TOKYO: The new-look European Tour will make its first foray into the lucrative Japan golf market in 2022 after adding the ISPS Handa Championship to next year’s recently announced schedule.
The rebranded DP World Tour will make Japan the 51st country it has visited — with the tournament to be staged at Ishioka Golf Club in Omitama, north of Tokyo, from April 21-24.
“The DP World Tour is a global tour and, as a result, we relish opportunities such as this to break new ground,” said Keith Pelley, European Tour CEO in a statement released late on Tuesday.
“Asia continues to be an important region for the DP World Tour and our first visit to Japan in April further underlines that,” he added.
Two weeks ago the tour was renamed after investment from new title sponsors DP World, which will see total prize money for next year’s 47 tournaments exceed $200 million.
The ISPS Handa Championship, with a purse of $2 million, will be co-sanctioned with the Japan Golf Tour (JGTO) and the inaugural event will be the first of a three-year deal.
Japan great Isao Aoki, chairman of the JGTO, said it had been a “long-cherished desire” to host a European Tour event in the golf-mad country and “we can’t wait to hold it.”
The only event on Japanese soil to feature previously on the European Tour schedule was this year’s Olympic men’s tournament at Kasumigaseki Country Club in July, won by American Xander Schauffele.
Golf is massively popular in Japan, with the country seen as a growing market for the world’s top players.
The US PGA Tour made its debut in Japan in 2019 with the inaugural $9.75 million Zozo Championship, memorably won by Tiger Woods for a record-equalling 82nd win on the circuit.
After a year’s absence from Japan because of the Covid-19 pandemic, home hero and US Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama last month won the 2021 Zozo Championship, which had its purse increased to $9.95 million.
The Asian Tour, which will see a series of 10 new events from next season backed by Greg Norman and $200 million of Saudi investment for the next 10 years, is yet to announce its 2022 schedule or whether it will have any of the new events in Japan.
In 2019, before the pandemic shutdown, the Asian Tour staged two $1.5 million tournaments in the country, the Asia-Pacific Open Diamond Cup and the Panasonic Open.
New-look European golf tour to host first tournament in Japan
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New-look European golf tour to host first tournament in Japan
- The rebranded DP World Tour will make Japan the 51st country it has visited — with the tournament to be staged at Ishioka Golf Club in Omitama
- Japan great Isao Aoki, chairman of the Japan Golf Tour (JGTO), said that it had been a ‘long-cherished desire’ to host a European Tour event
Buoyant Inter gunning for leaders Napoli and Serie A summit
- Wednesday’s win came despite Inzaghi dropping five first-choice players with Napoli
- The defense of the Serie A title his clear priority in the early months of the season
MILAN: Inter Milan have top spot in Serie A in their sights as they host league leaders Napoli this weekend boosted by a gritty win over Arsenal in the Champions League.
Reigning champions Inter are a point behind Napoli and in buoyant mood ahead of Sunday’s clash at the San Siro after showing huge spirit to beat Arsenal 1-0 and continue their unbeaten start in Europe.
Simone Inzaghi’s team are yet to concede a goal in the Champions League and after four matches are two points behind leaders Liverpool in the new single league phase.
Wednesday’s win came despite Inzaghi dropping five first-choice players with Napoli and the defense of the Serie A title his clear priority in the early months of the season.
And Inter had to hold off wave after wave of Arsenal attacks in the second half after Hakan Calhanoglu’s penalty in stoppage time of the opening period, claiming the win with the sort dogged defending which has been lacking in Serie A where they have conceded 13 times in 11 matches.
“It was a win earned through sacrifice, the only thing that mattered tonight was the result. I needed minutes, now I’m ready for Napoli,” said Calhanoglu who was excellent in his first start since recovering from a thigh injury and will guide Inter’s midfield on Sunday.
Inter will be at full strength after Nicolo Barella, Federico Dimarco, Marcus Thuram, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Francesco Acerbi all started the Arsenal win on the bench.
That is a daunting prospect for Napoli who have however had a week to prepare for Sunday’s clash and won at the San Siro against AC Milan as recently as last week.
Napoli have impressed by leading the league following last season’s disastrous defense of their first Scudetto since the days of Diego Maradona.
But Napoli were thumped 3-0 at home by dark horses Atalanta last weekend and questions remain over whether Antonio Conte’s side are ready to reclaim the title.
Conte, a practicing Catholic, said ahead of his team’s humbling at the hands of third-placed Atalanta that “football miracles can happen but only one person can make them happen.”
“All we can do is work hard and try to create something beautiful which in football terms translates into more points,” said Conte.
Mario Balotelli is set for more minutes with his new club Genoa who face Como at the unusual time of Thursday night, a rearrangement forced by an important rally race being held in the port city over the weekend.
Former Italy striker Balotelli made his Genoa debut off the bench late in last weekend’s 1-0 win at Parma which lifted Alberto Gilardino’s team out of the relegation zone, but his only contribution was getting booked.
In-form Fiorentina and Lazio, who are level on 22 points with Atalanta, face Verona and Monza respectively and have a chance to move level with Napoli before Sunday’s big match at the San Siro.
Juventus, who sit a point behind that trio in sixth, host local rivals Torino after drawing 1-1 at Lille on Tuesday.
Fresh from another stellar performance in Wednesday’s 2-0 win at Stuttgart, Lookman is in the form of his life as Atalanta host Udinese in Sunday’s lunchtime fixture with talk of a title challenge looking increasingly realistic.
Nigeria forward Lookman, the hat-trick hero of last season’s Europa League triumph, has scored eight goals and set up five more in 12 appearances this term.
His stunning performances, which have helped push Atalanta to within three points of Napoli, come after being dropped at the start of the season after pushing for a move to Paris Saint-Germain.
But the way he and attack partners Mateo Retegui and Charles De Ketelaere have been playing suggests that Lookman could just as likely scale new heights staying exactly where he is.
Thursday
Genoa v Como (1945)
Friday
Lecce v Empoli (1945)
Saturday
Venezia v Parma (1400), Cagliari v AC Milan (1700), Juventus v Torino (1945)
Sunday
Atalanta v Udinese (1130), Roma v Bologna, Fiorentina v Verona (1400), Monza v Lazio (1700), Inter Milan v Napoli (1945)
Mbappe left out of France squad for November internationals
- It is the second successive France squad from which the national team captain has been absent
- Mbappe was absent for France’s 4-1 win over Israel in Budapest and a 2-1 win in Belgium
PARIS: Kylian Mbappe has been left out of the France squad for their upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Israel and Italy after coach Didier Deschamps omitted the Real Madrid superstar from his list of players named on Thursday.
It is the second successive France squad from which the national team captain has been absent after he also missed the October double-header against Israel and Belgium.
The 25-year-old was rested for last month’s matches in order to help him recover from a minor thigh injury suffered playing for Real.
However, that quickly became a source of controversy when he returned to action for Real days later, before France had even played.
Mbappe was absent for France’s 4-1 win over Israel in Budapest and a 2-1 win in Belgium, and instead traveled to Stockholm for a short break with members of his entourage.
It was following that trip that Swedish media reported he was being investigated for an alleged rape. Mbappe himself said those reports were “fake news” while his lawyer said the player would take action for libel.
A Swedish prosecutor confirmed that an investigation had been opened, without naming Mbappe.
Since then, the ex-Paris Saint-Germain forward has made four appearances for his club, scoring one goal. However, he remains short of his explosive best form.
Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen struggling to maintain heights of last season
- The aura of invincibility that Alonso built around the team have evaporated. But it’s not for want of trying
- “To win against top, top teams, you need to go through tough moments and suffer. We need to learn from this,” Alonso said after the loss in Liverpool
BERLIN: Bayer Leverkusen are struggling to reach the high standards they set for themselves last season.
Xabi Alonso’s team have already dropped points in five of their nine Bundesliga games, while Tuesday’s 4-0 loss at Liverpool in the Champions League was already their second defeat of the season.
The late goals that characterized last season’s remarkable Bundesliga and German Cup campaigns — Leverkusen won both without losing a game — seem to have dried up.
Leverkusen have already conceded 15 goals in the Bundesliga. That’s only nine goals fewer than they conceded in the league over the whole of last season.
Though Leverkusen drew with Bayern Munich 1-1 away, they also failed to beat relegation candidates Holstein Kiel and Werder Bremen.
The aura of invincibility that Alonso built around the team have evaporated. But it’s not for want of trying. Before the Liverpool game, Leverkusen had 19 shots at goal in a scoreless draw against Stuttgart, which were second in the Bundesliga last season.
Missed chances have replaced late goals as the recurring issue, while defense is also a concern.
Granit Xhaka was scathing in his criticism of the last three goals his team conceded against Liverpool, suggesting the side’s intensity dropped after conceding the first, though the Swiss midfielder remained confident the team can recover.
“If we keep doing our thing, we’ll start winning games again,” Xhaka said.
Alonso, likewise, does not seem too worried by his team’s results.
“To win against top, top teams, you need to go through tough moments and suffer. We need to learn from this,” Alonso said after the loss in Liverpool.
Alonso opted to stay at Leverkusen despite a host of suitors reportedly keen on acquiring his services in the summer – including former clubs Bayern and Liverpool – and the Spanish coach hasn’t tinkered with or changed his title-winning approach.
The squad from last season remained largely intact over the summer. Central defender Odilon Kossounou left for Atalanta, with Leverkusen bringing Nordi Mukiele from Paris Saint-Germain as his replacement. Mukiele hasn’t played much so far.
It had looked like defensive chief Jonathan Tah was going to join Bayern, but the clubs failed to agree a transfer fee for a player whose Leverkusen contract is up at the end of this season. Tah has played every minute for the team so far.
Leverkusen are already seven points behind unbeaten Bayern in the Bundesliga. They next face a short trip to Bochum on Saturday, when new Bochum coach Dieter Hecking will hope to coax some improvement from a team that have lost eight of their nine games. Bochum have a point after a draw with Kiel in September.
Algeria denounces ‘baseless’ medical report targeting Olympic champion Imane Khelif
- Algerian Olympic Committee decries attacks on Imane Khelif since Paris Olympics 2024 boxing event
RIYADH: The Algerian Olympic Committee has condemned as “baseless” a medical report targeting gold medalist Imane Khelif, which claims she has male chromosomes and no uterus.
The unverified report, widely shared on social media, has sparked fresh controversy. This is the latest round of accusations that the Algerian athlete has had to face since the Olympic Games in Paris earlier this year.
In a statement carried by the German media group DW, the Algerian Olympic Committee rejected the claims as “baseless attacks.”
It said the accusations were aimed at tarnishing the image of Khelif, who was “an athlete who has brought honor to our nation on the international stage.”
The document in question, allegedly written by French endocrinologist Jacques Young, suggested Khelif has a condition known as Difference of Sexual Development.
However, Young has denied any involvement, accusing others of using his name to promote an anti-transgender agenda.
The hospital where Young works refused to confirm the document’s authenticity, citing patient confidentiality.
The International Olympic Committee has distanced itself from the document, labelling it “unverified” and confirmed that Khelif is considering legal action in response to the claims.
This is not the first time Khelif has faced controversy.
After her gold medal win in the women’s 66 kg boxing event at the Olympics, she was falsely accused of failing gender verification tests run by the International Boxing Association.
The IBA’s claim that she had male chromosomes was dismissed by the IOC as “illegitimate.”
The latest round of attacks resurfaced in late October, fueled by online platforms, including Reduxx, a magazine known for its “pro-woman” stance.
The report suggested Khelif underwent genetic testing that supposedly revealed a Difference of Sexual Development condition. However, a screenshot from the report clarified that Khelif was still deemed female by the doctors involved.
Khelif, who has always identified as a woman, has not publicly commented, but her management team confirmed she is pursuing legal action.
The Algerian Olympic Committee reiterated its full support for Khelif and called for an end to harmful gender-based attacks in sports.
Saudi jiu-jitsu team win 10 medals at World Championship in Greece
- Kingdom’s jiu-jitsu team scoop 3 gold, 3 silver and 4 bronze at event held from Oct. 23 to Nov. 4
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s jiu-jitsu team won 10 medals — three gold, three silver and four bronze — at the World Championship in Crete, Greece, which was held from Oct. 23 to Nov. 4, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The gold medalists are Mohammed Al-Mukhlis in the under-69 kg category (Masters Division), Omar Nada in the under-94 kg category (Senior Team Division), and Abdullah Nada in the under-85 kg category (Youth Division).
Silver medals were won by Abdulmalik Al-Murdi in the under-62 kg category (Senior Team Division), Elias Banjar in the under-62 kg category (Youth Division), and Waleed Al-Haidari in the under-56 kg category (Youth Division).
Bronze went to Osamah Al-Marwia in the No Gi category, Khaled Habab, who earned two medals in the under-52 kg and No Gi - 52 kg categories (Youth Division), and Hadeel Qadha in the under-57 kg category (Junior Division).
Saudi Jiu-Jitsu Federation CEO Rakan Al-Fehaid thanked the government for supporting the athletes and helping them to achieve success.
The team had played a “significant role in elevating the Kingdom’s name on the global stage,” the report added.
