SAAF Cross County & National cross county c’ships postponed
New Delhi, Jan 7: The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) on Friday postponed the SAAF Cross Country Championships and the 56th National Cross Country Championships, scheduled to be held in Nagaland on January 15, due to rapid spread of Omicron variant of coronavirus. The tournament was set to be the first ever international athletics event in the state of Nagaland. The bid to host the South Asian Athletics Federation (SAAF) Cross Country Championship was made by Nagaland Athletics Association (NAA) with the support of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio. (PTI)
All India Inter-University archery meet deferred amid COVID surge
New Delhi, Jan 7: The All India Inter-University Archery Championship, slated to be held in Mohali from January 18-22, was on Friday postponed due to rising COVID-19 cases across the country. “Keeping in view the safety of the players, it has been notified to all participating universities/institutes that the All India Inter University Archery (Men and Women) Championship has been postponed till further notice,” Dr Arvinder Singh Kang, director students welfare and organising secretary of the meet stated in a letter to the sports board Universities Affiliated to AIU. “The new dates of the tournament shall be intimated in due course of time.” However the ongoing first sub-junior, junior and senior national ranking tournament in Gachibowli, Hyderabad is continuing, an Archery Association of India official said. (PTI)
Injured Kashyap out for 6 weeks
New Delhi, Jan 7: Former Commonwealth Games champion shuttler Parupalli Kashyap says he will have to “reassess his training” after being ruled out for six weeks due to a recent calf muscle injury. A former world no six, Kashyap sustained a grade 1 calf muscle pull during the All India Senior Ranking tournament in Hyderabad (December 24-30) last month. Kashyap, 35, has been troubled by frequent injuries and fitness issues ever since his Commonwealth Games gold in 2014. After enduring another tough year, the shuttler was looking for good outings at the two All India senior ranking tournaments at Chennai and Hyderabad. The injury means Kashyap will not be able to participate in the three events in the country, starting with the India Open Super 500. (PTI)
Trippier signs for Newcastle
Newcastle, Jan 7: Newcastle began its first transfer window under Saudi ownership by signing England fullback Kieran Trippier from Atletico Madrid on Friday, highlighting the level of player the club can attract now it is one of the richest in the world. Trippier, who started the European Championship final in July, has swapped the Spanish champion for a team struggling against relegation in the Premier League in a move that is reportedly costing Newcastle 12 million pounds ($16.25 million). (AP)
Coutinho joins Aston Villa on loan
London, Jan 7: Aston Villa and FC Barcelona have agreed on terms for Brazil international Philippe Coutinho to spend the rest of this season on loan at Villa Park, the Premier League club announced on Friday. The 29-year-old Brazil international moved to the Nou Camp from Liverpool in 2018, but struggled to establish himself and spent the 2019/20 season on loan at Bayern Munich. He won the Champions League with tBayer, who beat Barcelona in the quarter-finals of that season’s competition. (IANS)