Odegbami wants to run for FIFA prez
lagos (Nigeria): Former Nigeria international Segun Odegbami says he wants to run for the FIFA presidency and succeed Sepp Blatter. The 63-year-old Odegbami, a former national team forward, said that his bid may seem "far-fetched" but "the international football environment reveals the real possibility of such change." "The world is very interested in who becomes the next president of FIFA considering the present images and state of this institution," Odegbami said in a statement published in the Nigerian media on Wednesday. "I see myself fitting into this role." Blatter is stepping down amid American and Swiss investigations into corruption at the world body.
Djokovic to play Nadal in exhibition
Bangkok: The world's top-ranked player Novak Djokovic will play an exhibition match against longstanding rival Rafael Nadal in Thailand next month. Suwat liptapanlop, president of the lawn Tennis Association of Thailand, said Wednesday that the match would be played on Oct. 2 at Bangkok's Hua Mark Indoor Stadium. He said the match was important to the tourist industry after last month's deadly bombing of the Erawan Shrine, saying it will "boost confidence of Thailand's safety and the business returns to usual."
McIlroy to compete in Race to Dubai
Virginia Water (England): Rory McIlroy will be able to compete in the Race to Dubai even though he will fall short of the minimum 13 tournaments required by the European Tour. Keith Pelley, the new chief executive of the European Tour, says he consulted with McIlroy and medical officials before agreeing to make an exception for the world's No. 1 player. McIlroy missed two months this summer because of an ankle injury. He missed three events on the European schedule - the Scottish Open, British Open and Bridgestone Invitational. He has played nine European events. Players are required to play 13 to be eligible for the Race to Dubai. McIlroy says he is kept from adding four more events through global commitments, such as the FedEx Cup on the PGA Tour, and his recovery program that limits how many weeks he can play in a row.
Govt. defends Yoga's promotion as sport
New Delhi: The government on Wednesday insisted that recognition of yoga as a competitive sport was not on communal lines and it was actually high time that it is seen as a proper game since it is an age old practice in India. "It's a tradition. People across the religion have been practising Yoga. It's high time that Yoga is seen as sport," said Onkar Kedia, joint secretary in sports ministry.
Ghoshal reaches 15 in rankings
New Delhi: Saurav Ghosal on Wednesday became India's highest-ranked player by returning to a career-high 15 in the latest Professional Squash Association Rankings (PSA). Ghosal jumped four places to reach the spot he reached first in May last year. Mahesh Mangaonkar and Harinder Pal Sandhu are ranked 52 and 56 respectively. Dipika Pallikal, who took a break from the tour for her wedding last month, gained a place to be 17th in the women's rankings. She is back to training and is eyeing a top-10 return, having being the lone Indian to breach that barrier. The experienced Joshana Chinappa is 28th in the standings.