Digest

SOCCER

Fulham returns to Premier promised land

Fulham made an instant return to the English Premier League on Tuesday, beating Brentford 2-1 at Wembley in what is regarded as the most lucrative game in world soccer.

Defender Joe Bryan was the unlikely hero for Scott Parker's side in the Championship playoff final, scoring two goals in extra time after the west London clubs were locked at 0-0 at the end of the 90 minutes.

Henrik Dalsgaard scored a late consolation for Brentford but it was too little too late for Thomas Frank's team, which has not played in the English top flight for 73 years.

The Craven Cottage club will earn around 135 million pounds ($176 million) for bouncing back from relegation last season and this result also gives rookie boss Parker a first success of his fledgling managerial career.

"We've done what we've done tonight, but there's still improvement, and that's what makes me so proud and happy," Parker said. "For all of the good players and everything you see, what makes me so happy I see a group of players who only a year ago were struggling psychologically, didn't have a mind-set or mentality."

Legend Casillas retires after health struggles

Spain's World Cup-winning goalkeeper Iker Casillas announced his retirement on Tuesday, after being sidelined for more than a year with a heart problem.

Casillas, 39, also won the European Championship twice with his country in a trophy-laden career which included more than 700 games for Real Madrid.

"Today is both one of the most important and most difficult days of my sporting life, the time to say goodbye has arrived," he said.

Casillas joined Portuguese side Porto in 2015 after a tearful departure from Madrid. He suffered a heart attack in May last year.

He played 167 times for Spain, winning the 2010 World Cup and the Euros in 2008 and 2012 in a golden age for Spanish soccer.

He lifted five La Liga titles and the Champions League on three occasions with Madrid.

TENNIS

Nadal to skip US Open over COVID concerns

Defending champion Rafael Nadal will skip the US Open due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic, with world No 1 Novak Djokovic headlining the men's singles draw for the Grand Slam, organizers announced on Tuesday.

"After many thoughts, I have decided not to play this year's US Open," Nadal said on his social media accounts on Tuesday. "The situation is very complicated worldwide, the COVID-19 cases are increasing, it looks like we still don't have control of it.

"We know that the reduced tennis calendar is barbaric this year after 4 months stopped with no play, I understand and thank for the efforts they are putting in to make it happen," the 19-time Grand Slam champion added.

The 34-year-old Spaniard called sitting out the New York tournament, which is scheduled to begin on Aug 31, "a decision I never wanted to take", but added that he would "rather not travel".

OLYMPICS

Tokyo spectator ban remains a possibility

Tokyo 2020 spokesman Masa Takaya on Tuesday refused to rule out the possibility of staging the Olympics behind closed doors.

Japan's JIJI Press last week quoted an unnamed Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) executive, who is "close "to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, as saying that the Games "should definitely take place, even without spectators".

International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said in July that the IOC is opposed to staging the Games without fans.

"He (Bach) is not willing to see the Games without spectators," Takaya told a news conference. "Tokyo 2020 is not willing to see the Games without spectators either. So no one is willing to see the Games without spectators.

"In this respect, we will keep monitoring the COVID-19 situation carefully." Takaya added that the issue will be discussed at a fall meeting between the Japanese government, the Tokyo metropolitan government and the 2020 organizing committee.

RUGBY

Wallabies great Kearns to head 2027 Cup bid

Two-time World Cup winner Phil Kearns will lead Australia's bid to host the tournament in 2027, the country's rugby union governing body said on Wednesday.

Kearns, who won the showcase tournament in 1991 and 1999 during a 67-Test career as Wallabies hooker, said he was "enormously excited" to be named executive director of the bid by Rugby Australia.

"The World Cup in 2027 would be transformational for the game in this country," he said in a statement.

"The financial windfall it would bring would spark the Australian economy as we rebuild from the impact of COVID-19 and then gives us the opportunity to invest back into the grassroots of the game."

The 2027 World Cup is seen as a way to unite a sport struggling with financial difficulties, the Wallabies' slide to seventh in the world rankings, and bitter infighting.

MOTOR SPORTS

Indy 500 scraps plans allowing fans to attend

The organizers of the Indy 500 on Tuesday abandoned plans to allow spectators at this year's race, citing concerns over COVID-19.

A statement from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway said the decision had been taken after "extensive consultation with state and city leadership".

"It is with great regret that we announce the 104th running of the Indianapolis 500 will take place on August 23 without fans," the statement said.

The Indy 500 was criticized by public health experts after initially planning to operate the race at 50 percent capacity, potentially meaning a crowd as large as 175,000.

Those plans were scaled back last month when the circuit said only 25 percent of capacity would be allowed.

Xinhua - Agencies