All-England possibly a swan-song for Lin
LONDON • The All-England Championships, starting today, will likely mark the final appearance of five-time champion Lin Dan at badminton's oldest tournament, as the Chinese player bids for a berth at the Rio Olympics before possible retirement.
For the first time since 2012, Lin will appear in the men's draw alongside compatriot Chen Long, the world and defending champion, and Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia, the Asian triumvirate who have lifted 11 of the last 12 All-England titles among them.
REUTERS
Bout coverage OK for election: Pacquiao
MANILA • Manny Pacquiao claimed yesterday that TV coverage of his World Boxing Organisation welterweight bout with American Timothy Bradley would not violate Philippine election laws, or give him an undue advantage in his bid for a seat on the Senate in May as it fell within the allotted air time given to him for TV and radio political advertisements.
The commission on Tuesday said it may bar broadcasts of Pacquiao's bid to win back the world welterweight title next month because it could give him an unfair advantage in the elections.
REUTERS
Pendleton to race at Cheltenham Festival
LONDON • Double Olympic cycling champion Victoria Pendleton will ride at next week's Cheltenham Festival just over a year after becoming an amateur jockey.
The 35-year-old will race Pacha Du Polder in the Foxhunter Chase on March 18, the final day of the festival.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Cost of DFB probe estimated at $5.3m
BERLIN • The German Football Association's (DFB) inquiry into the 2006 World Cup scandal is set to cost around €3.5 million (S$5.3 million), its interim president Rainer Koch said.
Last October, German magazine Spiegel claimed the DFB had used a slush fund of €6.7 million in 2000 to buy votes for the hosting rights, and the DFB subsequently tasked business law specialist Freshfields with auditing the bid.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Man charged with murder after row
MUMBAI • A heated argument over whether Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo is the world's best footballer has led to a Nigerian man being charged with the murder of his friend.
Indian police confirmed yesterday that the Nigerian Michael Chukwuma, 21, stabbed his 34-year-old compatriot Obina Durumchukwu in a Mumbai suburb on Sunday following the argument.
THE GUARDIAN
Olympic success can change minds: Feng
SINGAPORE • Feng Shanshan says Olympic success this year could erase "negative images" of golf in China, where it is often viewed as elitist and was singled out in an anti-corruption drive last year.
The women's world No. 9 and the only Chinese golfer to win a Major said that a medal in Rio would do wonders for the sport in her home country.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
