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.
The next generation of running talent takes center stage at today’s Berlin Marathon, in the absence of stars including Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge and Ethiopian world record holder Tigist Assefa. With most of the major marathon stars skipping the event in the wake of the Paris Olympics just more than a month ago, the field is wide open in the men’s and women’s races. Since 2015, Kipchoge has won five times in Berlin, Kenenisa Bekele has won twice and Guye Adola once — with all three missing today. Kenyan Kibiwott Kandie and Ethiopian Tadese Takele are among the favourites for the men, while
Japan’s Shohei Ohtani is the record-breaking baseball “superhuman” following in the footsteps of the legendary Babe Ruth who has also earned comparisons to US sporting greats Michael Jordan and Tom Brady. Not since Ruth a century ago has there been a baseball player capable of both pitching and hitting at the top level. The 30-year-old’s performances with the Los Angeles Dodgers have consolidated his position as a baseball legend in the making, and a national icon in his native Japan. He continues to find new ways to amaze, this year becoming the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases
Zhang Shuai yesterday said that she nearly quit after losing 24 matches in a row — now the world No. 595 is into the quarter-finals of her home China Open. The 35-year-old is to face Spain’s Paula Badosa as the lowest-ranked player to reach this stage in the history of the tournament after Badosa reeled off 11 of the last 12 games in a 6-4, 6-0 victory over US Open finalist Jessica Pegula. Zhang went into Beijing on a barren run lasting more than 600 days and her string of singles defeats was the second-longest on the WTA Tour Open era, which
Taiwan’s Tony Wu yesterday beat Mackenzie McDonald of the US to win the Nonthaburi Challenger IV in Thailand, his first challenger victory since 2022. The 26-year-old world No. 315, who won both his qualifiers to advance to the main draw, has been on a hot streak this month, winning his past nine matches, including two that ensured Taiwan’s victory in their Davis Cup World Group I tie. Wu took just more than two hours to top world No. 172 McDonald 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) to win his second challenger tournament since the Tallahassee Tennis Challenger in 2022. Wu’s Tallahassee win followed two years of
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