th minute. (AP)
Bengaluru FC sign attacker Harmanpreet Singh
Bengaluru, July 18: Bengaluru FC on Sunday announced the signing of 19-year-old attacker Harmanpreet Singh. The former East Bengal winger, a product of United Punjab FC, moves on a free transfer and joins the Blues ahead of their upcoming AFC Cup playoff stage clash against Eagles FC. Harmanpreet joined Indian Arrows in 2018 and made 14 appearances in the I-League before moving to SC East Bengal ahead of their debut season in the Indian Super League. (PTI)
Spezia announces more COVID-19 cases, tally climbs to 8
BOLZANO (ITALY), July 18: Spezia’s turbulent week went from bad to worse as it announced on Saturday that six more players have contracted the coronavirus. That is in addition to the player who tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday. A staff member is also infected. The news comes a day after Spezia was hit with a two-year transfer ban by FIFA because the previous owners broke transfer rules years before the sale of the team when recruiting young players from Africa. (AP)
Anand held to draw by Kramnik, all to play for in decider
Dortmund, July 18: Former world chess champion Viswanathan Anand was held to a draw by a fighting Vladimir Kramnik in the third game of their four-game No-Castling match for the Sparkassen Chess Trophy here. The Indian maestro led 2-1 after the 61-move draw and has the advantage going into the final game. In an English Defence game, Anand, playing white, got into an advantageous position and piled on the pressure on the Russian in game three late on Saturday. Kramnik, however, held firm to earn a hard-fought draw. (PTI)
Chess WC: Praggnanandhaa, Gujrathi, Harikrishna secure wins
sochi, July 18: Indian Grandmasters Vidit Santosh Gujrathi, P Harikrishna and teen prodigy R Praggnanandhaa posted wins in the fourth round of FIDE Chess World Cup here on Sunday. Gujrathi, world number 22 beat compatriot B Adhiban. Harikrishna began his pursuit for a spot in the fourth round with a smooth win over lower-rated Constantin Lupulescu of Romania in 48 moves. The 15-year-old Praggnanandhaa outwitted the experienced 57-year-old Poland player Michal Krasenkow in 45 moves. (PTI)