Kiwi transgender weightlifter LAUREL HUBBARD, who competed nationally as GAVIN HUBBARD, "will go for gold" against American Olympic medalist SARAH ROBLES when the super-heavyweight classes bring the 2017 World Weightlifting Championships to a close on Tuesday. Hubbard has "a perfect record since returning to competition after changing gender four years ago" (REUTERS, 12/3). ... J.League club Yokohama F Marinos "look set to swoop on" ANGE POSTECOGLOU. The former Socceroos coach "had his sights set on Europe" but Yokohama's "swift approach" after he quit the national team sees it "on the verge of luring Postecoglou to Asia instead on a multi-year deal." His appointment "could be ratified within days" (HERALD SUN, 12/4). ... Olympic weightlifter EDWIN MOSQUERA ROA died after being shot in Palmira, Colombia. The 32-year-old competed at the Rio 2016 Games, finishing seventh in the 69kg division (BBC, 12/4).
'FAMILY-FRIENDLY': Cricketer BEN STOKES is "unlikely to play" in the Big Bash League despite rumors that he "could look for a deal in the high-profile tournament while under suspension with England." Sources inside the BBL said that although no formal approach has been made to them about Stokes, any request to register him for the tournament would give them a "difficult decision to make because of the message that allowing him to play would send." The BBL sees its "family-friendly" brand as "crucial to its success" (LONDON TIMES, 12/4).
