SHEIKH HASSAN BIN JABOR AL-THANI and British throttleman STEVE CURTIS "obliterated the existing speed record of 224mph" with a speed of 244mph in their second run at the 26th Annual Lake of the Ozarks Shootout in central Missouri on Saturday (GULF TIMES, 8/24). ... New Zealand rugby player SONNY BILL WILLIAMS "has been granted a special exemption to be picked for the All Blacks' end of year tour." New Zealand Rugby Union CEO STEVE TEW "confirmed on Monday Williams would not need to play in the National Provincial Championship following his commitments with the Sydney Roosters" in the National Rugby League (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 8/25). ... Germany's JENS VOIGT insisted that "the time was right for him to retire from cycling after making a final breakaway attempt in his last professional race." The 42-year-old "finished his 17-year career at the USA Pro Challenge race, which ended on Sunday in Denver" (BBC, 8/25). ... World record holder and six-time Olympic champion USAIN BOLT "decided to end" his '14 season and will not compete in the 100m in Thursday’s IAAF Diamond League Final in Zurich. The decision, which Bolt’s Manager RICKY SIMMS confirmed, "came a day after the Jamaican sprinter ran the fastest indoor 100m ever, clocking 9.98 seconds in Warsaw." The Jamaican "had delayed the start of his season to recover from minor foot surgery and a hamstring injury" (REUTERS, 8/24).
NOTABLE DEATHS: Indian veteran sports journalist
A.T.P. SARATHY "passed away at a
suburban hospital in Mumbai." Suffering from malaria, Sarathy "had
celebrated his 93rd birthday in the ICU and passed away the next day."
Former Indian cricket captain
SUNIL GAVASKAR "led the tributes
for Sarathy." Gavaskar: "He was a top writer and a good, old-fashioned
journalist. You don’t find too many journalists like him anymore" (
ASIAN AGE, 8/25). ... Chelsea paid tribute to club Life President
RICHARD ATTENBOROUGH, "who died on Sunday at the age of 90." The Oscar-winning film director and Chelsea fan served on the club's board at Stamford Bridge from '69-'82. The team will "wear black armbands as a tribute" to Attenborough in its next game, at Everton on Saturday. A club statement said, "His personality was woven into the tapestry of the club over seven decades. He was a consistent force for good at the club, even in dark times" (
BBC, 8/25).
