Argentina yet to set date for football restart
Buenos Aires: The Argentinian government has yet to decide when domestic football will resume after months of inactivity because of the coronavirus pandemic, Tourism and Sports Minister Matias Lammens said on Thursday. First division clubs were allowed to return to training on August 10, however, officials have remained guarded about plans to restart competitions. “There is no date yet, it is important to highlight that,” Lammens told a news conference. “What we have established was the return to training in small groups with players keeping their distance.” Lammens said he would meet next week with health minister Gines Gonzalez to discuss the next steps, but stopped short of forecasting a return date for the country’s top leagues. He added that the government was wary of authorizing football to restart too quickly, citing a series of suspended matches in Brazil because of coronavirus outbreaks within squads. (IANS)
Willian joins Arsenal after contract expires at Chelsea
London: Brazil winger Willian completed a cross-London move to Arsenal on Friday after his contract expired at fellow Premier League team Chelsea. The 32-year-old Willian rejected the offer of a two-year extension with Chelsea, where he played since 2013. “We have been monitoring him for the past few months,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said. “We had a clear intention to strengthen in the attacking midfielder and the winger positions; he is a player that gives us a lot of versatility, he can play in three or four different positions. “He has the experience of everything in the football world but to still have the ambition to come here and contribute to bring the club where it belongs. I have been really impressed with all the talks I have had with him and how much he wanted to come.” Willian primarily plays as a right winger, where record signing Nicolas Pepe and youngster Reiss Nelson are deployed at Arsenal. (AP)
Asian Handball Federation reschedules continental tournaments
Beijing: The Asian Handball Federation (AHF) has rescheduled five continental championships due to the uncertainty over the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s men’s Asian Junior Championship and men’s Asian Youth Championship have both been moved for the second time and postponed to 2021. The junior event, for U-20 players, was scheduled for Shiraz in Iran between July 10 and 21 before it was moved to October 3-13. Almaty in Kazakhstan was due to host the youth competition for under 18s between August 15 and 26, before its first rescheduling to October 24 – November 3. Both competitions will now take place in mid-March. The men’s and women’s Asian Youth Beach Handball Championships have also been re-scheduled for 2021, with dates in February planned. This competition was due to take place in Bangkok between April 1 and 10, before being moved to dates in September which also proved impossible. (Agencies)
2nd edition of Street Child Cricket WC to be held in India
New Delhi: The second edition of Street Child Cricket World Cup (SCCWC) will be held in India ahead of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2023, child rights body ‘Save the Children’ said. The event follows the Street Child Cricket World Cup 2019 which took place in London and Cambridge, with the finals at Lord’s, the body said in a statement. Announcing their partnership with Save the Children, the Street Child United (SCU) said they are now inviting applications globally. SCU is a UK-based entity which has held street child tournaments around major sporting festivals like FIFA, Olympics and more. “After the success of the inaugural Street Child Cricket World Cup at Lord’s in 2019, we are thrilled that we are heading to India in 2023. In the country where cricket can only be described as a religion, we will ensure that the game we all love provides an unprecedented opportunity for our young people to show just how remarkable they are, and effect global change for street-connected children,” said John Wroe, founder and chief executive officer of Street Child United. (PTI)
Sarina Wiegman appointed England women’s team head coach
London: Netherlands women’s manager Sarina Wiegman will take over the reins from Phil Neville as England’s head coach in September 2021. The former Netherlands midfielder has signed a four-year contract, with Neville set to leave the role next summer. “We’re delighted to announce the appointment of Sarina Wiegman as the next head coach of England Women, succeeding Phil Neville at the end of his term,” the FA said in a statement on their website. “Current Netherlands head coach Wiegman has signed a four-year contract to manage England’s campaigns for the home UEFA Women’s EURO in 2022, the FIFA Women’s World Cup to be played in Australia and New Zealand in 2023 and the UEFA Women’s EURO in 2025,” the statement on thefa.com added. “I’m delighted and honoured to join England Women next year,” said Wiegman on her appointment. “England is the cradle of football and the major developments in women’s football globally over recent years have been led by the FA. I am very much looking forward to contributing my experience and expertise to this ambitious team. (IANS)
Taiwan LPGA event cancelled
Taipei: The LPGA Taiwan Swinging Skirts golf tournament has been cancelled due to the circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The tournament was scheduled to be held from October 29 to November 1 at Miramar Golf Country Club. “Further to the advice of the Taiwan government and GAROC, and with the significant travel restrictions put in place due to the coronavirus, the LPGA along with our tournament partners, has made the decision to cancel the 2020 Taiwan Swinging Skirts LPGA, scheduled October 29 – Nov 1 at Miramar Golf Country Club,” said LPGA in its statement. “We are very grateful to Swinging Skirts, the Sports Administration, Ministry of Education, GAROC and IMG for all their hard work in trying to make the 2020 tournament happen. “While we are disappointed we cannot play this year, both Swinging Skirts and the LPGA are fully committed to returning in 2021 for the Taiwan Swinging Skirts LPGA.” (IANS)