Dortmund’s Haller out of UCL match against Atlético
DORTMUND, April 15: Borussia Dortmund forward Sébastien Haller has been ruled out of Tuesday’s Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Atlético Madrid with a recurrence of his left ankle injury.Dortmund coach Edin Terzic said Monday that Haller “injured his ankle again unfortunately. He will now have complete rest for a week. There will be a final diagnosis on Saturday to determine the downtime a little more precisely. We assume he won’t be available for two to three weeks.” Haller scored a late goal in Dortmund’s 2-1 loss at Atlético in the first leg on Wednesday, but got injured early in the team’s Bundesliga win at Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday.He recovered from a left ankle injury to play for Ivory Coast at Africa Cup of Nations – scoring in the final to win the title – but returned with a recurrence of the injury and made only substitute appearances for Dortmund until getting his first league start since mid-September on Saturday. He had to go off in the ninth minute.(PTI)
Indian team leaves for Special Olympics football tourney
FARIDABAD, April 15: A 28-strong Indian contingent, comprising both men and women, left for Dhaka on Monday to participate in the Special Olympics South Asia Unified seven-a-side football tournament.The contingent includes 22 players, and five coaches representing eight different states and was given a sendoff here on Monday.“We are assured of bagging one medal from the female team of SOB for sure, the men’s team however has to improve their skills a bit more, the important thing is to defend the goal, but we are hoping for the best,” Harpreet Singh, the sports director of Special Olympics Bharat, said at the ceremony.Special Olympics Bharat is a National Sports Federation for people with intellectual disabilities. It is recognised by the sports ministry.Intellectual disability is characterised by significantly below-average intellectual functioning (generally regarded as IQ below 70) combined with impairment in carrying out varying aspects of daily life and adapting to the normal social environment. “This is my first time working with SOB, and it has transformed me very much. I have become more understandable, compassionate and hardworking,” said captain of the women’s football team, Ankita.“I want to make India and my parents proud. They (the team) are performing well and from the first camp to the last camp, we have developed more skills. We will give our hundred percent to get the gold” she added. The players underwent a training camp here as part of their preparations for the tournament which will also feature Indonesia, Hong Kong and Maldives. (PTI)
Lithuania’s Mykolas Alekna breaks discus throw record
RAMONA (USA), April 15: Mykolas Alekna of Lithuania broke a world record in the discus throw that had stood since 1986 at the Oklahoma Throws Series competition.Alekna’s throw of 243 feet, 11 inches (74.35 meters) on Sunday eclipsed the mark of 243 feet (74.08 meters) set by Germany’s Jurgen Schult on June 6, 1986.Alekna’s throw was originally measured at 244-1 (74.41) but later revised, according to World Athletics. The record is subject to ratification.The 21-year-old Alekna, a junior at the University of California, is a two-time medal winner at the world outdoor championships. He captured a silver medal at the 2022 worlds in Oregon and bronze last summer in Hungary.His big throw bumped his father, Virgilijus, to third on the career list. Virgilijus Alekna had a toss of 242-4 (73.88) in 2000.Mykolas Alekna’s big day comes a day after Cuba’s Yaimé Perez recorded the longest women’s discus throw since 1989 at 239-9 (73.09). (PTI)