Bits and Pieces

Bedene eyes Slovenia switch to pursue Olympic dream

LONDON: Aljaz Bedene is contemplating a switch of allegiance back to his birth nation Slovenia to compete at the Olympics, the 27-year-old Briton said after beating American Ryan Harrison in the French Open first round on Monday.

According to International Tennis Federation (ITF) rules, Bedene cannot represent Britain at the Olympics as he previously played for Slovenia in the Davis Cup from 2010-12 before gaining British citizenship in 2015.”That (Olympics) is a dream for every athlete,” Bedene was quoted as saying by British media.

“At the moment, I’m representing Great Britain but I do want to play at the Olympic Games.

“I don’t know what the rules are, really.

I haven’t checked.

I guess that means playing for the Davis Cup for them (Slovenia) as well.”

Bedene, who beat Harrison 6-4 6-0 3-6 6-1, faces Czech Jiri Vesely in the second round on Wednesday.

Trickett mentor Widmer heads to Singapore Swimming

SYDNEY: Stephan Widmer, the Swiss coach best known for guiding the careers of Libby Trickett and Leisel Jones, is leaving Australia to take to take over at Singapore Swimming next month.

Widmer has worked in the Australia system since arriving in the country as a backpacker in 1997 and also counts Jessicah Schipper, Kylie Palmer and Christian Sprenger among his charges.

Under his guidance, Jones won Olympic and world championship gold in the 100m breaststroke and Trickett Olympic 100m butterfly gold and a string of sprint world titles.

Swimming Australia’s Coach of the Year four times, Widmer leaves with the blessing of his adopted country and is excited about the challenge ahead.

“Singapore has some outstanding swimming and coaching talent, I know I will be able to add essential world class expertise and experience,” Widmer said in a statement.

Joseph Schooling won Singapore its first Olympic gold medal when he clinched the 100m butterfly title at the Rio Games last year.

2019 Tour de France to honour Merckx with Brussels start

BRUSSELS: The 2019 Tour de France will start in Brussels in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first of Eddy Merckx’s five victories, organisers said Tuesday.

“It’s the least we could do,” said Tour director Christian Prudhomme.

“Eddy Merckx is an exceptional champion and a person of exceptional humility.”

“I’m very emotional, I hope I’ll still be alive!” said the 71-year-old Merckx, a three-time world champion who holds the record for the most stage wins on the race, and who also won the Giro d’Italia five times and the Vuelta a Espana once.

Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo added the 2019 Tour “will link Brussels to Paris, two cities that have recently suffered greatly from terrorism”. “We wanted to find an event that ties our two cities.”

Brussels has hosted the Grand Depart once before, in 1958. It will be the 23rd time a country outside France has been chosen for the start of cycling’s most famous stage race and the fifth time from Belgium.

Friends CC edge Heroes CC in Ramazan Festival Twenty20

By our correspondent

KARACHI: Friends Cricket Club Kandhkot defeated Heroes Cricket Club Quetta by eight runs in Group D of the Omar Associates Karachi Gymkhana Ramazan Festival Twenty20 here at the Karachi Gymkhana on Tuesday.

Batting first after winning the toss, Friends CC overcame a middle-order collapse to post a competitive total of 164 which they defended by limiting their opponents to 156 for eight in the allotted 20 overs.

Opener Abdul Razzaq, adjudicated Man of the Match, provided a sensational start to Friends CC as he clobbered seven sixes and three fours in his 22-ball 62.

Left-arm seamer Naseer Khan (3-33) brought Heroes CC back into the game along with the spin trio of Zeeshan Malik (2-20), Khushdil Shah (2-27) and Sohrab Baloch (2-35) to bowl out Friends CC for 164 in 19.5 overs.

Openers Khushdil Shah (42 off 24 balls) and Fawad Khan (26 off 24 balls) scored 62 but Heroes CC lost their way in the middle overs against left-arm spinner Mohammad Urs (3-36).

Roma part ways with Spalletti

ROME: AS Roma said Tuesday that it had parted ways with Luciano Spalletti, just two days after the coach had guided the team to Champions League football next season.

Spalletti joined Roma for a second time as coach in January 2016 after a first stint between 2005-2009 during which time the club won two Coppa Italia and one Supercoppa.

This season, Roma bagged a club record of 87 points in finishing second in Serie A, behind Juventus. But they crashed out of the Italian Cup semi-finals at the hands of cross-city rivals Lazio and lost the Europa League round of 16, 5-4 on aggregate, to Lyon.

Roma president Jim Pallotta said: “We would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Luciano Spalletti for all of his hard work and the significant contribution he has made to the club since his return.

“Under his stewardship this season, the team has won more Serie A points and scored more goals than any side in Roma’s history. We wish Luciano all the best for the future.

“This club is on a constant path of growth and that will continue with the appointment of a new coach who shares our values and philosophy and who will continue to help us take AS Roma forward.” —AFP

Lambert leaves troubled Wolves

LONDON: Wolves manager Paul Lambert left the troubled Championship club on Tuesday after just seven months in charge. Lambert is believed to have parted company with the second tier side following a dispute with Wolves’ Chinese owners over who would have the final say on new signings. The 47-year-old Scot is the third manager, following Kenny Jackett and Walter Zenga, to have left Molineux since Fosun bought the club last July.