Chelsea play Manchester City in FA Cup third round
London, Nov 29: To reach a fourth consecutive FA Cup final, Chelsea will have to go through Manchester City in the third round. Chelsea will head to Manchester when the big guns enter the competition from Jan 6-9. Liverpool launches its defense at Anfield against Wolverhampton. Manchester United hosts Everton. West Ham makes a trip to Brentford, and Southampton travels to Crystal Palace. Premier League leader Arsenal and high-flying Newcastle drew away games at League One sides Oxford and Sheffield Wednesday. Tottenham hosts League One’s Portsmouth, and Brighton travels to Middlesbrough. Championship rivals Cardiff host Leeds, and Burnley go to Bournemouth. Nottingham Forest and Fulham both face Blackpool and Hull respectively. Aston Villa welcome fourth-tier Stevenage, and Leicester face either fifth-tier Dagenham & Redbridge or League Two’s Gillingham. (AP)
Juventus board of directors and chief Agnelli resign
Turin, Nov 29: Juventus’ board of directors and president Andrea Agnelli resigned en masse on Monday. The stunning move follows a preliminary investigation by the Turin Public Prosecutor’s Office into fraudulent accounting, of alleged hidden payments to players. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Juventus said 23 players agreed to reduce their salary for four months to help the club through the crisis. But its claimed the players gave up only one month’s salary. A shareholders meeting rescheduled for Dec. 27 was postponed again to Jan. 18 to choose a new board. (AP)
Woods withdraws from World Challenge due to injury
Nassau, Nov 29: Tournament host Tiger Woods was forced to pull out of this week’s Hero World Challenge due to a foot injury that is “making it difficult to walk.” The 46-year-old golfer last played at the British Open in St. Andrews in July. He was set to return to action after a short hiatus with the PGA Tour-sanctioned event starting at the Albany Golf Course on Thursday. The 15-time major champion said he developed plantar fasciitis, which is an inflammation of a thick band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes, in his right foot, while preparing for the annual charity event. “In preparation and practice for this week’s Hero World Challenge, I’ve developed plantar fasciitis in my right foot, which is making it difficult to walk,” Woods said in a statement posted on his Twitter handle on Monday. World number 29 Sepp Straka has been named as Woods’ replacement. (PTI)
Diksha remains in Top-60 of Ladies European Tour
Behnavis (Spain), Nov 29: Diksha Dagar finished 2022 with a modest round of 1-over 74 at the Par-73 Alferini Golf course, but ensured full playing status for the next season. The 2023 season will be her fifth successive on the Ladies European Tour (LET). Diksha, one of the only two Indian women to have won on the LET, finished tied 41st at the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España, the final event of the season. Also finishing in tied 41st place was Vani Kapoor (74). A third Indian, Amandeep Drall, could not reproduce the magic of a runner-up finish at Hero Indian Open, and ended tied 45th. Diksha was the best Indian on the LET Order of Merit at 54th place, while Vani Kapoor was 63rd and Amandeep Drall finished 66th. Tvesa Malik, who was 19th in 2021, dropped to 116th. Aditi Ashok, who played only seven events on LET in 2021, was 100th, but will have a good status as a three-time winner. (PTI)