I-league to kick off on Jan 9
New Delhi: The 2016 I-league will kick off on January 9 with Mohun Bagan locking horns with newbie Aizawl FC at the Salt lake Stadium in Kolkata. Incidentally, it’s the first time a Kolkata outfit is approaching I-league as champions. The onus will be on Coach Sanjoy Sen and his brigade to keep their heads on shoulder and hit the bull’s eye. “last season is history now and we’ve to start from scratch. Everything will start from zero in the new season. There’s no room of complacency and everyone will be on same platform on 9th January,” Sanjoy Sen said. DSK Shivajians, the Pune based football powerhouse who are going to embark on their maiden voyage into I-league, will play their home matches at Balewadi Stadium. DSK Shivajians will start their campaign against Sporting club de Goa before hosting Mohun Bagan on January 30.
Srikanth drops to 9th in ranking
New Delhi: Kidambi Srikanth dropped a place to be at ninth spot, while Saina Nehwal remained static at second position in the world badminton rankings released on Thursday. Owing to a poor outing at the World Superseries Finals in Dubai last week, where he lost all the group stage matches, Srikanth lost a place in the men’s singles rankings. Parupalli Kashyap also slipped a spot to be at 15th, while H S Prannoy maintained his 20th spot. Ajay Jayaram moved up a place to be 22nd in the ranking table, which continued to be headed by China’s Chen long. like Saina, PV Sindhu also remained static in women’s singles, staying at No. 12. In women’s doubles, Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa maintained their No.13 position. Indian men’s doubles pair of Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy lost a spot to be at 20th.
2016 Copa America final to be at New Jersey
MIAMI BEACH: Metlife Stadium at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey, will be the site of the 2016 Centennial Copa America final June 26. The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football made the announcement Wednesday. Grass will be installed over the artificial turf. The special 16-team tournament marks the 100th anniversary of the first CopaAmerica, South America’s national-team championship. Play starts June 3 and the tournament includes 10 teams from South America and six from the CONCACAF region. CONCACAF said the full tournament schedule will be announced Thursday. Games will be played in Chicago; Foxborough, Massachusetts; Glendale, Arizona; Houston; Orlando, Florida; Pasadena, California; Philadelphia; Santa Clara, California; and Seattle. A draw to determine the four four-nation groups is likely to be held early next year.
Valencia wins under Neville, advances to next rd
Madrid: Valencia beat third-tier club Barakaldo 2-0 for Gary Neville's first win as a head coach on Wednesday, advancing to the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey 5-1 on aggregate. Santi Mina scored in the eighth minute and Alvaro Negrodo added in the 31st at the Mestalla Stadium to give Neville the victory in his third game in charge of the Spanish club. In other games Wednesday, second-division club Mirandes upset Malaga 3-1 on aggregate after a 1-0 win in the second leg, while Eibar advanced 4-3 on aggregate after routing Ponferradina 4-0. The deciding goal was an 85th-minute penalty converted by Mikel Arruabarrena. Rayo Vallecano eliminated Getafe on away goals despite a 3-1 loss, while Athletic Bilbao had six different scorers in a 6-0 rout of linense to advance 8-0 on aggregate. las Palmas drew 1-1 at Real Sociedad to reach the next round 3-2 on aggregate.