WORLD OF SPORT
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Rooney enjoys Formula E race in Saudi Arabia English footballer Wayne Rooney has enjoyed himself since leaving the English Premier League last summer to join DC United in the MLS in the summer. The striker is now on his off-season from playing in the United States and he was one of the celebrities to head to Saudi Arabia yesterday for the inaugural staging of Formula E’s Saudia Ad Diriyah E-Prix. Rooney proved to be a popular presence in the paddock during the day, posing for pictures with drivers and spectators as he watched the race, which was won by Portugal’s Antonio Felix da Costa. Other celebrities who were involved in the race weekend was singer Enrique Iglesias and the band Black Eyed Peas, both of who performed concerts.
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Belgium dedicate win to Gougnard’s father A day after losing his father following a long battle with illness, Simon Gougnard helped Belgium enter their first field hockey World Cup final with a 6-0 rout of England in the Indian city of Bhubaneswar on Saturday. Alexander Hendrickx scored twice for Belgium to lead the tournament scorers list with seven goals at the Kalinga Stadium in the eastern state of Odisha. But it was an emotional moment for Gougnard who doubled his team’s early lead in the 19th minute with a penalty corner conversion after getting the news of his father’s death on the eve of the semi-final clash. Gougnard’s teammate Tom Boon said: “We are just really proud at what happened. We played in the honour of the father of Simon who suddenly passed away yesterday.” Belgium will play either Australia or the Netherlands in the final.
▷▷▷ Snow joke for Saints over wasted Romania trip A round-trip of 2,700 miles to play a European Challenge Cup rugby union match has proved in vain for English side Northampton Saints. They made the journey to Romania to face Timisoara Saracens only for heavy snow to force officials to cancel the game. “Heavy snow had rendered the pitch at the Dan Paltinisanu Stadium unplayable, leaving match referee Joy Neville with no option but to cancel the fixture,” European Professional Club Rugby, the tournament organisers, said in a statement. “With snow continuing to fall in Romania, no alternative options were available to play the match. The Northampton Saints squad and management team are returning to England.” There is no indication yet of if Northampton will have to make the journey again at a later date, with organisers planning to review the schedule before making an annoucement.