Lee and Marin off to losing starts in Dubai
DUBAI • Badminton stars Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia and Carolina Marin lost their opening matches at the World Superseries Finals yesterday.
World No. 1 Lee was beaten 21-10, 21-16 by South Korea's world No. 6 Son Wan Ho in a Group B match. Spain's world No. 2 Marin lost 21-18, 24-22 to China's world No. 6 Sun Yu in Group B.
Bennell, 62, held on sex abuse charges
LONDON • Barry Bennell, the former Crewe Alexandra youth football coach, has been remanded in custody after appearing in court charged with a string of sexual assaults against a boy in the 1980s.
He is scheduled to appear at Chester crown court on Jan 11. Bennell, 62, did not enter a plea when he appeared by video-link at Crewe magistrates' court to face eight offences, including assault with intent to commit buggery, against a boy under the age of 15, from 1981 to 1985.
THE GUARDIAN
England won't meet All Blacks next year
LONDON • World rugby champions New Zealand will have to wait until at least 2018 to play England after the schedule for next year's November internationals was released yesterday. Unbeaten this year with 14 successive victories, England will hope to surpass the All Blacks' record 18-match winning streak.
REUTERS