Mumbai Marathon route to remain same for elites
Mumbai, Jan 17: The route for the elite runners in the 2024 edition of the Mumbai Marathon will remain the same while some changes have been made for the 10K race and the half marathon to be held here on January 21. More than 59,000 participants will take part in the race which will once again be held on the third Sunday of the month of January, involving more than 7,000 volunteers. “The city is changing so fast, even the courses between then and now. We’ve managed to keep the event along the structure that we have stuck to for a good number of years now,” said race director Hugh Jones at the event’s technical press conference at the Mumbai Press Club on Wednesday. Jones said the route for the half marathon race will have some changes, technically avoiding some u-turns right at the start of the track to give the runners a straight run. While the marathon for amateurs will start at 5:00am from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), the half marathon and Police Cup will kick off at the same time from the Mahim Causeway. The marathon for the elites will start at 7:20am from CSMT, while the Open 10K will be at 6:00am. The other races in the event – each starting from CSMT – are Champions with Disability (1.3km from 7:22am), Senior Citizens’ Run (4.2km from 7:35am) and Dream Run (5.9km from 8:00am). (PTI)
Spanish tennis great Vicario found guilty of fraud; to avoid prison
Barcelona, Jan 17: Former women’s No. 1 tennis player Arantxa Sánchez Vicario and her ex-husband have been found guilty of fraud, a Spanish court ruled Wednesday. The Barcelona-based court found that Sánchez Vicario and her former husband had hidden assets in an attempt to avoid paying a multi-million euro debt to Banque de Luxembourg. The four-time Grand Slam winner was sentenced to two years of prison time, but she avoided going behind bars since the court waived her sentence as a first-time offender. She reached a deal with prosecutors last year to admit to the accusations in exchange for a reduced sentence. Her husband, Josep Santacana, received a prison sentence of three years and three months. The former couple must also pay a fine of 6.6 million euros (USD 7.1 million). Sánchez Vicario, 52, won the French Open in 1989, 1994, and 1998 and the US Open in 1994. (AP)
Bristol City stun West Ham; Luton beat Bolton Wanderers in FA Cup
Bristol, Jan 17: Bristol City produced an incredible result to knock out 10-man West Ham United as a third-minute strike from Tommy Conway gave the Championship side a 1-0 win in a third-round FA Cup replay. Conway slotted home from a narrow angle having latched on to a sloppy back pass from Konstantinos Mavropanos. West Ham United’s task got even harder after Said Benrahma received a straight red card on 51 minutes and the 10-man Hammers were unable to deny the Robins a famous win.Bristol City could be up against Premier League opposition again if Nottingham Forest can beat Blackpool on Wednesday night. In other match, Luton Town came from behind to beat League One side Bolton Wanderers 2-1 thanks to goals from Tahith Chong and Chiedozie Ogbene. (IANS)