Ill Van Garderen quits Tour de France
PRA-LOUP - Tejay Van Garderen pulled out of the Tour de France during 161km 17th stage from Digne-les-Bains to Pra Loup. The 26-year-old American had been sitting third in the overall standings at 3min 32sec back from race leader Chris Froome. But only 60km into the first Alpine stage of the race, Van Garderen started to struggle and lost touch with the peloton. The BMC team leader was suffering from headaches. He dropped two minutes behind but his teammates helped him back up to the peloton, only for an acceleration from Alberto Contador, who was fifth overall, to see Van Garderen dropped again and, with 70km still to ride, he climbed off his bike. It means Spaniard Alejandro Valverde moves up into a podium position behind second-placed Nairo Quintana with Contador just 19sec behind.–AFP
Powell runs 9.87 in last meet before worlds
BERN – Jamaican Asafa Powell ran 9.87sec in his last 100m outing before the Beijing world championships at a meet in the Swiss town of Bellinzona on Tuesday. Former world record holder Powell, who won the Diamond League meet in Paris earlier this month in a time of 9.81, finished comfortably ahead of his fellow countryman Nesta Carter (10.05sec). Asafa Powell's time broke the record for the meeting, as he went below the 10-second barrier for the 90th time in his career. Powell, 32, will spend time training in Austria before moving on to Beijing for the world championships, which run from August 22-30. Powell is aiming to dethrone fellow countryman and world record holder Usain Bolt while this year’s best time holder Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay will spice up the worlds 100m rivalry.–AFP
Surgery for French player after fans attack
LENS - A French footballer will have an operation to fix a finger that was broken in an attack by supporters of his own team. Benjamin Bourigeaud, of Ligue 2 side Lens, suffered a fractured finger in his right hand that will require "a minor intervention", a source close to the club told AFP. Lens coach Antoine Kombouare said Bourigeaud, 21, hurt his hand when he was "ambushed" by a group of six people outside a nightclub near the northern French town of Arras on Saturday. The supporters were angry at the club's decision to sell Belgian striker Baptiste Guillaume to their local rivals Lille. Bourigeaud was sticking up for his former teammate. The player, who has yet to decide if he will press charges, wrote on Twitter: "Everything is fine don't worry I will be back very soon."–AFP
Faisal-led PFF assured FIFA, AFC support
LAHORE – Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) vice president and Punjab Football Association (PFA) president Sardar Naveed Haider Khan met with Asian Football Confederation (AFC) secretary Dato Windsor John on Wednesday at the AFC Head Office Kuala Lampur, Malaysia and discussed overall football situation in Pakistan. Dato Windsor assured AFC and FIFA support for the truly-elected PFF Congress under the presidentship of Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat and emphasized that their support for the development and growth of football in Pakistan would be kept continue. The AFC secretary also felicitated Sardar Naveed Haider for being elected as PFF vice president in the recently-held PFF elections. The PFA president apprised the AFC secretary of the various steps being taken by Punjab Football Association for grooming young talent. At this occasion, he briefed the AFC secretary on the National U-16 Championship held in Multan. Sardar Naveed also invited Windsor to visit Pakistan which he accepted.–Staff Reporter