Van Aert and Van der Poel clash again in cobbled hell By: AFP on April 8, 2023 PARIS: Belgian favourite Wout van Aert is banking on a collective challenge to bitter rival Mathieu van der Poel in Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix bike race, dubbed the “Hell of the North”, which could be raced in treacherous conditions. The gruelling 256.6km race features 29 sections of rough-hewn cobbled sections which are so notorious they are […]
French women win on Renard’s debut By: AFP on April 8, 2023PARIS: France’s women comfortably beat Colombia 5-2 on Friday in the first match for new coach Herve Renard. Renard, who led Saudi Arabia’s men at the World Cup in Qatar last year, took over from Corinne Diacre last month after she was forced out following a revolt from her players about her methods. Eugenie Le […]
Tuchel’s Bayern ‘back down to earth’ after Cup exit By: AFP on April 5, 2023MUNICH: Captain Thomas Mueller said Bayern Munich had “come back down to earth” after a 2-1 home loss against Freiburg on Tuesday saw them knocked out of the German Cup. Bayern beat Dortmund 4-2 on Saturday to return to the top of the Bundesliga as Thomas Tuchel made his bow as coach after replacing the […]
Shaw extends Man Utd contract By: AFP on April 4, 2023MANCHESTER: Luke Shaw said he wants to be part of “something special’ at Manchester United after signing a new contract until 2027 on Tuesday. The 27-year-old England international, who became the most expensive teenager in history when he moved to Old Trafford from Southampton in 2014, has been rewarded after becoming a key player for Erik […]
Amir Khan handed two-year ban for doping By: Reuters on April 4, 2023LONDON: Former light-welterweight world champion Amir Khan has been handed a two-year ban from all sport after testing positive for a prohibited substance, UK Anti-Doping said on Tuesday. Khan, 36, returned a positive result for the anabolic agent ostarine following his loss to Kell Brook in Manchester in February 2022. Ostarine is a drug designed to […]
Man Utd fans to be ‘backbone’ of Zilliacus’s proposed takeover By: AFP on March 30, 2023LONDON: Thomas Zilliacus said in an interview published on Thursday that Manchester United supporters would be at the centre of his proposed takeover of the Premier League club, with a say on major issues such as ground redevelopment and squad building. The Finnish businessman recently joined the race to buy United from the Glazer family, who […]
Sarfaraz instructs Babar Azam to improve communication with the players By: webdesk on March 30, 2023Former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has spoken out in favor of Pakistan captain Babar Azam, who has faced criticism for his captaincy. Under Babar’s captaincy, Pakistan failed to win a single Test match at home last year and also lost a home ODI series against New Zealand earlier this year. While appearing on a YouTube podcast, […]
Ronaldo still ‘very important’ for Portugal, says Martinez By: AFP on March 27, 2023Cristiano Ronaldo remains a “very important” player for Portugal, coach Roberto Martinez said on Sunday after the veteran striker scored a second successive brace in Euro 2024 qualifying against Luxembourg. The 38-year-old opened the scoring for the Euro 2016 winners by turning in Nuno Mendes’ header and slotted home another in the 31st minute as […]
Ratcliffe makes revised Man Utd offer By: AFP on March 24, 2023LONDON: British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe made a revised bid to buy Manchester United on Thursday as Finnish entrepreneur Thomas Zilliacus entered the race to own the Premier League giants. A second bid from Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber AI Thani, the chairman of Qatar Islamic Bank, is also expected to be lodged with […]
Transgender athletes banned from women’s events By: AFP on March 24, 2023PARIS: Transgender women, regardless of testosterone levels, will no longer be allowed to compete in female track and field events, World Athletics president Sebastian Coe announced Thursday, citing fairness over inclusion. Coe said no transgender athlete who had gone through male puberty would be permitted to compete in female world ranking competitions from March 31. […]