Inaugural Khelo India Para Games to be held in Delhi
NEW DELHI, Nov 23: The inaugural Khelo India Para Games will be held in Delhi from December 10-17 with over 1350 athletes from 32 states and Union Territories competing in seven disciplines.Sports Minister Anurag Thakur said the event will be a “game-changer” for para-sports in the country.“I am proud to announce that from December 10 to 17, the first-ever Khelo India Para Games will be held in various locations across New Delhi. A total of 7 disciplines will be held across three SAI (Sports Authority of India) Stadiums,” Thakur said in a video uploaded on his official ‘X’ handle.The events will be held across three SAI stadiums – the IG Stadium, Shooting Range in Tughlaqabad and the JLN Stadium. (PTI)
Kenny out as Ireland coach after not reaching Euro 2024
DUBLIN, Nov 23: Stephen Kenny’s contract as coach of Ireland won’t be renewed following the team’s failure to qualify for next year’s European Championship.The Football Association of Ireland said Wednesday it’s “the right time for change” after the completion of the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.Ireland finished fourth in Group B after a 1-0 loss to the Netherlands on Saturday.The Irish won only two of their eight games, beating Gibraltar twice. Kenny’s contract expired following Ireland’s 1-1 draw with New Zealand in a friendly in Dublin on Tuesday. (AP)
Man United’s Luke Shaw back in training after 3 months
MANCHESTER, Nov 23: Manchester United defender Luke Shaw is back in training after a three-month injury absence that has limited the England international to only two games this season.Shaw is working with the main squad, United said Wednesday, ahead of the Premier League game at Everton on Sunday.The left back sustained what United said was a “muscle issue” in August. United manager Erik ten Hag has played a number of players as makeshift left backs while Shaw was out, such as right back Diogo Dalot, center back Victor Lindelof and defensive midfielder Sofyan Amrabat. (AP)
Kothari qualifies for semis in World Billiards C’ship
DOHA, Nov 23: An unbeaten Sourav Kothari didn’t lose a single game in his group matches to qualify as the top seed for the semifinal of the IBSF World Billiards Championship (point-format) here on Thursday.Former world champion Kothari defeated Mohammad Mubeen of Sri Lanka 3-0, Akhilesh Mohan of France 3-0 and teammate Brijesh Damani by identical margin in his group matches.Fresh from bagging his 26th world title, Pankaj Advani qualified as the second seed.Pankaj too won all his group matches but Kothari’s better frame average in the group stages earned him the top billing. (PTI)
Forest striker Awoniyi out for months after groin surgery
NOTTINGHAM, Nov 23: Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi will be sidelined for “months,” manager Steve Cooper said Thursday, because of a groin injury that caused him to withdraw from Nigeria’s squad during the international break.Awoniyi, who has scored four goals in 11 appearances this season as Forest’s first-choice striker, has been managing the problem since October.He played for Nigeria in its disappointing 1-1 draw with Lesotho in World Cup qualifying last week but then pulled out of the squad and has since had an operation. (AP)