Ronaldo back in training ahead of El Clasico
MADRID - Cristiano Ronaldo returned to full training Friday with his Real Madrid teammates to quash fears he could miss Saturday's huge El Clasico clash with Barcelona at Real's Santiago Bernabeu. The world player of the year received rough treatment as he scored the winner in the Club World Cup final over Brazilians Gremio last weekend, but Ronaldo had insisted he would be fit for the lunchtime visit of league leaders Barca. Ronaldo didn't train with the rest of the Madrid squad on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday as a precaution. Madrid will need Ronaldo in the form he has shown of late having scored five goals in his last four games as the European champions look to claw their way back into the title race. Zinedine Zidane's men trail Barca by 11 points and are in fourth place.–AFP
Organising committee named for club event
LAHORE – The tournament committee to organise the 1st Cannon Foam Challenge Cup One-Day Club Cricket Tournament smoothly was announced here on Friday. Sheikh Muhammad Ibrahim was named patron-in-chief of the committee while Justice (r) Asghar Haider and Shafiullah will be patron, Majid Zaman chairman, Wasif Zaman president, former Test bowler Shahid Nazir senior vice president and Hafiz Shahbaz Ali secretary of the tournament committee. Sheikh Ibrahim said that they are going to organize this tournament to provide the youth of Lahore East Zone Cricket Association a platform to showcase their skills and excel at higher level. “We are holding this tournament in collaboration with Cannon Foam. This is the beginning and in future, we will continue to host more such healthy activities for youth.”–Staff Reporter
Mario Gomez heads back to Stuttgart
BERLIN - Experienced German international striker Mario Gomez is to move to Stuttgart from Wolfsburg, rejoining the team he left eight years ago. Gomez, 32, came through the Stuttgart youth system and won the 2007 Bundesliga title with the club. "I am very happy to return home, to the place where it all began," he said. The transfer fee was around three million euros, according to German sports agency SID. Gomez has scored 151 Bundesliga goals and has played 71 times for Germany, scoring 31 goals. "With Mario Gomez, we will have a scorer of the highest quality," Stuttgart's sporting director Michael Reschke said. Germany coach Joachim Loew left Gomez out of his 2014 World Cup squad, but recalled him for Euro 2016.–AFP
Ivan, Lopez in BB Tennis singles final
ISLAMABAD - Ivan Nedelko of Russia and Lopez Perez of Spain entered the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto International Tennis Tournament men's single final after defeating their respective opponents in semifinals here at Islamabad Tennis Complex Friday. In the first semifinal, Russia’s Ivan Nedelko defeated Turkish Ergi Kirkin 7-6 (6), 2-6, 6-4 while Spaniard Lopez Perez thrashed Austrian Peter Goldsteiner 6-1, 6-1. In men’s doubles first semifinal, Ukraine/Russia pair Gleb Alekseenko/Ivan Ponomarenko hammered Austria/Germany duo of Peter Goldsteiner/Julian 6-0, 6-4 while Spanish/Russia pair Lopez Perez/Lozan Kristian beat Ukraine/Russia pair Gelb Alekseenko/Ivan Ponomarenko 6-0, 4-6, 10-6 in second semifinal. The men's double final will be played today (Saturday) while singles final to be held on Sunday.–Staff Reporter
GIR festival held in Southern Punjab
LAHORE - The Pakistan Rugby Union (PRU) has started ‘Get Into Rugby’ (GIR) festival in Southern Punjab, where 1,020 players in Melsi played 7-sided GIR festival games in the first round. Pakistan Rugby Union head coach Shakeel Ahmed Malik said that a large number of kids from different schools came to play GIR Festival and remained busy throughout the day in the healthy activity. “Total 1,020 players were divided into 85 teams.” Shakeel said the main idea behind GIR was to give opportunity to the young players to play and learn rugby. “According to this programme, our development officers went to different schools to start GIR activities, and then festival was held to engage the youth to play some good rugby. In this one-day festival, 85 teams played each other in 7-side games,” he added. –Staff Reporter