Sports World: Age-group meet the last chance for Rio

Age-group meet the last chance for Rio

This year's Singapura Finance Singapore National Age Group Championships will be the final local qualifying event for swimmers gunning for a place in the Rio Olympics.

The March 11-20 event will also see title sponsor Singapura Finance rewarding swimmers who break national and meet records, with cash prizes of up to $500 and $200 respectively.


Cruyff '2-0 up' in his fight against cancer

BARCELONA • Dutch football great Johan Cruyff says he is "2-0 up in the first half" of his fight against lung cancer and confident of winning the battle.

The former smoker, who had heart surgery in 1991, was diagnosed with cancer in October. The 68-year-old is recovering well now "thanks to the excellent work of the doctors, the affection of the people and my positive mentality".

REUTERS


Heart attack claims Bulgaria's 'Wolfman'

SOFIA • Bulgaria's legendary defender Trifon Ivanov, nicknamed "The Wolfman" and instrumental in helping his nation reach the 1994 football World Cup semi-finals, died yesterday at the age of 50 after suffering a heart attack.

Ivanov was a fearsome sight during his playing career with long hair, a wild beard and a cold, sinister stare.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE


Ton by Voges lifts his average to 100.33

WELLINGTON • Adam Voges was dubbed the new "Don" as the impeccable Australian batsman scored another century (176 not out) against New Zealand yesterday to lift his Test average to 100.33.

The legendary Don Bradman, widely considered the greatest cricketer of all time, retired in 1948 with a Test average of 99.94 from an 80-innings career - a mark that has been overtaken by Voges, 36, in his 19th Test innings.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE


No prison time for former Toffee Bent

LONDON • Former Everton star Marcus Bent avoided being sent to prison on Friday as the footballer was sentenced for confronting two officers with a meat cleaver and a kitchen knife while under the influence of cocaine.

Bent, 37, pleaded guilty at previous hearings at Guildford Crown Court to possession of cocaine and affray.

He was given a 12-month jail sentence suspended for two years, ordered to pay £500 (S$1,013) compensation to each officer, £1,500 court fees, 200 hours of community service, a two-month night-time curfew and a victim surcharge of £100.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE


Nadal through to Argentina s-finals

BUENOS AIRES • Top seed and defending champion Rafael Nadal reached tennis' Argentina Open semi-finals on Friday, braving sweltering temperatures of 33 deg C to clinch a 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 win over Italian journeyman Paolo Lorenzi.

The 29-year-old, playing his first event since his shock opening-round loss at the Australian Open last month, will face Austria's world No. 19 Dominic Thiem for a place in the final.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on February 14, 2016, with the headline Sports World: Age-group meet the last chance for Rio . Subscribe