Mbappe slapped with 3 match ban
Paris: French World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe was banned for three matches on Friday following his sending-off for a reckless tackle during Paris Saint-Germain's French Cup final debacle against Rennes. The French football Federation (FFF) said they had also opened disciplinary proceedings against Mbappe's teammate Neymar for striking a Rennes fan following the shock defeat on penalties after extra time. Mbappe lunged with his studs into the knee of Rennes defender Damien Da Silva near the close of extra time on Sunday. Having already missed one game, Mbappe will miss Saturday's match against Nice and the trip to Angers the following week but will be available for the last two games of the season.
naby Keita out for the season
Liverpool: Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita will miss the rest of the season with an adductor injury that is set to sideline the Guinea international for two months, manager Jurgen Klopp said on Friday. Keita limped off midway through the first half of Liverpool's 3-0 loss to Barcelona at the Camp Nou during Wednesday's Champions League semi-final first leg. "Bad news, a high-grade adductor injury with the tendon rupture so it keeps him out for at least two months," said Klopp of Keita, who will now miss Saturday's trip to Newcastle, as well as home games against Barcelona and Wolves -- Liverpool's last match of the Premier League season. "Bad news for us and for Guinea with the Africa Cup of Nations coming up. Not nice," German boss Klopp added.
Prannoy crashes out from NZ Open
Auckland: H S Prannoy fought valiantly before losing to fifth seed Kanta Tsuneyama of Japan in the men's singles quarterfinal, drawing curtains on India's campaign at the New Zealand Open badminton tournament, here on Friday. Unseeded Prannoy squandered a one-game advantage before losing 21-17, 15-21, 14-21 to world number 11 Japanese shuttler in a marathon last-eight round match which lasted an hour and 13 minutes. The two shuttlers now enjoy a 1-1 head-to-head record against each other. Tsuneyama will play third seed and Jakarta Asian Games Gold medallist Jonathan Christie in the last-four round.
Semenya wins Doha 800m race
Doha: Caster Semenya won the 800 metres at the Doha Diamond League meeting on Friday in her first race since losing her appeal over a controversial gender ruling, claiming "actions speak louder than words". The South African, a two-time Olympic champion, timed 1min 54.98sec to defeat Burundi's Francine Niyonsaba, who clocked 1min 57.75sec and Ajee Wilson of the United States in 1min 58.83sec. Semenya's victory could be her last over 800m before new IAAF rules governing testosterone levels come into operation on May 8. "Actions speak louder than words. When you're a great champion you always deliver," Semenya told the BBC after setting a new meeting record. "With me, life has been simple. I'm just here to deliver for the people who love and support me. I'm enjoying each and every moment of my life maybe because I have the love I need from my people." Agencies