Pacquiao to unearth Chinese boxing stars

BEIJING - Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao hopes to unearth the next Chinese world champion and help grow the sport with an academy in the largely untapped country. The 38-year-old, who controversially lost his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title to Australian Jeff Horn in July, was in Beijing this week. He and Chinese sports-development firm Dancing Sports held a signing ceremony that included plans to build a Manny Pacquiao International Boxing Academy in the capital, the company said. Zhou Wenxin, chairman of Dancing Sports, said their tie-up would deepen Chinese-Philippine relations in boxing and beyond. The academy will draft in coaches from abroad to help develop Chinese boxing, which has never had a truly world-class fighter. There is no public timeline for when it will be built.–AFP

 

 

Man United block Man City film crew

LONDON - Manchester United have refused Manchester City's request to bring their own camera crew into the away dressing room at Old Trafford for Sunday's blockbuster Premier League clash, reports said Thursday. The move could add spice to a match that Mourinho's United dare not lose if they are to retain any realistic hope of reeling in Guardiola's flying side, eight points clear at the top of the table. Amazon are following City for a behind-the-scenes documentary about the club's 2017-18 campaign, which will be screened next year as part of a reported £10 million deal. City were understood to have made a formal request to United and the Premier League for the Amazon crew to be given access to the tunnel area and away dressing room at Old Trafford, but it had been denied due to insufficient space.–AFP

 

 

1st Shahrez T20 Gold Cup Cricket

LAHORE - The Lahore Regional Cricket Association (LRCA) is going to organise 1st Shahrez Twenty20 Gold Cup Cricket Tournament in the last week of December. Addressing a press conference here at the LCCA ground Thursday, LRCA president Shahrez Abdullah Khan and senior executive member M Naseer Shahzad jointly said this and added that all active and inactive cricket clubs would take part in the event in order to promote cricket at grass root level. Shahrez said the floodlights at LCCA ground will also be installed this month and after that, the LRCA will hold a mega floodlight event of all clubs. Naseer said a grand reception to honor Lahore Region Blues and Lahore Whites, the finalists of National T20, will be conducted soon. “I hope Lahore teams will continue to excel at higher level.”–Staff Reporter

 

 

National Tenpin Bowling from Jan 16

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Tenpin Bowling Federation (PTBF), in collaboration with Leisure City Bowling Club, will hold the 11th National Tenpin Bowling Championship 2017-18 from January 16 to 20 here at Leisure City Bowling Club Safa Gold Mall, Jinnah Super Market, F-7 Markaz. PTBF secretary Ijaz-ur-Rehman Thursday said besides seasoned national players, several promising bowlers, including women, would feature in the mega event. “We are expecting huge number of entries in all categories, while females have already shown tremendous response. “The bowlers will be seen in action in seven different categories including master singles, doubles, team, deaf, graded, women and media events,” he said. The position holders of different categories would be given cash awards and medals.–Staff Reporter