Thursday, April 1, 2010
Arsenal lose Fabregas, suffer more injury woes
LONDON: (Reuters) - Arsenal's Premier League title challenge was dealt a huge blow on Thursday after captain Cesc Fabregas was ruled out for the rest of the season with a cracked bone in his right leg.
"Cesc will miss the remainder of the domestic campaign as he will be out of action for at least six weeks," a statement on the club's website (www.arsenal.com) said.
The Spain midfielder injured his right fibula in a collision with Barcelona defender Carles Puyol in Wednesday's 2-2 Champions League quarter-final first-leg draw in London.
He picked himself up to tuck away the resulting penalty for Arsenal's equaliser and hobbled through the final eight minutes before leaving the stadium on crutches muttering that he feared the worst.
A scan on Thursday confirmed his pessimism was not misplaced but while the injury could not have come at a worse time for Arsenal as they try and reel in Chelsea and Manchester United, he should be fit for the World Cup finals.
"I hope he recovers as soon as possible so we can start enjoying his play again and he can go to the World Cup because he will be a very important player for us," Barca captain Puyol told a news conference on Thursday.
Fabregas, who has been in sparkling form for third-placed Arsenal, has scored 19 goals in all competitions this season, and was patched up by Arsenal's medical department this week after receiving a kick against Birmingham City on Saturday.
Given the all-clear to play on Wednesday, Fabregas and his team mates were run ragged by Barcelona for an hour at the Emirates, but he gradually rallied his troops for an unlikely late revival that brought two late goals.
"Cesc will miss the remainder of the domestic campaign as he will be out of action for at least six weeks," a statement on the club's website (www.arsenal.com) said.
The Spain midfielder injured his right fibula in a collision with Barcelona defender Carles Puyol in Wednesday's 2-2 Champions League quarter-final first-leg draw in London.
He picked himself up to tuck away the resulting penalty for Arsenal's equaliser and hobbled through the final eight minutes before leaving the stadium on crutches muttering that he feared the worst.
A scan on Thursday confirmed his pessimism was not misplaced but while the injury could not have come at a worse time for Arsenal as they try and reel in Chelsea and Manchester United, he should be fit for the World Cup finals.
"I hope he recovers as soon as possible so we can start enjoying his play again and he can go to the World Cup because he will be a very important player for us," Barca captain Puyol told a news conference on Thursday.
Fabregas, who has been in sparkling form for third-placed Arsenal, has scored 19 goals in all competitions this season, and was patched up by Arsenal's medical department this week after receiving a kick against Birmingham City on Saturday.
Given the all-clear to play on Wednesday, Fabregas and his team mates were run ragged by Barcelona for an hour at the Emirates, but he gradually rallied his troops for an unlikely late revival that brought two late goals.
Pakistan to stage S.Africa series in Middle East
KARACHI: (Reuters) - Pakistan will play three tests and five one-day internationals against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates later this year.
"We are in touch with the South African Cricket Board and we will be finalising the dates and venues soon," Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ejaz Butt said on Thursday.
South Africa had been scheduled to visit Pakistan in October but they refused to play in the country because of security concerns.
Teams have been reluctant to tour Pakistan since six policemen and a driver were killed when militants attacked the Sri Lankan cricket squad's bus in Lahore in March 2009. Six players were wounded in the incident.
"We are in touch with the South African Cricket Board and we will be finalising the dates and venues soon," Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ejaz Butt said on Thursday.
South Africa had been scheduled to visit Pakistan in October but they refused to play in the country because of security concerns.
Teams have been reluctant to tour Pakistan since six policemen and a driver were killed when militants attacked the Sri Lankan cricket squad's bus in Lahore in March 2009. Six players were wounded in the incident.
AIBA appoints Brown international technical official at South American Games
Jamaica: Jamaica Boxing Board general secretary Leroy Brown has been appointed by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) to be one of the international technical officials for boxing at the ninth South American Games, which take place in Medellin, Colombia, from today through March 30.
More than 3,000 athletes from 15 countries will be participating in 31 sports in these games, which will have the main venue at the Atanasio Girardot Stadium.
The sporting disciplines include athletics, basketball, baseball, boxing, cycling, diving, football, weightlifting, swimming, tennis, table tennis and shooting.
A former secretary of AIBA's World Championship Committee, Brown, who is chairman of Jamaica's Referee and Judges Commission, is an experienced technical official. He has officiated with distinction as an international judge at two Olympic Games and in several Central American and Caribbean, Commonwealth and Pan-American Games.
He was a member of the AIBA technical preparatory committee and then worked as an international technical official at the World Boxing Championships in Chicago in 2007. He also officiated at the World Youth Boxing Championships in Mexico in 2008.
International technical officials perform duties as members of the jury, manage weigh-in and medical examinations and supervise the draw prior to the start of competition. They also assign referees and judges and assess their performances in competition. They also have the responsibility of ensuring that the correct equipment is assigned to and used by boxers during competition.
Boxing is one of the most popular sports in South America and boxers from territories such as Argentina, Aruba, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Panama, Peru and Venezuela will be participating. With female boxing slated to make its debut in the 2012 Olympic Games in England, females will be included in the boxing programme for these games for the first time.
More than 3,000 athletes from 15 countries will be participating in 31 sports in these games, which will have the main venue at the Atanasio Girardot Stadium.
The sporting disciplines include athletics, basketball, baseball, boxing, cycling, diving, football, weightlifting, swimming, tennis, table tennis and shooting.
A former secretary of AIBA's World Championship Committee, Brown, who is chairman of Jamaica's Referee and Judges Commission, is an experienced technical official. He has officiated with distinction as an international judge at two Olympic Games and in several Central American and Caribbean, Commonwealth and Pan-American Games.
He was a member of the AIBA technical preparatory committee and then worked as an international technical official at the World Boxing Championships in Chicago in 2007. He also officiated at the World Youth Boxing Championships in Mexico in 2008.
International technical officials perform duties as members of the jury, manage weigh-in and medical examinations and supervise the draw prior to the start of competition. They also assign referees and judges and assess their performances in competition. They also have the responsibility of ensuring that the correct equipment is assigned to and used by boxers during competition.
Boxing is one of the most popular sports in South America and boxers from territories such as Argentina, Aruba, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Panama, Peru and Venezuela will be participating. With female boxing slated to make its debut in the 2012 Olympic Games in England, females will be included in the boxing programme for these games for the first time.
Pakistan tennis community hopeful of help from Sania Mirza
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tennis Federation is thinking of utilising the services of Sania Mirza as a coach when she comes to Pakistan after her wedding with Shoaib Malik.
Former Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik is set to marry Indian tennis star Sania Mirza in April.
“We would love to have the services of Sania Mirza as a female tennis coach,” secretary of the PTF, Rashid Khan, told Dawn on Wednesday.
The PTF official added: “Sania will be of great help for Pakistan’s emerging female tennis players as she has the international exposure and experience.”
Rashid added that he was not aware whether the legendary tennis player would stay in Pakistan or not, however, “Sania’s stay in Pakistan alone would be an encouraging sign for female players.”
Answering a question, he said: “According to the International Tennis Federation rules, Sania can only play for Pakistan if she doesn’t make appearance from the Indian side on the international circuit for two consecutive years.”
Meanwhile, Sara Mansoor, Pakistan No.1 tennis player, said that Sania can bring a change in country’s female tennis circuit.
She said: “We only have Aisam-ul-Haq as a better rated international tennis player. However, if Sania starts coaching us it will improve our international ranking.”
Sara, ranked No.3 in the national circuit, pointed out that Sania’s presence alone at the tennis court would make a huge difference and “it will be morale boosting sign for several female players.”
Around 32 female players are currently featuring in the national tennis circuit.
Sara insisted: “Sania has now become a source of inspiration especially for Pakistani girls while her wedding with Shoaib Malik will increase an interest in game.”
The emerging tennis player said: “We need celebrities like Sania in Pakistan as their presence will make a difference for future players who are striving to mark their name in the international sports arena.”
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