WSB sets both legs of Russia vs. Ukraine quarter-final on respective home soils

The International Boxing Association (AIBA) and the World Series of Boxing (WSB) have announced today that both legs of the WSB quarter-final match between the Russian Boxing Team and the Ukraine Otamans will be maintained on a home and away basis.

The first leg will be held on March 30 in Moscow (Russia), and the second leg on April 4 in Donetsk (Ukraine).

This decision has been made based on the main principle of the Olympic Movement, which is that sport should always be dealt with outside of politics. Both teams have fully agreed on this principle and AIBA/WSB is extremely happy that the opinion of both teams has been respected.

The winner of this quarter-final will then face the winner of the USA Knockouts vs. Cuba Domadores match. First leg to be held on April 25 in either Russia or Ukraine, and second leg on May 2 in either the USA or Cuba.

Two Weeks Remaining to Bid for GAC Group 2015 Table Tennis World Tour Event

There is just two weeks remaining to bid to host a GAC Group ITTF World Tour event in 2015.

The bids close on 1 April 2014, with many strong cities and countries already bidding to host a stop on the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour.

The ITTF World Tour is the biggest table tennis tour on the planet, with the best table tennis players in the world battling for millions of dollars in prize money in all corners of the globe.

ITTF Marketing Director Steve Dainton stated: “We have some great bids already, but we anticipate many more! We look forward to continue working with our long time organisers, newer organisers and welcoming new cities and countries to bid for these prestigious and commercially growing events.”

“We believe this bid process will attract a growing number of larger cities around the world and ensure the ITTF World Tour events continue to grow and prosper as a commercially attractive sporting product, one that any city in the world should be actively looking to host.”

GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour – Super Series, Qatar Open. Photo by ITTF.

The GAC Group 2015 World Tour will comprise of 3 tiers:

• Super Series x 6 events
• Major Series x 6 events
• Challenge Series x multiple events

The higher the tier, the more exposure available for your city/country, more prize money, more world ranking and World Tour standing points and higher quality of competition on offer.

The GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour is one of the hottest properties on the Table Tennis calendar, as it promises millions of TV and online viewership, extensive media coverage and attractive commercial rights for any city/country looking to host the event.

The ITTF World Tour (formally Pro Tour) was formed in 1996 and has gone from strength to strength ever since. In 2013, there were 1393 players from 83 countries playing in 19 events.

During the ITTF World Tour, players accumulate World Tour standing points, with the top 16 male and female players being invited to the one-million-dollar ITTF World Tour Grand Finals.

The deadline for bid submission is 1 April 2014.

IAAF launches WorldRunning.com, a new website for running enthusiasts

The IAAF today announced the launch of World Running, a new global website which aims to bring the world of running together.

Developed on behalf of the IAAF by The Realbuzz Group, the free-to-access website is aimed specifically at non-elite runners and will also give them the chance to discover how they measure up to their peers around the world.

The world-first grassroots ranking system is based on a complex algorithm factoring times, number of races completed, weather, terrain and age. It is designed to be easy to use, enabling runners to record their race results and track their progress online.

The rankings are combined with expert training advice and networking with fellow runners to create a total online running experience for users.

Also included are event listings, training advice and injury support, as well as exclusive elite athlete interviews, reports and features.

Lamine Diack, President of the IAAF, said: “This is an important step in our engagement with the worldwide running community – a large and important part of the athletics family.”

“We are very pleased to be able to offer runners of all levels – from fun runners to experienced marathon runners – this unprecedented opportunity to gain an official global ranking. I am certain it will prove a new motivation for many participants, and help to bring the running world even closer together.”

Visit World Running at http://www.worldrunning.com.

Table Tennis Legends Announced as 2014 Youth Olympic Games Athlete Role Models

Jörgen PERSSON (SWE) and WANG Liqin (CHN) have been announced as the Table Tennis Athlete Role Models (ARMs) who will attend the 2nd Summer Youth Olympic Games (YOG) from 16 to 28 August in Nanjing, China.

Between them, these two superstars of table tennis have won everything there is to win. PERSSON has 5 World Championship medals to his name, and WANG has won a staggering 11 World Championships gold and two Olympic gold medals in an extraordinary career.

PERSSON, who is one of three men to have played in every Olympic table tennis event since its debut in 1988 stated: “It is special to be appointed as the Table Tennis role model for the Youth Olympic Games. I am looking forward to the Youth Olympic Games and to work along side with WANG Liqin who is a good friend of mine and of the all-time greats.”

Jörgen PERSSON (SWE) and WANG Liqin (CHN) will be reunited again as Athlete Role Models in Nanjing.

In Nanjing, PERSSON and WANG, who played off for the bronze medal at the 2008 Bejing Olympics which WANG won, will play a key role in supporting, mentoring and offering advice to the young Table Tennis players who will be participating in the Games.

ITTF Deputy CEO responsible for Development & Education Glenn TEPPER stated: “ITTF is extremely pleased to have Jörgen PERSSON and WANG Liqin as Athlete Role Models, with both being of the highest possible caliber, holding multiple World and Olympic titles between them. Both will also be involved in the ITTF “Road to Nanjing” Training Camp in Shanghai China in June open to YOG qualified athletes and “Road to Nanjing” Scholarships holders so will be able to inspire our young athletes even before YOG commences, and ongoing rapport will be well established prior to YOG.”

Both PERSSON and WANG will be accessible to the athletes both in the Youth Olympic Village and during a series of educational activities and workshops that will focus on areas such as skills development, how to lead healthy lifestyles, environment and social responsibility and Olympism.

The main goal behind making the ARMs as accessible as possible is so they can share their experiences and inspire the young athletes to be the best they can be both on and off the field of play. The Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games Table Tennis event will be held at Wutaishan Sport Complex on 17-28 August 2014.

The Table Tennis event will include 32 boys and 32 girls who will fight it out for 3 gold medals: boys’ singles, girls’ singles and the mixed teams event, which consists of one boy and one girl who have qualified for the singles event.

Team Nigeria gets tough draw as WTF Youth Olympics qualifiers begin

Team Nigeria’s duo of Esther Godwin and Ogeh Ogochukwu has been handed a tough challenge as the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF)-organised 2014 Youth Olympics Qualifiers kick off on Thursday in Taipei City, Chinese Taipei.

After their weigh-in on Wednesday, Godwin and Ogochukwu will take to the ring on Thursday March 20 at the Taipei Arena for their encounters against some experienced athletes.

Godwin, who will be competing in the female -63kg, may likely confront World Junior Champion, Korea’s Park Bo-eui in match 16 of the tournament.

The National Youth Games gold medalist is making her first international appearance and she will face a Herculean task against the favoured Korean who is expected to beat Russia’s Turutina Yulia in her preliminary encounter.

Also, Ogochukwu will also be jostling for honours in the female -49kg and she is expected to tackle the winner between Peru’s Huaman Georgina and Chile’s Rios Francisca.

The nine-man team is supported by the National Sports Commission (NSC) will be guided by the new national coach, Jin Beom Kim.

On Friday, the trio of Iniobong Ekong, Isah Adamu and Bashir Mohammed will take to the ring for their ties.

Ekong has been drawn to face the winner between Croatia’s Ivina Babic and Canada’s Jerom Andrea in the female -55kg, while Mohammed will confront Cote d’Ivoire’s Aaron Fran in the male -55kg.

Adamu, who will be competing in the male -63kg, will battle Peru’s Oblitas in the first round on Friday March 21.
100 athletes made of 50 male and 50 female are expected to secure their qualifications to the 2014 World Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China from the Taipei’s qualifiers.

However, athletes that fail to make it from the qualifiers in Taipei will have to compete at the continental level to ascertain his or her place at the global championship holding later in the year in China.

Dolphins grab Senegalese defender

As part of efforts to build a strong team capable of returning the club to its glory years, Dolphins have completed the registration of Senegalese central defender, Mendy Xavier.

Xavier last played for ASFA Yennega of Burkina Faso and only recently crossed over to Dolphins in the off season.

“We cannot say we scouted him because an agent brought him to Port Harcourt and after the coaches tried him out they saw the potentials and began to work on his papers,” Media Officer of the club, China Acheru said.

Dolphins have also concluded the registration formalities of Ivorien box to box midfielder, Alhassane Dosso.

Dosso played for the club between 2005 and 2008 before joined Sharks and then moving to Norway.

Other players who have sealed deals with the club ahead of the game against Crown this weekend are Victor Alegbe, a midfielder from Wikki Tourists as well as Ayobanmi Asekunuwo, a central defender from Wikki Tourists.

“The idea is to get a big squad with a lot of quality back up. This is what the coaches have been trying to do and we believe we will continue to build our squad as the weeks go by.”

Dolphins started the season on a good note drawing 1-1 against Heartland in Owerri on match day one; their first ever point in Owerri.

Mendy and Dosso signed one year contracts with Dolphins while Alegbe and Ayobanmi were taken on one year loan deals from Wikki Tourists

Glo Premier League Fixtures will go on

The League Management Company (LMC) has said it is not aware of any order of court stopping matches of the Glo Premier League 2013/14 season.

A statement from the Office of the Chairman of LMC noted that there have been claims by certain individuals in Jos alleging they have been denied rights after purchasing tickets for purported league games.

According to the statement, “We have become aware of a suit filed at the Plateau State High Court, Jos by one ‘Mustapha Abubakar of Jos’ on the grounds that he had been denied rights to enjoy the league after purchasing Giwa FC match ticket(s) worth N5, 700 from a certain “Funky Odigie”. It is on record that a similar case has been filed by this same Funky Odigie in a Federal High Court making various claims which the LMC has since responded to through our Lawyers”.

The LMC then assured all stakeholders that it has similarly refered the new claim to their Lawyers to study and respond as appropriate and enjoined fans and all other stakeholders to go out and enjoy their favorite passion at League venues. “We reiterate with all sense of responsibility that there is no order stopping the League”.

Costa Rica2014: Flamingoes will score plenty goals against Colombia..Chiwendu apologies for poor show against China

Flamingoes captain Chinwe Ihezuo has assured Nigerians that she and her teammates are ready for a goal feast against Colombia in the ongoing FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica on Thursday morning in Alajuela.

Nigeria after defeating China 2-1 on Monday morning will face the South Americans at the Alejandra Morera Soto stadium in their bid to secure the second victory at the World age grade competition.

The Nigeria U17 women skipper stressed the teammates’ readiness to secure an outright victory against the Colombians in their second Group D clash.

“They should expected plenty goals against Colombia. We are ready for the game against Colombia – We will do our best. We are fully prepared to win tomorrow with God on our side,” she assured.

The apologetic Flamingoes striker admitted her performance in the opening game was below par and promised to improve against Colombia.

She blamed the injury that forced her and some of her teammates out against China on inadequate intake of water and extreme tightness of their chin-guard which resulted to pain in her muscle.

“I was not in the game and I was even playing against my team – but I want to promise that I will step up against Colombia. I had a muscle pull and I also think the shin-guard we were wearing really affected us. We also didn’t take much water before the game,” she explained.

While responding to question over hopes of the country emerging champions of the tournament despite the slim 2-1 victory over China, Chinwe stressed that she and her teammates are very determined to bring the trophy to Nigeria.

“We stand a good chance to win the tournament; we are not only here to participate but to defend our country and ready to bring back the trophy to Nigeria – we will make them proud,” she confidently assured.

Nigeria U17 Women will take on Colombia by 8pm in Costa Rica on Wednesday evening while 3am Nigerian time on Thursday morning.