MMA fighter ANDERSON SILVA and the Brazilian Taekwondo Federation (CBTkd) have "arrived at an agreement" that allows him to participate in the 2016 Olympics. This week, Silva "sent a letter to the president" of the CBTkd, CARLOS FERNANDES, in which he "made himself available for the Brazilian team, and the proposal was welcomed" (GLOBO ESPORTE, 4/15). ...
Jamaican spinter USAIN BOLT "will participate in this
year’s Mano a Mano race in Rio de Janeiro’s Jockey Club on Sunday." It "will be the third time the 100m specialist competes in the
city, after having won the two previous annual challenges that are open
to the public taking place at Copacabana beach." Bolt "will compete in a 100m race against three opponents, who are still to
be named" (RIO TIMES, 4/16). ... Double Grand Slam tennis champion LI NA "plans to set up a tennis academy to develop more national stars." Speaking after she received the Laureus Exceptional Achievement Award in Shanghai, Li said, "I hope I can run a tennis school and get more young Chinese people involved in the sport" (CHINA DAILY, 4/16). ... Super Rugy sides Wallabies and New South Wales flyhalf BERNARD FOLEY have signed a three-year contract extension with the Australian Rugby Union that will “also allow him to play in Japan.” The ARU said Thursday the agreement will “keep Foley under contract” until at least the end of ‘18 and “ensure he will be eligible for Wallabies and Super Rugby selection” (AP, 4/16) ... Tennis Australia Hall of Fame inductee THELMA COYNE LONG, who “won 19 grand slam titles in singles, doubles and mixed doubles,” has died, aged 96. Coyne Long, who was inducted into the Int’l Hall of Fame in ‘13, “won two major championships in singles, 12 in doubles and five in mixed doubles” (AP, 4/16). ... A former High Court judge, who led the inquiry into the Bradford stadium fire that killed 56 football fans, has "dismissed claims the blaze was not an accident saying they are 'nonsense.'" A new book by author MARTIN FLETCHER has "revealed a series of other blazes at businesses owned by or associated" with STAFFORD HEGINBOTHAM, the League One side Bradford City's "chairman at the time of the tragedy" in '85. The official inquiry into the blaze, led by Justice OLIVER POPPLEWELL, "concluded that the fire was an accident" (London DAILY MAIL, 4/16).
IN INDIA: The new regime at the Board of Control for Cricket in India is contemplating the appointment of former Delhi Police Commissioner NEERAJ KUMAR as the chief of board's Anti Corruption & Security Unit in place of RAVI SAWANI, "who is unlikely to get an extension." The BCCI top brass, which includes President JAGMOHAN DALMIYA and Secretary ANURAG THAKUR "are already discussing the appointment of Kumar, who retired as Delhi's Commissioner of Police on July 31, 2013." A highly-placed BCCI official said, "The president and the secretary feel that there is
no one with better credentials than Kumar to take over from Sawani" (PTI, 4/16). ... Thakur on Thursday said that former BCCI President N. SRINIVASAN "will continue as the ICC chairman till September after which the Board will chalk a way forward at its Annual General Meeting." As per rules, the ICC chairman’s post "belongs to the BCCI representative for two years from July 2014 to June 2016" (PTI, 4/16). ... Former India cricket captain SOURAV GANGULY “is in the race to replace” DUNCAN FLETCHER
as Indian cricket team coach. A Cricket Association of Bengal source
revealed that Ganguly “has put in an informal word” to Dalmiya about his interest to replace Fletcher, whose tenure ended after the World Cup (TIMES OF INDIA, 4/16). ... Indian shooters HEENA SIDHU and ANJALI BHAGWAT "were
barred from boarding the Jet Airways flight from Bangkok to Mumbai for
carrying weapons without the necessary documents." Heena said that "they
were not allowed to board the aircraft despite having all the
documents." Heena: "We were, in fact, carrying extra documents and all
the fees. But still the security manager of the Jet Airways in Bangkok,
SHAILESH GALA, did not allow us to board the flight. He made it an ego
issue" (PTI, 4/16).
IN THE U.K.: The Irish Rugby Football Union has "opened talks" with Ireland coach JOE SCHMIDT with a view to securing the New Zealander's services until the 2019 World Cup. Schmidt's current deal expires at the end of next season and he is "likely to be in huge demand after delivering back-to-back Six Nations titles in his two Ireland campaigns" to add to his Heineken Cup, Pro12 and Challenge Cup successes with Leinster. IRFU CEO PHILIP BROWNE said, "We're in discussions with Joe. He's just off the back of the Six Nations and he's been away and I'm sure those discussions will come to some sort of conclusion over the next couple of months" (IRISH INDEPENDENT, 4/16).