Gold medallist Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica, silver medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica and bronze
medallist Shericka Jackson of Jamaica celebrate after the fi nal Women’s 100m at the Olympic Stadium, Tokyo,
Japan on July 31, 2021. REUTERS/Phil Noble
Mental help
THOMPSON-HERA LEAVES MVP Continued from Page 33
By Azad Ali
Chennai Super Kings win (CSK)
completed an incredible turnaround
in the Indian Premier League (IPL)
2021 as they went on to lift their
4th crown in the final last Friday
after defeating Kolkata Knight Riders
(KKR) by 27 runs at the Dubai International
Stadium in the United Arab
Emirates.
CSK had finished a lowly seventh in
the playoffs last season but bounced
back strongly to win the trophy this
Caribbean L 34 ife, OCTOBER 22-28, 2021
year.
CSK had won the title in 2010,
2011, 2018 and now in 2021.
The M.S.Dhoni-led CSK, one of the
most successful teams in the history
of the IPL, proved why they are one
of the best sides to grace the league
throughout the season with a brilliant
performance.
They were the first team to secure
a spot in the playoffs and first to enter
the final after a comfortable win over
Delhi Capitals.
CSK rode on Faf du Plessis brilliant
86 and crucial knocks from Raturaj
Gaikwood (32), Robbin Uthappa (31)
and Moeen Ali to post a strong total
of 192 runs after being asked to bat
first.
Despite getting off to a good start
with their openers Shubhman Gill
(51) and Venkatash Iyer (50) posting a
91-run stand for the opening wicket,
KKR crumbled under pressure and
lost wickets at quick intervals to give
away the game.
By Azad Ali
Cricket West Indies (CWI) President,
Ricky Skerrit and CWI media
and PR manager, Phillip Spooner
both paid tribute to former CWI
corporate communications officer,
Imran Khan, who succumbed to the
COVID-19 virus in his native Guyana
recently.
West Indies Players Association
(WIPA) president and CEO, Wavell
Hinds, West Indies batting legend,
Brian Lara and members of the cricketing
fraternity in the region also
extended condolences to Khan’s family.
Khan, 39, who was the head of
communications for the opposition
in Guyana, contracted the virus on
Sept. 15, passed away after spending
more than a week at the Intensive
Care Unit of the COVID-19 Hospital
at Lilliendaal.
The event was moved to the Gulf
States after a surge of COVID-19
infections in India.
The players had to isolate for six
days on arrival, during which they
underwent three COVID-19 tests,
before they enter the so-called “bubbles”
or managed environment.
“We should expect that some people
will be affected, their mental
health will be affected by being in
confined conditions again, particularly
perhaps for those who done it
for a long period of time,” Alex Marshall,
the ICC’S head of integrity told
reporters.
Cricket has mostly been played
in restricted environments since
it resumed last year after a lengthy
disruption because of the COVID-19
pandemic and players in the past
have complained about the heavy toll
it takes on their mental health.
Holder
excluded
Holder was named as a reserve for
the tournament, in which West Indies
are defending champions, along with
Darren Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell and
Akeal Hosein.
Despite his disappointment in
Holder’s omission, Sir Viv called for
fans to rally behind the West Indies
in their title defense.
to do so while I finalize all aspects of
my team for the upcoming season,” said
Thompson-Herah in a statement.
“I want to thank everyone for their
support and express appreciation to
those who have reached out in concern,”
added the fastest woman alive
with 10.54 seconds over 100m and 21.53
seconds in the 200m.
“I remain committed to representing
my country and to lead with courage
and grace, as I am aware that I inspire
young women across the world who
have dreams and who dare to see those
dreams come to pass,” she continued.
Only American world record holder
Florence Griffith-Joyner (10.49 seconds
in the 100M and 21.34 in the 200M) has
run faster than 29-year-old Thompson-
Herah, RJRGleaner said.
On Sept. 23, it said that Thompson-
Herah had written to the MVP Track
Club hierarchy, signalling her intention
to cut ties with the club.
RJRGleaner also reported that
Thompson-Herah’s husband, Derron
Herah, a coach with the Cameron Blazers
set-up and this alma mater St. Jago
High School boys’ team, “was expected
to take over coaching duties for the
two-time double Olympic sprint champion.”
That same day, RJRGleaner said the
2015 World 200m silver medalist denied
the reports, while appearing as a guest
of NBC’s “Brother from Another” discussion
program.
“I am the fastest woman alive, so
they are going to create some sort
of news to distract the world; so it’s
rumors of course,” RJRGleaner quoted
Thompson-Herah as saying. “It’s probably
because I didn’t show up at practice.
“I am still on my rest period; so maybe
they are just speculating why I am not
at practice,” she added. “But I just came
back from the international circuit, and
we normally get like a month’s rest and
I am in my second week.”
Monday’s confirmation of her split
from MVP means Thompson-Herah
joins two-time Olympic 100m gold
medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce,
2008 Olympic 400m hurdle champion
Melaine Walker, Kaliese Spencer, Sherone
Simpson, Michael Frater and Asafa
Powell as star athletes who left the
MVP club in “less-than-smooth circumstances,”
RJRGleaner reported.
It noted that Thompson-Herah followed
up her Rio 2016 Olympic success
with gold medals in the 100, 200m and
4x100m at the Tokyo Olympics this
Continued from Page 33
Continued from Page 33
Chennai Super Kings win fourth IPL title
Tributes to
Imran Khan