Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh in Asian Games camp from Aug 30
Kolkata, Aug 26: The Asian Games-bound Indian men’s chess team, which includes World Cup silver medallist GM Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa along with three other quarterfinalists, will undergo a four-day tactical camp here from August 30. Grandmsters Vidit Gujarathi, Arjun Erigaisi and R Gukesh, along with veteran Pentala Harikrishna as the other member are part of the Hangzhou-bound men’s squad. The team is led by head coach legendary GM Boris Gelfand and includes coach Srinath Narayanan, assistant coaches Vaibhav Suri and Arjun Kalyan. The women’s coaching camp is currently underway till Tuesday and has Koneru Humpy, Harika Dronavalli, Vaishali Rameshbabu, Vantika Agrawal and Savitha Shri B as the participants. The camp will be held on the sidelines of the fifth edition of Tata Steel Chess India rapid and blitz tournament slated here from August 31-September 9. All the members of the Asian Games-bound Indian squad will compete in the tournament which will also see participation from former World Blitz champion Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and reigning World Champion Wenjun Ju. (PTI)
FIFA suspends Spain football federation president for 90 days
GENEVA , Aug 26: FIFA suspended Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales from office on Saturday while its disciplinary committee investigates his conduct at the Women’s World Cup final, which included kissing a player without her consent. FIFA said Rubiales is removed from football duties for 90 days “pending the disciplinary proceedings opened” against him on Thursday. Rubiales refused to resign from his football presidency on Friday at an emergency meeting of the Spanish football federation’s general assembly when he had been expected to leave under intense pressure from the Spanish government, women players plus football clubs and officials. FIFA has given no timetable for a ruling by its disciplinary panel. The body’s disciplinary judges can impose sanctions on individuals ranging from warnings and fines to suspensions from the sport. FIFA’s move came after the Spanish federation had even threatened action against star player Jenni Hermoso for refusing to accept Rubiales’s version of the kiss that happened at the on-field medal and trophy presentation after Spain’s 1-0 win against England last Sunday in Sydney, Australia. (AP)
Bayern Munich sign Israeli goalie from Maccabi Tel Aviv
MUNICH, Aug 26: Bayern Munich signed Israeli goalkeeper Daniel Peretz from Maccabi Tel Aviv on Friday. The Bavarian powerhouse said in a statement that the 23-year-old Peretz has signed a five-year deal through June 2028 and will wear the No. 18 shirt. Peretz joined Maccabi as a 6-year-old and worked his way through its youth teams to make his debut with the senior team in August 2021. He previously spent a season on loan at Beitar Tel Aviv Bat Yam in Israel’s second division. Peretz made his debut for Israel last November after representing the country’s youth teams since 2016. He impressed at the Under-21 Championship in Georgia and Romania this summer and caught Bayern’s eye with a string of saves to help hold Germany to a 1-1 draw. (AP)
Sensational Avani wins LET Access Tour event in Sweden
Hoor, Aug 26: Amateur golfer Avani Prashanth became the third Indian woman to triumph in Europe this year, as she produced a stunning back-nine to win the Ashsell Final here. Avani came up with four birdies and an eagle in the last seven holes to win on the Ladies European Tour’s Access Series (LETAS) on Friday. It is the first by an Indian woman, though Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar have won the main Ladies European Tour earlier this season. The 16-year-old Avani, who shot 72-71 in the first two rounds, was tied-ninth after 36 holes. In the final round, she had a rough start with bogeys on the first and fourth holes. She repaired that damage with birdies on the fifth and eighth. She was even for the round after 11 holes and a top-10 finish was on very much on the cards. She then exploded with a bunch of birdies and an eagle on the back nine. India’s Asmitha Sathish (74-76) and Vidhatri Urs (80-74) had earlier missed the cut. (PTI)