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sports Dialuna 21 Februari 2022

BEIJING SNAPSHOT: ‘Close door’ — so much more than a button

(AP) — It’s only a button. ian state in a fashion only this Late for dinner in the restau-
Or is it? authoritarian state could pull rant with the plexiglass divid-
off, some stuck in the “closed ers as thick as hockey boards
You’re fenced off from the loop” found it in the elevator. separating you from your
people and places that make The “close door” button. dining companions? A press
Beijing, well, Beijing. You’re of the button at least gives
cut off from much of the That button in so many el- that illusion you’re doing ev-
world by the Great Firewall. evators around the world that erything you can to make it.
You’re swabbed and sterilized is more source of frustration
daily as part of a “zero COV- than hurry-up tool works Feeling rushed to make the
ID” policy. Or you’re the re- perfectly here and in many bus that will take you to the
cipient of a too-enthusiastic places across Asia. building about 250 feet (75
pat-down each morning and Americans: Think of all the meters) from your hotel that
a cheery, computer-generated times you press, press, press you can’t walk to because of
thank you every time a scan- that button hoping to shave the inflexibility of the Olym-
ner records your movements a few seconds off an already pic “bubble”? The button.
from room to room. dicey arrival time at work, tor? Press it. acquiring things is — until
and you end up cursing an The persistent robot roam- that ability is taken from you.
In a world like this, the slight- inanimate object. ing the hotel and spraying a In an everyday world where The “close door” button re-
est bit of agency matters. mist — rumored to be some so much is available at a tap stores that faith, if only for a
At an Olympics in a pan- Not in Beijing. COVID-preventing concoc- of a button, you forget how moment.
demic run by an authoritar- tion – coming for the eleva- satisfying the immediacy of

Djokovic says he’s at his ‘peak’ returning to

tour in Dubai

Djokovic’s presence brings of the Australian Open drew Slam title.
an unusual amount of scruti- intense interest around the
ny to the annual tournament world, shining a light on how The 34-year-old has made it
near Dubai International Air- public officials approach pan- clear that this is a cost he’s
port and authorities also ap- demic restrictions and ex- willing to bear.
parently took extraordinary emptions. The dramatic legal “Whatever tournament I’ll be
steps of their own. dispute also took a personal able to play I’ll be trying to
toll. get to that country and play
Organizers blocked most “There were lots of emo- that tournament,” he said,
photographers and videogra- tions after I came back from acknowledging his freedom
phers from Djokovic’s news Australia,” he said. “It was of movement and access to
conference without explana- strange. I was disappointed, tournaments will depend
(AP) — Serbian tennis star the Dubai Duty Free Tennis tion. Earlier, security guards I was sad about the way it all on local virus restrictions. “I
Novak Djokovic said on championship, Djokovic’s were out in force at Djokov- has played out and the way I really can’t choose. It’s re-
Sunday that despite weeks first tournament since being ic’s practice, questioning re- left the country.” ally about where I can go and
away from competition ejected from Australia and porters who tried to grab a play.”
and emotional distress missing the year’s first Grand glimpse of him serving and Djokovic’s fierce commit-
over his recent detention Slam event over his vaccina- swinging on the court. These ment to stay unvaccinated Dubai authorities do not re-
and deportation, he feels tion status. restrictions were not in place, against the coronavirus for quire visitors to be vaccinated
he’s at his “peak” as he re- the guards acknowledged, for the time being means he against COVID-19 to enter.
turns to tour. “It wasn’t really difficult for any other players. Organizers could be barred from com- After hours spent ripping
me to pick up a racket and were not immediately avail- peting in a series of upcoming backhands on the baseline
The world’s top male ten- go out and practice the sport able for comment. Grand Slam tournaments, in Dubai, Djokovic added
nis player sounded an up- and just play,” he told report- including the U.S. Open and he was excited about return-
beat note in a press confer- ers. “I’m as well prepared as I The saga of Djokovic’s can- French Open, where he is ing to the tournament he has
ence a day before the start of possibly can be.” celed travel visa on the eve pursuing a record 21st Grand won five times.

Riled Lewandowski stirs Bayern comeback

to beat Fürth 4-1

(AP) — A fired-up Rob- games without a win — Bay- There were even whistles
ert Lewandowski scored ern lost 4-2 at promoted Bo- from some unhappy Bayern
twice as Bayern Munich chum before drawing 1-1 in supporters at the break.
came from behind to beat Salzburg in the Champions Bayern coach Julian Nagels-
last-place Greuther Fürth League — they had to wait mann’s halftime talk had
4-1 in the Bundesliga on till the second half to get it. quick results.
Sunday. Fürth captain Branimir Lewandowski equalized only
Hrgota fired the competitive a minute into the second half
The Poland star took his underdogs ahead in the 42nd and Bayern kept pushing to
league-leading tally to 28 minute when his free kick force an own-goal from Se-
goals in 23 games and helped took a decisive deflection off bastian Griesbeck in the 61st.
Bayern stretch its lead to nine Bayern’s Marcel Sabitzer. Griesbeck also scored an equalizer, but Lewandowski ki beat two defenders to head
points before second-place Riled by the setback, Lewan- own-goal in the sides’ previ- sealed Bayern’s win with a the ball inside the left post.
Borussia Dortmund hosted dowski was booked for his ous meeting, which Bayern header inside the left post in Serge Gnabry set up half-
Borussia Mönchengladbach reaction to Hrgota after the won 3-1. the 82nd after Niklas Süle time substitute Eric Maxim
later. If Bayern fans had been Pole fouled the forward to Max Christiansen struck the headed a corner back into the Choupo-Moting for the
expecting a reaction after two stop a counterattack. post as Fürth pushed for an danger area and Lewandows- fourth goal in injury time.