The Indian Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed the Maharashtra Cricket Association's appeal against the Bombay High Court order to shift Indian Premier League matches "out of the state" after Saturday. A Bench led by Chief Justice T.S. Thakur was initially inclined to allow the matches in Maharashtra "with some strict conditions" like the stadium authorities will not be permitted to use "even a drop of potable water" for their matches. However, the bench also comprising Justices R. Banumathi and U.U. Lalit dismissed the petition. The court noted it "would be better to shift the matches out rather than to create a situation where all kinds of regulations would be needed." The dismissal of the petition "would lead to a relocation of five IPL matches scheduled for the home grounds of IPL franchises Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Supergiants" (PTI, 4/27).
UEFA and Pepsi announced that for the first time ever, the Champions League Final will feature a global live music performance as part of the opening ceremony. Taking place on May 28 at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Milan, the "UEFA Champions League Final Opening Ceremony presented by Pepsi" will feature Alicia Keys as the inaugural artist to usher in a new live entertainment era for the Champions League Final (UEFA).
The 2016 Asian Women’s Beach Volleyball Championship is scheduled to kick off Thursday at the Tuan Chau Int'l Entertainment Arena in the northern coastal city of Ha Long, Quang Ninh province. The event attracted the participation of three Vietnamese teams, as well as teams from Japan, Australia, China, Kazakhstan, Malaysia and Thailand (VIETNAM NEWS, 4/27).
The Canberra Region Rugby League announced it will run three separate women's rugby league competitions in '16, including the introduction of a women's league tag competition with teams from the Austbrokers Canberra Raiders Cup competition. For the first time in the competition's history, five out of the nine teams from the senior Canberra competition will feature league tag teams (CRRL).
The Vietnam Football Federation announced its national men’s football team will have a friendly match with Syria on May 31 at Mỹ Đình Stadium in Hà Nội. The match will be a warmup for the two teams in preparation of upcoming tournaments. Vietnam will take part in the AFF Suzuki Cup 2016. Syria will compete in the last qualifying round for the 2018 World Cup (VIETNAM NEWS, 4/27).
