Ronaldo gets PM backing after rape allegation
LISBON: Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa has spoken out in defence of Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been embroiled in a rape accusation.
Speaking to television on the Spanish island of Lanzarote on Saturday, Costa made an appeal to the presumption of innocence, as well as Ronaldo’s successful career. “People need to understand one and for all that there’s one thing that is presumption of innocence,” Costa said.
“It is not enough for someone to be accused of something to be guilty of it.”
Costa added: “If there’s something we have proof of (it) is that he is an extraordinary professional, an extraordinary sportsman, an extraordinary footballer, and someone who has honoured and given prestige to Portugal, and certainly what we all wish for is that nothing can ever stain that record of Ronaldo.” Last week, Kathryn Mayorga filed a civil lawsuit in the US saying she was raped by Ronaldo in Las Vegas in 2009. Police have re-opened an investigation, while Ronaldo has denied the accusation.
OSAKA PULLS OUT
HONG KONG: US Open champion Naomi Osaka has pulled out of this week’s Hong Kong Open to prevent aggravating a slight back injury, organisers said on Sunday. The Japanese star required treatment to her lower back during her semi-final defeat to unseeded Anastasija Sevastova at the China Open in Beijing on Saturday.
MEDVEDEV UPSETS
TOKYO: Russian qualifier Daniil Medvedev stunned home favourite Kei Nishikori in the final to claim the Japan Open title after a comfortable 6-2, 6-4 victory in Tokyo on Sunday. “I was playing amazing and I am so happy to come out on top,” said Medvedev, who will jump to 22nd in the world rankings, after winning in just over an hour.
LOCHTE SEEKS REHAB
LOS ANGELES: Six-time Olympic gold medallist Ryan Lochte is seeking treatment for alcohol addiction, his lawyer told US media. Attorney Jeff Ostrow told celebrity website TMZ on Friday that Lochte was pursuing treatment and remained hopeful of qualifying to swim in a fifth Olympics at Tokyo in 2020.
INDIA BAG FIVE MEDALS
JAKARTA: India opened its Para Asian Games campaign in style by bagging two silver and three bronze medals on the opening day here on Sunday. In the 49 kg men’s powerlifting event, Farman Basha claimed the silver. Devanshi Satijawon also won silver in women’s 100 metre butterfly in S-10 category.