Two decades of Federer, and still going strong

MOSCOW: Russian athletes will participate in the parade of national teams at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in South Koreas PyeongChang, Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) President Alexander Zhukov said on Friday. "Russian athletes will take part in the opening ceremony of the Games in PyeongChang and they will participate in the parade of athletes under the Olympic flag," Zhukov said in an interview with Tass news agency. Russian athletes will participate as neutrals after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) suspended Russia for allegedly abetting doping of its athletes. The IOC accused Russia of systematic violations of anti-doping rules, particularly during the 2014 Sochi Olympics. NEW DELHI: Union Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore on Friday sanctioned ex-gratia assistance of Rs. 5 lakh to the family of Nitisha Negi, the teenage footballer who drowned in the sea at Glenelg beach in Adelaide, Australia, on September 10 this year. The financial assistance was provided under the 'Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons'. The main objective of the scheme is to provide suitable assistance to outstanding sportspersons living in indigent circumstances/injured during the period of their training for competitions. Delhi's Nitisha had gone to Australia for the Pacific School Games, when she and four other teammates got into trouble. LONDON: Amidst links with a move to Spanish football giants Real Madrid, Chelsea star Eden Hazard's father on Friday claimed his son has rejected contract extension with the London club. "What I can reveal about Eden is that he refused a contract extension," Thierry Hazard was quoted as saying by Sky Sports. "This was so that, if necessary, he could follow the interest of Real, whom he could see himself playing for," he added. His father however said that the European Champions have not tried to make any contact with his son as of now and the only interest at the moment is from his ward. "But, as of right now, there is no contact from Real Madrid. Eden is only one of the parties involved in his future," Thierry concluded. The amazing Roger Federer will embark on his 21st professional season when he leads Switzerland in the mixed teams Hopman Cup starting here.

The 36-year-old Swiss is coming off an extraordinary year where he took his majors tally to 19, with a fifth Australian Open title and a record eighth Wimbledon. Federer finished the year at number two in the world behind Spanish rival Rafael Nadal, having started at 16, after a seasonleading seven titles, including three Masters at Indian Wells, Miami and Shanghai.

It was a sensational season by any standards, but especially as Federer has been playing professional tennis since 1998 -- a year when Bill Clinton was president of the United States, and James Cameron's "Titanic" won 11 Oscars. Federer will again partner Belinda Bencic at the Hopman Cup, his only event before launching his Australian Open title defence on January 15.

Russia to participate in 2018 Winter Olympic opening ceremony in Korea Rs 5 lakh for drowned footballer's family 'Hazard rejects Chelsea contract extension'