Birmingham plan pre-match tribute to former striker Benitez July 29, 2013 FORMER Birmingham striker Christian Benitez, 27, died suddenly yesterday after suffering a cardio-respiratory arrest, just hours after making his debut in Qatar. Ecuador international Benitez was admitted to hospital with severe stomach pains after playing for El Jaish against Qatar Sport Club and died soon afterwards. Known affectionately as Chucho, Benitez scored four times in [...]
Meilutyte, 16, breaks world record July 29, 2013 SWIMMING: Teenager Ruta Meilutyte broke the 100m breaststroke world record in the World Championship semi-finals in Barcelona yesterday. The 16-year-old, who won gold for Lithuania at last year’s Olympics, lives and trains in Plymouth and clocked one minute 4.30 seconds. She said: “A gold medal would be a cherry on top of the ice cream.”
Harvey named new league chief July 29, 2013 FOOTBALL: Former Leeds chief executive Shaun Harvey, 43, will assume the same role at the Football League from 1 October.
Hamilton on title charge after historic Hungary win July 28, 2013 BRITAIN’S Lewis Hamilton believes he is still in with a shot of winning the 2013 Formula One drivers’ world championship, after storming to his first Grand Prix victory of the season in Hungary yesterday. The Mercedes driver is a considerable 48 points behind Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel, yet his historic victory at the Hungaroring, where [...]
Weir happy not to be Britain’s sole medal hope July 28, 2013 SIX-TIME Paralympic champion David Weir admitted yesterday his relief at knowing Great Britain no longer has to pin its hopes of glory on him, as he ponders whether or not to compete at his fifth Games in Rio in 2016. Weir closed the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games in the Olympic Stadium with a show-stopping performance in [...]
Sport Comment: Sorting cycle safety would be serious legacy July 28, 2013 AMID all the huffing, puffing and posturing about the legacy of 2012, this weekend will offer the most obvious evidence of how the London Olympics have changed our lives. Tens of thousands of us, of you, will take part in Ride London but in so doing will fuel the fire of one of the bitterest [...]
England sweat on late Pietersen fitness test July 28, 2013 ENGLAND will give mercurial batsman Kevin Pietersen until the last minute to prove his fitness before deciding if he will face Australia in the third Ashes Test starting on Thursday at Old Trafford. Pietersen’s possible replacement, James Taylor, hit a century for Sussex against Australia yesterday, after England’s management were granted permission for the Nottinghamshire [...]
Formula One legend hails winning drive July 28, 2013 FORMULA One hero Niki Lauda yesterday poured praise on Lewis Hamilton, insisting that the British driver won the Hungarian Grand Prix due to his superior performance, rather than by simply having the fastest car. Hamilton won plaudits for completing two key manoeuvres during the race, which proved critical in keeping his Mercedes at the top [...]
England failures down to the FA not us, says Premier League boss July 28, 2013 PREMIER League chief executive Richard Scudamore has slammed the Football Association for continually passing the buck when it comes to assessing the national team’s failures. Last month England manager Roy Hodgson vented frustration at TV scheduling which means players from Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal will play five days before a must-win World Cup [...]
Spurs dismiss Real’s record £86m Bale bid July 28, 2013 TOTTENHAM manager Andre Villas-Boas has dropped his insistence that star forward Gareth Bale will be kept at the club next season following a world record bid from Real Madrid. Spurs are believed to have rebuffed an offer of €100m (£86m) from Real for the Welshman, a deal that would outstrip the Spanish club’s purchase of [...]