EB signs kiwi World Cupper
Kolkata: East Bengal on Sunday announced the signing of New Zealand's World Cupper leonida Christos "leo" Bertos as their marquee player. The 32-year-old attacking midfielder has been roped in by last season's I-league runners up on a two-year contract, its media officer said. It is not yet known when Bertos will join the squad but the club think-tank wants to play him in the CFl Premier Division beginning August 10. Previously, East Bengal had three more World Cuppers in Majid Bishkar of Iran, Emeka Ezueogo of Nigeria and South African Macdonald Mukansi. Bertos, who becomes their second foreigner after Ranty Martins in the upcoming season, played all the three matches for New Zealand in Group F of the FIFA World Cup 2010 — vs Slovakia (1-1), vs Italy — as they finished unbeaten. Bertos began his club career with Wellington Olympic in 1997 and later played for the English clubs, Barnsley, Chester City, Rochdale and Scarborough before joining Wellington Phoenix as he has scored 35 goals at the club and youth level. He made his debut for New Zealand in a friendly vs Iran in October 2003 and won 52 caps for his country.
li Ning is WKl’s apparel partner
New Delhi: World Kabaddi league on Sunday announced its partnership with li Ning, renowned sports brands, as the official apparel partner for its opening edition. li Ning, a leader in sports apparel and equipment globally, will provide a wide range of clothing for the games related personnel, including the team kits. World Kabaddi league is slated to kickstart on August 9. With 94 matches and matches scheduled across three continents in UK, US, Canada, Dubai and India, WKl will follow F1 format.
Kristoff wins Tour's flat Stage 15
Nimes (France): Alexander Kristoff of Norway has won the 15th stage of the Tour de France by leading a barreling pack that overtook two breakaway riders in the last few hundred meters. Vincenzo Nibali finished in the main pack on Sunday to keep the overall lead. After two days in the Alps, Sunday's stage offered some relief over a flat 222 kilometers (138 miles) from Tallard, southeast France's parachuting capital, toward the city of Nimes. Nibali kept his main rivals at bay in the stage and did not lose any time to them. He is 4:37 ahead of Spain's Alejandro Valverde in second, and 4:50 ahead of France's Romain Bardet in third.
Man U add Hernandez for US tour
Carson (California): Manchester United has added Javier Hernandez to its squad for the team's preseason tour of the US. Relegated to the bench for much of last season, Chicharito will join the Red Devils before their friendly against the los Angeles Galaxy on Wednesday in Pasadena, the team's first match under new manager louis van Gaal. Hernandez played for Mexico in the World Cup, appearing in all four of El Tri's games and scoring against Croatia. United is missing Robin van Persie, Marouane Fellaini and Adnan Januzaj following the World Cup, and Michael Carrick is expected to be sidelined for the first two months of the season following left ankle surgery on Thursday. United also plays Roma on July 26, Inter Milan three days later and European champion Real Madrid on August 2.
Wozniacki wins Istanbul Cup
Istanbul: Caroline Wozniacki overpowered second-seeded Roberta Vinci 6-1, 6-1 on Sunday to win the Istanbul Cup final and clinch her first WTA title of the year. Top-seeded Wozniacki needed only 67 minutes against the 24th-ranked Italian at the hard-court Koza World of Sport Complex. Wozniacki won 76 percent of points on her first serve — compared to just 43 percent for Vinci — and also saved all six break points against her. The two players are now 2-2 in head-to-heads with Vinci beating the Dane when she was the top-ranked player in 2011. The 24-year-old Wozniacki, now ranked 15th, has won at least one WTA title every year since 2008.
Suarez mobbed by Barcelona fans
london: Controversial Uruguayan striker luis Suarez and his wife Sofia Balbi were mobbed by Barcelona fans during a walk around the Spanish city. The 27-year-old looked a little uncomfortable when he was grabbed by one female supporter as he was trying to make a quick getaway Saturday, according to Daily Mail. The former liverpool forward, though, did stop to sign a fan's lionel Messi shirt. Suarez, who received a four-month ban from all football activity following his putting the bite on Italy's Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay's final World Cup group game in Brazil, was bought by Barcelona from liverpool in a 75 million-pound deal. Suarez cannot be officially unveiled by the Catalan club under the terms of his ban.