Kipruto is Kenya’s hope to end 10,000m jinx at Olympic Games
Nairobi: World 10,000m bronze medalist Rhonex Kipruto has given Kenya fresh hope to end their jinx to win the race at the Olympic Games.The 20-year-old has already beaten the 5km road world record, clocking 13 minutes and 18 seconds, and went on to do the same in the 10km race, before Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda obliterated the record in 26:38 in Valencia, Spain.However, Barnaba Korir, the athlete’s agent and vice-chairman of Athletics Kenya (AK), believes the youngster has similar characteristics to those of Eliud Kipchoge and Geoffrey Kamworor and has the potential to rule the roost in his specialty, especially going forward to the Tokyo Olympic Games, reports Xinhua news agency.”There have been many other athletes before, but I really hope that Kipruto will fit in the equation that will strive to bring back Kenya’s glory in 10,000m at the Olympics,” said Korir on Sunday.Kenya last won gold in the 10,000m race back in 1968 through Naftali Temu in Mexico City. (IANS)
Ganguly upset with lockdown
Kolkata: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President and former India captain Sourav Ganguly admitted that while he is enjoying the time he is getting to spend at home during the lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, he feels sad about the number of lives that are being destroyed in this period.”It’s been a month into the lockdown. I didn’t mind it earlier,” Ganguly said on 100 hours 100 Stars, an initiative started by Fever Network, “Earlier, I wouldn’t get time at home like this. My lifestyle involved travelling for work everyday. For the past 30-32 days, I have been at home with my family, spending time with my wife, daughter, my mother and my brother. I have got a time like this after long, so I am enjoying myself. “People are being affected by this so much. There have been so many deaths. This situation upsets me, and I also feel scared. People come to my house to deliver groceries, food, so I feel a little scared as well. So it’s a mixed feeling. I just want this to end as quickly as possible.”(IANS)
Brazilian Henrique on Juve radar
Rio de Janeiro: Highly rated Botafogo teenager Luis Henrique could join Juventus in the European summer transfer window, according to media reports in Brazil. Botafogo officials see a possible deal involving the forward as a way to ease the club’s financial plight, which has worsened in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the Uol news portal reported on Saturday. The 18-year-old from the northeastern Brazilian city of Joao Pessoa is contracted to Botafogo until July 2022 and has a 32 million US dollars release clause. Henrique has made just nine first-team appearances for Botafogo since joining the Rio de Janeiro club in 2019. Juventus currently have three Brazilians in their squad: Forward Douglas Costa, right-back Danilo and left-back Alex Sandro.(PTI)