Each now has 320 points in the world standings and together they share the world No 1 spot. Russia’s Michail Efranov and compatriot Arturry Karpov are tied at third with 270 points.

Association president Anat Yondbangtoei said Ittikorn and Siriwat, who won the men’s doubles gold medal at the Deaflimpic Sumsun Turkey in 2017, performed brilliantly this year as well.

At the World Deaf Badminton Championship in Taipei, Ittikorn took the silver medal in men’s doubles with Siriwat, and Siriwat also won silver in singles.

“It was a pity we couldn’t win the gold medal there due to injuries,” Dr Anat said. “In the past it was very difficult for us to win a gold due to the strong competition, especially from Russia.”

He said the Thai duo would compete in the Asia-Pacific Deaf Games in Hong Kong in November and they were this time expected to dominate and win the gold because no Russian players are participating.

She said the Games will stimulate Japan’s tourism and economy, with foreigners expected to spend 8 trillion yen (Bt2.35 trillion) during their stay.

“Seventeen per cent of cities outside Tokyo have already started public-relations activities, while 42 per cent plan to do so before the Games start next year,” Patama said.

MetLife, on behalf of Kisner, will be donating $750,000 to The Kevin and Brittany Kisner Foundation, which serves children from the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) by supporting child health, education and youth sports organizations.

“Words can’t explain the joy Brittany and I feel after winning the MetLife MatchUp,” said Kisner. “I am grateful to my fans, friends and family for the support we received in winning the online fan vote. The donation from MetLife will have a profound impact on the lives of many children through the good work of our foundation.”

Founded in 2016, The Kisner Foundation has donated nearly $200,000 in grant funds to help various community programs that reach thousands of children in the CSRA. Notable grant winners included Boys & Girls Club of Aiken, Aiken County Public Schools (concussion testing for athletes), PlaySafe, Great Oak Therapeutic Riding, Mental Health America of Aiken County and University Hospital, to name a few.

“We are grateful to MetLife for their support of the PGA TOUR,” said Brittany Kisner. “This donation will greatly multiply the Foundation’s efforts to help children in the Central Savannah River Area. Even more kids will benefit from the donation so that they have an opportunity to flourish and achieve their dreams. The donation from the MetLife MatchUp will have a positive impact for years.”

“We are delighted to add Kevin’s name to our list of MetLife MatchUp champions,” said Steve Goulart, executive vice president and chief investment officer for MetLife, and president of MetLife Investment Management. “We’re proud that the MetLife MatchUp gives PGA TOUR players and MetLife an opportunity to engage with many charitable organizations that deserve our collective recognition and support.”

Now in its third year, the MetLife MatchUp is a season-long competition across 18 select PGA TOUR events. At each event, two players were pitted against one another in a fan vote to determine which player better navigated a difficult situation on the course. Weekly winners received $15,000 for their preferred charity while advancing through to the final vote. More than $3 million has been donated since the launch of the initiative and over 25 different charities – from animal welfare to children’s health – have benefited from the donations.

Dorna Sports is delighted to announce that KTM has approved the agreement which extends the Austrian factory’s presence in the premier class until at least 2026. KTM AG CEO Stefan Pierer and Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta finalised the deal during the myWorld Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich at the Red Bull Ring, confirming KTM will be a MotoGP™ manufacturer for another seven years as a minimum and continue their support for the Championship, including the future expansion of the calendar and any technical proposals.

KTM made their MotoGP™ debut in 2017 with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and have since passed some impressive milestones: a first podium came in only their second season with a third place in Valencia last year, and the marque are fresh from a first front row start at Brno. In 2019 the Austrian factory’s presence has also expanded to include the Red Bull KTM Tech 3 Independent Team, meaning there are four KTMs lining up every weekend in the premier class of Grand Prix racing. The Independent Team have already achieved an impressive top ten finish in the manufacturer’s home race.

With more bikes on the MotoGP™ grid and more years confirmed in the class, KTM’s commitment to the world’s fastest motorcycle racing Championship only continues to grow. From 2020 that also includes placing more emphasis on MotoGP™ and Moto3™.

The Austrian factory will maintain their path into the premier class from the likes of the new Northern Talent Cup and Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, but there will be some key changes as KTM withdraw from their participation as a manufacturer Moto2™ at the end of the season and instead invest further focus in Moto3™.

That will include the return of the Husqvarna marque to the lightweight class. Last racing in Moto3™ in 2014 and 2015 and taking two podiums, the brand will return in 2020.

Stefan Pierer, CEO KTM AG: “We made a proactive decision here at our home Grand Prix to renew our stay in MotoGP and commit to another five years of competition. This is part of a wider strategic view and we now have seven years to rise towards the top of the MotoGP class; the same period of time we needed to conquer the Dakar Rally. We know we are firmly on the way and have made good steps in less than three years already. As part of this outlook we want to boost Moto3: it is the foundation and the base of road racing for us. It is where we began and where we are one of the leading brands. We see a very good opportunity here by bringing back Husqvarna with force; there will be a new bike and a special direction with this project. All of this movement means we will pool our resources and energy and as a consequence we will step out of Moto2.”

Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsport Director: “First of all it is fantastic for us to continue to stay in ‘sixth gear’ as a company in MotoGP and to be able to keep pushing hard to achieve our goals. With our knowledge of more than three-hundred FIM world championships in so many classes we know the ingredients to have success in racing and we are determined not to move from our objective. For this I want to thank Mr Pierer and the KTM AG board for the extra vote of confidence and for all the hard work and belief that every single person who touches this project has made so far. Secondly we have looked at the entire programme and know that our effort has to be well placed, and we believe that MotoGP and Moto3 are the main platforms for us moving forwards. Thanks to the great work and experience with Aki we can maintain a link to Moto2 and the perhaps what is the final preparation needed for the jump to MotoGP. We feel strongly that we can have this asset even though we will vastly reduce our presence as a chassis contributor. We can feel the passion for MotoGP at places like Red Bull Ring this weekend and it allows us to feed off that energy. We believe that exciting times are coming for us as a racing division and as a company.”

Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO Dorna Sports: “It makes me very proud to see KTM renew their commitment to MotoGP for another five years, guaranteeing at least a decade of competition in the premier class. We’re very happy with our relationship and KTM sharing our vision for the future of the Championship. Since KTM arrived in MotoGP they have impressed everyone with their dedication, hard work and the incredible progress they have made. We are thrilled to have such a packed grid in MotoGP and each factory is a cornerstone of the continued success and growth of our sport and the show we aim to give to fans every weekend.”

European Captain Catriona Matthew announced her four Captain’s picks – France’s Celine Boutier, Englishstars Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Bronte Law and Norway’s Suzann Pettersen – at a press conference at Gleneagles today broadcast live on Sky Sports News and the Golf Channel.

Pettersen has played in a remarkable eight Solheim Cups and qualified for a ninth in 2017 but an injury forced her to swap to a Vice Captain role, while Ewart Shadoff has played in two Solheim Cups, 2013 and 2017, and has had four top tens this season. Law is currently the highest ranked British woman, sitting at 25th on the Rolex World Rankings, while Boutier finished sixth at the AIG Women’s British Open earlier this month and fifth at the 2019 US Women’s Open and is currently ranked 59th.

The eight players who automatically qualified for The 2019 Solheim Cup at Gleneagles, from 9^th to 15^th September, at the conclusion of yesterday’s Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club were Carlota Ciganda, Anne Van Dam, Caroline Hedwall, Charley Hull, Georgia Hall, Azahara Munoz, Caroline Masson and Anna Nordqvist.

Scotland’s Matthew, who has played in nine Solheim Cups, explained the reasoning behind her four selections: “Bronte and Celine’s excellent recent form speaks for itself in terms of why I selected them, and I think they are both going to have fantastic Solheim Cup debuts. I chose Jodi and Suzann for their vast experience, their recent good form and because I know exactly what they bring to the European team room. With our only other rookie being Anne Van Dam, who has also had an excellent year, I feel the experience of our team will be a great advantage to us along with the home crowd support.”

Three of the Captain’s picks were in the room when Matthew announced her final line-up while Ewart Shadoff was not able to attend after having a minor procedure last week.

Ewart Shadoff said: “I am gutted not to be there for team practice today but I will be back hitting balls next week and I am really excited to be part of Catriona’s team. I think the team looks incredibly strong, probably the strongest team I’ve been a part of and I’m honoured to have been chose by the Captain to be part of it. This will be my first Solheim Cup in Europe and just to experience the home crowd will be amazing and a big advantage for us.”

Law said: “I couldn’t be happier to be making my Solheim Cup debut here at the beautiful Gleneagles. I am so grateful to Catriona and all the Vice Captains for picking me and I can’t wait for it to start. To be part of this great team with so many Solheim Cup legends is pretty surreal but they have all been very generous in giving me advice ahead of making my debut.”

Boutier said: “I have been dreaming of playing Solheim Cup since I was a little girl and it really is amazing to be here at this press conference and know that my dream will come true in a month’s time! Getting out there to practise with the team today on the PGA Centenary course where I watched so much of the Ryder Cup was fantastic and I think this course is going to suit me very well.”

Pettersen said: “Catriona knows that match play brings out the absolute best in my game and that I will be ready to deliver points for her come September. I honestly believe that my best contribution to our Solheim Cup campaign will be on the course and I am very grateful to Catriona for having the confidence to choose me for this year’s team.”

With Pettersen stepping out of her Vice Captaincy role, Matthew announced that Mel Reid would now be her final Vice Captain, joining Dame Laura Davies and Kathryn Imrie.

The final qualifying event for the USA team will end with the CP Women’s Open in Canada, 22^nd to 26^th August, with many players still fighting to join their team in defending the Solheim Cup in Scotland next month.

Lexi Thompson, Nelly Korda, Danielle Kang, Lisette Salas and Jessica Korda are all safely qualified while past US Solheim Cup team standouts  Cristie Kerr and Stacy Lewis, would need to win the CP Women’s Open to claim their place without needing a Captain’s pick from Juli Inkster.

A final round of 2-under 69 left the 30-year-old Thai well down the leaderboard in a share of 71st place at Liberty National Golf Club as he failed to progress beyond the first of three FedExCup Playoff events in New Jersey on Sunday.

Kiradech needed to finish 27th or better here but an ailing right knee, which has hampered his golf since April, prevented him from extending his American dream.

“I’m really happy that I kept my card but the season ended sooner than expected. I had hoped to get into next week (BMW Championship). Since right after Augusta, it’s been hard playing golf and getting my best game out with the way my right knee was hurting. It’s not a bad start to my first PGA Tour season but I’ve got a lot of work to do,” said Kiradech.

He leaves for Bangkok today (August 12) and will have another MRI scan on his right knee. He was diagnosed with a partially torn Anterior Crucial Ligament (ACL) during the Masters Tournament after taking a tumble from a difficult shot.

“Hopefully it’s not any worse than before. I’ll have three or four weeks off, and I want to fix it. If it’s not better in four weeks’ time, I might have to take eight weeks off. I’m looking forward to recovering as soon as I can and enjoying the game again. It’s been a tough few months playing when I’m hurt,” he said.

“Operating on the knee is the last option. If the doctor says I need an operation, then I’ll do it. Fingers crossed, I won’t have to go through that option.”

Kiradech featured in 20 tournaments during the 2018-19 PGA TOUR Season and posted three top-5 finishes. He missed seven cuts and will finish 83rd on the final FedExCup points list. The burly Thai believes he can perform better in his second season as he will know the golf courses better.

“I think I have the game to stay up here. I know I have to work on my short game, the shots from inside 80 yards and around the green can be sharper,” said Kiradech.

“Next year will be easier as I now know which courses I should play on and which ones I need to take off my schedule.”

As the first Thai to hold a full PGA tour card, Kiradech wants to become the first from his country to win on US soil as well. “I want to win. Playing on the PGA Tour, which is the biggest Tour in the world, is great. There’s pressure to play against the top and any one can win. If I can win once, it’ll take the pressure off my shoulders. I feel I’m not very far. I’m looking forward to returning to Bangkok to see my family and friends. And I’ll also make sure to focus on my knee. Then, I’ll get out and start hunting again.”

Depending on the situation with his knee, Kiradech is not giving up on his bid to play in the Presidents Cup for the International Team at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Australia. He is well out of the top-8 ranked players who will qualify for the team on August 19 before Captain Ernie Els makes his four picks in early November.

“The Presidents Cup is deep in my heart, always,” said Kiradech. “I’ve been close the last few times. I was like top-15 and didn’t get picked which was disappointing. This time, it’s different. I’m not fit enough and didn’t perform well. If I don’t get picked, it’s no problem. Ernie has to pick his best 12 players. I agree with everything he’s doing and it’s for the best. I will try to prove myself If I can play again before the picks are made. I want to play great until Ernie can’t ignore me.”

Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat and K.H. Lee of Korea were, however, eliminated in the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Playoffs which rewards the FedExCup champion at the season-finale TOUR Championship with a bumper US$15 million payday.

The pressure is now on for the remaining six Asians to perform well in the BMW Championship, which is exclusive to the top-70 players, before the best 30 qualify for the season-finale in Atlanta.

“It’s a grind and so, we just have to go out and play our best golf out there,” said Pan, who finished T24 on Sunday following a closing 1-under 70.

Pan slipped two rungs down to 37^th place in the latest FedExCup points list and knows he needs a big finish at the upcoming BMW Championship to achieve his goal of qualifying for the TOUR Championship for the first time.

“Everyone’s looking at the standings. I think we need to finish at least in the top-10 to get into Atlanta. We’ll have a bit of a rest and then get ready again. That’s what we need to do. I feel really good about my game. Take some time off and get ready for the next two weeks, hopefully,” said Pan, winner of the RBC Heritage in April.

The 21-year-old Im, playing in his rookie season on the PGA TOUR, is the best placed Asian to join the elite field at the TOUR Championship. He finished with a closing 68 for T38.

Matsuyama, a five-time  PGA TOUR winner, slipped out of the top-30, a T30 finish at THE NORTHERN TRUST pushing him back to 33^rd position. He has everything to play in his bid to extend his appearance at the TOUR Championship to six successive seasons.

Im, who enjoyed seven top-10s this season, said: “I’m just trying to do my best out there. We will try again in Chicago.”

Sung Kang, who missed the cut in Jersey City, dropped from 29^th to 42^nd position on the latest FedExCup points list while Kim, who finished 84^th here, will enter the BMW Championship in 53^rd position as he attempts to qualify for his second TOUR Championship.

An settled for T38 after signing off with a 72 and dropped four spots to 61^st on the  latest FedExCup points standings.

Reed claimed a thrilling one-shot victory at THE NORTHERN TRUST from Mexican Abraham Ancer with his winning score of 16-under 268, with American Harold Varner III and Spaniard Jon Rahm sharing third place. Australia’s Adam Scott came in fifth.

Podium L-R: Marquez, Dovizioso and Quartararo
Binder hits a stunning home run at the Red Bull RingThe Red Bull KTM Ajo rider took to the top step for the first time this season, holding off Marquez in style

Podium L-R: Marquez, Binder and Navarro
Reboot complete: Fenati back on the top step in Moto3™

Moriya Jutanugarn

With four players tied for the lead as the final group made the turn, it was Hur who turned it on during the back nine with six birdies to set the 72-hole tournament record at 20-under par and take a four-shot victory over runners-up Moriya Jutanugarn and Jeongeun Lee6.

“My goal for the day was just enjoy my golf and just stay dry from the rain and just keep focused on my game,” Hur said after rain soaked The Renaissance Club most of the day Sunday. “That was working really well today and it bring me a good result.”

Hur said it was a nine-yard birdie putt on No. 12, her third in a row, where she felt confident that she could bring home the win. She also said that having Scottish caddie, Gary Marshall, on the bag helped her to remain calm.

“He said on the first round, starting on No. 1, I made a birdie and made two bogeys after one birdie, and I was mad. And he told me on the 4th tee box, “Come on, MJ, you can win this tournament.” And then he said that today, as well on the 4th, because I made a bogey on the third. I had a three putt. It helped me a lot to calm down and he talked about the wind and rain stuff.”

54-hole leader Jutanugarn was able to get back to even par after a birdie-double bogey-bogey start, but couldn’t get the putts to fall on the back nine. The runner-up finish is her best of the 2019 season, and she said she was pleased with her result.

“I was just trying to focus on myself and play my game and try and have fun,” Jutanugarn said. “Don’t really focus on what’s on the lead or anything. I just think if I play good golf, it should be a good chance…It’s just been working on a lot of things, and since like everything is kind of tighted up, you know, it’s a lot of good things to take from this week.”

2017 Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open winner Mi Hyang Lee finished in solo fourth at 15-under par, while 2018 champion Ariya Jutanugarn was fifth at 13-under par.

LEE6 READY FOR A WEEK OFF

Playing for the first time on a links course, 2019 U.S. Women’s Open champion Jeongeun Lee6 was pleasantly surprised with her runner-up finish. The 2019 LPGA rookie posted a 1-under par 71 to collect her eighth top-10 finish of the season.

“You know, when I was in Korea, there’s not a lot of links course and so I played it a lot differently this week,” Lee6 said. “Overall I’m pretty satisfied with all my scores and shots, and so I think this is kind of a good — a lot of good memories and playing the first time on a links golf course.”

Lee6 was happy to have the Summer stretch of tournaments behind her, where she played 10 of 12 weeks, and was looking forward to heading to Canada in advance of the CP Women’s Open for some rest.

“Next week we are going to go to Canada and I’m going to have three days off, and going to go on a trip to Niagara Falls with my manager. So I’m going to have fun and just take a lot of good rest.”

TEAM EUROPE CLOSE TO FINALIZED

Team Europe Captain Catriona Matthew will name her four picks for the 2019 Solheim Cup and the full European team will be announced on Monday at The Gleneagles Hotel in Scotland.

The European team consists of the top three from the LET Solheim Cup points list, followed by the next five from the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings and four captain’s picks.

Spain’s Carlota Ciganda had already locked in her position as one of the qualifiers from the LET Solheim Cup points list prior to this week. With a T6 finish in Scotland,Anne van Dam will hold her position in the LET Solheim Cup points to make her debut, while Caroline Hedwall earns the final spot in the LET rankings.

Georgia Hall, Charley Hull, Azahara Munoz, Caroline Masson and Anna Nordqvist will make up the five team members from the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. Leaving the four captain’s picks to be announced Monday.

Here’s how a few potential players for Team Europe finished in Scotland: Carly Booth (T9), Madelene Sagstrom (T17), Bronte Law (T24) and Celine Boutier (T24). Solheim Cup stalwarts Mel Reid and Suzann Pettersen missed the cut.

The U.S. Solheim Cup team will be announced on Aug. 25 following the conclusion of the last qualification event, the CP Women’s Open.

PLAYER NOTES

Rolex Rankings No. 79 Mi Jung Hur (66-62-70-66)

• Went 112 starts between her victory at the 2014 Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic and today
• Becomes the 19th different winner this year on the LPGA
• Is the seventh different winner from the Rep. of Korea on the LPGA in 2019
• Became a Rolex First-Time Winner at the 2009 Cambia Portland Classic, defeating Suzann Pettersen and Michele Redman in a two-hole, sudden-death playoff
• Has one career victory on the Symetra Tour
• Credits her father and watching Se Ri Pak win the 1998 U.S. Women’s Open, as most influencing her career
• With her win, Hur earns 500 points and is projected to move from 48th to 24th in the Race to CME Globe with 1,077 points
• With her win, Hur earns $225,000; she has earned $496,487 this season and $4,393,528 for her career
• 2019 for Hur in a nutshell: 15 events played, 13 cuts made, $496,487, one victory, two additional top-10 finishes

QUICK HITS

• Rolex Rankings Projections show that no player can overtake No. 1 Jin Young Ko and No. 2 Sung Hyun Park this week

CME GROUP CARES CHALLENGE – SCORE 1 FOR ST. JUDE

The CME Group Cares Challenge is a season-long charitable giving program that turns aces into donations. CME Group will donate $20,000 for each hole-in-one made on the LPGA Tour in 2019, with a minimum guaranteed donation of $500,000 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

There were three hole-in-ones at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open: Dame Laura Davies aced No. 5 from 152 yards using a pitching wedge on Friday, LET player Cajsa Persson also aced the fifth hole using a 9-iron during the second round and on Sunday Jacqui Concolino used an 8-iron from 137-yards to ace No. 5.

There have now been 21 aces recorded this season and a total of $420,000 raised thus far.

LEADERS TOP 10 COMPETITION

The LEADERS Top 10 competition awards a $100,000 bonus to the LPGA player with the most top-10 finishes through the completion of the event held immediately prior to the CME Group Tour Championship. In the event of a tie in total top-10 finishes, the award will go to the player with the most official wins, followed by most second-place finishes, third-place finishes, etc., until the tie is broken.

With top-10 finishes at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open, Jeongeun Lee6 and Ariya Jutanugarn move up into a tie for fourth with Brooke Henderson and Danielle Kang with eight top-10 finishes on the season.

2008 125cc World Champion Mike Di Meglio has taken FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup E-Pole honours at the myWorld Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich after sticking in a 1:35.182 to place his EG 0,0 Marc VDS Energica Ego Corsa just 0.011 ahead of second-placed Xavier Simeon (Avintia Esponsorama Racing), with the rain staying away to allow the full spectacle of E-Pole to take place. One Energy Racing’s Bradley Smith completes the front row, a big step forward from a more difficult qualifying for the Brit in Round 1.

In the order dictated by combined practice times, the riders headed out one-by-one, with the fastest three heading for parc ferme before a faster rider knocked them out. Except Randy de Puniet (LCR E-Team) and Nico Terol (Openbank Angel Nieto Team), who exceeded track limits and therefore had their laptimes cancelled, set to start from the back, and Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse), who crashed – rider ok.

Simeon was seventh on the combined timesheets ahead of E-Pole, leaving six riders to follow the former MotoGP™ rider. It was the Belgian’s best lap of the weekend too, a 1:35.193, and it became the benchmark.

Casadei was the first rider to try and go quicker but the Italian crashed at Turn 4 to end his chances of a good grid slot, with Championship leader Niki Tuuli (Ajo MotoE) then attempting to go P1…and the Finnish rider could only manage third behind Simeon and Jesko Raffin (Dynavolt Intact GP) at the time. Smith then stuck in a lap time good enough for P2, before Eric Granado (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) then set about trying to top teammate Simeon’s time. The Brazilian couldn’t and ended the lap seven tenths down, leaving it down to two: Di Meglio and Free Practice pacesetter Hector Garzo (Tech 3 E-Racing).

Di Meglio went out and was under at the first split, but it was tight around the whole lap. The Frenchman lost time in the third sector, however, he would then snatch P1 away from Simeon by just 0.011 over the line. It was all down to Garzo but it wasn’t to be for the Spaniard as he slotted into sixth and Di Meglio took his first pole in the paddock for ten years.

By the flag the top seven were separated by 0.221 in the close-fought encounter, with the grid led by Di Meglio and Simeon and Smith joining him on the front row. Raffin improved to go from P10 in Free Practice to P4 in E-Pole, and he heads up Row 2 for a much-improved Saturday in Austria.

Sachsenring winner and points leader Tuuli completed the top five ahead of Garzo, with Matteo Ferrari (Trentino Gresini MotoE) locking out Row 2. Alex De Angelis (Octo Pramac MotoE), Granado and Maria Herrera (Openbank Angel Nieto Team) complete the top ten.

A battle looks set to be well and truly on in Round 2 of the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup, so tune in on Sunday at 10:00 local time (GMT+2) to see the electric class go racing!

Fastest in qualifying1 – Mike Di Meglio (FRA) 1’35.182

2 – Xavier Simeon (BEL) +0.011

3 – Bradley Smith (GBR) +0.129

Front row L-R: Simeon, Di Meglio and SmithSimeon was SO close to poleSmith took his first front row in the class