McEnroe recovers from virus
New York: Former tennis player Patrick McEnroe announced on Sunday that he has tested negative for coronavirus. The former US Davis Cup captain had been diagnosed with the pandemic and had been quarantined at his home in New York.”All right everyone, great news for me and my wife, Melissa, we both tested negative for COVID-19,” McEnroe said in a video posted on Twitter. “We just got the tests back this morning.””I know we’re talking a lot about testing on TV, we need more of them, we all know that. It was great to see this going so well for us and for New York state in general,” said McEnroe.53-year-old McEnroe, who is the younger brother of seven-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe, said that he is looking to help out in the fight against the pandemic that has killed more than 12,000 in New York. “Now I’ll try to go for the antibody test when that’s available to give my blood, my plasma. Still thinking about everyone on the front lines,” McEnroe said.New York reported 540 more coronavirus deaths overnight, a reduction of 25 per cent from the previous day, Governor Andrew Cuomo said, but the state still remained the epicentre of the pandemic in the US, which currently accounts for the highest number of cases and fatalities in the world. (IANS)
Buttler, Uthappa learning to cook
Jaipur:They would have been striving together to make Rajasthan Royals win at this time of the year in the Indian Premier League (IPL).Instead, the coronavirus pandemic has forced the likes of Jos Buttler, Robin Uthappa, Varun Aaron and Riyan Parag to be at home and help the women in their lives.”We have been home for three weeks now and we are loving it. He is also been doing lots of cooking. He has even done some cleaning for me,” Louise Buttler said during a Rajasthan Royals social media interaction.”It’s been amazing to have Robin home for this long at a stretch. Robin’s been cooking. He is trying his hand at cooking,” said Shheethal, Uthappa’s better half.For 18-year old Riyan Parag, who impressed one and all last season, his mother Mithoo Barooah complained the Guwahati-born batsman has been into gaming all the time but it is good to be around him.”I am actually loving it, having my kid around with me for so long. I also don’t want him to be away from cricket as that’s his passion. Not just that, he is gaming all the time which annoys me,” Mithoo said. (IANS)
African CL postponed
Cairo:The African Champions League and African Confederation Cup finals, formerly scheduled to take place in May, have been postponed due to the spread of COVID-19, officials announced.”The finals of the Confederation Cup and Champions League 2019/20 have been put on hold until further notice,” said a statement on Saturday from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Xinhua news reports.”The new schedule will be communicated in due time after consultation with the various stakeholders,” added the statement by CAF, which had already postponed the semifinals.The Cameroonian port city of Douala had been chosen to stage the Champions League final on Friday, May 29, at the recently built 50,000-seat Japoma Stadium. (IANS)
Sports journalist Goswami no more
Kolkata: Veteran journalist Samir Goswami, a much-liked figure in Kolkata sports journalism fraternity, breathed his last on Saturday after suffering from cardiac arrest. He was 65 and is survived by his wife. Loved for his amiable nature, Goswami worked for more than two decades in popular Bengali newspaper ‘Bartaman’. At a time when coverage of local sports in Kolkata was on the wane, Goswami was one of the few journalists, who would devotedly cover first division cricket league games and unfailingly updated the scores of hockey league matches as well results of lower divison (second to fifth division) football leagues. He also diligently covered senior and junior level swimming competitions as well as table tennis events. After his retirement he used to freelance in different media including AIR Kolkata. (PTI)