More than 3m fewer people watched the Open on Sky this weekend than on the BBC last year July 19, 2016 The first year of the Open Championship coverage on Sky endured a 77 per cent drop in viewing figures compared to the final broadcast on the BBC a year ago. Read more: I was destined to win Open Championship, claims victorious Henrik Stenson Last year's peak TV audience of 4.7m plunged to 1.1m last weekend despite the dramatic [...]
Barcelona extend Qatar Airways sponsorship for a further year as club wait for more lucrative deal July 19, 2016 Barcelona have extended their shirt sponsorship deal with Qatar Airways for a further season after failing to find a partner willing to match their €65m (£55m) per season asking price. The La Liga champions have had ties to the gulf state since 2010 when the Qatar Foundation became only the second shirt sponsor in its history [...]
Manchester United may have moved a step closer to signing Juventus’ Paul Pogba after offering midfielder massive annual salary July 19, 2016 Paul Pogba's rumoured move to Manchester United may be a step closer to becoming reality after the Premier League club detailed the large salary they'd be prepared to pay the Frenchman. United have now told the Juventus midfielder's agent, Mino Raiola, they'll offer his client up to £11m a season, according to local reports. Last week Raiola had [...]
Injustice if James Vince doesn’t make it in Test cricket, insists England head coach Trevor Bayliss July 19, 2016 England head coach Trevor Bayliss has urged his fellow selectors to maintain faith in James Vince despite the Hampshire skipper’s underwhelming run-scoring returns in Test cricket. Vince has racked up 112 runs in six innings since making his Test debut against Sri Lanka at Headingley in May, although his knock of 42 in a losing cause [...]
I earned my spot at Olympic Games in Rio fair and square, insists two-time world champions Christine Ohuruogu July 18, 2016 Former Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu has hit back at critics who suggested her inclusion in Team GB’s 400m squad for next month’s Games in Rio was unwarranted. Ohuruogu, an Olympic gold medallist in Beijing in 2008 and silver medallist at London 2012, was handed the discretionary third spot in the 400m Olympic party alongside automatic [...]
Deontay Wilder attempts to lure Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury into ring for unification bouts July 18, 2016 Undefeated WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has called for unification bouts with British duo Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua after navigating his latest title defence. The 30-year-old retained his crown by defeating compatriot Chris Arreola, whose corner stopped the clash after eight rounds, in Birmingham, Alabama in the early hours of yesterday morning. Wilder, [...]
I was destined to win Open Championship, claims victorious Henrik Stenson following record-breaking performance Royal Troon July 18, 2016 Sweden's Henrik Stenson insisted he felt a sense of destiny after claiming the first Major of his career with victory at the Open Championship at Royal Troon. Stenson carded a record-equalling final round of 63, having birdied four of his final five holes, to become just the second player in history to finish a Major [...]
England’s batsmen were naive and need to grow up, blasts skipper Alastair Cook after slumping to defeat against Pakistan July 17, 2016 England skipper Alastair Cook lambasted his side for naïve batting after they slumped to a humbling 75-run defeat in the first Investec Test against Pakistan at Lord’s. Chasing 283 for victory, England again fell under the spell of leg-spinner Yasir Shah, who claimed four second innings wickets to finish with match-figures of 10-141 in his [...]
Kyle Edmund heralded after steering Great Britain into Davis Cup semi-finals with victory over Serbia July 17, 2016 Great Britain captain Leon Smith hailed the emerging talent of Kyle Edmund after the 21-year-old defeated Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic in Belgrade to propel the defending champions into the Davis Cup semi-finals. Edmund followed victory in his opening singles match against Janko Tipsarevic on Friday by dispatching world No81 Lajovic in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), to [...]
N’Golo Kante says opportunity of working with Chelsea manager Antonio Conte “too good to turn down” after completing £30m transfer from Leicester July 16, 2016 N'Golo Kante claimed the opportunity to work with new Chelsea manager "was too good to turn down" after completing his £30m transfer to Stamford Bridge from Leicester. The French midfielder has signed a five-year contract with Chelsea for a bumper contract thought to be worth £150,000 a week. Chelsea targeted the 25-year-old after an impressive debut season in [...]