Aston Villa loan American Indiana Vassilev to Inter Miami
MIAMI, July 8: American forward Indiana Vassilev was loaned Wednesday from Aston Villa to Inter Miami for the rest of the Major League Soccer season. The 20-year-old from Savannah, Georgia, made his Aston Villa debut against Fulham in the FA Cup on Jan. 4, 2020, and made his Premier League debut that January 18 at Brighton. He made four Premier League appearances plus one each in the FA Cup and League Cup during the 2019-20 season, then was loaned to third-tier Burton for the first half of the 2020-21 season. (AP)
India’s Sarin wins Serbia Open chess, enters top 100
Mumbai, July 8: Young Indian chess sensation Nihal Sarin won the Masters’ section of the Serbia Open Chess Championship, his second consecutive tournament victory, after claiming the title in Silver Lake Open, which has propelled him into the top 100 in live chess ratings. The 16-year-old from Thrissur, Kerala, on Thursday, played out a draw with GM Vladimir Fedoseev of Russia to finish with 7.5 points out a possible nine to finish clear first in the 280-player field in the nine-round Serbia Ope. (IANS)
French-Moroccan star midfielder Hugo Boumous joins ATKMB
Kolkata, July 8: In a major boost to their attack, ATK Mohun Bagan on Thursday announced the signing of French-Moroccan star midfielder Hugo Boumous ahead of the upcoming Indian Super League season. The 25-year-old, who played a key role in Mumbai City FC winning the title last season with three goals and seven assists, will join the likes of Liston Colaco and Joni Kauko in the midfield. “I have heard that the joy of playing in front of millions of supporters of the Green-Maroon team at the Saltlake Stadium is different. I am always hungry to win the trophy,” Boumous said in an ATKMB statement. (PTI)
Hyderabad FC sign Nigerian World Cupper Ogbeche
hyderabad, July 8: Adding experience to their attack ahead of the upcoming Indian Super League, Hyderabad FC have completed the signing of Nigerian World Cupper Bartholomew Ogbeche, the club announced on Thursday. The 36-year-old striker, who won the ISL double of the League Winner’s Shield and the ISL Trophy with Mumbai City last season, has signed a one-year deal. Born in Nigeria, he has three goals in 11 caps for the Super Eagles. Ogbeche also claimed two caps for Nigeria at the 2002 FIFA World Cup against Argentina and Sweden. (PTI)
Australia’s oldest living Olympian, Frank Prihoda turns 100
Sydney, July 8: Frank Prihoda, known as Australia’s oldest living Olympian, is celebrating his 100th birthday on Thursday in his home town of Thredbo village in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales. “Frank is a true pioneer of winter sport. He’s paved the way for many Winter Olympians and the truly amazing winter team we have today,” said Australian Olympic Committee CEO Matt Carroll in a statement. Prihoda was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia – now capital of Czech Republic – in 1921. After Czechoslovakia turned into a communist country in late 1940s, Prihoda left with a pair of skis and moved to Australia. (IANS)
Anurag Thakur takes charge as sports minister
New Delhi, July 8: Anurag Thakur on Thursday took charge as the country’s 17th sports minister, succeeding Kiren Rijiju and promised to do everything possible to make India a sporting powerhouse. The 46-year-old former Cricket Board President was given responsibility of sports and youth affairs along with the Information and Broadcasting ministry after he took oath as a cabinet minister on Wednesday. “I am grateful to the Hon’ble Prime Minister who gave me a new responsibility involving youth and sports. It is his belief, his love for sports and his ever-growing initiative which is taking Indian sports forward,” he told reporters after taking charge. (PTI)
I-League’s latest entrant introduced in Visakhapatnam
New Delhi, July 8: Sreenidi Deccan FC, the latest entrants into the Hero I-League this season, was launched in Visakhapatnam with Andhra Pradesh Sports Minister Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao attending the event as the chief guest. Speaking on the occasion, the state Sports Minister remarked, Mental and physical fitness is coming to Visakhapatnam in such a big way.” Das stated, We welcome Sreenidi Deccan FC to the Hero I-League, and it’s great to see a team from Vizag in the elite group, which would be having the best facilities. Sreenidhi will have their first experience of playing in the I-League 2021-22 later this season, shceduled to kickoff in December in Kolkata. (PTI)
Southeast Asian Games 2021 in Vietnam postponed due to COVID
Hanoi, July 8: The 2021 Southeast Asian Games to be hosted by Vietnam will be postponed to next year due to continuing COVID-19 issues in the region the SEA Games Federation announced on Thursday. In a statement released through the Olympic Council of Malaysia after a meeting in Kuala Lumpur, the SGF said that all members were in agreement that the current COVID situation in Southeast Asia had not improved enough to allow the 31st SEA Games to take place as scheduled from November 21st to December 2nd. (AP)
Golfer Cabrera faces 2-year jail sentence over assault charges
Buenos Aires, July 8: Argentinian golfer ngel Cabrera, a former Masters and U.S. Open champion, was sentenced to two years in prison on assault charges against his former partner. A court in the province of Cordoba, 500 miles (about 800 kilometers) northwest of Buenos Aires, convicted the 51-year-old for assaulting, threatening and harassing Cecilia Torres Mana, his partner between 2016 and 2018. Cabrera, who denied in the trial any wrongdoing, will serve his sentence immediately. The first charges were brought by his former partner Torres Mana. (AP)