DOHA: It was a night of firsts at the World Aquatics Championships.
Siobhán Haughey of Hong Kong captured her first long-course world title in the women’s 200-meter freestyle on Wednesday. Ditto for Japan’s Tomoru Honda, who claimed the biggest victory of his career in the 200 butterfly.
That’s not all.
Daniel Wiffen used a strong finishing kick to capture the men’s 800 freestyle — Ireland’s first medal ever at the world championships. And Sam Williamson gave powerhouse Australia its first swimming gold of the competition in the 50 breaststroke.
For British star Adam Peaty, it was another disappointment at the Aspire Dome after a long layoff to deal with mental health issues. The world-record holder finished fourth in the 50 breast, just missing the podium after a third-place showing in the 100 breast.
Haughey, a three-time champion at the short-course worlds, finally touched first in the big pool after years of close calls.
She was the Olympic silver medalist in both the 100 and 200 free at the Tokyo Games, in addition to a runner-up finish in the 100 free at last summer’s world championships in Fukuoka.
Also, Haughey finished fourth in the 200 free — just off the podium — at both the 2019 and 2023 worlds.
“This really means a lot to me,” she said. “It’s nice to finally see the No. 1 next to my name.”
Haughey added to a bronze medal she won a day earlier in the 100 breaststroke, a surprising result in an event she swam “just for fun.”
She will face a much stiffer challenge at the Paris Olympics, where the 200 free will include Australian stars Mollie O’Callaghan and Ariarne Titmus, who were among the many no-shows for Doha.
“I feel like I can do a lot better,” Haughey said. “Paris is the main target, so hopefully tweak and fine-tune some things the next few months and I can have an even better swim in Paris.”
The first swimmer from Hong Kong to capture an Olympic medal was under world-record pace through 150 meters and held on at the end to win in 1 minute, 54.89 seconds. She finished well off O’Callaghan’s mark of 1:52.85 set at last year’s worlds.
The silver went to New Zealand’s Erika Fairweather at 1:55.77, giving her another medal after a victory in the 400 free. Australia’s Brianna Throssell took the bronze at 1:56.00.
Honda, who was silver medalist in the 200 fly at the Tokyo Olympics and bronze medalist in the event at the last two worlds, was first this time in 1:53.88.
“I’m so happy,” Honda said.
Italy’s Alberto Razzetti claimed the silver in 1:54.65, with the bronze going to Austria’s Martin Espernberger at 1:55.16.
Wiffen used a strong finishing kick in the grueling 800 free to capture the historic gold for Ireland in 7:40.94.
“I really wanted to win this one,” said Wiffen, the short-course world record holder in the 800 free.
Elijah Winnington of Australia claimed the silver at 7:42.95, while Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri — the 2019 world champion in the event — faded at the end to settle for bronze in 7:42.98.
Australia, which sent a small team to Doha that didn’t include most of its top stars, finally reached the top of the medal podium with Williamson’s victory in the 50 breast.
He touched first at 26.32 in the furious dash from one end of the pool to the other, followed by Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi (26.39) and American Nic Fink (26.49).
“I’m really at a loss for words,” Williamson said. “Just getting a chance to race these guys, they’re my heroes. It’s pretty special.”
Peaty was a bit further back at 26.77.
Fink returned for the final event of the night, helping the US to a dominating victory in the mixed 4x100 medley relay.
Fink, Hunter Armstrong, Claire Curzan and Kate Douglass posted a time of 3:40.22, nearly 3 seconds ahead of silver medalist Australia at 3:43.12. Britain took the bronze in 3:45.09.
At the halfway point of eight days of swimming in Doha, the Americans lead the table with five golds and 10 medals overall.
HIGH DIVING
Rhiannan Iffland of Australia won her fourth straight world title in women’s high diving.
The 32-year-old Iffland finished with 342.00 points off the 20-meter tower at Doha Old Port.
Canada took the next two spots on the podium in the non-Olympic event, with Molly Carlson claiming silver at 320.70 and Jessica Macauley grabbing bronze at 320.35. American Kaylea Arnett finished fourth.
The men’s final, from the 27-meter tower, is Thursday. France’s Gary Hunt led after the first two rounds.
WATER POLO
The United States and Hungary advanced to the Friday final in women’s water polo.
In the semifinals, the Americans knocked off Spain 11-9 and Hungary defeated Greece 13-11.
A night of firsts at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha
https://arab.news/5j4zq
A night of firsts at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha
- Siobhán Haughey of Hong Kong captured her first long-course world title in the women’s 200-meter freestyle
- For British star Adam Peaty, it was another disappointment at the Aspire Dome after a long layoff to deal with mental health issues
Sinner thrashes Vukic to roar into Wimbledon third round
LONDON: World number one Jannik Sinner demolished Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic 6-1 6-1 6-3 in a Center Court masterclass to move ominously into the third round of Wimbledon on Thursday.
The Italian was streets ahead of the 93rd-ranked Vukic who barely laid a glove on the top seed in the opening two sets before saving some face with a bit of third-set resistance.
Sinner, bidding to win the title for the first time, never loosened his grip on a one-sided contest although he did need six match points to finish off Vukic in a prolonged final game, banging down his 12th ace.
The 23-year-old has yet to drop serve and has conceded only 12 games in the six sets he has played so far and will now train his sights on unseeded Spaniard Pedro Martinez.
Cilic sends fourth seed Draper crashing out of Wimbledon
LONDON: Jack Draper admitted he needs to overhaul his grass-court game after the British fourth seed suffered a shock Wimbledon exit as former finalist Marin Cilic rolled back the years to reach the third round.
Cilic, the Croatian world number 83, blasted 53 winners in a 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 victory that stunned the partisan British fans on Court One on Thursday.
Draper is the new figurehead of British tennis after taking on a role filled for a generation by the now-retired former Wimbledon winner Andy Murray.
But the 23-year-old has a poor record at his home Grand Slam.
He is yet to make it past the second round in four appearances at the grass-court tournament.
“It’s probably one of my toughest losses. Pretty frustrated and upset. It hurts badly,” Draper said.
“I’ve been disappointed with my game on grass this year. I felt great on clay and hard courts but as soon as I came on grass I felt a big difference.
“It highlighted a lot of weaknesses in my game, especially against a player as good as him on grass. I can take a lot of lessons from it.”
Draper is the latest highly-ranked star to endure a surprise exit from Wimbledon this year, with German men’s third seed Alexander Zverev and four of the top five women’s seeds all eliminated.
Draper made his breakthrough last season with a run to the US Open semifinals, yet he has failed to make the last eight at any of this year’s three Grand Slams.
“It makes me think that Andy Murray’s achievement of winning here twice is just unbelievable,” Draper said.
“Obviously you guys mention the pressure all the time but the main reason is I wasn’t good enough today.
“Even though I’ve had an amazing progression in the last 12 months, this shows the work I need to do. I thought I was further ahead than I am.”
In contrast to Draper’s woes in south-west London, Cilic has an impressive record at Wimbledon, finishing as runner-up in 2017, when he lost in the final against Roger Federer.
The former world number three has not played at the All England Club since 2021 and has slipped down the rankings after battling a knee injury that required surgery.
“My emotions are just incredible. Where I was two years ago, I can’t even describe. It has been a long journey but I never lost any faith,” Cilic said.
“It was a long and testing period, plus a huge challenge for me in this part of my career to come back and play at this level.
“To play in front of this crowd is incredible. I’m just feeling great and hoping I can continue to play well.”
Cilic has reached three Grand Slam finals, winning his sole major title at the 2014 US Open and losing to Federer at Wimbledon in 2017 and the Australian Open in 2018.
Now 36, the big-serving Cilic is firmly in the twilight of his career.
He had lost in the opening round at the Australian and French Opens this year, but his superb display against Draper underlined his enduring quality on grass.
He returned to the top 100 by winning the second-tier Challenger event in Nottingham last month.
Dedicating the win to his children, Cilic added: “They are one of the reasons that I kept such a great passion for this sport.
“Also always running after them keeps me in great shape! I’m so pleased they are here supporting me.”
England in Deep trouble after India captain Gill’s superb double century
- Gill: “I worked on a few things before the series as well, that I thought might be important for me going into Test cricket”
BIRMINGHAM, UK: India captain Shubman Gill scored a superb maiden, record-breaking Test double-century before stand-in fast bowler Akash Deep took England in consecutive balls at Edgbaston on Thursday.
Gill’s commanding 269 was the cornerstone of India’s first-innings 587 on the second day of the second Test. England were 77-3 at stumps — a huge deficit of 510 runs.
Deep only played because India rested Jasprit Bumrah, the world’s top-ranked Test bowler who is only due to play in three games in this five-match series to minimize the effects of a back injury.
The 28-year-old Deep conceded 12 runs in his first over, but his second was a double-wicket maiden that left England faltering at 13-2.
He had Ben Duckett, fresh from a superb 149 in England’s five-wicket win in the first Test at Headingley, edging to third slip. Gill capped his already brilliant day by holding a fine catch.
Next ball Ollie Pope fell for a golden duck when he nicked Deep to second slip, with KL Rahul clinging on at the second attempt.
Joe Root survived the hat-trick delivery.
India, made to pay for dropping several catches in the cordon at Headingley, then held another when Mohammed Siraj had Crawley edging to Karun Nair at first slip. England were 25-3.
Root and Yorkshire team-mate Harry Brook prevented further collapse with an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 52.
But the day belonged to India and above all Gill, who in just his second Test as skipper broke records previously held by India batting greats Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar.
Gill’s innings surpassed the recently retired Kohli’s 254 against South Africa at Pune in 2019 as the highest score by an India Test captain, and replaced Tendulkar’s 241 against Australia at Sydney as the highest score by an India batsman in a Test outside Asia.
It also topped Gavaskar’s celebrated 221 at the Oval in 1979 as the largest score by an India batsman in a Test in England.
“I worked on a few things before the series as well, that I thought might be important for me going into Test cricket,” Gill, who made 147 at Headingley, told Sky Sports.
“Looking at the results, they are working for me,” added Gill, who was equally delighted by India’s much improved out-cricket.
“Fielding was definitely one of those things we spoke about as a team, and it’s great to see that come off so far,” said Gill.
England assistant coach Jeetan Patel accepted the hosts had endured a gruelling time.
“One hundred and fifty overs in the dirt in any scenario is pretty tough,” Patel told reporters.
“Credit must be given to Shubman with the way he’s batted over two days. It was a masterclass in how to bat on a good wicket,” the former New Zealand off-spinner added.
Earlier, the 25-year-old Gill received excellent support from spin-bowling all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar in partnerships of 203 and 144 for the sixth and seventh wickets.
Until he got out, Gill batted in near flawless fashion.
He was especially severe on Shoaib Bashir, cover-driving the off-spinner for four and lofting him for six, with the bowler largely unthreatening against frontline batsmen in a return of 3-167 in 45 overs.
A hooked single off fast bowler Josh Tongue, whose two wickets cost 119 runs, took Gill to 200, with the elated skipper bowing to a capacity crowd in celebration.
Gill’s marathon innings of 387 balls, including 30 fours and three sixes, spanned some eight-and-a-half hours. It finally ended with a rare false shot when a tired pull off Tongue found Pope at square leg.
England players shook Gill’s hand as he walked off with India now 574-8.
India, again sent into bat by England captain Ben Stokes, had resumed on 310-5, with Gill 114 not out and Jadeja 41 not out.
But India, batting in ideal sunny conditions on Thursday, wanted even more runs from Gill and Jadeja after collapses of 7-41 and 6-31 at Headingley proved costly — and the increasingly ruthless duo got them.
Chelsea agree deal to sign English winger Gittens from Dortmund
- The agreement was made at Fort Lauderdale, with contractual details still to be settled
- “Jamie Gittens’s career is an example of the development of top talents at Borussia,” Dortmund managing director Lars Ricken said
LONDON: Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign English winger Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund, the Bundesliga club said on Thursday, with the 20-year-old set to sign a seven-year contract in a move reportedly worth 55 million pounds ($75.02 million).
The clubs are currently in the United States for the Club World Cup, where they have both reached the quarter-final stage, and the agreement was made at Fort Lauderdale, with contractual details still to be settled.
Gittens joined Dortmund as a youth player in 2020 from Manchester City, making his senior debut in 2022, and has made 107 appearances for the German side in all competitions, scoring 17 goals.
“Jamie Gittens’s career is an example of the development of top talents at Borussia,” Dortmund managing director Lars Ricken said in a club statement.
“We discovered Jamie very early, practically signed him for free, continuously developed him in our youth performance center, and also offered him playing time at the very highest level with the first team.
“Jamie has repaid the trust placed in him with commitment, performance, and goals.”
Chelsea are looking to strengthen their left wing after they opted not to make Jadon Sancho’s loan deal from Manchester United permanent.
Verstappen refuses to be drawn on future ahead of British GP
- “I am happy where I am,” Verstappen said
- “There are always rumors, but only one who decides and that is me and the team“
SILVERSTONE, UK: Max Verstappen on Thursday refused to be drawn on questions about discussions with Mercedes and exit clauses in his Red Bull contract when he spoke to reporters ahead of this weekend’s British Grand Prix.
Facing a succession of questions about his future, following reports in Italy that he had agreed to join Mercedes next year, the Dutchman was polite, but evasive in his answers, stressing that for him it would be ideal to complete his career with one team — Red Bull.
“I am happy where I am,” he said. “There are always rumors, but only one who decides and that is me and the team. I control my own destiny and I am happy and in control of where I’m at.”
Sky Sport Italia on Wednesday reported that he had agreed to join Mercedes, sparking speculation that he was set to replace arch-rival George Russell, but the Briton earlier stated he was confident of keeping his seat.
He said he expected to confirm his new contract with Mercedes — the team believed to be best prepared for the regulation changes next year — within a few weeks.
“I’ve nothing to add to last week,” said Verstappen. “Of course, other people write stuff and that’s great but it’s not me... Happy with my team? In life, you can always see other things and think, as they say, the grass is greener on the other side.
“But I think it is best to stay calm and up to now we have had success except for some time this season and this can happen and you have to accept it.
“I know what I have and what we can do and that’s fine, but, to be honest, I have nothing to add to last week. I am focussed on the team and to improve.”
Asked if he felt he needed to be in the fastest car to win races and titles, Verstappen said it is “difficult in F1 to be in the fastest car... Who would know that two years ago who will be fastest?
“I don’t focus much on it, I just try to improve my own situation and where we want to be next year. If you chase the fastest car now it may not be the fastest car next year. Sometimes you can luck in and then win four, or five or six titles...”
The 27-year-old shared that being a one-team man was an interesting prospect for him, while stating that he had never been tempted to leave Austrian constructor Red Bull.
“I’m going to say no...” he said on the questioning of ever having felt tempted to take a seat elsewhere in the paddock.
“I don’t want more headlines. It would be ideal to finish my career at Red Bull with one team. That would be something amazing and I am still trying to achieve that.
“We are fighting for podiums now and that’s not too bad!“
Reports suggested Verstappen’s contract contained exit clauses that could be activated if he is not in the top three in the drivers championship at the end of July.
But the four-time world champion bluntly refused to reveal any details about his deal with Red Bull.
“To be honest, I am not speaking about my contract. It’s easier like that,” he said.
