There "was controversy on stage three of the Dubai Tour" after the race leader, MARCEL KITTEL, said that "he was punched by Astana’s ANDRIY GRIVKO during the race." The Ukrainian Grivko "was disqualified" by organizers after the stage was over and Astana "issued an apology to Kittel and his Quick‑Step Floors team, but that was not enough to placate the German sprinter" (PA, 2/2).
Australian tennis player
NICK KYRGIOS has been given "a unique opportunity to pursue his interest in basketball" after the Sydney Kings extended an "open invitation to connect" with the National Basketball League franchise. Kyrgios has "spoken publicly about basketball being his true sporting passion on numerous occasions and admitted that at times he had spent more time shooting hoops than honing his tennis skills." The Kings noted Kyrgios' basketball interest, "prompting the club to extend a written invitation to his management" (
SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 2/1). ...
INDRA SJAFRI "has been tasked to champion" the U19 ASEAN Football Federation Cup in September. Indra signed a one-year contract with the Indonesian FA and is "also tasked with improving the youth team's standing in the Asian Football Confederation U19 championship qualifiers this year" (
JAKARTA GLOBE, 2/2). ... France int'l
ANTOINE GRIEZMANN reportedly reached an agreement with ManU "over a transfer from Atletico Madrid at the end of the season." According to the report, ManU "will have to pay at least" €100M ($107.6M) to secure the 25-year-old forward, who has scored 14 goals in 39 appearances for France and "was instrumental in the side's run to the Euro 2016 final" (
REUTERS, 2/2).
NOT GONNA HAPPEN: Jamaican sprinter USAIN BOLT has "no plans to extend his career beyond this year's World Championships in London and has ruled out a return to Australia for the 2018 Commonwealth Games." The eight-time Olympic Gold Medalist said, "To come out here next season, to really train as hard as I need to get to the level I need to win, it's not going to happen." Bolt will captain an int'l team of "All Stars" in the Nitro Athletics series in Melbourne against four other teams representing England, China, New Zealand and Japan (SKY SPORTS, 2/2).
