Top field for B'luru ATP Challenger
Bengaluru: The third edition of the Bengaluru Open from February 10 to 16 will see one of the best fields in the ATP Challenger Tour event with four players from the top-100 world rankings taking part in it. Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis, ranked 69th in the ATP rankings, followed by 74th ranked Stefano Travaglia will lead the top field. Japanese journeyman Yuichi Sugita (91) and Australian James Duckworth (94) are the other players in the top-100 who will be vying for honours in the biggest ATP Challenge Tour event in Asia which offers a total prize purse of $ 162,000. Defending champion Prajnesh Gunneswaran, currently the highest ranked Indian at 123, will lead the home challenge in company of 2017 winner Sumit Nagal (131).
Nikhat, Shiva enter Strandja quarters
New Delhi: Four-time Asian medallist Shiva Thapa (63kg) and defending champion Nikhat Zareen (51kg) on Wednesday sailed into the quarterfinals of the Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament with resounding victories in their second-round bouts in Sofia. Also making the quarters was national medallist Duryodhan Singh Negi (69kg) after a comprehensive 5-0 triumph over Ireland's Kieran Molloy. Zareen was declared the winner after local favourite Sevda Asenova forfeited during the opening round of the contest.Former world Bronze-medallist Thapa defeated Poland's Pavel Polakovic 5-0 in his last 16 stage clash.
Mexican striker hernandez joins Galaxy
Los Angeles: Javier Hernandez completed his long-awaited transfer to the Los Angeles Galaxy on Tuesday, saying the lure of playing regular football had prompted his move to Major League Soccer. The Mexican international striker, who will reportedly become the highest paid player in MLS, with Sports Illustrated saying he will earn $6 million (5.41 million euros) a year, joins the Galaxy after a frustrating spell at Spanish side Sevilla. The Mexican star heads to the MLS after a successful career in European club football which included stints with Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen and West Ham, as well as Sevilla. Hernandez has scored more than 200 goals for club and country throughout his career.
Australia to host Indoor Cricket WC
Melbourne: Australia is set to host the 11th edition of the Indoor Cricket World Cup from October 10 to 17. The tournament will be held at the state-of-the-art indoor cricket venues in Melbourne — Casey Stadium & CitiPower Centre. Last held in 2017, Australia are the reigning men's and women's champions and the host will be seeking to continue the run of never losing a World Cup in either division in the 25-year history of the tournament. Cricketers from up to 10 countries will compete in the tournament in four divisions: under-21 men and women and open men and women.
Gibson is B'desh new pace bowling coach
Dhaka: Bangladesh have appointed Ottis Gibson as their new pace bowling coach, replacing South African Charl Langeveldt who resigned in December. The 50-year old former West Indies fast bowler signed a two-year agreement. Gibson, who has enjoyed two successful stints as bowling coach with England and has served as head coach of the West Indies and South Africa, will join the squad for the Pakistan tour which begins in Lahore on Friday.
Iran teams' AFC CL matches moved to UAE
Kuala Lumpur: Two Iranian football clubs' AFC Champions League preliminary round matches have been moved to a neutral country because of security fears. The Asian Football Confederation said the ties — Shahr Khodro FC of Iran v Riffa of Bahrain and Iran's Esteghlal FC v Kuwait SC will now be played in the United Arab Emirates on Jan 25. Both the matches were scheduled to be played in Iran on Tuesday but were postponed and “moved to neutral venues because of ongoing security concerns and the decision of several governments to issue travel warnings to the Islamic Republic of Iran,” said an AFC statement.