IOC may suspend Pakistan

Karachi: A power struggle between the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) and the government controlled Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) could deprive the country from taking part in the upcoming London Olympics.

There are signs that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) may end up suspending Pakistan’s membership this week. The IOC has summoned officials of the POA and PSB to its headquarters in Geneva on June 4 to discuss what they see as growing government interference and influence in the affairs of the national sports federations and the national Olympic body.

Bielsa contract

Madrid: Marcelo Bielsa and Athletic Bilbao have sealed an agreement to extend the Argentine coach’s contract by a year until the end of next season, the La Liga club said on Sunday. “Athletic Club and the coach Marcelo Bielsa have agreed to extend the contractual relationship between the two parties until June 30, 2013,” Bilbao said. Bielsa’s entertaining brand of attacking football helped Bilbao reach the finals of both the Europa League and the King’s Cup last season.

Kyut move

Ankara: Fenerbahce has signed Dutch forward Dirk Kuyt from Liverpool. The Turkish club tweeted that Kuyt has agreed to play for the Istanbul side for the next three years. It gave no further detail on the terms of the transfer. The Netherlands international joined Liverpool from Feyenoord in 2006.

Snooker meet

Mumbai: Little-known BV Rathod of Andhra Pradesh upset R Girish of the Railways while unheralded Yagnesh Merai of Gujarat shocked Sandeep Gulati of Delhi to enter the third and final qualifying round of the PJ Hindu Gymkhana National 6-Red Snooker Championships, here on Sunday.

FIH plan

Ipoh: A five-a-side format to promote hockey among young players is under the International Hockey Federation’s consideration, FIH president Leandro Negre said on Sunday. “Our sports is about these two versions. But with an eye on promoting hockey among youth, we are thinking about the 5-a-side concept,” Negre said.

Jaidee wins

Newport: Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee survived a poor start on Sunday to win the Wales Open by 1 stroke with a final round 1-over 72 in wet conditions. The 42-year-old Jaidee, who was the overnight leader, holed four birdies on the back nine at Celtic Manor after bogeying the fourth and double-bogeying the par-five ninth, where he went out of bounds before finding a bunker.

Moto GP

Barcelona: Jorge Lorenzo beat pole sitter Casey Stoner to win the Catalunya Grand Prix Sunday and extend his overall lead over the defending Moto GP champion. Lorenzo kept Stoner from making it seven straight victories from pole, with Honda’s Dani Pedrosa eventually finishing second to his Yamaha rival.