Dutch world record breaker Sifan Hassan (Credit: Filip Bossuyt/Flickr)
Athletics
Quadruple Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah strongly hinted at retirement after failing to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics this summer.
The 38-year-old raced to a clear victory at the British Athletics Championships in Manchester on June 25, but a bitter taste was left after falling 19 seconds short of the necessary qualifying time for the 10,000m.
10,000m event was a special invitational ahead of the British Championships which gave Farah a final shot at qualification.
Although the Mancunian crowd did their best to roar him on when the pacemakers dropped out of the race with nine laps remaining Farah could not sustain the speed required to meet the 27:28.00 qualifying time.
After the race, a tired Farah said: “It was quite windy, I tried to push and push and push but nine laps out I knew I was on my own. It’s amazing to have the crowd once more.
That’s all you can do as a human being, you give it your all and that’s what you have. I’ve had a wonderful career, I’m very grateful. That’s all I had today.”
Qatar’s Olympic team has confirmed that sprinter Abdalelah Haroun has died at the age of 24 on June 26. Haroun won the 400m bronze medal at the 2017 World Athletics Championships, and reports from News18 suggest he passed away in a car crash.
Qatar’s team posted a message on Twitter saying: ‘Team #Qatar sprinter and world 400m bronze medalist Abdalelah Haroun died today.’
Dutch runner Sifan Hassan broke the women’s 10,000m world record by more than 10 seconds on June 6. Hassan, 28, ran 29 minutes 06.82 seconds at the FBK Games in Hengelo, the Netherlands, to beat the time of 29:17.45 set by Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana at the 2016 Olympics.
“To run this world record here today in Hengelo is something I could only dream of,” said Ethiopia-born Hassan. “I am so happy to share this record in front of my Dutch fans.”
The 1500m and 10,000m world champion moved to the Netherlands aged 15 in 2008 and received Dutch citizenship in 2013. “It’s the perfect confirmation of the hard work we’ve put in getting ready for Tokyo,” she added. Hassan broke Paula Radcliffe’s European record for the women’s 10,000m in October 2020.
Boxing
The grandson of boxing icon Muhammad Ali will make his professional debut on 14 August and says he is “honoured” to continue his grandfather’s “legacy”.
Nico Ali Walsh has signed with American promoter Bob Arum, who promoted 27 of his grandfather’s fights. The 20-year-old will mix the start of his professional journey with a final year of study for a business degree. “I am honoured to continue the fighting legacy that my grandfather started,” said Ali Walsh. “It is a responsibility I don’t take lightly.”
Tennis
WIMBLEDON PLAYER PROGRESS
July 6 – Ladies’ Singles – (Quarter-finals) Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur lost 4:6, 3:6to Belarus’s Aryna Sabalenka
July 6 – Mixed Doubles – (Round 2) India’s Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna lost 3:6, 6:3, 9:11 to Slovenia’s Andreja Klepač and Netherland’s Jean-Julien Rojer
July 3 – Mixed Doubles – (Round 2) USA’s Asia Muhammad and Britain’s Luke Bambridge lost 3:6, 6:7 to USA’s Desirae Krawczyk and Britain’s Neal Skupski
July 6 – Ladies’ Doubles – (Round 2) India’s Sania Mirza and USA’s Bethanie Mattek-Sands lost 4:6, 3:6 to Russia’s Elena Vesnina and Veronika Kudermetova
June 30 – Men’s Singles – (Round 1) Kazakhstan’ Zarina Diyas lost 1:6, 4:6 to Latvias Nastasija Sevastova
June 24 – Ladies’ Singles – (Qualifiers Round 2) USA’s Asia Muhammad lost 3:6, 2:6 to Romania’s Monica Niculescu
June 24 – Ladies’ Doubles – (Round 16) USA’s Asia Muhammad & Jessica Pegula lost 5:7, 3:6 to Belgium’s Elise Mertens and Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei
June 23 – Ladies’ Singles – (Qualifiers Round 2) Egypt’s Mayar Sherif lost 4:6, 3:6 to Germany’s Jule Niemeier
June 23 – Ladies’ Singles – (Qualifiers Round 1) Turkey’s Pemra Özgen lost 2:6, 5:7to Poland’s Magdalena Fręch
June 23 – Men’s Singles – (Qualifiers Round 2) Turkey’s Altuğ Çelikbilek lost 2:6, 3:6 to Netherland’s Botic van de Zandschulp
June 23 – Men’s Singles – (Qualifiers Round 2) Egypt’s Mohamed Safwat lost 6:7 3:6to Portugal’s Frederico Silva
June 23 – Men’s Singles – (Qualifiers Round 2) Bosnia’s Damir Džumhur lost 2:6, 6:7 to Slovakia’s Alex Molcan
June 22 – Ladies’ Singles – (Qualifiers Round 1) Turkey’s Çağla Büyükakçay lost 2:6, 4:6 to France’s Harmony Tan
June 22 – Men’s Singles – (Qualifiers Round 1) Turkey’s Cem İlkel lost 1:6, 4:6to Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry
Cricket
First one-day international, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff (July 8):*Pakistan 141 (35.2 overs): Fakhar 47 (67), Mahmood 4-42 | England 142-1 (21.5 overs): Malan 68* (69), Crawley 58* (50), England win by nine wickets; lead series 1-0. A depleted and inexperienced England thrashed Pakistan by nine wickets for a stunning win in the first one-day international in Cardiff.
After a Covid outbreak forced the hosts to name an entirely new squad, England picked five debutants and bowled Pakistan out for 141 in 35.2 overs. Saqib Mahmood dismissed opener Imam-ul-Haq with the first ball of the match and had Pakistan captain Babar Azam caught at second slip for a duck with the third.
The near full-strength tourists never recovered, with seamer Mahmood – playing his fifth ODI – taking 4-42, Craig Overton claiming 2-23 in only his second match and leg-spinner Matt Parkinson 2-28 in his third.
In reply, debutant Phil Salt edged to slip off Shaheen Afridi for seven, but Dawid Malan and Zak Crawley, another playing his first ODI, eased England to victory with 28.1 overs – more than half the innings – remaining. Malan finished on 68 not out from 69 balls and Crawley unbeaten on 58 from 50 – the pair putting on 120 from 107 balls. England take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, with the second ODI at Lord’s on July 10.
Football
Egyptian football star Mohamed Salah will not be allowed to play with his national team at the Tokyo Olympics after his club Liverpool refused to release him for the tournament.
Transfer News: According to L’Equipe, Manchester United have placed a £51million asking price for French international midfielder Paul Pogba.
Transfers (July 2-8)
Achraf Hakimi, 22 – MOR – Right-Back has left Inter Milan in Serie A (ITA) to join Paris SG in Ligue 1 (FRA) for £54 million
Ahmed Kutucu, 21 – TUR – Centre-Forward has left FC Schalke 04 in 2. Bundesliga (GER) to join Basaksehir in Süper Lig (TUR) for £450Th
Amir Abedzadeh, 28 – IRA – Goalkeeper has left Marítimo in Liga Bwin (POR) to join Ponferradina in La Liga 2 (ESP) for free
Cengiz Ünder, 23 – TUR – Right Winger has left AS Roma in Serie A (ITA) to join Marseille in Ligue 1 (FRA) for loan
Dino Arslanagic, 28 – BEL – Centre-Back has left KAA Gent in Jupiler Pro League (BEL) to join Göztepe in Süper Lig (TUR) for Undisclosed
Hugo Boumous, 25 – MOR – Attacking Midfield has left Mumbai City in Indian Super League (IND) to join ATK Mohun Bagan in Indian Super League (IND) for £203Th
Jasurbek Jaloliddinov, 19 – UZB – Right Winger has left FK Andijon in Superliga (UZB) to join Loko Tashkent in Superliga (UZB) for free
Riad Bajić, 27 – BIH – Centre-Forward has left Udinese Calcio in Serie A (ITA) to join Brescia in Serie B (ITA) for loan
Sherif Kallaku, 23 – ALB – Central Midfield has left NK Lokomotiva in 1.HNL (CRO) to join KF Teuta in Kategoria Superiore (ALB) for Loan
Soner Dikmen, 27 – TUR – Defensive Midfield has left Genclerbirligi in 1.Lig (TUR) to join Konyaspor in Süper Lig (TUR) for Undisclosed
Mohamed Ouadah, 26 – ALG – Central Midfield has left Stade Lavallois in Championnat National (FRA) to join USL Dunkerque in Ligue 2 (FRA) for free
Swimming
European Junior Championships, Rome, Italy (July 6 to 11): Turkey’s Merve Tuncel broke the European junior 800 free record set by Hungary’s Ajna Kesely at the 2018 European Championships to lead home a Turkish one-two in 8:21.91, compatriot Beril Böcekler won silver.
The 15-year-old will be the youngest member of Turkey’s swim team in Tokyo where she will compete in the 800 and 1500. While Turkey’s Mert Kilavuz bagged a gold medal in the men’s 1,500-meter freestyle, finishing the race with a time of 15.02.22, followed by Hungary’s David Betlehem with 15.02.28. Another Turkish athlete, Yigit Aslan, came in third to win bronze with a time of 15.05.08.
