Afghan National Olympic Committee President ZAHIR AGHBAR on Saturday announced his resignation. Aghbar said that "rifts within the National Olympic Committee had prompted his decision to stand down" (PAJHWOK AFGHAN NEWS, 10/26). ... Moroccan track-and-field athlete HICHAM AL GUERROUJ "will deliver the main address at the seventh edition of the Sports Creativity Conference" organized by the Dubai Sports Council at the Jumeirah Creekside Hotel (GULF NEWS, 10/28). ... World Championships relay medalist EILIDH CHILD "has been named Scotland's Athlete of the Year." The 26-year-old from Perth "won bronze in the 4x400m in Moscow, following her fifth place in the 400m hurdles" (BBC, 10/27). ... MLB player PAUL GOLDSCHMIDT "is heading to Auckland in November to promote the game in New Zealand." Goldschmidt, who plays first base for the Arizona Diamondbacks, "will host a hitting clinic for local baseball players at Eden Park" on Nov. 7 -- and will travel to New Zealand with franchise President DERRICK HALL (FAIRFAX NZ NEWS, 10/28). ... South Korean football player LEE YOUNG-PYO, "who played a key role in leading his country to three consecutive World Cup appearances, hung up his cleats Sunday." The 36-year-old right back, the third-highest-capped South Korean player with 127 int'l appearances, "closed out his career before a sold-out house at British Columbia Place stadium in helping the Vancouver Whitecaps to a 3-0 win over the Colorado Rapids" (XINHUA, 10/27). ... The Badminton World Federation on Friday said that Thai badminton player BODIN ISSARA's "appeal against a two-year ban for assaulting his former doubles partner on court has been rejected" (REUTERS, 10/25). ... FA of Singapore President ZAINUDIN NORDIN "will step down after three two-year terms in Singapore football's hot seat." At last month's FAS' annual general meeting, MP EDWIN TONG was appointed as its new VP, "leading to speculation that the lawyer is next in line for Singapore football's top job" (STRAITS TIMES, 10/28).
