TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013 SPORTS

Puyol won’t be retiring Philippines calls for Man City to lose this season: Barca coach school boxing ban top scorer Aguero MADRID: Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino has poured cold water on a report that : Manchester City’s Premier League title challenge was dealt a setback suggested captain Carles Puyol was considering retiring at the end of the season MANILA: A 16-year-old Philippine athlete died after a week in coma yesterday when manager Manuel Pellegrini announced that Sergio Aguero will be due to a string of injuries. Sports daily Mundo Deportivo said on Sunday that Puyol following a boxing match, triggering calls for the sport to be banned in out for “at least one month” through injury. The 25-year-old Argentina had told “various team mates” that he might end his career two years before his con- schools, an official said yesterday. Jonas Garcia, a high school athlete, striker has been in stunning form of late, scoring 12 goals in tract expires in 2016 if he continued to have problems with suffered internal bleeding after a boxing match in a regional sports his last 11 games to take the 2012 champions to within his right knee. The 35-year-old Spain central defender, competition and died on Sunday. three points of league leaders Arsenal. However, after who has been at Barca since he joined their academy Boxing is hugely popular in the Philippines, which has produced opening the scoring in Saturday’s 6-3 victory over nearly 20 years ago and is hugely popular with the many international champions, including Manny Pacquiao, once regard- ed as the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter. Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium, he had to come off in the fans, has also been sidelined over the past 18 49th minute with a calf problem. months by a fractured cheekbone and a dislocated The death has sparked calls for the suspension of boxing from national school sports competitions, said Tonisito Umali, assistant secre- “I think he will be at least one month out,” Pellegrini elbow. told a press conference, ahead of City’s League Cup “The only thing I have to say is that he has not tary of the government education department. “Requests are being made for the suspension of boxing. Other regions are also saying they quarter-final tie at second-tier Leicester City today. “He spoken to me about this issue,” Martino told a news has a calf injury. Maybe the doctor can say exactly how conference ahead of today’s King’s Cup last 32 sec- will not continue boxing,” he told AFP. “We will not force them,” he said, adding that boxing would still be many weeks he will be.” News of Aguero’s absence falls at ond leg at home to third-tier Cartagena. “He is train- an inopportune time for City, who face Fulham, title ing normally and pushing himself to the limit,” part of the national sports competition but regional teams will not be forced to send representatives. Boxing is hugely popular in the rivals Liverpool and Crystal Palace over the busy fes- added the Argentine. “I know that he has nev- tive period. Aguero also stands to miss league er said that (he planned to retire) and Philippines, which has produced many international champions, includ- ing Manny Pacquiao, once regarded as the best pound fighter in the games against Swansea City and Newcastle therefore it is not necessary that he United, as well as a trip to Blackburn Rovers in world. —AFP comes out and denies it.”—Reuters the FA Cup third round on January 4.—AFP

Lions hooker Hibbard signs for Gloucester

LONDON: British and Irish Lions hooker Richard “Richard is arguably one of the top hookers in awaiting him at the Kingsholm Stadium. “It was porting me so well throughout my career.” Hibbard will join Gloucester from next . Clubs all around the world have been always going to be a tough decision to leave my Hibbard’s departure adds to the exodus of season, the English Premiership side announced interested in signing him, so it’s significant that home area, as I’m currently in my 10th successive players leaving Welsh clubs in recent years. yesterday. The 30-year-old Welshman follows in we’ve been able to convince him that Gloucester season at the Ospreys, which is my local region Key players Mike Phillips, , Dan the footsteps of New Zealand prop John Afoa, is the right place for him to play his rugby.” and where I was born,” he said. Lydiate, , and who is also due to link up with Gloucester next Hibbard made his Wales debut in 2006 and “That said, I’m absolutely delighted to be join- all currently play in France, with Jonathan Davies season after agreeing to leave Ulster. played four times in their successful Six Nations ing a rugby club such as Gloucester, based in the and set to join them in the next “As with the recent confirmation of John Afoa’s campaign earlier this year before featuring in all heart of the local community, with such a tradi- season. signing, Richard agreeing to join Gloucester three Tests of the Lions’ triumphant tour of tion and with amazing support. “I’m a great believ- , and Craig Mitchell, Rugby next season is fantastic news,” Gloucester Australia. er in loyalty and community and I’d like to place meanwhile, play in the English Premiership, while director of rugby Nigel Davies told the club web- He expressed sadness about leaving Ospreys, on record formally, my great thanks to the Ospreys lock has been linked with a move site. but said he was excited about the challenge management, coaches, players and fans for sup- to Wasps from Blues. — AFP

FIH president Gatland commits says India needs ‘continuity’ to Wales until 2019 NEW DELHI: India should stop changing coaches if it wants to reclaim its position as one of the world’s best teams, the president of the international field hockey federation said yesterday. LONDON: New Zealander has extended “There has to be a continuity in the coaching his contract as head coach of Wales until after the 2019 staff,” FIH president Leandro Negre said on the side- World Cup, the Welsh (WRU) announced lines of an event to announce the schedule of the yesterday. The 50-year-old former Ireland and Wasps inaugural Hockey World League final in New Delhi coach took up the post in 2007 and has since led Wales from Jan. 10-18. “There’s no way a team can devel- to Six Nations success in 2008, 2012 and 2013, as well as op if coaches keep changing every now and then.” a semi-final place at the 2011 World Cup. Eight-time Olympic gold medalist India, which “I am proud and delighted to have been chosen by has struggled at the world level recently, experi- the to take charge of Wales teams mented with several coaches, including four for- for the next two Rugby World Cup tournaments,” eigners in the past six years. Gatland said in a statement. Former Australia player Terry Walsh last month “I have chosen to stay in Wales because of my confi- replaced Michael Nobbs, another Australian, and dence in the players we have, the coaching structures will work in tandem with high performance manag- we have developed and the succession plan of talent er Roelant Oltmans of the Netherlands. Spanish we now constantly update.” coach Jose Brasa and Ric Charlesworth of Australia Gatland also oversaw the British and Irish Lions’ suc- are others to have had stints with the team in cessful tour of Australia earlier this year, which was their recent years. first series win in Australia for 16 years. The FIH president also felt the junior system He was named UK Coach of the Year at the 2013 UK needs to develop a better feeding mechanism. Coaching Awards and on Sunday won the award for “There are 27 hockey academies in India and there is the need to take advantage of that, to develop Coach of the Year at the prestigious BBC Sports good under-14 and under-16 teams. India seems to Personality of the Year awards. “I know the other major be improving its domestic structure in the past few rugby nations take us seriously as opponents who can years but a lot still needs to be done,” Negre said. play excellent rugby and that inspires me to take this Negre conceded it was important for the FIH to group of players even further,” Gatland said. see the country improve, especially since it has “There is an incredible amount of hard work ahead been hosting several FIH tournaments, including but, with the backing of the Welsh Rugby Union, the the Junior World Cup that concluded Sunday with national squad now has the means to deliver what the Germany winning and India finishing 10th. “There Welsh public want.” He added: “I want to personally was not much enthusiasm for the tournament thank the WRU and the Welsh rugby public for the fan- because India did not do well but I know for sure tastic support the national squad enjoys and I aim to that hockey is still very important for people here. return the compliment by devoting all my professional It’s the only country that can host so many compe- energy to the success of our national team in the years titions and it’s important that India does well,” ahead.” Negre said. WRU chief executive Roger Lewis praised Gatland for India hosted the World Cup in 2010 and has introducing a new degree of professionalism to the been named to host it again in 2018. It will also Welsh set-up. “I am pleased and honoured to be able to LONDON: Head coach Warren Gatland (right) at a news conference. organize the Champions Trophy in December 2014. announce that Warren Gatland will remain head coach India won its only World Cup in 1975 and the last of of Wales until after the Rugby World Cup in 2019,” he “We now have a meticulous and professional coach- Gatland, whose contract with Wales had been due to its eight Olympic gold medals at the 1980 Moscow said. ing structure in place, which Warren must take credit for expire after the 2015 World Cup, has expressed an inter- Games. The team failed to qualify for the 2008 “He has undoubtedly proved that he has the rugby creating. “By signing him for a further four years we est in coaching the Lions for a second time when they Beijing Olympics and finished last in London last expertise, the passion and the commitment to prepare have ensured that the systems now in place will contin- tour his native New Zealand in 2017. For that to happen, year. — AP and inspire our teams to play with the utmost skill and ue to develop for the future of the international game in the WRU would have to grant him a sabbatical, as it did pride for the jersey. Wales.” for the tour of Australia this year. — AFP Bin Eidan leads SIRBB in 2nd round of Kuwait rally

KUWAIT: The Ambassador of Motor nations such as KSA, Qatar, and Sport Salan Bin Eidan with Skoda Jordan. I would like to take the Fabia S 2000 and his Qatari co-driver chance to welcome them all here on Nasser Al Kawari is getting ready to the land of peace and friendship, participate in the second round of wishing them all the best of luck. Kuwait Rally 2014 which will take About the readiness, Bin Eidan place on 20th of the current month. emphasized that all administrative About the nature of the participa- and technical issues of the team is tion, Bin Eidan said “We work hard to going on as planned, and STS team is be ready for the events of the second sponsored by SIRBB Circuit (Historical round, as we are at the top of general Vintage & Classic Cars Museum, Ali Al ranking at the first round, so it’s nor- Ghanim & Sons Automotive Co., GCC, mal to describe the preparations for Zain, and Quality net, they are really this round as “special” to sustain the standing behind all these achieve- achieved ranking, this is what we are ments , in the name of Kuwait. seeking as a team, my co-driver Finally, the ambassador of Kuwaiti Nasser Al Kawari has also a good Motor sport Salah Bin Eidan thanked experience which will certainly bene- His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al- fit much to achieve what we are Mohammad for his unlimited sup- seeking”. port for the Kuwaiti youth, also he The Ambassador Bin Eidan also thanked Ali Al Ghanim & Sons indicated that the competition of the Automotive Co., GCC, Zain, and second round will be a little bit differ- Quality net for their full trust of the ent from the first one, due to the par- team to represent Kuwait at the Salan Bin Eidan ticipation of more Arab & Gulf finest way.