Football - India hire new

manager for Asian Cup tournament 

India has appointed a new national team manager just days ahead of the Asian Cup football tournament after Pradip Choudhury walked out, reportedly because of differences with coach Bob Houghton. Raul Carmo Fernandes was named as the replacement for Choudhury, a former national team captain who decided to return to India from Dubai, where the team is preparing for next month’s tournament in Doha. The development comes at a time when officials are hoping to give a boost to football’s image in the country after bagging a 15-year $150 million commercial deal. Choudhury was widely popular with the players and his departure was seen as a blow to the team, which has already been hit by a spate of injuries, including to captain Bhaichung Bhutia and fellow striker Sunil Chhetri. The team put out a statement saying it believed that “he (Choudhury) could have set aside personal differences with the coach to keep the spirit up. The players have also mutually agreed not to have Pradip Chowdhury back in the camp as this has caused a lot of discomfort in the team, apart from being a cause of distraction and demotivation,” the statement said. India will play Australia, South Korea and Bahrain in Group C of the Asian Cup tournament, which is held between 7-29 January.

Cricket – Report: Younis,

Afridi raise doubts on trio 

Pakistan Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi and coach Waqar Younis have raised doubts over the role of three suspended cricketers during the controversial Lord’s test against England in August. Pakistan’s leading English daily Dawn claimed yesterday that Younis — in his statement to the International Cricket Council’s Code of Commission - said he was “surprised” with the no-ball of Mohammad Amir and told the fast bowler during the break in Punjabi language ‘What the hell was that.’ Afridi told the commission when he met the suspended trio Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Amir in the hotel room, ‘I thought they looked guilty.’ The final hearing of the three players against the suspension will be heard by an anti-corruption tribunal at Doha, Qatar next month. The ICC suspended the trio in September after a British tabloid alleged fast bowlers Amir and Asif bowled predetermined no-balls during the Lord’s test and had links with a businessman Mazhar Majeed.

Alpine skiing - US skier

Weibrecht out with dislocated shoulder 

Olympic super-G bronze medallist Andrew Weibrecht will sit out today’s downhill in Bormio after dislocating his left shoulder in training last week. The American speed specialist is hoping he’ll miss only one race, then return for the World Cup’s next speed weekend in mid-January at Wengen, Switzerland. After winning a surprise medal at the Vancouver Games, Weibrecht had surgery on his right shoulder last spring, and also had a ligament in his left ankle fixed. Weibrecht has not scored a point this season, failing to finish in the top 30 in his opening five races. In Vancouver, Weibrecht placed behind Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway and American teammate Bode Miller in the super-G.

Rugby - Wilkinson extends contract at French club Toulon

Jonny Wilkinson has signed a two-year extension to his contract with French club Toulon, putting his England future in serious doubt. Toulon said on Monday that the 2003 World Cup-winning flyhalf has committed himself to the Top 14 side until 2013. Wilkinson’s decision to stay in France jeopardizes his international career, with England’s Rugby Football Union having confirmed this month that it will refuse to select players based at overseas clubs following the 2011 World Cup. The RFU says only in “exceptional circumstances” will it waive the policy but with Wilkinson no longer first choice for his country, the No. 10’s England days may be numbered. Wilkinson has scored 1,178 test points since making his England debut in 1998.

Speed skating - Olympic champ Timmer retires from speed skating

Dutch speedskater Marianne Timmer, winner of three Olympic gold medals, is to retire after a disappointing performance at the Netherlands’ sprinting championships this week. The 36-year-old Timmer had planned to quit after this season but says she will now leave the sport immediately. Timmer finished 14th in the 500 metre race on Monday and cancelled competing in other races, saying she was suffering from flu. Timmer took gold in the 1000 and 1500 metre races at the Nagano games and again in the 1000 metre race in Turin eight years later.

Football - Qatar hold Iran to 0-0 draw in Doha friendly

Qatar held Iran to a 0-0 draw yesterday, extending their unbeaten run to four matches in their next-to-last friendly before the Asian Cup. Iran substitute Pejman Nouri had the best chance at Khalifa Stadium, striking the crossbar from close range in the 70th minute. Earlier this month, Qatar drew 1-1 against Saudi Arabia before beating African champions Egypt 2-1 and Estonia 2-0. Qatar next play North Korea in Doha on 31 December, their final warm-up before the start of the Asian Cup.