SOCCER
Russia program winds down
Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich has decided to wind down his Russian soccer development program that saw the Chelsea owner plow tens of millions of dollars into the sport in Russia in recent years, his representative said on Wednesday. The decision was taken as Abramovich’s National Football Academy foundation had achieved all of its aims in the development of Russian soccer, Abramovich’s representative John Mann said. “The foundation is winding down its activities,” Mann said. “The foundation has achieved the main aims for which it was created — which is setting up a broad grass-roots system for Russian football.” Mann added that the foundation created about 140 new pitches across the country and completely renovated the youth academy, which is currently working under the control of Samara region authorities in the city of Tolyatti. The foundation has also been involved with the training of coaches and referees, as well as sponsoring youth teams across the country, he added. It also paid the Russia national squad coaching staff’s fees. The representative emphasized that the foundation’s activities were being wound down, not completely halted.
GOLF
McGinley starts qualifying
Europe captain Paul McGinley was taking the first shot in next year’s Ryder Cup qualifying process when he went out in the opening group in the Wales Open at Celtic Manor yesterday. It was the first time that a current captain of the European team had the honor of teeing up first in the opening qualifying tournament for the biennial match against the US. “There are a lot of milestones along the way on the Ryder Cup captain’s journey and the start of qualifying is certainly a big milestone,” McGinley said. The Irishman has ruled himself out of appearing as a player in next year’s Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland, but said: “I am extremely proud to set the example for my prospective team members.”
RUGBY UNION
Mealamu signs new deal
Keven Mealamu, a veteran of 105 Tests, has signed a one-year contract extension with the New Zealand Rugby Union and the Auckland-based Blues. The contract signed on Wednesday by the 35-year-old hooker contains a provision for a further one-year extension which could make him available for selection for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Mealamu, one of only four players to have made more than 100 Test appearances for the All Blacks, said he intends to end his career in New Zealand. “I love New Zealand — this is my family’s home. It’s a real honor to play rugby for my country, the Blues and Auckland, so I am delighted to carry on playing my rugby here,” Mealamu said.
RUGBY UNION
Folau to stick with union
Israel Folau has confirmed he will stick with rugby union by extending his contract with the New South Wales Waratahs until 2015. Folau, a former rugby league international and Australian Rules football player, made the switch to rugby union this season and was a standout for the Waratahs at fullback. He was named Rookie of the Year among the Australian teams in the Super XV. Folau was selected on the wing for Australia, and scored three tries in five Tests against the British and Irish Lions and the New Zealand All Blacks. The Waratahs announced yesterday that Folau, 24, had signed a new two-year deal with the club and the Australian Rugby Union, making him eligible for selection for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
JUDO
Silva wins gold for Brazil
Rafaela Silva gave hosts Brazil their first gold medal of the World Judo Championships on Wednesday, taking the 57kg title as she beat American Marti Malloy in Rio de Janeiro. Silva, 21 and silver medalist in 2011, defeated Malloy by ippon in less than a minute and immediately threw herself on the mat in celebration. For Silva, it was her first global title, having failed to produce her top form at last year’s Olympics, where she bowed out in the early rounds. Despite the speed of her defeat in the final, Malloy could also celebrate as she is the first US woman to reach a world final. Slovenia’s Vlora Bedeti and Miryam Roper of Germany won the bronze medals. Japan continued their successful championships as Shohei Ono won the men’s 73kg title, beating France’s Ugo Legrand by ippon for their third title of the week and sixth medal in all. Belgium’s Dirk van Tichelt and Dutchman Dex Emont won the bronze medals.
BOXING
Indian body given deadline
The Indian Boxing Federation has been given a deadline of Dec. 4 by world governing body AIBA to organize fresh elections as it seeks to return from a suspension imposed last year. AIBA communications director Sebastien Gillot said by e-mail on Wednesday that the Indian body had been given “a one-month extension to arrange the elections” after an initial deadline of Nov. 4. The IBF was suspended in December last year for not following proper election procedures. It was also no longer recognized by the Indian Ministry of Sports for the same reason, and for failing to adhere to age and tenure restrictions of a government sports code. Gillot said that “AIBA is satisfied with the progress” shown by the IBF in its effort to hold elections.
ROWING
Accident sidelines Olympian
A broken rib sustained in a collision with a truck while out on his bicycle has forced Olympic champion Mahe Drysdale to finish his world rowing championships early in South Korea. The 34-year-old Drysdale, who won the single sculls gold in London, rode his bike into a truck in the lead-up to the championships in Chungju and aggravated the injury on Wednesday in his failed bid to make the event’s semi-finals. Although having hoped to row in the non-medals B-final, Drysdale said he was unable to back up for another race. “I’m extremely disappointed that my world champs has finished this way, but I’m looking forward to being back on the podium in 2014,” he said in a statement.
AUTORACING
Labonte breaks ribs
Former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Bobby Labonte will miss Sunday’s race in Atlanta, Georgia, after breaking three ribs in a bicycle accident near his home in Trinity, North Carolina, on Wednesday. The 49-year-old Texan was taken to a nearby hospital after the crash and will remain there overnight for observation, a spokesman for the driver said. Labonte, the 2000 series champion who has won 21 Cup races during his career, will be replaced by Mike Bliss in the No. 51 Phoenix Racing Chevrolet at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday. It is especially unfortunate timing for Labonte because he has generally performed well at the Georgia circuit, winning six of his Cup races there.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
If all goes well when the biggest marathon field ever gathered in Australia races 42km through the streets of Sydney on Sunday, World Marathon Majors (WMM) will soon add a seventh race to the elite series. The Sydney Marathon is to become the first race since Tokyo in 2013 to join long-established majors in New York, London, Boston, Berlin and Chicago if it passes the WMM assessment criteria for the second straight year. “We’re really excited for Sunday to arrive,” race director Wayne Larden told a news conference in Sydney yesterday. “We’re prepared, we’re ready. All of our plans look good on
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
When details from a scientific experiment that could have helped clear Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva landed at the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the leader of the organization’s reaction was unequivocal: “We have to stop that urgently,” he wrote. No mention of the test ever became public and Valieva’s defense at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) went on without it. What effect the information could have had on Valieva’s case is unclear, but without it, the skater, then 15 years old, was eventually disqualified from the 2022 Winter Olympics after testing positive for a banned heart medication that would later