F1 pays tribute to Schumacher
Maranello: Ferrari issued an emotional message on Thursday to mark the 50th birthday of Michael Schumacher, who has not been seen in public since he suffered head injuries in a skiing accident five years ago. The German, who won a record seven Formula One drivers' championships and 91 Grands Prix, collected five consecutive titles with the Italian team from 2000 to 2004. Ferrari also won six constructors' titles while Schumacher was with them. "Our champ turns 50 today. We're all with you Michael #KeepFighting," Scuderia Ferrari tweeted. The official Formula 1 account tweeted: "We join the whole of the #F1 family in sending Michael @Schumacher our very best wishes on his 50th birthday #KeepFightingMichael #Michael50." The Ferrari Museum at Maranello in northern Italy is dedicating a special exhibition to Schumacher as a celebration of the team's most successful driver.
Sharath eyeing 9th national title
Cuttack: Veteran Sharath Kamal will be chasing a record-breaking ninth title when the 80th National Table Tennis Championships begin at the Nehru Indoor Stadium here on Friday. Sharath, who reached a career-high ranking of 30 last month, is just a step away from surpassing Kamlesh Mehta's eight titles. If he does that, Sharath would not only create history but could remain there as the lone Indian for a long time to come. The only challenge for him is his team mate G Sathiyan, who has been in a terrific form with a proven record and is just a spot behind Sharath at No 31 in the ITTF rankings. Manika Batra will be the favourite to lift the women's trophy.
Boca Juniors name Alfaro as new coach
Buenos Aires: Argentine giants Boca Juniors named Gustavo Alfaro as their new coach, just hours after former boss Guillermo Barros Schelotto joined LA Galaxy. Barros Schelotto left the Buenos Aires club last month after their historic Copa Libertadores final defeat to arch rivals River Plate. Boca president Daniel Angelici, who had tried and failed to have River kicked out of the Libertadores final after the second leg was postponed following an attack on Boca's team bus by their rivals' fans, said Alfaro had the "ability and professionalism to take charge of" the club known as the "Dung Shovellers." Alfaro, 56, who leaves another Buenos Aires outfit, Huracan, said he felt a "mixture of pride and challenge.
Lovlina gets walkover in boxing nat’l
Chennai: Lovlina Borgohain, who won a Bronze at the World Championships, entered the quarterfinals owing to a walkover as pugilists from Haryana and Kerala impressed in the Women's National Boxing C’ships on Thursday. Though the most interesting aspect of the Nationals was four of Kerala boxers — Divya Ganesh (69 kg), Indira K A (75kg), Anaswara P M (81+kg) and Fousiya A T (81kg) — entered the quarterfinals along with four boxers from Haryana while three pugilists from Railways, two each from Delhi, Punjab, Chandigarh and All India Police and one from Rajasthan, made it a worthwhile event for themselves. Lovlina got a walkover in the welter class (69 kg) pre-quarterfinals. The 21-year-old Assamese will be entering the ring for the first time when she takes on Mithrem Jagirdar in the quarters.
Vinesh, punia headline pwl players draft
Gurugram: Asian Games Gold medallists Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia will headline the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) 2019 players draft to be held here on Friday. Rio Olympic Bronze medallist Sakshi Malik and 2010 Summer Youth Olympics Silver medalist Pooja Dhanda are two other top wrestlers who will be part of the draft. The fourth edition of the wrestling league is scheduled to start from January 14. The league offers a prize purse of Rs 1.9 crore for the winners and Rs 1.1 crore for the runners-up. A new team — MP Yodha — will be seen in action this season alongside Delhi Sultans, UP Dangal, Haryana Hammers, Mumbai Maharathi and the NCR Punjab Royals.