East Bengal beat Sports Odisha 2-0 in Indian Women’s League
Bhubaneswar, Dec 10: Last year’s quarterfinalists East Bengal began their Indian Women’s League (IWL) campaign in style, defeating Sports Odisha 2-0 here on Sunday. The Red and Golden Brigade began in a whirlwind fashion and stormed the rival goal from the word go. It paid dividends immediately as East Bengal took the lead even before Sports Odisha could settle in as Nongmeikapam Sibani Devi struck in the second minute. Sibani, a junior international, has represented the country in various Under-17 tournaments. East Bengal took control of the match and consolidated their position with yet another strike in the 59th minute. Kshetrimayum Margaret Devi was the scorer this time and it put paid to Odisha’s hopes. (PTI)
No Santos player will wear Pelé’s No. 10 until club returns to Serie A
Sao Paulo, Dec 10: No player of Brazil’s Santos team will wear the number 10 jersey made globally famous by the late Pelé as long as the club plays in the country’s second division, the new club president said. Marcelo Teixeira, elected on Saturday as Santos’ president, said he made the decision as a tribute to the club’s biggest star, who died on December 29 at 81 due to colon cancer. “Until Santos is back in Serie A, which is its standard, we will not play with the number 10 shirt,” said Teixeira, who was Santos’ president on two previous occasions. “This year’s Brazilian league was named after King Pelé. We will continue in this mission. We will be back in the top division, but until then, we won’t wear our most glorious shirt.” Every match of this year’s Brazilian league celebrated Pelé in the 10th minute of play, in a reference to the number on the shirt that he wore for Santos and Brazil. (AP)
Home favourite Kyrgios will not compete at the Australian Open
Melbourne, Dec10: Nick Kyrgios has confirmed he won’t compete at the Australian Open next month because of ongoing injury concerns. The 28-year-old Australian said on social media he’ll miss the Grand Slam for a second straight year and did not put a timeline on his return from a lingering wrist injury. “Obviously had a really tough year with injury, had that knee surgery and came back a little bit too soon and set me back a little bit, then obviously had some wrist issues,” Kyrgios said on the subscription website OnlyFans, which he joined on Friday. “So this is a very disappointing time for me, but I won’t be able to compete at the 2024 Australian Open. Obviously heartbreaking. I’ve had so many amazing memories there and I just want to really get back to playing at the top of my game and doing it right and I need a little more time.” Kyrgios, whose name was absent from the entry list for the tournament, pulled out of last season’s Australian Open due to knee surgery. Kyrgios was the runner-up to Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon in 2022 but played in just one official singles match in 2023, a straight sets loss on grass at Stuttgart. Kyrgios teamed with Thanasi Kokkinakis to win the 2022 Australian Open men’s doubles championship. (AP)
IBA approves membership of four new national federations
Dubai, Dec10: International Boxing Association (IBA) approved the membership of four new federations while three organizations had their memberships terminated at its Annual Congress held here on Saturday. As many as 170 National Federation members voted as Swiss Boxing was welcomed back following its resignation from IBA under new leadership, a direction that was then reversed at their last General Assembly. In addition, the US Boxing Federation, a new organization led by legendary Roy Jones Jr was formed following the disaffiliation of USA Boxing. Oceania gained two new members as the Norfolk Island Boxing Association and Tuvalu Amateur Boxing Association were accepted, according to IBA release. The three organizations that had their memberships terminated by the IBA Congress are Czech Boxing Association, German Boxing Association and Dutch Boxing Federation. Following these terminations, IBA chief Umar Kremlev said IBA will welcome other organizations from countries no longer associated with the governing body. (IANS)