Sport shorts: Roger Federer will go for singles gold at Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Cristiano Ronaldo scores 700th career goal
Ten things from the world of sport on Tuesday 15 October
1. Federer eyes singles gold at Tokyo 2020
Swiss tennis icon Roger Federer has confirmed that he will play in next summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo.
The 20-time grand slam champion has previously won an Olympic silver medal in the singles and gold in the doubles. However, it’s the gold medal in the singles that he has his eye on in 2020.
“At the end of the day my heart decided I would love to play the Olympic Games again,” said the 38-year-old.
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“I’ve been debating with my team for a few weeks now, months actually, what I should do in the summer after Wimbledon and before the US Open.
“I carried the flag twice for Switzerland in Athens and Beijing, I’ve got a gold and a silver, and I would love to play again, so I’m very excited.”
The 2020 Olympic Games will be held in Japan’s capital city from 24 July to 9 August.
Djokovic vs. Nadal vs. Federer: who will end their career as the ‘GOAT’?
2. Ronaldo scores 700th career goal
Cristiano Ronaldo achieved another major milestone last night - 700 career goals for club and country.
The Portugal skipper netted a 72nd-minute penalty against the Ukraine in a Euro 2020 qualifier, but his country were beaten 2-1. He now has 95 goals in 162 international appearances. Overall in his career he has 700 goals in 974 games.
In club football Ronaldo has scored for the following teams:
- Sporting Lisbon: 5 goals
- Manchester United: 118
- Real Madrid: 450
- Juventus: 32
Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo: all-time goals and career records
3. Men and women golfers to play in mixed event
A new golf tournament sanctioned by the European Tour and Ladies European Tour will see men and women players go head-to-head for one prize fund and one trophy.
Major champions Henrik Stenson and Annika Sörenstam will host the inaugural Scandinavian Mixed event that will feature 78 men and 78 women at Bro Hof Slott Golf Club in Stockholm from 11-14 June 2020.
4. Marsh breaks hand after punching wall
Australian cricketer Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out for four to six weeks after breaking his bowling hand. The all-rounder suffered the injury after punching a wall following his dismissal playing for Western Australia against Tasmania.
Marsh said: “Sometimes you get beaten, sometimes you get out, and you can’t be punching walls. It’s a good lesson for me, hopefully it’s a good lesson for other people as well.”
5. Ronnie’s still not a fan of Crawley
A year ago snooker star Ronnie O’Sullivan launched a scathing attack on the K2 Leisure Centre in Crawley, calling the host venue of the English Open a “hellhole”.
Returning for this year’s event, it seems that the “Rocket” has not changed his views on the venue. He said: “Every day in Crawley is a day lost in my life. It’s not changed as far as I’m concerned. You would have to change a lot in this place, a complete refurbishment probably. I’m not surprised, it’s what I expect it to be.”
6. Hansen happy to avoid Japan at RWC
New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen admits he’s happy that his two-time defending champions are not facing Japan in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.
The in-form host nation won pool A after beating Russia, Ireland, Samoa and Scotland and will now play South Africa on Sunday. Pool B winners New Zealand face Ireland on Saturday.
After watching the Brave Blossoms beat Scotland 28-21, All Blacks coach Hansen said of Japan: “People have said, ‘who do you want to play?’ Well, they’re the in-form team, I’m quite happy they’re on the other side of the draw.”
Rugby World Cup diary: Australia and England’s verbal war begins
7. Ake to miss rest of the World Cup
Ireland have been handed a major blow ahead of Saturday’s quarter-final against the All Blacks after centre Bundee Aki was ruled out of the rest of the tournament through suspension.
Aki was sent off for a high tackle during the 47-5 pool A win against Samoa and an independent judicial committee has confirmed he will be banned for the next three games.
“The player sought to overturn the red card,” World Rugby said in a statement. “Having considered all the angles of the incident, together with evidence from the player and his representatives, the committee upheld the decision of the referee.”
8. Hill: Hamilton is ‘greatest British racer ever’
Lewis Hamilton may be on the verge of winning a sixth Formula 1 world championship but the British ace does not get the credit he deserves.
That’s the opinion of Damon Hill, himself an F1 world champion with Williams in 1996, who also says that Hamilton is the best racer the UK has ever produced.
With four races remaining Hamilton has a 64-point lead in the 2019 drivers’ standings ahead of Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas.
9. Milan clubs linked with Ozil
Inter Milan and AC Milan have joined the race for Arsenal “outcast” Mesut Ozil. Last week it was reported that Turkish outfit Fenerbahce were lining up a loan deal for the midfielder, but according to reports in Italy the 30-year-old could be heading to Serie A in January.
10. Bulgarian football chief resigns
The fall-out continues from last night’s disgraceful scenes in Bulgaria where England players were subjected to racist abuse during the 6-0 Euro 2020 qualifying win.
Following calls to resign from Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, the president of the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU), Borislav Mihaylov, has stepped down from his position.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also commented on the match and says European football’s governing body Uefa must “face up to facts” over racism.
A spokesman for the PM said: “The racism we saw and heard last night was vile and has no place in football or anywhere else.
“The England players and management showed tremendous dignity and the PM commends the players who were targeted for this despicable abuse for their response.
“Uefa need to face up to facts – this stain on football is not being adequately dealt with.
“Racism and discrimination must be driven out of football once and for all.”
England ‘should have walked’ after racist abuse in Bulgaria
Today’s back pages
England 6 Racists 0 on football’s night of shame
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