Bits and Pieces

PCF president appointed ACC

constitution committee chairman

By our correspondent

KARACHI: Pakistan Cycling Federation (PCF) president Kokab Nadeem Warraich has been appointed as chairman of the constitution committee of the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC).

The committee is supposed to make necessary amendments in the constitution of the ACC.

“It’s a great achievement for Pakistan,” PCF secretary Azhar Ali Shah said.

“The PCF has always played a positive role in the affairs of cycling in Asia. The PCF is an active member of ACC and UCI. The UCI elections will be held in September in Norway in which the PCF will also cast its vote,” he added.

Rangers Lyari Youth Festival 2017 begins

By our correspondent

KARACHI: Rangers Lyari Youth Festival 2017 began here at the Peoples Sports Complex on Saturday.

Karachi Corps Commander and Director General Rangers also graced the ceremony that was hit by rain, an organiser said. The festival will last till August 14.

In the festival, competitions of football, cricket, boxing and cycling would be conducted. Athletes from all 16 union councils of Lyari are featuring in the event.

Organiser of boxing event Asghar Baloch told ‘The News’ that record 400 boxers underwent weigh-in for the purpose on Friday.

He said that the boxing competitions would be held at the gymnasium in Kakri Ground from July 17 to 28.

He added that in cricket and football too there would be 16 teams each, one from each union council. He said that football competitions would be held at Gabol Park, while cricket would be conducted at the Kakri Ground. He added that cyclists of the district would take part in the race which would be conducted from Mauripur to Clifton.

Mayweather, McGregor wrap up PR tour in London

LONDON: Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor wrapped up the four-day promotional tour for their boxing match in Las Vegas in August with another foul-mouthed press conference, this time in front of thousands of fans at the Wembley Arena here on Friday.

The undefeated American Mayweather and the UFC lightweight champ McGregor of Ireland traded many of the same crude jibes used at previous events in Los Angeles, Toronto and New York.

After a four-day war of words, the focus now switches to the fight itself.

Celebrating his 29th birthday and wearing another sharp suit, McGregor once again spoke first, and he wasted no time firing insults at Mayweather and his team as he strutted around the three-sided boxing ring set up for the event.

“Let’s get it straight. The bullshit is now over. In six weeks I’m gonna sleep this fool, and when I sleep him, I’m going to bounce his head off the canvas as well,” a jubilant McGregor told a noisy, partisan crowd.

When Mayweather got on the mic he was booed relentlessly, the crowd chanting abuse and taunting the 40-year-old over his unpaid taxes, but he appeared unfazed. —Reuters

Hamilton storms to British Grand Prix pole

SILVERSTONE, United Kingdom: Lewis Hamilton stormed to a provisional fifth Silverstone pole of his career after a dazzling performance during a rain-affected qualifying session on Saturday for the British Grand Prix.

The Briton thrilled home fans with a devastating quickest lap of 1min 26.600sec to finish 0.547sec clear of Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen, although Hamilton was under investigation for potential impeding.

Championship leader Sebastian Vettel was left frustrated in third in the second Ferrari ahead of Valtteri Bottas in the second Mercedes.

Bottas, however, faces a likely five-place grid penalty for an unscheduled gearbox change, while stewards were looking into an incident in which Romain Grosjean claimed he was blocked by Hamilton. Max Verstappen was fifth for Red Bull ahead of Nico Hulkenberg of Renault, Sergio Perez and his Force India team-mate Esteban Ocon.  —AFP