Asian Games will be hockey qualifying event for ’24 Oly
Bhubaneswar, Jan 29: The hockey venue for the Hangzhou Asian Games later this year is almost ready and there is no ambiguity about the continental multi-sport event being a qualifier for the 2024 Paris Olympics, International Hockey Federation (FIH) president Ikram Tayyab said on Sunday. The Asian Games, which were to be held last year in the Chinese city of Hangzhou but postponed due to worsening COVID-19 situation in the country, is scheduled to be held in the Chinese city from September 23 to October 8. Asian Games normally serves as Olympic qualifiers but there was confusion after the Hangzhou Asian Games were postponed from last year to this year due to COVID-19 situation in China. As per the qualification procedure for Paris Games laid down by the FIH, 12 teams each in men and women will participate in the competition. The host nation France will get a direct berth in both the sections. Besides, five continental champions from Africa, Pan America, Asia, Europe and Oceania will also qualify directly. For the remaining six berths, the FIH will conduct two Olympic Qualification Tournaments, consisting of eight teams each (16 teams in total), to be held in early 2024. The number of teams from each continent participating in these tournaments will be based on continental quotas, which will be determined according to the FIH World Rankings on January 31, 2023 The teams filling each quota, and therefore invited to participate, will be based on performance at the continental championships. The top three in each of these tournaments will qualify. (PTI)
Chelsea sign Gusto from Lyon
London, Jan 29: Chelsea completed its 16th signing in two transfer windows since the club came under new ownership, bringing in France under-21 right back Malo Gusto from Lyon on Sunday. The 19-year-old Gusto moves for a reported 26.3 million pounds ($32.5 million) and will finish the season on loan at the French club where he has established himself as an attacking full back. He is viewed as long-term competition for Reece James. Gusto, who has made 54 appearances for Lyon, described himself as a “box-to-box” player in a short video on Chelsea’s website. Chelsea has already signed winger Mykhaylo Mudryk, striker David Datro Fofana, center back Benoit Badiashile, attacking midfielder Noni Madueke and midfielder Andrey Santos on permanent deals and brought in Portugal forward Joao Felix on loan from Atletico Madrid this month. (PTI)
Bihar win Ranji Plate Group title
Patna, Jan 29: Bihar thrashed Manipur by 220 runs in the Plate Group final of the Ranji Trophy 2022-23 at the MoinUl Haq Stadium, here on Sunday. After getting reduced to 107/4 by stumps on the fourth day in a chase of 545, Manipur needed something spectacular on the final day to pull off a draw but they were bowled out for 324 in their second innings with Nawaz Khan claiming 5 for 95. With this, Bihar and Manipur, the two finalists of the Plate Group, will be promoted to the Elite division next season. Resuming Day 5, Langlonyamba Keishangbam continued to put up a fight alongside the other overnight batter, Bikash Singh. They added runs at a brisk rate to cause a bit of concern in the Bihar camp. Bikash smashed three sixes to race to 79 whereas the skipper Keishangbam helped himself to a century. The two batters put on 140 for the fifth wicket to raise hopes of a stunning comeback for Manipur. But Nawaz dismissed Keishangbam (117) and it triggered a collapse. From there on, Nawaz went on a roll and continued to pick up wickets, including that of Bikash (79). Lower-order batter Pheiroijam Jotin played an entertaining knock of (48 not out off just 40 balls) but that cameo was not enough as Manipur were eventually bowled out for 324. (IANS)