Malmo defend Swedish league title, draw Halmstad 0-0
STOCKHOLM, Dec 5: Malmo defended its Swedish league title with a 0-0 draw against Halmstad in the final round on Saturday. The point was enough to ensure Malmo finished ahead of Stockholm club AIK on goal difference for its 22nd domestic league title. Fans stormed the pitch at the final whistle to celebrate. Malmo and AIK finished with 59 points from 30 games. The 16-team league runs from Apr-Dec with an offseason during the winter months. Malmo qualified for the Champions League group stage this season but has just one point from five games. (AP)
Leipzig release American coach Jesse Marsch
LEIPZIG, Dec 5: American Jesse Marsch is no longer coach of Bundesliga team Leipzig. The club said Sunday that the two had “mutually agreed to end the cooperation. That is the result of an in-depth analysis and intensive discussions” after Friday’s 2-1 loss at Union Berlin. Leipzig said Marsch was being “released with immediate effect” and that assistant coach Achim Beierlorzer will take charge of the team for Tuesday’s Champions League game against Manchester City. Leipzig said a successor for Marsch will be “presented soon.” (AP)
Indian women’s football team return from Brazil
New Delhi, Dec 5: Having returned from Brazil after participating in a four-nation tournament, the Indian women’s team has now set up camp in Kochi, where it is training for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup. The Asian Cup is set to take place in India – Mumbai and Pune – from January 20 to February 6. India faced the likes of Brazil, Chile and Venezuela in Manaus, which is something that has helped the girls earn valuable experience, said head coach Thomas Dennerby after the team started its pre-tournament camp in Kochi on Sunday. (PTI)
India’s Rashid top Indian at 18th in Phuket C’ship
Phuket, Dec 5: Rashid Khan rounded off the week with a fine 4-under and was the best Indian at T-18 in the USD 1million Laguna Phuket Championship after a gripping finish here. The two-time Asian Tour winner, who had three fine rounds of 69, 65 and 66 was let down by a third round 76. Shiv Kapur also had an up-and-down week and ended with even par 70 and T-24th with 67-74-66-70, while Veer Ahlawat, who was in Top-10 last week, faltered over the weekend with 73-74 after 66-67 on first two days to finish T-36th alongside Khalin Joshi (67-71-72-70). S Chikkarangappa (71) was T-51, Udayan Mane (76) T-68 and Karandeep Kochhar (74) T-73. Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai finally secured his breakthrough maiden win on the Asian Tour by claiming the title. (PTI)
Arunachal Govt to support sports promotion: Khandu
Itanagar, Dec 5: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu Sunday said there will be budgetary allocation for promoting games and sports events in the state for shaping the character of youngsters like keeping them away from drug abuse. Attending the closing ceremony of the ‘Adi Sports Fest-2021′ at Pasighat, Khandu said the state government, from its next budget, will keep sufficient funds for organising such events, an official release said. “We have immensely talented youths. We are committed to producing sportspersons who can compete at the top level and the sports department has been tasked to chalk out a roadmap,” the chief minister said. (PTI)