#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

On opening day, baseball’s return is nothing short of a miracle

Jul 24. 2020Anthony S. Fauci gives Washington closer Sean Doolittle a socially distant tap after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. Thursday’s game between the Nationals and the Yankees ended too late for this edition. Coverage can be found at postsports.com. MUST CREDIT: Washington Post photo by Jonathan Newton

By The Washington Post · Dave Sheinin · SPORTS, BASEBALL 

WASHINGTON – And then, out of the madness, there was baseball.

The first pitch of the 2020 Major League Baseball regular season left the right hand of Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer at 7:08 p.m. and thudded into catcher Kurt Suzuki’s mitt, and it was nothing short of a miracle.

It was a miracle that there was baseball at all Thursday night at Nationals Park, or on any night, anywhere in the United States. It was a miracle the New York Yankees were in the visiting dugout, a miracle the Nationals could gather to watch their 2019 championship flag raised, a miracle there could be a ceremonial first pitch, thrown by an epidemiologist.

In a century and a half of baseball history, there had never been a game like the one played Thursday night. Baseball had never looked like this – socially distanced and devoid of fans – and it had never sounded like this, with canned crowd noise piped in over the loudspeakers.

There were so many layers of story lines to peel back before there could be baseball Thursday night – each one worthy of its own epic retelling – the 2020 Nationals at times seemed like bit players in their own performance.

There was the raising of the Nationals’ 2019 World Series championship flag high above the scoreboard in right-center field, a pregame ceremony highlighting the Black Lives Matter movement and the fight for social justice, and a ceremonial first pitch from famed epidemiologist Anthony Fauci – low and outside.

Sports are the nation’s great escape from the pressures and realities of everyday life. But there was no escape provided here. Players from both teams lined up alongside their respective baselines, spaced apart in a show of social distancing. During a moment of silence, all uniformed personnel on both teams dropped to one knee, then everyone rose again for the recorded playing of the national anthem.

Small throngs of fans dotted the rooftops of the distant apartment buildings and hotels beyond the fences. But otherwise, there was no one watching who wasn’t a media member or someone affiliated with either team.

Everybody did their level-best to pretend – or to manufacture excitement and adrenaline where none was coming naturally. Public address announcer Jerome Hruska drew out the names of each Nationals player during pregame introductions – “HowiEEEEEEEEE Kendrick!” – but in the pauses, where there would be roars from the crowd, there was only fanfare music and the faint hum of canned cheering.

By the time the baseball found its way to Scherzer, the 2020 MLB season had already nearly died once or twice. It had been delayed by a global pandemic, compressed to a 60-game mini-season and threatened by labor unrest and economics.

And so, the longest offseason in baseball history – 266 days after Game 7 of the 2019 World Series – gave way to the latest opening day in baseball history, which itself launched the shortest regular season in modern baseball history.

This entire season is a miracle of human ingenuity, and reminders of the fragility of this endeavor were everywhere.

Baseball has seen a dozen or so players opt out of playing, and at least 80 others test positive since players began arriving at training camps in late June. The Toronto Blue Jays are still trying to figure out where to play home games, after the Canadian government effectively booted them. The American Sun Belt, including states that are home to more than a third of all MLB teams, is seeing surging caseloads of the coronavirus.

Just a few hours before Thursday night’s first pitch, the Nationals announced star left fielder Juan Soto had tested positive and was taken off their active roster.

What took place Thursday night was baseball as a science experiment, taking place in a sensory-deprivation tank.

Though the grass was a brilliant green and the air a sticky summer blanket, the building itself, devoid of fans, concessions and energy, had the feeling of January, when everything is quiet and the regular season is still a rumor off in the distance.

Towering stacks of plastic-sealed cardboard boxes lined the lower concourse in the bowels of the stadium – the 2020 stadium giveaways for a different sort of season. “Davey Martinez 2020 Bobblehead,” read one stack. Perhaps the Nationals’ manager at some point can tear into a box to snag one as a keepsake. Entire sections of the lower bowl were covered with giant advertising tarps.

Thursday night was not only the first baseball game of 2020, it was the first regular season game for one of North America’s four major sports leagues, with MLB essentially serving as a bellwether for the National Basketball Association and National Hockey League, which begin in the coming days, and the National Football League, scheduled to begin in September.

It will be a miracle if it all comes off as planned, given all we are dealing with and all that can still go wrong. But as Thursday night at Nationals Park proved, miracles do happen.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Michelle Wie West Named Assistant Captain for 2021 USA Solheim Cup Team

Jul 24. 2020Michelle Wie

2014 U.S. Women’s Open champion is a five-time veteran of Team USA

 U.S. Solheim Cup captain Pat Hurst has selected major champion and five-time Team USA member Michelle Wie West as an assistant captain for the 2021 Solheim Cup. Wie West will join the previously announced Angela Stanford to work alongside Hurst when Team USA faces off with Team Europe at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio, on Sept. 4-6.

“Naming Michelle as an assistant captain was an incredibly easy decision for me,” said Hurst. “She reached out to see if she could be involved with the team, and I quickly knew that I wanted her as one of my assistants. She’s out there playing with the younger players, and since I’ve been off the Tour for a while, that’s a crucial asset for me to have, first with Angela and now with Michelle. I can’t wait to work with this team as we look forward to our week at Inverness Club next year.”

“When I heard that Pat had been named the captain for Team USA, I immediately knew that I had to be part of her team,” said Wie West. “Pat was my POD leader when we played in Germany and Iowa and I learned so much from her leadership and friendship. Those weeks were great opportunities to learn from one of the best players and coaches I know, and to work alongside her is going to be an amazing experience.”

Wie has been a member of the LPGA Tour since 2009. She has five LPGA Tour victories, including a major title at the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open. She has competed in five Solheim Cups, representing the USA in 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017. She went an undefeated 3-0-1 in her Solheim Cup debut in 2009, when she became just the second LPGA Tour rookie in history to play on Team USA. Wie West also represented the USA at the 2018 UL International Crown.

“My five times playing for Team USA at the Solheim Cup and wearing the Red, White and Blue – those are incredible highlight moments in my career,” said Wie West. “This next step as an assistant captain is going to be yet another highlight moment, and I’m so grateful to Pat for giving me this opportunity. Our week in Toledo next year is going to be an absolute blast.”

Prior to joining the LPGA Tour, Wie West enjoyed a standout amateur career that saw her capture the 2003 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship at age 13. The same year, she became the youngest amateur to make the cut at an LPGA Tour event when she reached the weekend at the ANA Inspiration, a record that still stands.

Wie West is a 2012 graduate of Stanford University with a degree in Communications, earning her degree while playing full-time on the LPGA Tour. She recently joined Hurst as one of the #LPGAMoms on Tour, giving birth to daughter Makenna on June 19, 2020.

With a full week of action at the 2021 Solheim Cup, fans can purchase various ticket and hospitality packages to enjoy every activity in Toledo at Inverness Club. New in 2021 is the Solheim Pavilion, which will give ticketholders a 300-degree view of the surrounding holes, upgraded food and beverage options and much more. Information on ticket options and prices is available at SolheimCupUSA.com.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Chee Chan Golf Resort extends promotion to end of August

Jul 24. 2020

Chee Chan Golf Resort extends its current “Play More, Pay Less” Promotion to the end of August, 2020. Golfers will be offered more discount up to 400 Baht per person added on the current 50% green fee discount when bringing more friends to play at Chee Chan Golf Resort.

With this special offer, golf enthusiasts can enjoy their games by playing with more friends and getting more discount. Playing one person, a golfer pays 2,000 Baht on weekdays and 2,500 Baht at weekends and on public holidays based the current 50% discount green fee. When playing two persons and more, each player gets further discount, starting from 100 Baht up to 400 Baht. This promotion excludes cart and caddie fee (1,200 Baht).

For booking and enquiry, please call + 66 (0) 38-196-555, (0) 83-148-5555, (0) 65-869-9780 or email at reservation@cheechangolf.com. For more information about Chee Chan Golf Resort, please visit http://www.cheechangolf.com, Facebook page, cheechangolf or Official Line: @cheechangolf

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

With one year to go, fate of Tokyo Games still uncertain

Jul 23. 2020

By The Japan News-Yomiuri 


Thursday marked the one-year countdown to the start of the Tokyo Olympics – the first in history to be postponed. But with the clock ticking down and the global pandemic showing no signs of abating, concerns are being raised about whether the sporting extravaganza can even be held next summer.

Efforts to “simplify” the Tokyo Games to reduce costs and prevent the spread of coronavirus infections have been floated as organizers brace, once again, to meet the looming challenges in hosting the event.

Last month, the Tokyo organizing committee suggested during a video conference with International Olympic Committee members that the parade of athletes at the opening ceremony could be “scaled down.” The IOC bristled at the proposal.

One member said this important ceremony embodied the Olympic spirit and allowed athletes from around the world to interact in the name of sports and peace. Cutting back that event, the member said, was “impossible.”

The parade of athletes was first held at the 1908 London Olympics and the IOC regards it as an integral part of the opening ceremony. But talk of scaling it back is not new. Compared with the parade at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, which had about 5,700 athletes and officials from 94 countries and regions and lasted about 45 minutes, those at more recent Olympics have featured participants from about 200 nations and regions and often stretch on for about two hours. Some observers have said this “places a large burden” on the athletes.

Prior to the postponement, the parade at the opening ceremony scheduled for the new National Stadium this year would have featured about 10,000 athletes and officials, lasting about two hours. If, a year from now, the parade includes “social distancing” between athletes as a coronavirus countermeasure, it will take even longer.

During the bidding process, Tokyo’s budget for the opening and closing ceremonies, including for the Paralympics, was capped at 9.1 billion yen (about $8.4 million). However, as the lineup for performances starting falling into place, the figure ballooned to 13 billion yen.

The organizing committee figures that if the lavish performances and number of athletes were reduced, it would save time and cut costs involved in security and transporting people, as well as help prevent densely crowded situations.

Broadcast rights a barrier

The IOC’s resistance to the proposal was fiercer than anticipated.

According to Video Research Ltd., 23.6% of households in the Kanto region watched the opening ceremony of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. This figure, second only to the rating for the men’s marathon, peaked at 27.8% when the Japanese delegation entered the stadium.

The opening ceremony is popular around the world, so scaling it back was unpalatable to the IOC, which relies on broadcasting rights fees for a major chunk of its income.

When reporters asked Yoshiro Mori, president of the organizing committee, on July 6 about the latest developments in the proposal to simplify the Games, his expression hardened.

“Scaling back the opening ceremony would reduce costs, but the IOC said it wasn’t an option because it would mean having to pay damages to TV stations for breach of contract,” Mori said. “It hasn’t quite gone as we hoped.”

Postponement of the Games is expected to incur up to 300 billion yen in necessary expenses such as fees for securing venues and personnel costs. Tokyo has poured more than ¥1 trillion into measures to combat the coronavirus, leaving the host city with very little to spare for additional costs. Trimming expenses has become essential.

The organizing committee has identified about 200 items, including the Olympic torch relay and a party facility on Tokyo’s waterfront for IOC members and others in the “Olympic family,” that could be subject to cuts. The IOC agrees with the policy of simplifying the Games, but talks over certain items have been bumpy.

“At a time when the pandemic has not been halted and the economic situation is deteriorating, I sense a vibe, both domestically and overseas, that perhaps holding the Games next summer might be difficult,” a senior organizing committee member said. “Unless we remove the extravagant elements and show an intention to create a new Olympics, we won’t be able to gain support for hosting the Games.”

Softball was originally scheduled to get the Olympics underway with games on Wednesday at Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium. While the stands were empty, the heavy rain that fell the previous night had cleared away. It was a fine day.

The first softball game at the delayed Games is slated for July 21, 2021. Standing now at a crossroads, what will the Tokyo Olympics look like by then?

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Leicester City launch ‘Thailand Smiles With You’ EPL campaign

Jul 23. 2020

By THE NATION

Leicester City FC’s campaign to boost Thailand’s economic recovery from Covid-19 kicked off today in Bangkok at a grand ceremony overseen by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan and other government bigwigs.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha 

The campaign slogan – “Thailand Smiles With You” – will adorn shirts of the team’s players throughout the 2020/2021 premier League season, promoting Thai tourism to the world.

The project is being organised by Leicester’s owners King Power along with the Tourism and Sports Ministry and Tourism Authority of Thailand.

“‘Thailand Smiles With You’ is one of the projects King Power Group proposed in reply to the prime minister’s request for private sector support in reducing hardship suffered by Thai people and restoring the country’s economy,” said Leicester City chairman and King Power CEO Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabh.

He added that Thailand was renowned globally for its famous “Thai smile” – a universal symbol of care and moral support understood by everyone regardless of race, language, gender or age.

The campaign will reach 4.7 billion EPL viewers around the world.

The “Thailand Smiles With You” motto will also adorn signboards at Leicester’s King Power Stadium as well as the club’s 13 million social media followers.

LCFC players also star in the special “Thailand Smiles With You” short film to be broadcast in Thailand and across the globe.

Meanwhile 10,000 replica shirts adorned with the campaign motto will go on sale at Bt2,500 apiece, with all proceeds donated to Ramathibodi Hospital’s Covid-19 vaccine development programme and other vaccine initiatives supported by the Thai government. The shirts can be pre-ordered from today at WWW.THAILANDSMILESWITHYOU.COM.

PM Prayut said King Power’s international network provided a strong outlet to promote Thailand since Leicester City FC has about a billion fans around the world.

The campaign would help attract global travellers to Thailand and boost the economy once everything was in place to receive tourists, he added.

King Power CEO Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabh poses with Leicester City’s jersey.

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By THE NATION

The abdication of the ‘King’ will be temporary. But the opportunity could also prove a big one…

Through it all, however, Fabio Quartararo set a new lap record, smashed that again, and won his first premier class race – and the first for Petronas Yamaha SRT. It was the first French win since 1999 too, and the first time an independent Yamaha took to the top step in MotoGP™. Maybe as the hands get dealt and the year goes on, it will prove a history maker of a season, but for Quartararo it was already a history-maker of a day. Where last year Jerez brought heartbreak with a mechanical problem denying ‘El Diablo’ his first podium, this year it brought glory – and the grid look hard pushed to stop the Frenchman from a rinse and repeat. Can they? Heading the list of candidates heading in must surely be Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP)…

Having struggled at times in recent seasons in the earlier stages of the race – compared to his dominant displays in 2017, for one – the Viñales that shot off the line on Sunday showed that was not an affliction he intended to allow to hang around. The number 12 was the man in charge early on, with Marquez threatening behind him – and then running off when in front of him, leaving Viñales to contend with Quartararo, Dovizioso and Jack Miller (Pramac Racing). Was the bolt off the line, the soft tyre and the hot pace early on Viñales’ play against Marquez? Was it purely data and feel driven? Was it unexpected that he couldn’t quite stay with Quartararo? Viñales’ approach in the second round at the same Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto will certainly have us glued to our screens – he was, after all, the man to watch throughout much of preseason. Don’t count out Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) from the fight at the front either.

And then there’s Dovizioso. The Italian was on the MotoGP™ podium at Jerez for the first time, despite technically still being on the comeback from injury, and despite the fact that the track hasn’t suited the Ducati in the same way it often has their rivals. The podium and the points are valuable as Marquez is forced to watch from the sidelines, and especially given the ‘Ducati territory’ of two races at the Red Bull Ring still to come. The speed shown by Dovizioso and fellow standout performer Miller, who was only just beaten to the podium by the more experienced Italian, will give the Bologna factory some serious heart… and who knows what they can do with more track time and data, and a race already contested? What can Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing) do after his serious turn of speed? Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team) should also be feeling a little less sore after his crash in the Wednesday test, and he’ll expect to be back in and further up the mix.

Speaking of the mix, that’s something KTM very much joined in the first race of the season – and the Austrian factory are also third in the constructors standings after the first race. Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) led the charge and fought for fifth before being forced to settle for sixth, and Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) also impressed as he took P8 and equalled his best in the premier class. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) will be another to keep a serious eye on in round two, too. The South African was P13, but after suffering run off early in the race he then seared around Jerez as fast as anyone in the front group. And remember, he’s a rookie! Fellow rookie Iker Lecuona (Red Bull KTM Tech 3), who was unable to finish the race, will likely take a keen interest in all the data he can ahead of the Andalucia GP – with KTM having shown an impressive leap forward already in 2020.

Honda, meanwhile, will be missing their ace card in Marc Marquez, but Alex Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) will take heart from some points and a solid finish in his first race – and as top rookie. Can he take a step forward? Can Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) do too? The Japanese rider finished tenth on Sunday, and he’ll be looking for more. One man looking for even more than that might be Cal Crutchlow though. A crash in Warm Up ruled him out, and he’s since discovered and had surgery on a broken scaphoid. But the Briton is planning to race, and will not want to simply make up the numbers. How far through the pain barrier can Crutchlow push?

That will also be a question asked of Alex Rins. A dislocated shoulder stopped the Spaniard from competing in the first round, but he’s going to try and race – and will likely be focused on bagging maximum points as Marquez’ mistake sadly proves even more costly than his. Teammate Joan Mir is also a question mark going into the Andalucia GP, as Mir has looked to have taken a step forward in his sophomore year of 2020… but crashed out too early for us to see his hand in Jerez. Suzuki started the season on nil points, and the Hamamatsu factory will want much more this time around – especially after a positively buzzing aura of positivity in preseason.

Aprilia, meanwhile, took their first point of the season with Bradley Smith (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini), and were another who suffered from a DNF as Aleix Espargaro failed to finish. Can both take the fight to the points and the top ten after more track time at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto? We will find out soon enough…

FP1 sees the refinements begin at 9:55 (GMT +2) on Friday, before we do it all again in what’s bound to be another spectacular MotoGP™ race on Sunday at 14:00. Can anyone stop Quartararo?

MotoGP™ Championship Standings

1 Fabio Quartararo – Petronas Yamaha SRT – Yamaha – 25

2 Maverick Viñales – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – 20

3 Andrea Dovizioso – Ducati Team – Ducati – 16

4 Jack Miller – Pramac Racing – Ducati – 13

5 Franco Morbidelli – Petronas Yamaha SRT – Yamaha – 11

Take two: can Nagashima turn the tables?

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Sitthichai expects even better version of Superbon in rubber match

Jul 23. 2020

By THE NATION

The all-important rubber match in any series aims to break a tie between two evenly-matched competitors. When Thai superstars Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong and Superbon Banchamek meet each other in the ONE Championship ring for the first time in their storied careers, it will be to settle the score once and for all.

The two will meet in a ONE Super Series Kickboxing Super-Bout at ONE: NO SURRENDER, scheduled for Friday, 31 July in Bangkok, Thailand.

It’s ONE Championship’s first live show since February. The event, which will be held in a closed-door, audience-free venue, features some of the most exciting martial arts talent from Thailand.

“It’s both an honor and a privilege to be able to join ONE Super Series and compete against some very big names. I am very much looking forward to my debut,” Sitthichai told media recently, just weeks ahead of the blockbuster event.

“I know fans from all over the world will be watching, so I want to put together a performance that will inspire them and give them hope. Coming into this third fight against Superbon, a win will put this rivalry behind me. I’m ready to go.”

Sitthichai first met Superbon in early 2016 scoring an emphatic second-round knockout over his rival. A right hook put Superbon down and out in the World MAX Tournament Semi-Finals. Sitthichai ended up winning the tournament with a win over Enriko Gogokhia on the same night.

Months later, Superbon exacted vengeance, claiming a hard-earned unanimous decision victory in a much-anticipated rematch with Sitthichai.

This time around, Sitthichai believes he knows what to expect from his foe, and will make the necessary adjustments to come out on top.

“Superbon has shown great improvement everytime we stepped in the ring with each other. This is going to be the third time we fight, so I’m expecting he’s even better. It’s not an easy fight for me. Superbon is always confident and always comes with a better performance than the last,” said Sitthichai.

“I would like to test his defense a little bit and maybe be a little aggressive. However, I think I’m much faster than him. Speed is my best weapon, and I think it’s a huge advantage.”

Sitthichai is currently working hard in training everyday in lieu of their high-profile showdown in Bangkok. He’s leaving no stone unturned and wants to come out on top when the two tango in the ONE Championship ring for the very first time.

“I’m super excited for this fight, because I’m competing against another Thai warrior like myself. It’s great to compete with Superbon again. The first time, I won. The second time, he made some key adjustments so he won. We’ll see what happens in this third fight,” said Sitthichai.

“Right now, I’m almost a hundred percent ready. My physical condition is very good now. I’m preparing very well for his high kick. I’ll do my best. I want to make my debut fight in ONE Championship a memorable one.”

ONE: NO SURRENDER is ONE Championship’s first live event since February. The promotion deliberated carefully on safety protocols, and made the necessary adjustments to its operations.

The main event features a rubber match between reigning ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon, and the challenger, former ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion “The Baby Shark” Petchdam Petchyindee Academy.

In the evening’s co-main event, defending ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Petchmorakot Petchyindee Academy will put his World Title on the line against legendary “The Boxing Computer” Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Can anyone stop Granado in Round 2?

Jul 23. 2020

By THE NATION

The Brazilian has officially thrown down the gauntlet. Do the grid have an answer?

The first FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup race saw the electric class spark back into action in style, and none more so than Eric Granado (Avintia Esponsorama Racing). The Brazilian, who started from pole and won with a healthy margin, has now won the last three races in a row stretching back to Valencia last year – whether it’s been a duel to the line or a controlled ride at the front. So is he unstoppable?

At the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto, it certainly seems an ask. Matteo Ferrari (Trentino Gresini MotoE) was the closest to Granado first time out and three seconds adrift, but the reigning Cup winner is no stranger to the long game. Consistency – and two wins – brought him the title last year, and in the first race of 2020 his trademark cool was back. In addition, the Italian had a little more work to do to get into the second place he took home, which could be an important factor. But if Granado doesn’t make a mistake, will that be enough?

Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP), meanwhile, looks like another to watch throughout the season, and the Swiss rider even said in parc ferme that he thinks there’s room enough to improve and try and bring the fight to Granado. It was, after all, the first ever MotoE™ race for the number 77 – and he went from front row to podium, after having topped testing as well. More experience on the bike should only see him get faster…

Lukas Tulovic (Tech 3 E-Racing) was another impressive rookie in the first round as well, with the German rider nearly taking the first E-Pole of the season. And he far from faded in the race, taking the holeshot and opening his FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup career in P4. Fifth went the way of Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) and he’ll be looking for more pace given his experience, and there were two more rookies whose pockets he picked: Jordi Torres (Pons Racing 40) and Alejandro Medina (Openbank Aspar Team). Given it was their first experience of the category, there should be much more to come.

Xavier Simeon (LCR E-Team) will likely want more after beating Josh Hook (Octo Pramac MotoE) to P8, and Mike Di Meglio (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) will for sure as the Frenchman was a race winner in 2019. He just beat Niki Tuuli (Avant Ajo MotoE) to complete the top ten and Tuuli is definitely a presence so far very much missed at the front. The Finnish rider sat out the latter half of 2019 through injury and although he was back on the podium in the Moto2™ European Championship four times in a row just before the first round of MotoE™, and is second in that Championship, the electric class hasn’t yet seen him at full confidence and firing on all cylinders like his Sachsenring heroics last year. Will the next race be a step forward?

Find out this weekend, with another MotoE™ thriller underway on Sunday at 10:05.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Petchmorakot excited to defend ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World title against Yodsanklai

Jul 22. 2020

By THE NATION

With a little less than two weeks left until he climbs back into the ONE Championship ring to defend his title, reigning ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Petchmorakot Petchyindee Academy says he’s ready to face his ‘brother,’ Muay Thai legend Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex in what he describes as an ‘exciting fight’ for fans.

Petchmorakot captured the world title with a five-round unanimous decision victory over Thai countryman Pongsiri P.K. Saenchaimuaythaigym earlier this year. This next bout against Yodsanklai marks the first defense of that belt. 

The two will meet in the co-main event of ONE: NO SURRENDER, scheduled for Friday, 31 July in Bangkok. It’s ONE Championship’s first live show since February. The event, which will be held in a closed-door, audience-free venue, features some of the most exciting martial arts talent from Thailand.

Last week, Petchmorakot took the time out to speak with reporters ahead of this blockbuster showdown.

“Facing a legend like Yodsanklai is an honor. But I’m the ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion, and I will do everything in my power to keep the belt around my waist,” Petchmorakot said.

“Of course, I am thankful to ONE Championship for giving me the opportunity to compete again. The fans will be looking for an exciting fight, and I want to give them one.”

The featherweight division in ONE Super Series is stacked with incredible talent such as Superbon Banchamek, Jamal Yusupov, Jo Nattawut, and Samy Sana, to name a few. Though Yodsanklai is ranked just fifth in the standings, Petchmorakot feels he’s a worthy challenger for the title.

At just 26 years of age, Petchmorakot is nearly a decade younger than Yodsanklai, and the champion believes he may have the youth advantage when the two lock horns at the center of the ONE Championship ring. Despite the circumstances, Petchmorakot says it wouldn’t be wise to underestimate his legendary opponent.

“Brother Yod is one of my idols. Even in ONE Championship, I always respect his skill. He will always be on top of my list. I’m much younger than he is, and I’m also slightly taller. I think my age and size will be a factor in this fight,” said Petchmorakot.

“But you can never count brother Yod out. He’s aggressive with his punches and has a lot of power. I can’t underestimate him. You can never count someone out who can throw three uppercuts in a row to make his opponent surrender.”

According to Petchmorakot, this will no doubt be one of the toughest challenges he will ever face in his career. For it to come against a man who he considers a hero of Muay Thai, Petchmorakot counts himself among the privileged few who are able to face Yodsanklai in the ring.

As such, he’s more than ready for the biggest test of his career.

“I’m getting more ready everyday, waiting for fight night. I’ve got four trainers preparing me for specific areas of this fight,” said Petchmorakot.

ONE: NO SURRENDER is ONE Championship’s first live event since February. The promotion deliberated carefully on safety protocols necessary, and made the adjustments to its operations.

In the main event, reigning ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon will defend his title against former ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion “The Baby Shark” Petchdam Petchyindee Academy.

Also on the card is a ONE Super Series Kickboxing Super-Bout between striking superstars Superbon Banchamek and “The Killer Kid” Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong. ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Stamp Fairtex will also see action in a mixed martial arts contest against promotional newcomer, Sunisa Srisen.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

China’s Zhang enjoys gutsy top-10 finish at Memorial Tournament

Jul 21. 2020

China’s Xinjun Zhang will cherish his first ever visit to Jack’s Place and credits an abundance of patience for a memorable week.

In his debut at the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide, the 33-year-old battled daunting conditions to shoot a final round of 1-over 73 at Muirfield Village on Sunday and sealed at tied 10^th finish in the event hosted by golf legend Jack Nicklaus.

It was Zhang’s third top-10 of the 2019-20 PGA TOUR Season which pushed him up to 64^th place on the FedExCup points list. More importantly, it also ended a string of four missed cuts on TOUR, although he had finished T37 at The King & Bear Classic at World Golf Village on the Korn Ferry Tour which was opposite the RBC Heritage last month.

“I played with great patience today. There were big winds, and not many birdie chances. I was trying to save par in the first several holes,” said Zhang, whose four-day total of 288 was nine shots back of winner Jon Rahm of Spain.

After making bogeys on the sixth and 12^th holes, Zhang produced two monster putts of over 40 feet on holes 13 and 15 for birdies and delivered another two-putt birdie on the par-four 14^th hole after finding the green with a glorious drive. He then dropped shots on 16 and 18 on a day when the scoring average was 75.959, the highest on TOUR since the 2018 U.S. Open (76.474/R1).

“I had two lengthy birdies. Then, my drive on the 14th hole was perfect … it ended up on the green. It was the best shot today. On 16 and 18, it was very hard to stop the ball on the green, so it was hard to save (par). I am satisfied with my score.”

This is Zhang’s second season on the PGA TOUR after a challenging rookie year in 2018 where he missed 16 cuts in 28 starts. It has felt like déjà vu after he endured a lean spell following a three-month break due to Covid-19, hence the relief to have turned the corner at Muirfield Village.

“I had no game, no feel after the TOUR resumed. My swing was a mess,” said Zhang.

“I was trying to get the feelings back. I wasn’t playing good during the past few weeks but gained lots of experience. I found my weaknesses and focused on them during practice. This week, I got my swing back. (Hit) solid shots which was almost the same as before the pandemic.

“I’m excited I am on track to the Playoffs. It will be my first time into the Playoffs, which is a big break and a good start for me. I’m excited.”

Like many other players, Zhang has adapted quickly to playing in tournaments without any fans on site due to safety and health reasons. The Chinese, who won twice on the Korn Ferry Tour last season to regain his PGA TOUR card, has missed the fans but thinks it has helped him rediscover his form.

“There are good and bad points without a gallery. With people watching, I could be excited more quickly with beautiful shots. Without (fans), I can focus more on my game which is not a bad thing. I hope there would be fans watching on site (soon),” he said.

Countryman Haotong Li, making his first tournament appearance since the Return to Golf, missed the halfway cut with rounds of 74 and 77.