Italy’s all time leading goal scorer Gigi Riva no more
MILAN, Jan 23: Gigi Riva, the all-time leading goalscorer for Italy men’s national team who was known as the “Rombo di Tuono” (Rumble of Thunder), has died. He was 79.The Italian football federation (FIGC) confirmed Riva died on Monday as tributes started flooding in for the player, who earned his nickname because of the potency of his shot with 35 goals in 42 appearances for Italy.“I’m shaken and profoundly saddened, Italian soccer is grieving because a real and proper national hero has left us,” FIGC President Gabriele Gravina said. “Gigi Riva was the embodiment of a great man and an extraordinary footballer: his pride, his class and his sense of fairness united generations. “Thanks to him we won the European Championship in 1968 and the World Cup in 2006 (as team manager).” Riva was taken to the cardiology unit at Brotzu Hospital on Sunday after collapsing at home and the Cagliari hospital issued a statement on Monday evening saying his condition had improved. But he died shortly afterward. As a player, Riva helped the Azzurri win the European Championship in 1968 and finish runners-up at the World Cup two years later losing to Pelé’s Brazil in the final. Riva spent almost his entire career at Cagliari after joining the Sardinian team as a teenager, refusing several lucrative offers to join other clubs. He helped Cagliari to its only Serie A title in 1970 and remains the club’s record scorer, with 205 goals in 374 matches. He was also honorary president of the club, and was president from 1986-87.Several Italian clubs posted messages of condolences on social media. Cagliari simply wrote “For ever GIGI RIVA” above a large photo of the player. It also added a black ribbon to its social media profiles before issuing a heartfelt tribute. (AP)
Pooja Arthi R, Tavneet Singh emerge champions in Squash
CHENNAI, Jan 23: Tamil Nadu’s R Pooja Arthi and Tavneet Singh Mundra (MP) emerged as the girls’ and boys’ individual champions respectively in the Khelo India Youth Games squash here on Tuesday.Squash made its debut in the ongoing sixth edition of the national-level KIYG, and hosts Tamil Nadu underlined their dominance by powering into the final of both the boys’ and girls’ team events after securing five out of eight medals (one gold & four bronze) in the individual category.In the girls’ singles final, top seed Pooja edged out Maharashtra second seed Nirupama Dubey 11-6, 7-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6 in a thriller at the Indian Squash & Triathlon Academy.Runner-up at last year’s National Games, Pooja won the opening game with ease, before Nirpumama levelled with some deft drops and volleys.Pooja improved her width to move her opponent and win the third game, but was undone by a string of unforced errors in the fourth.The Tamil Nadu lass, however, had to fight back from 1-5 in the decider to emerge as the inaugural champion.In the boys’ singles final, top seed Tavneet rallied to beat second seed Aryan Pratap Singh (UP) 5-11, 8-11, 11-1, 13-11, 11-4 in a nail-biting title round after saving two match points in the fourth game.In the team competition, Tamil Nadu will take on Uttar Pradesh in the boys’ final and lock horns with Maharashtra for the girls’ crown on Wednesday. (IANS)
La Liga: Morata goal gives Atletico 1-0 win over Granada
MADRID, Jan 23: Álvaro Morata scored his 13th goal of the campaign as Atletico Madrid beat struggling Granada 1-0 in the Spanish league on Monday.Second-from-last Granada dominated the early part of the match but the hosts could not turn their possession into goals and Atletico came more into the game as it went on.Atletico coach Diego Simeone put Koke and Rodrigo De Paul on the bench but both players were introduced in the second half, and it was De Paul who started the move that gave Atletico the lead. He pushed the ball out wide to Antoine Griezmann after 56 minutes and his inviting cross was headed home by an unmarked Morata. It was Morata’s 13th league goal in 19 games this season and took him level with Getafe’s Borja Mayoral in the La Liga scoring charts. Only Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham and Girona’s Dovbyk have scored more with 14.Saul Niguez and Griezmann both had goals chalked off for offside but one goal was enough for the visitors, who moved into fourth, level on points with Athletic Bilbao.Girona tops the table, a point ahead of Real Madrid, who have a game in hand. (AP)