Bits and Pieces

Conte sets Chelsea’s sights on league-cup double

LONDON: Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has immediately turned his attention to matching fellow Italian Carlo Ancelotti by winning the ‘Double’ in England after his record-breaking team were presented with the Premier League trophy at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

The west London club, crowned champions of England for the sixth time in their history, enjoyed a party after two goals from substitute Michy Batshuayi and strikes from Willian, Eden Hazard and Pedro saw them come from 1-0 down to beat Sunderland 5-1 on an emotionally-charged last day of the Premier League season.

The celebrations cannot last too long, however, because Conte’s side, who became the first team to win 30 league games in a 38-game top flight season in England, have only six days to wait until playing the FA Cup Final against London rivals Arsenal at Wembley on May 27.

If Conte can inspire Chelsea to victory there he will match the achievements of Ancelotti who guided Chelsea to a Double in 2009/10.

However, they will need to re-focus quickly against an Arsenal side looking to make up for the disappointment of missing out on a place in the Champions League.“This is the real danger for us — to think that this season is finished,” warned Conte.

“It’s important to celebrate as we did today, enjoying this moment with our families and fans, and celebrate this title because it wasn’t easy.

“But as of tomorrow, I’ll try and push a lot to explain that this season could become not just great but fantastic if we are able to win the FA Cup. It’s a great opportunity to win the Double.” 

Hambantota ground back on SLC’s radar

COLOMBO: Sooriyawewa is set to host its first One-day Internatinal (ODI) in two years, when Zimbabwe tour Sri Lanka in June and July. But before the ground is fit for international cricket again, it will need to undergo renovations, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has said.

Though the stadium is less than seven years old, Sooriyawewa is the most far-flung of Sri Lanka’s grounds — situated 30 kilometres from Hambantota, which in any case is little more than a small fishing town. As such the board reported that the stadium had “fallen into a state of disrepair”.

“The remoteness of [Hambantota stadium] has resulted in teams declining the use of the stadium regularly,” an SLC release said. “It currently receives no income whilst costing SLC approximately US$121,000 annually for basic maintenance and utilities.”

In addition to touching up the ground to make it fit for international cricket, the board also hopes to draw school and domestic cricket there, by building a 40-bed dormitory at the venue, near which little accommodation presently exists.

“The re-purposing of the venue is hoped to bring in an annual income that would enable the stadium to function independently without cost to SLC.”

Although floodlights are available at Sooriyawewa, the three Zimbabwe ODIs set to be played there will be day matches, SLC said, in an effort to save roughly US$67,000 in electricity and operational costs.The games are scheduled for July 6, 8 and 10, and will follow two other ODIs, making this a five-match series.

Moyes resigns as Sunderland manager after relegation

SUNDERLAND, United Kingdom: Sunderland manager David Moyes has resigned following their relegation from the Premier League this season, the north-east club said in a statement on Monday.

Moyes, who arrived at the Stadium of Light at the start of the campaign, had said earlier this month he would stay in charge next term but the Scot has decided to leave after a meeting with the board in London on Monday.

“I would like to thank (chairman) Ellis Short and the board for giving me the opportunity to manage Sunderland and the fans for always being so passionately supportive of their club,” Moyes, 54, said in a statement.

“I wish the players and my successor well in their efforts towards promotion back to the Premier League.”Sunderland finished bottom of the standings with 24 points after only six victories in 38 games, scoring 29 goals. 

Thompson headlines Paris Diamond League

PARIS: Jamaica’s double Olympic sprint champion Elaine Thompson will headline the Paris Diamond League meet on July 1, organisers said on Monday.

Renaud Lavillenie, Kevin Mayer, Christophe Lemaitre and Dimitri Bascou, who won medals for France at the Rio Olympics last year, will all be present at Stade Charlety, chosen this year to host the event in place of the Stade de France.

Falling a little more than a month ahead of the August 4-13 World Athletics Championships in London, there will be a run out in the men’s 110m hurdles for Jamaica’s Olympic champion Omar McLeod while two-time Olympic gold medallist Christian Taylor is set for the triple jump.

Canada’s Derek Drouin will take on Qatari rival Mutaz Essa Barshim in the men’s high jump, and Ethiopian world champion Genzebe Dibaba will race Kenya’s Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon in what promises to be a keenly-fought women’s 1500m.An innovative triathlon will also be held, comprising a 110m hurdles, long jump and javelin. 

Child’s play as kids to choose Tokyo 2020 mascots

TOKYO: Despite several high-profile gaffes in their 2020 Olympic preparations, Tokyo 2020 organisers reckon choosing the Games mascots will be child’s play — so much so they’re leaving the decision to schoolkids.

Japanese organisers announced on Monday that the official 2020 mascots would be decided by a nationwide competition, in which members of the public will submit designs before elementary schoolchildren across the country select winners from a shortlist.

Budding designers have a two-week window from August 1-14 to submit entries, after which a mascot panel will compile a shortlist in December.

Japanese schoolchildren, who could have a better handle on the squidgy mascots than organisers who have hitherto bungled the rollout of the Olympic stadium and official logo, will finish voting on the shortlist in January.

The winning designs will be announced in March, with the mascots to be given official names by August 2018.

Mascots — often referred to in Japanese as ‘yuru-kyara’ (soft characters) — are big business in Japan and have become part of the cultural landscape.