Argentina to host Copa 2020
Rio De Janeiro: The 2020 Copa America will kick off in Argentina on June 12 before ending in Colombia on July 13, the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) said on Monday.The 47th edition of the tournament will mark the first time that it is played in two countries, with 38 games to be divided between Argentina and Colombia.Each country will stage two quarterfinals and one semifinal, with the final to be played in Colombia.In a statement, CONMEBOL said the format would “bring South American football closer to its fans.”CONMEBOL announced last month that the 2020 Copa America would be divided into two groups of six teams. The northern group – whose participants will play all of their first-stage matches in Colombia – will feature the host nation, Venezuela, Ecuador, Brazil and Peru.Argentina will stage the southern group of Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina Bolivia and Chile. A draw will be held to decide the group allocation for guest nations Australia and Qatar.Teams in each group will play each other once, with the top four sides from each zone progressing to the quarterfinals.Colombia have hosted the event just once before, in 2001 – the only time they have been crowned champions.The 2020 Copa America will be the fourth edition of the world’s oldest international continental football tournament in six years. It will revert to a quadrennial cycle from 2020, in line with the European Championship. (PTI)
Chelsea sign Kovacic from Real
Madrid: Chelsea have signed Real Madrid’s Croatian international midfielder Mateo Kovacic on a deal worth about 40 million pounds (50.5 million US dollars).Chelsea are able to sign Kovacic despite a two-transfer window transfer ban from FIFA, because they already held the player’s registration after he spent last season on loan with them from the Spanish club.Real Madrid confirmed the deal on their official website on Monday, saying: “Real Madrid and Chelsea have agreed the transfer of the player Mateo Kovacic.””The club wishes to thank Kovacic for these years of commitment, professionalism and exemplary behavior, and wishes him good luck in his next step,” continued the statement.Although Kovacic produced some slightly irregular form during his first season at Stamford Bridge, his signing will ensure Chelsea have midfield cover as England international Ruben Loftus-Cheek recovers from a ruptured Achilles tendon which he suffered at the end of last season.Real Madrid will also be grateful for the transfer fee after already spending over 300 million euros on players (including Eden Hazard from Chelsea) this summer. (PTI)
Sania turns expert for Wimbledon
Mumbai: Tennis star Sania Mirza will join broadcasters Star Sports as an expert to analyse the day-to-day action of the ongoing Wimbledon for fans across the country.Sania, a six-time grand slam winner and former Wimbledon double’s champion, brings her wealth of knowledge having played the singles, doubles and mixed doubles formats and will join from the studios on Star Sports Select 1/HD and Star Sports Select 2/HD and on Hotstar. (IANS)
India shooters vie for top honours
New Delhi: A 29-member Indian squad, including twelve members of the junior Shooting team, is geared up for the bi-annual ISSF World Championship Shotgun to be held in the Italian city of Lonato Del Grada.The coveted competition will witness twelve medal events spread across five days, commencing Wednesday. All four Olympic shotgun events including the Mixed Team events will take place and the Indian senior squad will look to put on a good performance, which can help it gain in confidence ahead of the Olympic qualifying events to be held later this year. Competitions begin with the Trap events and day two is when the four Trap finals across senior and junior events are lined up. Thursday is when both the senior and junior Mixed Trap finals will take place. (PTI)