New names expected to be in fray for Fifa presidency

PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS HAVE UNTIL MIDNIGHT MONDAY (SWISS TIME) TO REGISTER PAPERS AT THE HEADQUARTERS

ZURICH: Fifa will on Monday stop accepting candidates to replace Sepp Blatter as the scandal-tainted body’s leader, with five contenders declared and more expected before the door shuts.

Tokyo Sexwale, a South African diamond mining tycoon and politician, became the latest to join the race for the February 26 election, despite the mounting corruption scandals that have hit football’s world body.

He will challenge Michel Platini, the Uefa leader now suspended by Fifa, former Fifa vice president Prince Ali bin al Hussein, David Nakhid, a former Trinidad and Tobago captain, and Jerome Champagne, a former Fifa official.

Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim al Khalifa, president of the Asian Football Confederation, is believed to be considering a run. At least one other senior football official could also stand.

Candidates have until midnight Monday to register papers at Fifa headquarters.

ABHIJEET TRIUMPHS HOOGEVEEN: Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta won the Hoogeveen International Open Chess Tournament after defeating compatriot Neelotpal Das in the ninth and final round here.

In what turned out to be an easy victory in the final round, Gupta needed just 20 moves to outwit Das, who was hit by an avalanche of white pieces resulting in serious material deficit.

SOUTH ASIAN GAMES GUWAHATI: The South Asian Games will be held in Guwahati and Shillong from February 6 to 16 next year with eight countries, including hosts India, participating in the regional multi-sporting event, said Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi.

LEE CHONG WEI WINS PARIS: Former World No 1, Lee Chong Wei won his first Super Series title this season with the defeat of Chou Tien Chen of Taiwan in 21-13, 21-18 in the final of the French Open on Sunday. It follows the two Grand Prix Golds he won after serving a doping ban.