Ugandan athlete goes missing from Tokyo hotel
Osaka, July 16: A Ugandan weightlifter, who was training in western Japan ahead of the start of the Tokyo Olympics next Friday, has gone missing. Yahoo Japan reported on Friday that the authorities are looking for 20-year-old Julius Ssekitoleko of the Ugandan delegation who has been in Izumisano, Osaka Prefecture, for a pre-Olympic training camp. Apparently, he failed to show up for a daily PCR test around noon and was not found in his hotel room. Uganda’s delegation was among the first teams to arrive in Japan for the Tokyo Olympics, which will open July 23 following a one-year delay. (IANS)
Serie A club Spezia hit with 2-year transfer ban by FIFA
Zurich, July 16: American-owned Italian club Spezia was hit with a two-year transfer ban by FIFA on Friday for breaking transfer rules when it recruited young players from Africa. FIFA said the case involved the Serie A club “bringing several Nigerian minors into Italy using a scheme aimed at circumventing (transfer of minor rules) as well as national immigration law.” The ban in registering new players runs through the 2022-23 season, and the club must also pay a fine of 500,000 Swiss francs (USD 544,000), FIFA said. (AP)
McHugh to continue stint with ATK Mohun Bagan
Kolkata, July 16: Ireland’s versatile footballer Carl McHugh will continue to wear the ATK Mohun Bagan jersey in the next season of Indian Super League, playing under head coach Antonio Lopez Habas for the third time in a row. The advantage of having the Irish footballer in the team is that he can play in many positions. He is equally efficient as central defender, defensive midfielder and in left-back position. He was a vital player for the Green and Maroon in most of the matches last season. (PTI)
Joao Victor signs two-year extension at Hyderabad FC
HYDERABAD, July 16: Indian Super League side Hyderabad FC has retained Brazilian midfielder Joao Victor, who signed a two-year extension till the end of the 2022-23 campaign, the club announced on Friday. At ease in both midfield and defense, the 32-year-old was an integral part of the HFC squad that finished just outside the top-4 in the 2019-20 season of the ISL. The former La Liga midfielder made 17 starts under head coach Manolo Marquez last season, registering three goals and two assists. (PTI)
Rafael extends stay at Chennaiyin
Chennai, July 16: Attacking midfielder Rafael Crivellaro on Friday extended his stay at two-time ISL winners Chennaiyin FC on a multi-year contract. The 32-year old Brazilian, who captained CFC in 2020-21, was ruled out for almost half the season after suffering an ankle injury during a game against ATK Mohun Bagan. Chennaiyin FC co-owner Vita Dani said Crivallero has been a key player for the team ever since he joined. (PTI)
Bengaluru sign Congolese striker
Bengaluru, July 16: Bengaluru FC have bolstered their attack ahead of the upcoming AFC Cup playoff stage with the signing of Congolese striker Prince Vinny Ibara Doniama, the club announced on Friday. The 25-year-old, who most recently represented Ligue 2 side Chateauroux on loan from Belgian First Division A side Beerschot, joins on a two-year deal with an optional one year extension. (PTI)
Novak to compete in Tokyo games
Belgrade, July 16: INovak Djokovic is going to the Tokyo Olympics, keeping alive his chance for a “Golden Slam.” Djokovic, 34, posted Thursday on Twitter that he had booked his flight and was proud to represent Serbia at the Olympics. Earlier, Djokovic said he didn’t know if he was going to play in Tokyo. If the top-ranked Djokovic wins gold in men’s singles and at the U.S. Open, he would be the first male tennis player to complete a “Golden Slam” — all four Grand Slam tournaments and the Olympics in the same calendar year. Steffi Graf is the only woman to have done it, in 1988. (AP)
Aditi, partner 2nd in Great Lakes
MICHIGAN, July 16: India’s Aditi Ashok and her Thai teammate, Pajaree Anannarukarn, produced another superb bogey-free performance with 7-under 63 in the best-ball format to be placed second at the end of second round of Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational here. They were 12-under for 36 holes with rounds of 65-63 and two shots behind Thai sisters, Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn, who shot an 11-under 59 in best-ball play to take a two-stroke lead. (PTI)
Tvesa tied second in Finland
TURKU (FINLAND), July 16: Indian golfer Tvesa Malik continued her great summer run, firing three birdies in a four-hole stretch in the first round to lie tied second at the Gant Ladies Open, the eighth event on the 2021 Ladies European Tour calendar here. Tvesa, who missed an Olympic berth, had three birdies between 14th and 17th to register a score of three-under 68 on the opening day at the Aura Golf. She is lying two shots behind leader Ursula Wikstrom (66) of Finland. Diksha Dagar, part of the winning team at Aramco Ladies Open in London last week, was T-18 with 72, while Vani Kapoor (77) was T-74 and Astha Madan (79) was T-95th. (PTI)
Messi, Barça close to signing deal
Barcelona, July 16: Lionel Messi and Barcelona are closer to signing a new deal that would keep the Argentina star at the Spanish club through the end of his playing career. A person with knowledge of the negotiations between club and player told The Associated Press on Friday that Messi was prepared to accept Barcelona’s offer of a five-year contract at 50% of his previous salary. The person spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to speak publicly about the negotiations. In his previous contract, Messi earned a massive 138 million euros (USD 163 million) per season. Barcelona as a club has officially said nothing publicly about the details of the negotiations with the football great. (PTI)