Asian Tour golf set to resume after 18 months

New Delhi

The Asian Tour is set to return from an 18-month hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic after the golf circuit said today it will stage two tournaments in Thailand before the end of the year. The Tour, which stopped play in March 2020, will hold the Blue Canyon Championship on November 25-28 and the Laguna Phuket Championship on December 2-5.

New Delhi

Lovlina gets direct entry in World Championships team

Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain (69kg) has been handed direct qualification for the upcoming women’s World Championships by the Indian federation, which has decided that the remaining squad will be made up of gold medallists from the upcoming Nationals.

Milan

Mancini targets another trophy in Nations League

Having tasted glory in Euro 2020, Italy coach Roberto Mancini has his eye on another trophy when the Azzurri take on Spain in their Nations League semifinal at the San Siro stadium tomorrow. Mancini has led Italy on a world record 37-match unbeaten run, which included the triumphant Euro campaign in June and July culminating in victory on penalties over England at Wembley. The Nations League final-four, which also sees France and Belgium clash in Turin on Thursday, has been moved to an October slot due to the one-year postponement of the Euros amid the pandemic.

Barcelona

Spanish basketball great Gasol retires

Spanish basketball great Pau Gasol today announced that he is retiring from the sport after a 23-year career. The 41-year-old, who stands 7 feet 1 inch, made his professional debut in 1998 with Barca as a centre before being signed by NBA side Memphis Grizzlies in 2001. He won NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 and 2010 while being chosen in the All-Star team on six occasions. Gasol was a talisman for Spain, helping them win the Olympics silver medal at the 2008 and 2012 Games plus bronze in 2016. — Agencies