The Fiji Times

Egypt to apply to host 2036 Olympic Games

CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt will apply to host the Summer Olympic Games in 2036, the Egyptian youth and sports minister said in a statement on Saturday, a bid that if successful would make it the first Arab or African nation to host the event. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi gave the green light to apply,...

Tears flow as curtain comes down on Federer’s glittering career

By Martyn Herman LONDON (Reuters) -Roger Federer’s trophy-laden career ended with defeat on Friday, but for once the result hardly mattered as the Swiss maestro headed into retirement with tears in his eyes and cheers ringing in his ears. With a sellout crowd of 17,500 at London’s O2 Arena willing him on, the 20-time Grand...

Boxers ready to rumble

All seven professional bouts are set to go ahead at the Lewis-Hill Boxing Promotions at the FMF Gymnasium in Suva today. In the main bout, Joseph Kwadjo will take on Apisai Naciqa in a 10×3 minute rounds bout. At the official weigh-in yesterday, Kwadjo weighed in at 88.6kg while Naciqa topped the scale at 84.2kg....

‘Passion, discipline will reward’

Passion, discipline and hard work will allow you to succeed. These were the sentiments shared by the President of Fiji, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, to the members of the national women’s cricket team as they presented their itatau at State House in Suva yesterday. While addressing the team, Ratu Wiliame wished them well on their journey...

Call to support women’s cricket

As the Fiji Women’s cricket team prepares for its friendly series against Vanuatu next month, it will need a lot of support. Cricket Without Boarders women’s team founder Clare Cannon said the Fiji women’s team was a wonderful young side. “They are full of spirit and love the game of cricket. They are developing as...

Rokobuli, Ravolaca bout ‘to go to the wire’

Fresh off the Commonwealth Games in England, Elia Rokobuli will be back in the ring during the Lewis-Hill Boxing Promotions ‘Homecoming’ event at the FMF Gymnasium in Suva tomorrow. Rokobuli, who hails from Namuka, Lau, has been involved in the sport for the past six years. He represented Fiji at the 2019 Pacific Games where...

U.S. women skip jersey number 15 at World Cup to honour Griner

Sept 21 (Reuters) – USA Basketball said none of its players at the Women’s World Cup would wear the number 15 when the tournament begins on Thursday, in honour of Brittney Griner, who was sentenced to nine years in prison in Russia on drug charges last month. Griner, who wore the number 15 in international...

International underdogs up for Presidents Cup fight

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept 21 (Reuters) – With the Presidents Cup set to tee off on Thursday, International captain Trevor Immelman has positioned his team as the biggest underdogs since David met Goliath as they face the might of the United States on their home turf. Even the American players have expressed sympathy for the challenge...

Suns owner Sarver announces plans to sell team

Sept 21 (Reuters) – Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver on Wednesday said he is seeking buyers for the team a week after being suspended for a year and fined $10 million by the National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation into allegations of workplace misconduct. An independent investigation found that Sarver, who bought the Suns...

One for granny

Tanzeela Raza comes from a family of boxers. So it is no wonder that the 16-year-old took a liking to the sport from a young age. This Saturday, the Nadi Sangam College student will take to the ring against Laite Nanovu in an amateur during the Lewis Hill Boxing Promotion ‘Homecoming’ event at the FMF...

Team ends Fiji tour

The Cricket Without Borders women’s team based out of Melbourne in Australia will today complete its week-long tour to Fiji. Team founder Clare Cannon said the tour had been very productive for the women’s team. “So we are a development team. We have players from Victoria. One player is from Afghanistan while another is from...

Hales felt like he was making his ‘debut again’ after England return

(Reuters) – England opener Alex Hales said he felt like he was making his debut again after returning to the side for the first time in three years in Tuesday’s Twenty20 International win over Pakistan. Hales made 53 from 40 balls and Harry Brook scored an unbeaten 42 as England defeated Pakistan by six wickets...

University games return this week after two years

Fiji University Sports Association (FUSA) is working overtime to host the return of the Fiji University Games this weekend. FUSA was formed on May 10, 2008, to organise the annual event for local tertiary institutions. FUSA president Alifereti Cawanikuba said the organisation was affiliated with FASANOC, FISU Oceania University and World University Sports Federation, which...

North car show to rev up drag race bid

The Fiji Motorsports Association is taking its first Car Show to the Northern Division this week. With an aim to increase interest in the sport of car racing, FMA president Raizal Haniff said the northerners were usually left out and this would be a perfect opportunity to make them feel inclusive. “Car racing is a...

Futsal for schools

Fiji Futsal national coach Jerry Sam has a plan to introduce the sport at primary and secondary school level in the country. The two Fiji Futsal teams received a lot of praise for their performance at the recent 2022 OFC Futsal Cup in Suva. The national Futsal side held traditional regional champion Solomon Islands to...

Boxing bonanza looms

Expect some blockbusting bouts when professional boxing takes centre stage in Suva during the Lewis-Hill Boxing Promotions on Saturday at the FMF Gymnasium. Promoter Winston Hill, who will be part of the event, will be fighting his first professional bout against Ratu Rakuro Daunivanua in the super welterweight division. According to Hill, he will have...

Bills cornerback Jackson being evaluated for neck injury

Sept 19 (Reuters) – Buffalo cornerback Dane Jackson is being evaluated for a neck injury but has full movement in his extremities, the Bills said, after he left the field in an ambulance following a hit in Monday’s game against Tennessee Titans. Jackson was making a tackle on a Titans player just before halftime when...

Black Caps tweak 2021 squad for T20 World Cup

Sept 20 (Reuters) – New Zealand have named a largely settled 15-man party for the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia with Finn Allen and Michael Bracewell the only players who did not feature in the squad that made the final in 2021. Martin Guptill will play in his seventh T20 World Cup and Devon Conway...

WADA still monitoring Russia ahead of expiration of ban – Banka

SYDNEY, Sept 20 (Reuters) – The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) are still monitoring testing operations in Russia ahead of the decision on whether to reinstate the country, despite complications caused by the Ukraine war, president Witold Banka said on Tuesday. The existing two-year ban from international sport imposed by WADA on Russia for widespread, state-sponsored...

No LIV players but rebel circuit set to dominate Presidents Cup

Sept 19 (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia has never been part of the Presidents Cup, which every two years pits the best golfers from the United States against the best from the rest of world — except Europe. But this week at the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit will be in...

Sam confident

Fiji FA national Futsal head coach Jerry Sam is confident Fiji will be a team reckon in the Oceania Region in few years. Sam said there was a lot of potential in Fijian players but he needed more time to prepare the best team. “I am happy with the performance of both our teams at...

Kumar sinks in winner at Lautoka

Lautoka businessman and former Vatukoula Open champion Asish Kumar shot a sublime nett score 66 to capture the A-grade title in the Portion Pak Ltd-sponsored 18 holes individual stroke event at the Lautoka Golf Club course on Saturday. And it was double celebration for him, when Fiji 7s assistant coach Viliame Satala, who surprised the...

England and Pakistan to use T20 series to gauge World Cup readiness

KARACHI, Pakistan (Reuters) – England will kick off their first tour of Pakistan in 17 years on Tuesday with the first of a seven-match Twenty20 series which assumes even more importance for both sides ahead of the World Cup in Australia next month. England were initially scheduled to tour Pakistan last year but it did...

India fast bowler Shami out of Australia T20s due to COVID-19

MUMBAI (Reuters) -India fast bowler Mohammed Shami has tested positive for COVID-19 and has been ruled out of the three Twenty20 internationals at home against Australia, the country’s cricket board (BCCI) said on Sunday. After the three-match series, starting in Mohali on Tuesday, India will play another three games at home against South Africa as...

Emotional Murray hopes to play in Davis Cup again

(Reuters) – Britain’s Andy Murray said he felt “a bit emotional” over the idea he may have made his last appearance in the Davis Cup but the three-times Grand Slam champion added that he hopes to be selected again. Murray defeated Kazakhstan’s Dmitry Popko 6-3 6-4 in Sunday’s dead rubber following Britain’s losses to the...

Banana Cup: More participation in local tournaments

The winners of the Banana Cup have urged more participation in local tournaments. Munesh Kumar and Arun Kumar were crowned the men’s pairs champions while Sheryl Edwards and Losalini Tukai won the women’s competition. Munesh dedicated the win to his partner who migrates to the US in a few week’s time. Both players are members...

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26th September

Fit and still driven, Djokovic not thinking about retirement