Santosh trophy semi-finals
LUDHIANA: Punjab will take on Goa, while Services will lock horns with Karnataka in the two semifinals of the Hero Santosh Trophy here Friday. After the Zonal Qualifiers, a total of 10 teams made it to the Finals. Services, Goa, Delhi, Meghalaya and Odisha were clubbed in Group A, while Karnataka, Maharashtra, Assam, Sikkim and home side Punjab were placed in Group B. From Group A, Services and Goa finished with 10 points apiece, four ahead of their nearest opponents Delhi. In Group B, Punjab, with the support of the home crowd, shot ahead of the rest of the pack on the last match-day, beating Karnataka 4-3 in a thrilling encounter. While the hosts topped the group with nine points, both Karnataka and Maharashtra finished with seven points apiece, the latter thrashing Sikkim 5-0 to reach their current tally. (PTI)
Tokyo Olympics tickets sale
TOKYO: Tokyo 2020 organisers launched a portal detailing prices and timings for Olympic events on Thursday, as they prepare to throw open ticket applications via lottery for Japanese residents. The new website lists prices for the record 339 events in 33 sports — ranging from the cheapest general tickets at 2,500 yen to an eye-watering 300,000 yen for the best seats at the opening ceremony. Those lucky enough to score the best seats for the showcase men’s 100-metre final will pay 130,000 yen. But half of all tickets will be priced at 8,000 yen or less, organisers stressed and special tickets priced at 2,020 yen are available for residents of Japan with children, senior citizens or people with impairments. (AFP)
I’m not the new Ribery: Coman
BERLIN: Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman has said that he hopes to step out of Franck Ribery’s shadow when his veteran compatriot leaves Bayern. Coman (22) has long been touted as the natural successor to Ribery, who is expected to end a glistening 12-year spell at Bayern this summer. “Franck has his career and I have mine. I am not the new Ribery, I am myself,” he said. Having missed the first half of the season with injury, Coman has established himself as a regular starter under coach Niko Kovac. A key part of Bayern’s generational shift under Kovac, the 22-year-old has been first-choice left-winger in recent weeks. (AFP)
