Sport news in brief
Rahm hits out at ‘laughable’ LIV world ranking points system
Jon Rahm believes LIV Golf must wait to be awarded world ranking points that he feels have been rendered “laughable” by the updated system. Changes implemented earlier this year include points being awarded to each player making the cut and the total on offer being calculated on every player in the field, rather than just those in the world’s top 200.
However, that has contributed to situations where this week’s RSM Classic will award 37 points to the winner despite having
no players ranked inside the world’s top 25, while the DP World Tour Championship has seven of the top 25 but offers just 21.8 points.
“I’m going to be as blunt as I can,” Rahm told a press conference in Dubai. “I think the OWGR right now is laughable. The fact that the RSM doesn’t have any of the top 25 in the world and has more points than this event where we have seven of the top 25 is laughable.” PA
Lewis inspires Ireland to historic series win in Pakistan
Ireland Women have made cricket history in Lahore, securing their first-ever overseas series win with a 2-1 victory over Pakistan. Neither the men’s or women’s team have previously come out on top in a bilateral series on the sub-continent, but Laura Delany’s side bucked the trend in style as they claimed the decider by 34 runs.
Their landmark success was built around a 110-run opening stand between Amy Hunter (40) and Gaby Lewis (71), with the duo laying the foundations for a first-innings total of 167 for four. The home side were bowled out for 133 with seven balls of the reply unused, as Javeria Khan’s 50 at the top of the order went unsupported. PA
Hansen not concerned about Australia’s sledging
In-form Ireland wing Mack Hansen is looking forward to “going to war” against his native Australia and has no concerns about receiving on-field stick as the Wallabies squad “can’t sledge for shit”. Canberra-born Hansen is poised to face his homeland for the first time during Saturday evening’s eagerly-anticipated clash in Dublin.
The former Australia Under-20 international, whose mother Diana hails from County Cork, says switching international allegiance is the best decision of his life. “Since I made my decision there have been no thoughts of backtracking at all,” said Hansen. Asked about the prospect of enduring in-game taunts
this weekend, he joked: “Whitey [Nic White] will be chirpy like always but the rest of them aren’t very witty or smart.” PA
Usyk’s next fight won’t impact Fury bout, promoter insists
Oleksandr Usyk’s mandatory commitments with IBF challenger Filip Hrgovic will have no bearing on a world heavyweight title unification fight against Tyson Fury, his promoter has insisted. The 35-year-old retained his WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO heavyweight titles with a second consecutive win over Anthony Joshua in August and wants to add Fury’s WBC crown to his collection early next year.
The Ukrainian confirmed earlier this month he was only interested in fighting Fury next, but Hrgovic’s team announced last week that the IBF had ordered Usyk to fight the Croatian, who boasts a 15-0 record. “At this stage I can anticipate that it will not influence the undisputed [fight] anyhow,” Alexander Krassyuk told Sky Sports. “We expect his next fight to be for the undisputed so most likely it will take place in the Middle East.” PA
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