Eight Indian boxers test COVID positive in Turkey
New Delhi, March 30: Eight members of the Indian boxing squad, including three pugilists, tested positive for COVID-19 during the Bosphorus Tournament trip to Turkey and have been quarantined in Istanbul. Commonwealth Games silver-medallist Gaurav Solanki (57kg), Prayag Chouhan (75kg) and Brijesh Yadav (81kg) tested positive for the virus a week back. Coaches Dharmendra Yadav and Santosh Birmole, physiotherapists Shikha Kedia and Dr Umesh along with video analyst Nitin Kumar are the others in isolation, a team source told PTI. (PTI)
Kun Aguero to leave City atend of season after 10 years
Manchester, March 30: Sergio Aguero, Manchester City’s record scorer, will leave the English club after 10 years when his contract expires at the end of the season. The 32-year-old Argentina striker has 257 goals for City, the most famous being his stoppage-time winner against Queens Parks Rangers on the final day of the 2011-12 season that clinched the team its first league title in 44 years. A key player in the growth of the Abu Dhabi-owned club, Aguero has struggled with injuries over the past year and been restricted to just 14 appearances in all competitions this season. In a Twitter post on Monday to his 14 million followers, Aguero said he had a “huge sense of satisfaction and pride” about playing for City for a decade and is ready to “continue competing at the highest level.” “I will continue to give it (EPL) my utmost for the rest of the season to win more titles and bring more joy to the fans.” (AP)
World sprinting champ Naser gets court date for doping case
Lausanne, March 30: World champion sprinter Salwa Eid Naser will have a two-day appeal hearing next month that could lead to a ban from the Tokyo Olympics for breaking anti-doping rules. The Court of Arbitration for Sport said Tuesday it will hear the case involving the 400-meter runner over two days on April 22-23. The World Anti-Doping Agency and World Athletics both filed appeals at CAS to challenge an independent tribunal ruling last year that cleared Naser on a technicality for doping tests she missed. The 22-year-old Bahraini ran the fastest women’s 400 since 1985 to win the world title 18 months ago in Doha, Qatar, while she was under investigation. (AP)
Benzema to face trial for alleged blackmail
Paris, March 30: Karim Benzema will face trial in October for his alleged involvement in blackmailing former France teammate Matthieu Valbuena over a sex tape, the Versailles prosecutor’s office said on Tuesday. Benzema will stand trial from Oct. 20-22 on the charge of complicity in attempted blackmail. He denies any wrongdoing. The Real Madrid striker is suspected of pressuring Valbuena in 2015 to pay blackmailers who threatened to reveal an intimate video in which Valbuena featured. Benzema, the most talented French forward of his generation, has been banned from the national team since November 2015 because of his suspected involvement in the scandal, despite consistent showings for Real Madrid. (AP)
Ronaldo’s armband up for auction
Belgrade, March 30: The Portugal captain’s armband which Cristiano Ronaldo slammed into the ground after his apparent winning goal was disallowed in a World Cup qualifier against Serbia was put up for auction on Tuesday. A charity group which is trying to collect money for the surgery of a 6-month-old boy from Serbia with spinal muscular atrophy got the armband from a stadium worker who picked it up after the match ended in a 2-2 draw on Saturday in Belgrade. The group said the blue armband with the letter C will be in an online auction for three days. Ronaldo walked off the field moments before the final whistle after his injury-time goal was not allowed by officials. While heading straight into the dressing room before the final whistle, Ronaldo angrily threw down his captain armband near the touchline. (AP)