Ronaldo aims to emulate Di Stefano

Madrid: Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid’s record signing, is to wear the number nine shirt once sported by club legend Alfredo di Stefano and wants to emulate the Argentine striker’s success with the Spanish club.

Tour de France

Monaco: Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland was wearing the race leader’s yellow jersey as the 180 riders set off for the second stage of the Tour de France. Seven-time winner Lance Armstrong, pre-race favourite Alberto Contador and other possible title contenders are likely to ride easy in the 187-kilometre stage from Monaco to Brignoles. The Tour ends July 26 in Paris.

Youth Games

Singapore: Swimmer Aaron Agnel D’Souza finished sixth in the boys 100m butterfly as India could not add to its tally on the penultimate day of the inaugural Asian Youth Games Sunday. D’Souza later qualified for the 100m freestyle final, finishing second in the first semi-finals with a timing of 52.44secs.

Totti future

Rome: AS Roma captain Francesco Totti says he will sign a new five-year contract to stay with the Serie A club and that he is not ruling out a return to Italy’s national team after recovering from a knee injury.

Owner dead

Marseille: Marseille owner Robert Louis-Dreyfus died Saturday after a long battle with leukemia, club officials said. He was 63.

Pak stand

Karachi: Pakistan sports minister Aftab Shah Jillani does not foresee restoration of sporting ties with India in the near future. “I don’t think it is possible to restore bilateral sporting ties with India at this stage and under the existing circumstances,” Jillani told reporters at a function in Karachi.