Paulo makes comeback, day of gains for Hero MotoSports

Al Ula (Saudi Arabia)

Leaving behind the Stage 3 setback, Paulo Goncalves showed his class by finishing fourth in the fourth stage of the Dakar Rally for Hero MotoSports Rally Team here today. Stage 4 of the rally moved from Neom towards the next bivouac of Al Ula, covering a total distance of 672km, including the special stage of 453km. The stage offered a mix of sandy stretches, canyons, wadi crossings and gravel sections, made even more complicated due to tricky navigation at many places with multiple tracks. Goncalves climbed from 110th to 61st place in the overall rankings. CS Santosh too rode with a good rhythm as he finished 44th. He climbed to 42nd.

Sydney

Thomson to auction baggy green for bushfire fund

Australian fast bowling great Jeff Thomson has decided to auction his precious baggy green cap and cricket vest to raise funds for the victims of the ongoing bushfire crisis in the country. The two items will go under the hammer through Lloyds Auctions Bushfire Relief Auction. “I don’t have much of my memorabilia left, so these two items are quite rare and special,” Thomson said.

Lausanne

Ceremony performer’s life ‘in danger’ after horror fall

The life of a figure skater taking part in the opening ceremony of the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games “is in danger” after a heavy fall during practice, Swiss police said today. The skater, a 35-year-old Russian who lives in Germany, fell five metres (16 feet 5 inches) onto the ice during final preparations at the Vaudoise Arena here, where the youth Games ceremony will take place on Thursday. Police said that she was being pulled around by a motorised system connected to the Arena’s ceiling when she crashed onto the ice.

Cape Town

Anderson ruled out of SA series with rib injury

England fast bowler James Anderson has been ruled out of the final two Tests of the four-match series against South Africa due to a rib injury as the ‘cursed’ tour claimed another victim. Anderson sustained a rib injury in England’s 189-run win in the second Test. Agencies

MILAN

Lazio fined after fans racially insult Balotelli

Serie A club Lazio have been fined ^20,000 after their fans were found to have racially insulted Brescia forward Mario Balotelli during Sunday’s match in the latest incident of racism which has plagued Italian football.

Hurghada (Egypt)

Sadio Mane is 2019 African Player of the Year

Liverpool star Sadio Mane  was crowned on Tuesday as Africa’s 2019 Player of the Year for the first time at an awards gala in Egypt.

The 27-year old Senegalese striker was up against his Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian who has won the award in the last two years, and Algerian Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City.

LAUSANNE

IOC in no hurry to discuss Russia athletes for 2020 Oly

The International Olympic Committee will not discuss the details of Russian athletes’ participation at the Tokyo 2020 Games until after a final ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the IOC said on Wednesday. agencies