Toure retires from international football
MANCHESTER - Four-time African footballer of the year Yaya Toure of the Ivory Coast announced his retirement from international football on Tuesday. The 33-year-old Manchester City midfielder -- capped 113 times -- said it had been an incredibly difficult decision. "Writing this note was probably 'the most difficult match of my life'," wrote Toure. "After 14 years at the highest level, I'm sure this is the right time for me! The fact that I am 33 now, the intensity of training and the multitude of games are not the reasons why I am making this decision." Toure said for all his success at club level, including a Champions League with Barcelona in 2009, it was finally winning the Africa Cup of Nations in 2015 -- their first since 1992 -- that remained his most precious memory.–AFP
US hurdler Allen suffers knee injury
LOS ANGELES - United States Olympic 110m hurdler Devon Allen faces several months on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury during an American college football game, reports said Monday. Allen, who finished fifth in the final of the 110m hurdles at last month's Rio Games, is reported to have suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Allen, a wide receiver for the University of Oregon, is unlikely to play again this season, several US media reports said. The injury is a cruel blow for the talented 21-year-old who in Rio talked about the possibility of pursuing a National Football League career while continuing to compete in elite track and field. Allen injured his right ACL returning a kickoff in 2015 and missed the following track and field season.–AFP
Alvarez season ends after breaking hand
LOS ANGELES - Mexican star Saul "Canelo" Alvarez will not fight again this year after suffering a fracture to his right hand after his bruising defeat of Liam Smith, his promoters said Monday. Golden Boy Promotions said on Twitter Alvarez would not now fight until 2017 after suffering the injury in Saturday's ninth-round knockout of Smith. "Canelo has a fracture on his right hand and unable to fight again in 2016," Golden Boy said. Alvarez dropped down to super welterweight to claim the Briton's World Boxing Organization belt in the fight held at the home of the Dallas Cowboys. The Mexican star, who won the WBC middleweight title last November, is eyeing a possible superfight against Kazakhstan's Gennady Golovkin. Alvarez, 26, improved to 48-1-1 with 34 knockouts after his latest win.–AFP
Muzammil enters ITF World Jr quarters
ISLAMABAD – Muzammil Murtaza raced into the quarterfinals of the ITF World Junior Championship Grade-5, as he thrashed Vijaybandara Vibudha in straight sets in the pre-quarterfinals in Colombo on Tuesday. Muzammil is the only Pakistani left in the event as Nofil Kaleem Imam, M Ali and Raza Sawani lost the opening round matches. Muzammil was in supreme touch and never showed any sign of tiredness after playing marathon first round match. Muzammil took the first set 6-2 and the second 6-3 to set quarterfinal date with Thailand’s Charoenphon Yuttana. In other matches, Boyu-chen beat Nofil in three hard fought sets, as Nofil won the first set 6-3, but lost the next two 3-6, 1-6. Ryo-Watanabee beat M Ali Sahibzada 6-3, 6-1, while Chen-yu beat Raza Sawani 6-2, 6-2.–Staff Reporter
PLTA to hold 10&under mini tennis event
LAHORE – The Punjab Lawn Tennis Association (PLTA) will hold 10&Under Red Ball Inter School Tournament with no entrance fee here at the PLTA tennis centre from September 22. The one-day event, to be held in order to promote talent at the grassroots levels, will be featured by different schools of the city. ITF senior official Suresh Menon will be the chief guest and give away the prizes. PLTA secretary said: “It is a great honor for us that the ITF official will be officially visiting Pakistan after 25 years and will be observing junior tennis initiative program by the PTF and will also paying visit to schools.” For the first time, the ITF has provided red soft balls, smaller rackets while mini tennis courts shall be used to attract children from ages as low as four tears.–Staff Reporter