Oman’s RAIYA AL HABSI "has become the first Arab woman to be nominated for the Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards." The 25-year-old is one of four female sailors announced in the women's category of the Int'l Sailing Federation-organized annual award nominations, along with JO ALEH and OLIVIA POWRIE and DENEEN DEMOURKAS and ERIKA HEINEKEN of the U.S. (GULF NEWS, 10/2). ... Former Wimbledon finalist DAVID NALBANDIAN of Argentina "has announced his retirement from professional tennis owing to injuries." Nalbandian cited "persistent shoulder problems as the main reason for his decision to retire" (TELEGRAPH, 10/2). ... Olympic Bronze Medalist SAINA NEHWAL was declared Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year while her mentor and India coach PULELLA GOPICHAND was given the Coach of the Year award "for nurturing new crop of talented young shuttlers." The 14 categories in which the awards were presented include Young Player of the Year award, won by U19 world cup winning captain UNMUKT CHAND. Athlete of the Year was presented to young India cricketer VIRAT KOHLI (PTI, 10/1). ... London Mayor BORIS JOHNSON reminded some of his prediction that the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics "would spur a baby boom." Johnson said to the Conservative Party conference, "I prophesied that the athletes had moved the people of this country to such paroxysms of excitement on the sofas of Britain that they had not only inspired a generation, but probably helped to create one as well. Live births in London will be 136,942, which is more than in any year since 1966 when England won the World Cup" (ITV, 10/1). ... Former India cricket captain RAHUL DRAVID said the spirit of the game has become more "relevant and important" in the wake of the Indian Premier League spot-fixing scandal "that plunged Indian cricket into a credibility crisis." One "of the most disciplined statesmen of modern-day cricket," Dravid said, "In times like these when the game is facing big challenges and some of the players get involved (corruption) the spirit of the game becomes more relevant and important" (PTI, 10/2). ... Pakistan Cricket Board Dir General JAVED MIANDAD "has offered to stand down from his post" on Wednesday (PAKISTAN TODAY, 10/2). ... PACO ZAS, one of the candidates running for Spanish second division side Deportivo La Coruña's upcoming presidential election, "assured that the moment of truth will arrive" for the club, which has been led for 25 years by current Deportivo President AUGUSTO CESAR LENDOIRO, who is running for re-election (EFE, 10/2). ... Jamaican sprinter USAIN BOLT "will run 100m through the streets of Buenos Aires in an exhibition that could also feature a race against a bus." Bolt has not set the date, but said it will be between Dec. 7-13 (AP, 10/2).
