Japanese World champion narrates logistical nightmare in India
New Delhi, Dec 13: Former world champion and Olympic medallist shuttler Nozomi Okuhara recently narrated her harrowing travel experience in India where she was duped by Delhi’s notorious cab drivers and also made to wait for four hours before being allotted a hotel room in Cuttack, Odisha. The 28-year-old Okuhara, took to the social media platform fansnet.jp to narrate her ordeal after being harassed by cab drivers at Delhi airport and not getting any official transportation after arriving in Cuttack on Monday to play in the Odisha Open. She also had to wait for four hours to check in at the hotel and wasn’t provided with a shuttle bus/car for her scheduled 8 am practice session. An embarrassed Badminton Association of India (BAI) general secretary Sanjay Mishra termed the series of incidents as “unfortunate” and promised that “it won’t happen in future”. However, in the local organising committee’s defence, the all-powerful BAI secretary general said the ace Japanese shuttler didn’t send any e-mail informing the logistical details (local travel and accommodation) which could have ensured proper arrangement prior to her arrival. A former world No. 1, Okuhara, who claimed the Syed Modi International Super 300 title in Lucknow and skipped the Guwahati event the following week, had arrived in New Delhi via Hong Kong on Sunday night. It was then her ordeal started. (PTI)
Coaches Guardiola and Giráldez on shortlists for FIFA awards
ZURICH, Dec 13: Champions League-winning coaches Pep Guardiola and Jonatan Giráldez were voted on FIFA final shortlists announced Wednesday in a race to be named the world’s best in 2023. Guardiola guided Manchester City to a trophy treble last season and is among three candidates with Simone Inzaghi and Luciano Spalletti for the FIFA Best Coach award in men’s football. Inzaghi took Inter Milan to the Champions League final against City and Spalletti led Napoli to a first Serie A title for 33 years. Giráldez heads the candidates for the Best Coach award in women’s football after Barcelona won the Spanish league, then the European title having eliminated Chelsea in the semifinals. Chelsea’s Emma Hayes, whose team won the English league and cup double, is shortlisted with Sarina Wiegman, coach of the England team that lost the Women’s World Cup final to Spain. Hayes, who will coach the United States women’s team next season, won the FIFA award in 2021 and Wiegman is a three-time winner. Both three-coach shortlists were voted on from five initial candidates by a jury of national team captains and coaches, selected media and fans worldwide. The award ceremony is on January 15 in London. (AP)
Political leader confirms review of 2032 Oly infrastructure plans
Brisbane (Australia), Dec 13: A costly demolition and rebuild of a cricket stadium to become the 2032 Olympic centrepiece is among the infrastructure plans set to undergo independent review under a new political leader. Annastacia Palaszczuk, the Queensland state premier who headed Brisbane’s successful bid to host the 2032 Games, quit last weekend amid falling popularity. She is set to be replaced on Friday by Steven Miles. The incoming state leader on Wednesday confirmed an independent authority would be established to review plans for the controversial Gabba stadium redevelopment, which was originally pitched as a refurbishment. It has been a quick turnaround for Miles, who last month – as Queensland’s deputy premier – announced the 2.7 billion Australian dollar (USD 1.8 billion) redevelopment of the Gabba would go ahead after the government accepted a project validation report. Critics have called for an overhaul of venue planning in the state capital after a blowout of projected costs and Brisbane’s Lord Mayor quit a 2032 organizing panel, citing a lack of consultation between the state and local governments. “Every other time I’ve asked those questions the advice back has been the Gabba redevelopment is absolutely necessary to host Brisbane 2032,” Miles said Wednesday in comments published by Australian Associated Press. “But, I think it’s reasonable for us to be absolutely assured of that before we finalize those tenders.” State Treasurer Cameron Dick said Olympic projects were on “pause” for a couple of months. “We’re just going to have a review,” he said. Miles said he’d resumed consultations with Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner and the Queensland government had flagged the review with the IOC and Brisbane 2032 organizers. Brisbane was selected in 2021 to host the 2032 Summer Games. (AP)