A round-up of other sports news in brief
Ward and Blaney named in Ireland team for Germany
BOXING: Ireland coach Jim Moore has named two squads to take part in tournaments in Heidelburg, Germany, and Vilnius, Lithuania, this week.
World junior champion Joe Ward has been named in a six-man squad, including Brandenburg Cup silver medallist Chris Blaney, for the Germany Round Robin.
And Glen Holmes, also a silver medallist at the Brandenburg Cup, has been included in a six-man squad for the Danus Poznikis Cup in Lithuania. The squads are preparing for the AIBA World Youths in Baku, Azerbaijan next month.
Ireland’s Ray Moylette (gold), Jamie Kavanagh (silver), Tommy McCarthy (bronze) and David Joe Joyce (bronze) finished in podium positions at the 2008 AIBA World Youth Championships in Mexico.
Germany Round Robin(Heidelburg, March 4th/8th) – 51kg: C Phelan (Ryston), 57kg: M McDonagh (St Mary's, Dublin), 60kg: M O'Reilly (Portlaoise), 64kg: F McRory (Clonoe), 69kg: C Blaney (Navan), 75kg: J Ward (Moate). Danus Poznikis Cup (Vilnius, Lithuania, March 3rd/6th) – 54kg: G Holmes (Corinthians), 60kg: J Carroll (St Seachnalls), 64kg: K Forde (Monivea), 69kg: C Mullaly (Ryston), 81kg: J Tighe (Ballymoate), 91kg: K Afanased (Smithfield).
Medvedev calls for heads to roll
WINTER OLYMPICS: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said the officials responsible for preparing Russia’s Olympic team for Vancouver should quit after the country’s worst showing since it began competing in 1956.
“The people responsible, or some of those responsible for the preparations, should do the manly thing and make the appropriate announcement,” Medvedev said yesterday, referring to resignation. “If they’re lacking in decisiveness, we’ll help them.”
Russia finished the Winter Games with three gold medals, their worst-ever performance. The Russian team won a total of 15 medals, sixth among the competing countries and one better than South Korea. Russia host the 2014 Winter Olympics at Sochi, a resort on the Black Sea coast.
German Wolfgang Staiert has been sacked as coach of the Russian ski jumping team. “I’ve heard the news that Staiert had resigned, president of the Russian ski jumping federation Vladimir Slavsky was quoted as saying by local media. “That is not true. I just fired him.”
No Twenty20 place for Cook
CRICKET: Alastair Cook will have to convince England he is a Twenty20 player after all if he is to force his way back into the team.
England’s one-day international and Test captain, deputising for Andrew Strauss in Bangladesh, discovered yesterday he is not among the 30 best Twenty20 cricketers in England.
That much was clear when Cook’s name was absent from England’s provisional squad, containing five uncapped players, for the ICC World Twenty20 – which starts in the West Indies next month.
While Steven Finn, Michael Lumb, David Wainwright, Peter Trego and Chris Woakes still have a chance of making an England debut against their hosts in Guyana on May 3rd, Cook is not in the reckoning to add to his four Twenty20 caps.
Yet in case he was wondering where his Twenty20 future stands national selector Geoff Miller duly spelled it out – in uncomplicated terms. “The message is that originally we said we didn’t think Alastair was a Twenty20 player – and we still stick by that,” he said.
Force India get the green light
MOTOR SPORT: Force India have ended speculation surrounding their future by confirming their accounts are now up to date.
Owner Vijay Mallya said Force India’s participation in this year’s Formula One world championship was not in jeopardy, and his chief executive Otmar Szafnauer has confirmed the team complied with the deadline.
“For us it was always business as usual,” said Szafnauer.
Splaine selects US-based squad
EQUESTRIAN: Robert Splaine, Team Ireland Equestrian’s show jumping manager, has named an all US-based squad for Friday’s Florida Nations’ Cup in Wellington, writes Margie McLoone.
The quartet comprises Kevin Babington (Souvenir), Darragh Kenny (Obelix or Gale Force), Richie Moloney (Brooke van de Zuuthoeve) and Shane Sweetnam (Rolette or Zamiro 16).
Splaine welcomed the chance to assess the four in action at this level saying, “While it’s relatively easy to see the Irish riders who are based in Europe on a regular basis, only occasionally does the opportunity present itself to see the American-based Irish riders perform as a team. Wellington will help me with my plans for the 2010 Meydan Series super league.”
