France defender Jules Koundé injures leg during play
Madrid, Oct 30: France and Barcelona defender Jules Koundé has been substituted after apparently hurting his leg during Saturday’s Spanish league match at Valencia. Koundé is expected to play for France in the World Cup in Qatar where it will defend the title. Koundé said after Barcelona’s 1-0 victory on Saturday that he believed the pain was just “muscle strain.” “We will see, but I don’t think it is anything serious,” he said before adding that the season’s compact schedule was too much for players’ fitness. “This is the first time that we have to play every three days this early in the season,” Koundé said. “I believe that we are going a bit crazy with so many games. Sometimes those in charge don’t think about the players.” (AP)
Uruguay’s Cavani substituted after injury in La Liga game
Madrid, Oct 30: Valencia and Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani had to be substituted after hurting his lower right leg in his club’s Spanish league game against Barcelona. Uruguay coach Diego Alonso has included the 35-year-old Cavani on his preliminary list of players for the World Cup in Qatar. Cavani appeared to try to play through some pain on Saturday but fell to the turf in the 17th minute at Mestalla Stadium and held his lower right leg. The former Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United striker grimaced and shook his head as he slowly walked off the field. Valencia coach Gennaro Gattuso said Cavani had pain in his ankle that would need to be examined. Cavani has four goals since he joined Valencia this season. Uruguay opens the World Cup against South Korea on November 24. It will also face Portugal and Ghana in Group H. (AP)
Chennai to host squash World Cup in 2023
Chennai, Oct 30: Chennai will host the revamped squash World Cup in 2023, World Squash Federation (WSF) president Zena Wooldridge said on Sunday. She also said the city could host the 2025 edition of the World Cup. The relaunched World Cup in 2023 would be held in the city following the signing of a multiyear agreement with the Squash Rackets Federation of India. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the WSF conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM) here, Wooldridge said the World Cup, which has not happened since 2011, could possibly be a mixed team event. “We have got support to bring the new world cup to Chennai. We had it (WC) previously, it hasn’t happened since 2011. It will be a revamped one…plan is to make it a mixed team event. We have not decided on the qualification criteria,” she added. (PTI)
Golfer Atwal placed 28th after third round in Bermuda
Southampton (Bermuda), Oct 30: India’s Arjun Atwal had a quiet day with just two birdies and one bogey as he carded 1-under 70 for a tied 28th place in the third round of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship. Atwal, who had a 63 in the first round followed that up with an even par 71 and then 70, as he was 9-under with one round to go. Starting on the back nine, Atwal bogeyed the 12th and was 1-over till he found back-to-back birdies on second and third. He parred the rest. Seamus Power, the highest-ranked player at Port Royal this week, took the lead with a 6-under 65 and he shared it with Ben Griffin, who also shot a fine round in strong wind with a 66. They were at 18-under 195, two shots clear of Kevin Yu (67) and Aaron Baddeley (68). (PTI)