Five Indian cities inspected for U-17 Women’s World Cup

Mumbai

Football’s world governing body FIFA has inspected five Indian cities, which are likely to host matches of next year’s U-17 Women’s World Cup. In March, FIFA president Gianni Infantino had announced that India would host the U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2020. “As of now we have visited and inspected five host cities — Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Ahmedabad, Goa and Navi Mumbai. These were the cities that we had inspected, however, there is a lot of interest from other cities as well,” tournament director Roma Khanna said. Khanna added that the tournament window for the global event would also be known within the coming months.

Bengaluru

Expecting good challenge from Russia: Sreejesh

Indian men’s hockey team goalkeeper PR Sreejesh today said he expects a good challenge from Russia in the Tokyo Olympics qualifiers despite a vast gap between the two sides in world rankings. India, ranked fifth, play world No. 22 Russia in the final round. The teams play back-to-back matches in Bhubaneswar on November 1 and 2. “Russia, who are now investing in hockey and want to do well in this sport, will surely come well-prepared and we can definitely expect a good challenge from them,” Sreejesh said. India had mauled Russia 10-0 in the FIH Series Final in Bhubaneswar earlier this year.

Lausanne

3 Indians among hockey officials for Tokyo Olympics 

Only three Indians are in the list of officials appointed by the international hockey federation (FIH) for competitions at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. While there is no Indian umpire in the women’s panel, Raghu Prasad and Javed Shaikh have been named in the men’s panel of umpires. Among three medical officers, Bibhu Nayak is from India.

London

Boycott says he doesn’t care about criticism 

His knighthood is being questioned owing to an old domestic violence case in France but the Englishman Geoffrey Boycott says he has been honoured solely for his cricketing success. After he was knighted by former British Prime Minister Theresa May, Boycott was criticised by UK’s senior female MP Harriet Harman. Boycott said he “didn’t give a toss” about criticism from anti-domestic abuse campaigners, including Adina Claire, the co-acting chief executive of Women’s Aid. “I don’t give a toss about her (Claire), love. It was 25 years ago,” he said. Agencies

Madrid

Valencia sack manager Marcelino

Marcelino has been sacked as Valencia coach, the Spanish La Liga club said today. The 54-year-old, who won the Copa del Rey and secured Champions League football last season, leaves after two campaigns at the helm. “Valencia told Marcelino Garcia Toral today that he is no longer first team coach,” a club statement said.

Shenzhen

Mladenovic wins, reaches Zhengzhou quarters

Kristina Mladenovic won an all-French battle against eighth seed Caroline Garcia 7-5 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals at the inaugural Zhengzhou Open on a rain-interrupted today. Sofia Kenin made short work of Alize Cornet, beating the Frenchwoman 6-4 6-2, while Croatian  Petra Martic bounced back to defeat Cornet’s compatriot Fiona Ferro 3-6 6-1 6-2. Top seed Karolina Pliskova was on the verge of losing the second set against Slovenia’s Polona Hercog in the day’s last match before the rain returned, leading to play being suspended with the score at 6-3 2-5. Agencies