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 LONDON: 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 Ospreys next world rugby. 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 Wales 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, Jamie Roberts, 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, Luke Charteris, James Hook and Lee Byrne 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 Ian Evans set to join them in the Top 14 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- George North, Paul James 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 Bradley Davies 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 Cardiff 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 Warren Gatland 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 Rugby Union (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 Welsh Rugby Union 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.