KATHMANDU: Nepal Automobile Sports Association (NASA) on Wednesday assisted sports journalist Govinda Regmi for the reconstruction of his damaged house. Regmi’s house at Nalang VDC of Dhading district was destroyed by devastating earthquake that struck on April 25 claiming more than 8,600 lives across the country. Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Kripasur Sherpa handed over a cheque of Rs 50,000 to Regmi at a programme. Similarly, Mountaineering and Rock Climbing Association (MRCA) provided a cheque worth Rs 25,000 to immediate past president of Nepal Sports Journalists Forum, Niranjan Rajbanshi to be deposited in the Relief Fund set up to help late sports journalist Suman Bhomjan and other affected members of the NSJF. MRCA also provided Rs 25,000 to the family of its member Dipesh KC. General Secretary of MRCA Megh Raj Paudel announced to host Suman Bhomjan Memorial Climbing Media Cup in memory of the late sports journalist.

Lotito under review

ROME: Lazio president Claudio Lotito is reportedly under investigation for attempted extortion. The ANSA news agency reports that the inquiry is based on a recorded phone conversation between Lotito and a management official of the lower division Ischia club. The charges regard the distribution of funds to clubs. Lotito is also a member of the Italian football federation’s board of directors, and the FIGC offices were searched by authorities on Wednesday under orders from prosecutors in Naples. Carpi went on to win Serie B and earn a promotion to the top flight.

WC opener sets record

NEW YORK: The US opener has drawn the largest television audience on record for a Women’s World Cup group stage game. The Americans’ 3-1 win over Australia on Monday night averaged more than 3.3 million viewers on Fox Sports 1. The previous high was nearly 2.5 million in 1999 for the tournament in the US Nielsen doesn’t have data on the 1991 Women’s Women Cup. Fox said on Tuesday the audience was more than triple the almost 1.1m for the 2011 US opener. That game started just before noon in the Eastern time zone with the tournament in Germany, while Monday’s match from Winnipeg was in prime time.

Khokhlov appointed

MOSCOW: Former Russia midfielder Dmitry Khokhlov has been appointed head coach of Kuban Krasnodar to replace the sacked Leonid Kuchuk, the Russian Premier League team said on Wednesday. The contract with the 39-year-old will be finalised over the next few days, Kuban said on their website. Khokhlov played for PSV Eindhoven, Real Sociedad and won 53 caps for national side.  Kuban finished the championship in 10th place and reached final in which they lost 3-1 to Lokomotiv Moscow.