SCG Test still on, CA monitoring situation
Melbourne: Cricket Australia on Friday asserted that the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India is not threatened by a fresh Covid-19 outbreak in Sydney even though the situation is being closely monitored. Australian cricket officials were put on alert after the number of cases in the northern beaches outbreak in Sydney reached 28 on Friday. The third Test at the SCG is scheduled to get underway on January 7.
Perez to race with Red Bull in 2021
Milton Keynes: Mexican driver Sergio Perez will race alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull next season, the Formula One team said on Friday. Perez, who will replace Alexander Albon, became Mexico's first F1 winner in 50 years with his victory this month at the Sakhir Grand Prix in Bahrain. Red Bull said that historic performance helped make Perez the “favored choice” over Albon, who will remain with the team as a test and reserve driver. Perez has a one-year contract.
Simranjeet enters Cologne WC finals
New Delhi: World championship Bronze-medallist Simranjeet Kaur (60kg) stormed into the finals of boxing's Cologne World Cup in Germany, defeating Ukraine's Marianna Basanets on Friday. The Asian Silver-winner prevailed 4-1 to assure herself of a place in the summit bouts to be held on Saturday. Earlier, two-time world medallist Sonia Lather (57kg) set up a clash against compatriot Manisha in the semifinals by beating Ukraine's Snizhana Kholodkova 3-2.
Schalke fires Baum, recalls Huub
Gelsenkirchen: Schalke fired Manuel Baum as coach on Friday and turned once again to the experienced Huub Stevens. The Dutch coach is returning to Schalke for his fourth stint for the last two games of the year. Schalke is last in the Bundesliga standings with four points from 12 games and trying desperately to end its club-record 28-game run without a win in the league.
PHL postponed to next year
New Delhi: The inaugural edition of the Premier Handball League (PHL) was on Friday postponed to next year due to concerns over health and safety of players amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The league was earlier scheduled to be held at the Sawai Mansingh Indoor Stadium in Jaipur from December 24 to January 10. The new dates are yet to be announced.
Hegerberg signs new Lyon deal
Lyon: Former Ballon d'Or winner Ada Hegerberg extended her contract with European champion Lyon on Friday. The club said the 25-year-old Norwegian forward signed a three-year deal through June 2024. Seeing out the contract would complete a decade for Hegerberg at the dominant women's team in world football. Hegerberg has scored 220 goals in 184 games for Lyon, which has won five Champions League titles, six French leagues and four French Cups since she joined the club.
Rashford leads Man United comeback
Sheffield: Hours after being honored for his impact off the field, Marcus Rashford also delivered in front of goal. The striker scored twice to lead Manchester United's recovery to beat Sheffield United 3-2 in the Premier League on Thursday. His goals at Bramall Lane lifted United to sixth in the league, five points behind leader and champion Liverpool with a game in hand. Agencies