Man City will give Liverpool guard of honour
London: Manchester City will form a guard of honour for new English Premier League champion Liverpool when they meet next Thursday, City manager Pep Guardiola said. Liverpool took the title City have owned for the last two years this week. When English soccer resumed this month, Liverpool’s trip to Etihad Stadium was a potentially decisive game in the title race. But City’s loss at Chelsea on Thursday put Liverpool mathematically out of reach, and Guardiola feels it would be sporting to pay tribute to the new champs. “We are going to do the guard of honor, of course,” Guardiola said. “Always we receive Liverpool when they come to our house in an incredible way. They cannot complain and of course we are going to do it because they deserve it.” Liverpool holds a 23-point advantage over second-placed City. (AP)
Indonesia officially announces 2021 FIFA U-20 World Cup venues
Jakarta: The Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) has officially picked six out of the 10 potential sports stadiums on the shortlist for the forthcoming 2021 FIFA U-20 World Cup to be staged in the country, an official has said. The six stadiums are located on the main Java Island, Sumatra Island and Bali Island, Media reported on Sunday. The stadiums chosen were the Gelora Bung Karno in Indonesia’s capital of Jakarta, the Gelora Bung Tomo in East Java province’s capital of Surabaya, the Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in West Java province’s district of Bandung, the Gelora Sriwijaya Stadium in South Sumatra province’s capital of Palembang, and the Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium in Gianyar district in the resort island of Bali province. The U-20 World Cup is scheduled to be played from May 20 to June 12, 2021. In September or October, FIFA’s delegates will visit Indonesia to inspect the six stadiums, according to the PSSI. (Agencies)
People thought I made a mistake joining Liverpool: Milner
Liverpool: Liverpool midfielder James Milner took a thinly-veiled dig at the critics who, according to him, had questioned his move to Anfield from Manchester City in 2015. Following a lean spell initially, Milner has now added a Champions League and a Premier League medal into his illustrious trophy cabinet with Liverpool in the past two seasons. “I like the fact people thought I was making a mistake (by joining Liverpool),” Milner was quoted as saying by Daily Mail. “It’s one of the things that drives you. “City is a great place but this was Liverpool, a hugely successful club but without recent history of winning. “They’d a near-miss in 2014 and I could still see the hangover when I came in. That had to be got rid of.” Liverpool ended their 30-year-old top-flight drought after City lost to Chelsea 1-2 away from home and Jurgen Klopp’s troops dismantling Crystal Palace 4-0. The results meant City couldn’t mathematically overhaul Liverpool’s tally despite seven matches to go. “It (match against Palace) was one of the proudest performances since I’ve been at the club,” he said. (IANS)
AFI to give certificates to technical officials online
New Delhi: The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has made available certificates of participation online for those who took part in its seminar for technical officials in April. Nearly 1000 participants attended the AFI-South Asian Athletics Federation’s joint initiative held from April 25 to 30, which was touted as the world’s biggest online seminar of a single sport. “We have led the way in the use of technology for information sharing and advancing knowledge among technical officials. In keeping with the demands of the current situation, we are making the certificates available online so that each participant can download his or her certificate,” AFI President Adille Sumariwalla said. World Athletics President Sebastian Coe had delivered the keynote address on the opening day of the six-day seminar. (PTI)
Former Serbia and Montenegro football coach dies
Shanghai: Former Serbia and Montenegro head coach Ilija Petkovic has passed away, allegedly from COVID-19. His former club, Shanghai Shenhua, confirmed on Sunday, the death of the 74-year-old Serbian football coach. “We will cherish those amazing things you brought to us. RIP,” the club wrote on social media. Petkovic was hospitalized for fever and duodenum ulcer and later found to have contracted the COVID-19 in the hospital, a report from news outlet Netease said. He spent one year with Shanghai Shenhua in 2001, coaching them to second place in China’s top league. Petkovic coached Serbia and Montenegro at the 2006 World Cup finals. (PTI)
Chau Hoi Wah announces retirement
Beijing: Asian badminton champion Chau Hoi Wah told the Badminton World Federation that she had mixed feelings on her decision to retire from the sport. The 34-year-old handed in her retirement plan form on June 5, which was also her birthday. “It feels complicated,” she admitted, revealing that she was flooded by mixed emotions at that moment. “I knew I would retire one day, and I’d planned it too, I’d talked it over with my family and coaches, but when it came to the time that I handed the form, it was quite touching. Happy, sad… not sad that I’m retiring, but that time flies. I’m happy with my achievements. Thankfully, I’m retiring without regret.” Chau and her partner Lee Chun Hei became the first pair from Hong Kong of China to win the mixed doubles gold at the Asia Championships in 2014, before getting their career-high world ranking of No. 6 that year. Then the duo took bronze at the World Championships in Glasgow in 2017. (Agencies)