Hindustan Times (Lucknow)

Bolt gives up his football dream, track icon to focus on business

- sportsdesk@hindustant­imes.com

KINGSTON, JAMAICA: Usain Bolt is giving up on his dream of forging a career as a profession­al footballer following his try-out last year with Australian side Central Coast Mariners.

In remarks reported by Jamaican media outlets on Tuesday, the eight-time Olympic sprint champion said he had drawn a line under his hopes of playing football as a profession­al.

The 32-year-old athletics icon had told reporters last month he had not given up hope of becoming a footballer. However at an event here on Monday, Bolt said he now planned to concentrat­e on his business career. “I don’t want to say it wasn’t dealt with properly, but we went about it, not the way we should and you learn your lesson, you live and you learn,” he said.

SALIMA IN CAMP

NEWDELHI:Youth Olympics silver medallist Salima Tete was included in a 33-member core probable group for the junior women’s hockey national camp, starting Thursday in Lucknow.

The 24-day camp, to be held ahead of a four-match Test series against France starting February 8, will be conducted with coach Baljeet Singh at the helm.

“The upcoming camp gives us a perfect opportunit­y to nurture young talent and prepare them for a tough series against an experience­d French team,” said Singh. “We will be focusing on developing these players, emphasisin­g on their fitness, speed, stamina, skills, and preparing them tactically as well as mentally, for bigger challenges that the team is going to face in the future including the Women’s Junior Asia Cup.”

Tete, who is currently travelling with the senior team to Spain, will report for the camp in Lucknow upon her return.

GETAFE ADVANCE

MADRID:Getafe defeated Valencia 1-0 as the Copa del Rey quarterfin­als got underway on Tuesday, with substitute Jorge Molina scoring the winner from inside the area in the 77th minute.

The 36-year-old Molina netted his fourth goal in four games, less than 10 minutes after coming off the bench. “It was just a small step, but a very important one, especially because we didn’t concede any goals,” Getafe midfielder Francisco Portillo said.

Getafe, one of the surprises in La Liga this season, was near full strength while Valencia played without many of its regular starters.

 ?? GETTY IMAGES ?? ▪ Usain Bolt’s pro football career failed to take off.
GETTY IMAGES ▪ Usain Bolt’s pro football career failed to take off.

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