Spieth reclaims world No. 1 ranking
SHANGHAI • This year's double Major winner Jordan Spieth is back on top of the world after leapfrogging Australia's Jason Day in the new golf rankings released yesterday.
Spieth's tied-seventh place in the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai on Sunday was enough to take him back to world No. 1, as Day opted not to play to be at the birth of his second child.
Rory McIlroy remains at No. 3.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, BLOOMBERG
Bail for 5 players in Nepal corruption case
KATHMANDU • A special court yesterday granted bail to Nepal's national football captain and four other players charged with treason over alleged match-fixing in World Cup qualifiers.
All five, including skipper Sagar Thapa, have denied any involvement in match-fixing following their arrests last month in the capital Kathmandu.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
29th coach axed by Palermo president
MILAN • Giuseppe Iachini yesterday became the 29th coach to be sacked since Maurizio Zamparini took over as president of Italian Serie A football club Palermo in 2002.
The outspoken businessman replaced Iachini with former Palermo handler Davide Ballardini, who was in charge for nine months in 2008-09.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Astana keep cycling World Tour licence
PARIS • Cycling's world body has confirmed that the doping-tainted Astana team will retain their World Tour licence for next year.
The Kazakh-funded outfit, featuring 2014 Tour de France champion Vincenzo Nibali, were one of 11 teams given the green light to compete in the top division next season after meeting the annual registration criteria mandated by the International Cycling Union.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Surgery for Balotelli to treat groin woe?
MILAN • AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli has suffered a setback in his fight to regain fitness, with reports claiming that he may require surgery to repair a troublesome groin injury.
The Italian footballer, who has made only four appearances since re-joining Milan on loan from Liverpool earlier this season, has been sidelined for over a month with the problem.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Rugby Championship backing for Japan
LONDON • World Rugby chairman Bernard Lapasset has backed Japan's inclusion in the Southern Hemisphere Rugby Championship competition alongside New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Argentina.
The sport is enjoying a surge in popularity in the country that will host the next World Cup in 2019.
After Japan secured a franchise in the Super Rugby tournament, Lapasset believes a similar deal at international level is a distinct possibility.
REUTERS
Triathlete Vidal, 31, dies after heart attack
PARIS • Laurent Vidal, a French triathlete, has died of a heart attack at age 31.
Vidal, who finished fifth in the 2012 Olympics, retired last year after suffering a cardiopulmonary arrest in training.
THE TIMES, LONDON
