CLUBS VOTE TO BEGIN CONTACT TRAINING IN PL

Premier League clubs voted unanimously on Wednesday to resume contact training as the league took a significant step towards restarting in June.

Clubs returned to training in small and socially distanced groups last week but they have now moved to stage two of the “return to training protocol”.

“Squads are now able to train as a group and engage in tackling while minimising any unnecessary close contact,” the league said in statement.

The decision was made after consultation with clubs, players, managers and the government.

KEY SERIE A, GOVT MEET TO DECIDE RESTART

Serie A’s hopes of following Germany and Spain back onto the pitch will be decided on Thursday in a meeting with the Italian government which will determine the fate of the season.

Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora will tell representatives from the Italian football federation and Lega Serie A if the health conditions are right to return to action after nearly three months.

BWF EXTENDS OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION TO 2021

for packing 22 tournaments in five months in its revised calendar, the Badminton World Federation on Wednesday said the disrupted Olympic qualification process will restart only next year with players having the benefit of holding on to the ranking points they have already secured.

“An extended Olympic qualification period will be introduced from Week 1-17 in 2021 and includes the select number of tournaments that were postponed, cancelled or suspended due to Covid-19,” the BWF said in a release.

NADAL RETURNS TO COURT IN MALLORCA

star Rafael Nadal has resumed training at his academy in Mallorca. “Hello everyone, here I am, finally back on court. Happy to be back to my practices,” Nadal said in a video posted by the ATP Tour website on Monday.