Pac-Man misses visit, doing his own rehab
GENERAL SANTOS (Philippines) • Manny Pacquiao played down criticism from promoter Bob Arum after the injured Philippine boxing hero missed a doctor's visit for a shoulder injury, saying he was carrying out his own rehabilitation.
Arum hit out at his own boxer last weekend for missing a rehab visit and said he has no idea when "Pacman" might fight again.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Deflated ball draws inflated offer
NEW YORK • One of the balls used by the New England Patriots in the National Football League's 2015 AFC Championship game, in which the team were infamously found to have deflated footballs, sold for more than US$40,000 in an auction.
The winning bidder paid US$43,740 (S$60,000) for the ball, which receiver Brandon LaFell had handed to a couple in the crowd after a Patriots touchdown.
REUTERS
Kiwis to vet players' background
WELLINGTON • New Zealand Football will run eligibility checks on all their squads following the country's controversial expulsion from the 2016 Rio Olympics qualifying tournament.
Their Under-23 side were expelled just hours before the final of the Oceania Football Confederation's tournament earlier this month, for fielding an ineligible player. REUTERS
Racism concerns over Russia World Cup
ST PETERSBURG (Russia) • Brazil and Zenit St Petersburg forward Hulk says racist comments are made by spectators at almost every football match played in Russia and he fears "gross and ugly" racism could mar the 2018 World Cup Finals.
Ghanaian midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong was subjected to monkey chants at a match last Friday in Moscow, and was sent off when he made a vulgar sign at his abusers. REUTERS
50 fitness buffs show off their skills
About 50 participants took part in the second stage of the inaugural Elite 2015 fitness competition at Bugis Junction on Sunday.
Trainer Dylan Goddard, 28, dominated the men's Open category, coming up tops in all three stages - the Squat Challenge, the Deadlift Max Ladder and the Strict Press - to qualify for the Grand Finals on Oct 18.
The women's Open category was won by army officer Chew Feng Yi.
