Simone Biles to 'probably' compete on beam, reveals Olympic teammate MyKayla Skinner


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American gymnast MyKayla Skinner revealed her superstar teammate Simone Biles will "probably" compete on the beam in what would be her last chance at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Biles dramatically pulled out of the team final last week, saying she was suffering from the "twisties", where gymnasts lose the ability to orient themselves in mid-air. She has since withdrawn from the all-around, floor, vault and uneven bar events to protect her mental health.

Biles' decision to skip the vault competition allowed Skinner to take her spot and scoop a silver on Sunday.

And the US gymnast said she believed the Tokyo Olympics wasn't over yet for Biles, who has openly talked about her struggles with her mental health during the Games.

"She's still probably going to be competing. I don't know for sure, it's kind of up to her," Skinner said, but added "yeah I think so", when asked whether the four-time Olympic champion would appear on the beam on Tuesday.

Skinner said Biles was "one strong cookie" but that the situation "has definitely hit her really hard".

"She's handling it better than I thought. Every day she's been laughing, giggling, super supportive," she said.

Biles was in the Ariake Gymnastics Centre on Sunday, cheering on her US teammates competing in the individual events.

USA Gymnastics said earlier in the day that a decision on her beam participation would come "later this week".

Biles, who is widely considered to have pushed gymnastics to new limits, came to Tokyo seeking five gold medals to equal the Olympic all-time gymnastics career record of nine.

But on withdrawing from the team final she said she wanted to "focus on my mental health and not jeopardise my health and my wellbeing".

Skinner said she believed Biles was "trying to stay in the game" to be able to compete again.

"I'm sure when she gets home it'll probably hit her more," she said. But, she said, Biles is "very mentally and physically tough".

"Whatever happens, I think she's just going to let it roll off and just continue with life, being the amazing Simone that she is."

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The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

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Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021

Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.

The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.

These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.

“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.

“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.

“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.

“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”

Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.

There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.

“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.

“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.

“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”

Third Test

Result: India won by 203 runs

Series: England lead five-match series 2-1

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British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.

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8.15pm: Dubawi Stakes Group 3 (D) $200,000 1,200m | Winner: Raven’s Corner, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar

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9.25pm: Handicap (T) $175,000 1,400m​​​ | Winner: Another Batt, Connor Beasley, George Scott

Updated: August 01, 2021, 4:17 PM`