ITF committee formed

KATHMANDU: A 14-member working committee was formed by the general meeting of Nepal International Taekwondo Federation here today. The meeting unanimously selected Krishna Bahadur Balal as the president, Chetraj Giri as senior vice president, Bhimsen Karki as vice president, Giri Prasad Bushathoki Magar as general secretary, Khem Bahadur Kanauje as treasurer. Lil Bahadur Thapa Magar, Niroj Raj Poudel, Rabindra Ghale, Raju Gadtaula, Barga Dwanda Bista, Anju Nath Shrestha, Sanjay Adhikari, Kumar Thapa and Krishna Rijal are the members. — HNS

Laurent Blanc favourite

PARIS: Former defensive stalwart Laurent Blanc is the French public‘s favourite to succeed Jacques Santini as France coach, according to a poll published in the daily Sport. Twenty one per cent of those questioned favoured Blanc, ahead of former France captain and Monaco coach Dider Deschamps (18), soccer legend Michel Platini (15), Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger (14) and World Cup winning coach Aime Jacquet (12). — AFP

Kirkland sets dual aim

LONDON: Goalkeeper Chris Kirkland has set himself a dual aim for next season — winning back his first-team place at Liverpool and then putting pressure on David James for the England number one spot. Kirkland would have been part of Sven -Goran Eriksson‘s plans for the Euro 2004 if he had not been ruled out of contention with a broken wrist. The England coach has been keen to include Kirkland for some time and the promising keeper is likely to put considerable pressure on James‘ place ahead of the 2006 World Cup. — AFP