Ferrari F1 driver FERNANDO ALONSO "hopes to extend his Ferrari contract beyond the end of 2016 and reckons he could have 10 more years of racing in Formula One." Alonso: "It's a year now that I've been saying I want to stay at Ferrari and extend my contract. That's my wish, I repeat it every two weeks, at the end of every race, yet it's never said. Talk of other teams has never come from my lips" (REUTERS, 9/3). ... Former Newcastle United striker MICHAEL CHOPRA "is ready to surrender his British passport to represent the country of his origin, India, and realise his dream of playing senior-level international football." Chopra "qualifies to play for India due to his parentage" under FIFA rules but government regulations in India "allow only a person holding a valid passport to represent the national team" (REUTERS, 9/3). ... Former Argentine tennis professional GUILLERMO VILAS has said that he "would not have any problems" coaching the Davis Cup team together with JOSE LUIS CLERC after current coach MARTIN JAITE "leaves the team following the match against Israel for World Group permanence." Vilas: "If I’m offered the position I would accept it. I would not have any problems sharing the coaching position with Cler, either" (BUENOS AIRES HERALD, 9/2). ... Hong Kong Open organizers "are waiting anxiously" to hear from EUGENIE BOUCHARD "on whether she will turn up for their inaugural event next week after the Canadian pin-up girl suffered badly in the heat during her fourth-round loss at the US Open." Tournament Dir KENNETH LOW said, "We are trying to get in touch with Bouchard's manager. We have no news from her" (SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, 9/2). ... Australia's "banished" athletics coach ERIC HOLLINGSWORTH "is understood to have fallen on his sword and quit his job" after being asked why he should not be sacked following the SALLY PEARSON fiasco at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Hollingsworth's resignation "is expected to be announced on Thursday" after he officially tendered it to CEO DALLAS O'BRIEN and President DAVID GRACE on Wednesday (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 9/3). ... Australian rugby league Test and Queensland Origin back BRENT TATE "has announced his retirement, accepting medical advice that returning from the ruptured ACL sustained during this year's State of Origin series was one fight too many."
Tate "had already returned to play after three previous knee reconstructions" (CANBERRA TIMES, 9/3).
I'M OUT: FA Vice-Chair DAVID GILL "has ruled himself out of standing" for the British FIFA vice-presidency following UEFA President MICHEL PLATINI's "decision not to run against" FIFA President SEPP BLATTER.
Gill, the former ManU CEO who is now a UEFA exec committee member, "was the leading candidate for the post but it is understood he has told senior figures at the FA that it is 'very unlikely' that he will allow his name to be put forward." Gill has also told Platini of his intentions to remain at UEFA but not stand for FIFA "as he does not want to work under Blatter" (PA, 9/2).
CAPTAIN'S CHOICE: Debutant STEPHEN GALLACHER, IAN POULTER and LEE WESTWOOD "are the three wildcard selections" for PAUL MCGINLEY's European Ryder Cup team to face the U.S. England's former world No. 1 LUKE DONALD missed out on the tournament together with Italy's FRANCESCO MOLINARI (BBC, 9/2). ... U.S. team captain TOM WATSON selected KEEGAN BRADLEY, HUNTER MAHAN and WEBB SIMPSON as his three wildcard selections. The Americans "have lost five of the past six biennial team golf showdowns against Europe" (AFP, 9/3).
