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Sport shorts: Tokyo 2020 organisers insist Olympics will not be cancelled and Joshua backs Fury to beat Wilder
Ten things from the world of sport on Thursday 13 February
A number of major sporting events have been called off because of the outbreak, but Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori says the games will go ahead as planned.
Mori said: “I want to again state clearly that cancellation or postponement of the Tokyo Games has not been considered.”
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The Olympics take place in the Japanese capital city from 24 July to 9 August followed by the Paralympics from 25 August to 6 September.
2. Rugby sevens events rescheduled
World Rugby, the Hong Kong Rugby Union and Sport Singapore have taken the decision to reschedule the Hong Kong and Singapore rounds of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2020 in response to continued health concerns relating to the coronavirus.
Both events will be rescheduled to conclude the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2020 with the HSBC Singapore Sevens now taking place on 10-11 October and the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens completing the series on 16-18 October.
3. Is the F1 Vietnam GP now in doubt?
It was confirmed yesterday that the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix on 19 April has been postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak. Now, according to reports, the inaugural Vietnam GP could also be in doubt.
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Should the 5 April race in Vietnam also be cancelled it would throw the 2020 F1 season into “chaos”, The Daily Telegraph reports.
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4. Vettel: I want to stay at Ferrari
With his Ferrari contract expiring at the end of the season Sebastian Vettel’s future in Formula 1 has been a major talking point in the paddock. However, the 32-year-old says his intention is to remain with the Italian team.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the German said: “I would like to [stay], yes. The priority right now is on 2020 and then we see. I have been in the position already before with Ferrari, and it’s only February.
“Last time we confirmed the contract for the future it was August, so I don’t think it changes much. The intentions are clear and I’m sure we’ll sort it out.”
After reclaiming the No.1 spot on the world golf rankings this week, Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy intends to stay there.
The four-time major champion said: “The work’s only started, it’s staying there [at No.1] that is the hard part.
“I’ve always said it’s a by-product of doing the right things week in, week out, playing well, shooting good scores, trying to win tournaments, and if I can continue to do that, then hopefully that thing just takes care of itself.”
(Image credit: Harry How/Getty Images)
6. AJ: Fury can beat Wilder
Anthony Joshua has backed fellow British heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury to beat WBC champion Deontay Wilder in the title rematch on 22 February in Las Vegas.
WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight champion Joshua told Sky Sports: “Wilder coming through is better because [a fight with me] is what people have been eagerly anticipating.
“But I think Fury can win. For Wilder to win he has to knock Fury completely out, and he couldn’t do that the first time.
“For Fury to win, he can hurt Wilder or out-box him. Fury has more to his arsenal so that’s why I’m leaning to him.”
7. South Africa win T20 thriller
England snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in the first of three Twenty20 matches against South Africa to leave captain Eoin Morgan a frustrated man.
After losing by just one run in East London, skipper Morgan said: “We should be winning that ten times out of ten. It’s about learning, going through a process we’ve gone through over a number of years to try to get better.”
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8. Sancho set to leave Dortmund
Jadon Sancho’s spell at Borussia Dortmund looks likely to come to an end this summer with the German giants ready to let the 19-year-old leave at the end of the season.
The England winger was yesterday linked with Manchester United and Chelsea, but it’s also claimed today that Premier League leaders Liverpool are interested.
Ajax Amsterdam have confirmed that Morocco international winger Hakim Ziyech will join Premier League side Chelsea in the summer. Sky Sports reports that Chelsea will pay an initial fee of £33.3m for the 26-year-old.
10. Back pages: Ighalo self-isolating
Several papers report the plight of Manchester United’s new signing, Odion Ighalo, who has agreed to keep clear of the club’s training ground for two weeks “because of concerns over the spread of coronavirus”.
The Nigerian striker, who was signed by the Red Devils last month on loan, has yet to meet his new team-mates because he is self-isolating after arriving from parent club Shanghai Shenhua.
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