Postponed: Rangers’ Scottish Premier League clash at Dundee United tonight has been postponed due to the freezing conditions currently decimating the British sporting schedules. Walter Smith’s Rangers had already seen the Tannadice fixture called off once and now the champions have been frustrated again after the match fell foul of the weather following police advice.
Celtic: South Korea’s Cha Du-ri and Ki Sung-yueng will miss Celtic’s Old Firm clash with Rangers on January 2 because of international commitments. Celtic manager Neil Lennon had been trying to keep the pair for an extra week so they could play in the crucial fixture against the Scottish champions at Ibrox. But Lennon has confirmed Cha and Ki will fly home to prepare for the Asian Cup after Celtic’s Scottish Premier League clash against St Johnstone on Sunday.
Perrin: St Etienne captain Loic Perrin confirmed yesterday he has extended his contract with the French first division club for three years. The 25-year-old midfielder will now remain with the south eastern outfit until June 30, 2014. “I’m happy and very proud,” he said. “Extending with St Etienne had always been my wish because I feel good here. St Etienne have something that other clubs lack.”
Capdevila: Joan Capdevila has confirmed he has agreed a two-year contract extension with Villarreal. The 32-year-old joined the Yellow Submarine from Deportivo La Coruna in 2007 and during his time at El Madrigal has helped Spain win both the World Cup and European Championships.
Venlo: VVV-Venlo have sacked coach Jan van Dijk with the team second from bottom in the Eredivisie standings. Van Dijk took up the reins in June 2008 and guided the club back to the top flight in his first campaign at the helm.
MFA Div. Two: Gżira United vs Mġarr United 4-0; Mellieħa vs San Ġwann 4-0.
In Italy: Serie B – AlbinoLeffe vs Piacenza 3-3.
In Spain: Primera Liga – Racing Santander vs Hercules 0-0.
Judo: Israeli and Palestinian teenagers are gathering in Japan to participate in a judo tournament as organisers hope to promote world peace through the sport, a renowned judoka said yesterday. Yasuhiro Yamashita, 53, gold medallist at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, said he had invited them to the one-day tournament on Sunday in Fukuoka, western Japan. “Through exchanges with Japanese and overseas participants, I hope the Israeli and Palestinian children will learn and experience many things,” Yamashita said.
Motor Racing: Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel cruised to another success as he was named German sportsman of the year. The Red Bull pilot compiled a total of 4,288 points ahead of table tennis star Timo Boll (2,088) while US PGA Championship winner Martin Kaymer was third (1,763). Vettel succeeds swimmer Paul Biedermann, who won two swimming world titles in 2009. Sportswoman of the year went to Maria Riesch, who won two Olympic alpine skiing titles in Vancouver, just edging out biathlon star Magdalena Neuner.
Basketball: The University of Connecticut’s women’s team matched the all-time American collegiate record for consecutive victories on Sunday by beating Ohio State 81-50 for their 88th win in a row. The Huskies matched the legendary University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) men’s squad that won 88 in a row from 1971 to 1974, setting a mark that had been the gold standard among the US programmes that develop top NBA talent. The Huskies women have not lost since falling to Stanford in the 2008 US college national semi-finals.
Golf: Teenage star Noh Seung-Yul, of South Korea, has been officially crowned the youngest Asian Tour Order of Merit champion and named the Players’ Player of the Year. Following the final event of the 2010 Asian Tour season at the Black Mountain Masters in Thailand on Sunday, Noh enters the record books as the youngest to top the Asian money list at the age of 19 years and 204 days. Noh’s season included victory at the Maybank Malaysian Open in March and four other top-10s. The South Korean has won $822,361.