Valencia sack Gatusso
MADRID, Jan. 31: La Liga strugglers Valencia on Monday announced that they have parted company with coach Gennaro Gattuso after less than half a season in charge.“The club and the first team coach, Gennaro Gattuso, have decided by mutual agreement to end the contractual relationship between the two parties,” Valencia confirmed in a statement on their website.The club added that ‘Voro’ Gonzalez will take charge of Tuesday’s training session, and presumably Thursday’s La Liga visit to play Real Madrid in a game postponed earlier this month due to both sides playing in the Spanish Super Cup.(PTI)
Mudryk issues apolpgy for post on TikTok
LONDON, Jan 31: An apology has been issued on behalf of Chelsea player Mykhailo Mudryk after he appeared to use the N-word in a video posted on social media.The forward, who joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk this month in a deal worth $108 million, was reciting the lyrics to a song on TikTok in a post from last year.He has now deleted the video.“Mykhailo is deeply sorry for any offense caused by the video posted on his TikTok account last July,” his representative reportedly told the Sun newspaper in Britain. “Whilst his intention was solely to recite lyrics of a song, Mykhailo regrets his decision and wholeheartedly accepts it was not appropriate. The video has since been removed.” (PTI)
Assam to host 71st senior national volleyball tournament
GUWAHATI, Jan 31: The 71st Senior National Volleyball Tournament will be held in Guwahati, Assam from February 2-9.Elite Sports India has been granted the official rights to broadcast this top-tier national tournament which will be available on the ESIlive YouTube handle from 2nd of February. Senior Indian team players and the new breed of young volleyball champs will all go guns blazing as they bring the storm while fighting for the ariel volleys. (PTI)
India placed in Group B of Asia Mixed Team Championships
DUBAI, Jan 31: India has been placed in Group B alongside Malaysia, UAE, and Kazakhstan in the Asia Mixed Team Championships 2023, which will be held here from February 14 to 19. Each tie group shall be decided by the results of two singles and three doubles matches. In the Group stage, all five matches of each tie shall be played. In the Knockout stage, each tie shall be stopped when the tie is decided. A draw of the knockout stage will be made after the completion of the last match of the Group Stage.India squad:Men’s singles: Lakshya Sen, HS Prannoy Women’s singles: PV Sindhu, Aakarshi KashyapMen’s doubles: Satwiksairaj Ranikreddy/Chirag Shetty, Krishna Prasad Garga/Vishnuvardhan Goud P Women’s doubles: Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand, Ashwini Bhat/Shikha Gautam Mixed doubles: Ishaan Bhatnagar/Tanisha Crasto. (IANS)
Tennis legend Margaret Court’s home targeted in burglary
VICTORIA, Jan 31: Australian tennis legend Margaret Court’s Perth home allegedly got targeted during a burglary on Australian Day.Two people from Edgewater, aged 33 and 34, have been charged after medals and awards were stolen during the burglary at former world No.1 tennis star and conservative Christian minister’s City Beach home, The Age reported. A Western Australian Police spokeswoman said that thieves allegedly broke in through the front door and rummaged through the property on Thursday evening. According to the police, a number of the items were located in nearby bushland and gardens.The 80-year old is considered a legend here, having won 24 major singles titles. She retired from tennis in 1977 and has a tennis court named after her at Melbourne Park, which hosts the Australian Open. (IANS)
India announce SAFF U-20 women’s squad
KOLKATA, Jan 31: India U-20 Women’s National Team head coach Maymol Rocky has announced a 23-member squad that will travel to Dhaka, Bangladesh, for the SAFF U-20 Women’s Championship next month.The squad members began training camp in Chennai, on January 6, and have been preparing for the upcoming SAFF U-20 Women’s Championship and the AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers since.Goalkeepers: Monalisha Devi, Anshika, Anjali.Defenders: Shilky Devi, Astam Oraon, Kajal, Shubhangi Singh, Purnima Kumari, Varshika, Gladys.Midfielders: Martina Thokchom, Kajol Dsouza, Babina Devi, Nitu Linda, Tania Kanti, Shailja.Forwards: Lynda Kom, Apurna Narzary, Sunita Munda, Sumati Kumari, Neha, Sonali Soren, Anita Kumari. (PTI)
23 arrested in match-fixing probe in Spanish football
MADRID, Jan 31: Nearly two-dozen people, including players, have been arrested as part of an investigation into match-fixing in lower-division soccer matches in Spain, Andorra and Gibraltar, authorities said Tuesday.The European Union police agency Europol said those arrested are alleged members of a betting syndicate where “several footballers are suspected of having used their position to steer the outcome of games in which they participated in.”Authorities said 30 games are under investigation, with profits from the betting estimated at more than 500,000 euros ($542,000).The arrests were made in a joint operation by Europol, Interpol and Spanish police. Europol said the arrests were made in November in several Spanish provinces and followed 21 arrests of members of the same organization in 2021.Authorities said the organization had two leaders with close connections with players and team staff. (AP)
Eriksen out injured
MANCHESTER, Jan 31: Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen could miss most of the remainder of the season because of an ankle injury, the team said Tuesday.The 30-year-old Denmark international sustained the injury during United’s 3-1 win against Reading in the FA Cup on Saturday.United said he will be sidelined for “an extended period” – likely until late April or early May.“However, there is hope that Christian can return in time to play a role in the final stages of the season,” the team said.The midfielder has become a key figure in Manchester United .(PTI)