Fernando targets EPL title

Madrid: Chelsea striker Fernando Torres is targeting the English Premier League title after a year of ups and downs which culminated in triumphs for the Spaniard in the Champions League, FA Cup and at Euro 2012. “I would love to win a Premier League,” Torres, who has just joined up with his club teammates for a pre- season training camp in the US, said. “Hopefully, it will happen this year, but for sure we will be challenging for it,” added the 28-year-old.

FA charge

?London: Arsenal mid fielder Emmanuel Frim pong has been charged by the English Football Associ ation with improper con duct for allegedly posting anti-Semitic comments on Twitter. The FA says Frim pong used a “reference to ethnic origin, faith or race” in response to an abusive tweet aimed at him on Sun day. The post has since been removed. The football body gave Frimpong until July 27 to respond to the charge.

Fresh deal

?London: Arsenal said France defender Laurent Koscielny has agreed to sign a new long-term contract with the Premier League club. The 26-year-old Ko scielny was signed by Arse nal manager Arsene Wenger from French club Lorient in 2010. He has played more games for the team than any other player since arriving, making 85 appearances.

Messi worry

?Madrid: Lionel Messi bruised his calf in Mon day’s training session, his Barcelona said. A scan had revealed the extent of the injury and the Argentine World Player of the Year will remain in the Catalan capital for treatment. The club was hopeful that the 25-year-old would be available for their pre-sea son friendly against Moroc can side Raja Club Athletic, on Saturday.

Prasanth up

?Chennai: Local lad Vijay Sundar Prasanth survived some anxious moments be fore making it to the pre- quarter finals with a hard fought victory over compa triot Ashwin Vijayaragha van in the second round of the Indian Oil Servo ITF Men’s Futures tennis cham pionships. Fifth seed Pras anth beat Vijayaraghavan 7- 6 (1), 5-7, 6-2.

Sammy view

?Calcutta: Darren Sammy, the West Indies captain, be lieves his team are in perfect shape ahead of the Test se ries, against New Zealand. “We haven’t won a (Test) se ries at home for a long time. We’re playing some good cricket at the moment and we will go into this series looking to win,” Sammy said on Monday. “We showed encouraging signs when we played (at home) against Australia back in April and we want to show that we are growing as a team.

ICC post

?Dubai: Australian Geoff Allardice, a former first- class cricketer, has been named the ICC’s new gener al manager-cricket, succeed ing David Richardson, who has been promoted to chief executive of the world body. For the past decade, Al lardice has worked with CA, most recently as the general manager-cricket operations. He played first-class cricket for Victoria.