Platini files lawsuit over FIFA ban
PARIS: Convinced he was the victim of a plot, former UEFA president Michel Platini has filed a lawsuit in France in a bid to prove that former FIFA officials conspired to get him banned from football. Platini’s communications team said on Friday that the former France great has filed the suit. The Le Monde newspaper reported that Platini filed a complaint for “slanderous denunciation” and “criminal conspiracy to commit the offence of slanderous denunciation.” Platini was banned by FIFA in 2015 for financial misconduct in relation to a $2m payment authorised by former FIFA boss Sepp Blatter.
VAN BASTEN QUITS
ZURICH: Football great Marco van Basten is leaving FIFA after two years as technical director. FIFA said the former Netherlands forward is leaving to be closer to his family. Van Basten helped oversee the introduction of video review for referees at the World Cup in Russia.
KRISH, DENIM IN FINAL
NEW DELHI: Top seed Krish Patel was in sublime form as he outthought top seed Divesh Gehlot in straight sets to enter the U-16 final of the Fenesta Open Junior National Tennis Championship here on Friday. Krish grabbed his chances for a 6-3, 6-1 verdict against Divesh. On Saturday, Krish will play Denim Yadav, who outslugged Aryaan Bhatia 7-5, 6-1 in the second semi- final.
The girls’ U-16 final will be contested by Vipasha Mehra and Gargi Pawar. While Vipasha beat Sanjana Sirimala 7-6(8), 6-7(2), 6-1, Gargi Pawar of Maharashtra got the better of Sunskriti Damera) 5-7, 6-3, 6-0.
PUNEET UPSETS SHOAIB
NEW DELHI: Puneet Sharma created an upset when he beat former Delhi State junior champion Shoaib Khan in a tense battle in the Delhi State 15-Red Senior Snooker Championship at Megapool Academy. The scores were 54-23, 23-57, 63-56, 23-56 and 53-21. Sixteen players in the pre-quarterfinal league have been divided into four groups and the top two of each group will reach the quarter-final league to be played on knockout basis.
NEHRU HOCKEY
NEWDELHI: Amritsar’s Khalsa College Senior Sec School girls were crowned Nehru Hockey (U-17) champions after they beat Sonepat’s Tika Ram Senior Secondary School 2-1 on Friday. The Sonepat team scored the opening goal through Tannu in the 47th minute via a penalty stroke, but Punjab side came back strongly to convert two penalty corners through Neha Yadav (55th) and Simranjeet Kaur (63rd).
HARYANA STEELERS WIN
SONEPAT: Haryana Steelers began their home leg of the Pro Kabaddi season on a positive note as they beat Gujarat Fortunegiants 32-25. The Steelers’ new captain and star raider Monu Goyat scored seven points and was well supported by Kuldeep Singh in defence, who chipped in with seven points as well. For Gujarat, Sachin and Prapanjan combined to score 17 points.