Bagga bags two golds

New Delhi: India?s Rajeev Bagga once again displayed his supremacy in badminton as he won the gold in the men?s singles as well as doubles in the 20th Deaflympic Games in Melbourne Saturday. Bagga, the defending champion, first thrashed Nattachai Unsomsri of Thailand 15-7, 15-8 to retain his singles title and then paired up with Sandeep Dhillon to beat Bong Lee and Woo Sin of Republic of Korea 3-15, 15-13, 15-9, according to information received here.

The two-time national champion, who was conferred the honour of Deaflypian of the Century in 2001, has now won 14 gold medals in various categories of the Deaflympics since 1989. The Indian, however, failed in the mixed doubles as he was made to bite the dust in the pre-quarterfinals.

Rohit Bhaker added a bronze medal to the Indian tally when he defeated Woo Choi of Republic of Korea 15-4, 11-15, 15-12 in the third place play-off.

Olympian detained

Vienna: Wolfgang Schwarz, who won a figure skating gold at the 1968 Olympics, has been detained on suspicion of human trafficking, an official said Saturday. Schwarz, 56, was detained on January 7 in his Vienna apartment on suspicion that he trafficked women from the Lithuania to Austria and Italy for prostitution, the Austria Press Agency (APA) reported, citing the prosecutor?s office. Schwarz was convicted on similar charges in 2002. ?Schwarz is suspected of having been involved in international prostitution trafficking involving Lithuanian women,? APA quoted Ernst Kloyber, a spokesman for the prosecutor?s office, as saying.

Rogge for Kenya bid

Eldoret (Kenya): International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge endorsed Kenya?s proposed bid for the 2016 Summer Games as he wound up his five-day tour of the country on Saturday. ?Kenya has good weather and good facilities which they used to host the All African Games in 1987 and the administrative ability to host the Games,? Rogge said in the north Rift Valley provincial town of Eldoret after a visit to IOC member and National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) chairman Kipchoge Keino?s home. ?If they place a bid for the Games, yes the IOC will support them.?

Andre Luiz to join Benfica

Lisbon: Brazilian central defender Andre Luiz has agreed to join Benfica on a free transfer from Santos, Portugal?s Mais Futebol website reported on Friday. The 25-year-old player will sign a three-and-a-half year contract with Benfica on Monday. Andre Luiz, who helped Santos win the Brazilian championship in 2002 and 2004, joined his new teammates at their training camp near Lisbon on Friday.

Wilkinson in doubt

London: England flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson could miss the entire Six Nations championship after conceding he will need more time to recover from a knee injury. Wilkinson suffered ligament damage in his left knee playing for his club Newcastle against Perpignan a week ago.

Bryant sidelined

El Segundo: Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant is sidelined indefinitely after an MRI exam on his right ankle Friday revealed a severe sprain. Bryant suffered the injury with 5:39 remaining in the first quarter of Thursday?s game against the Cavaliers.

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