NOC solidarity course

KATHMANDU: All Nepal Table Tennis Association (ANTTA) is organising the Olympic Solidarity and High Performance Course from August 4-13 in Kathmandu. International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) expert Polona Susin — who is also the member of Slovenia NOC, general secretary of Slovenia TT, and chairman of European TT Union Coaching Committee — has come to Nepal to conduct the training, said ANTTA. In all 35 players and coaches are participating in the eight-day course. — HNS

Judo referees pass

KATHMANDU: Three judo referees passed their exams at the referee seminar during the 15th Pacific Rim Senior Judo Championship held ibn Macau from July 25-29. According to Nepal Judo Association, Chandra Kumar Dangol passed the JUA (Judo Union of Asia) ‘B’ Referee exams while Surya Narayan Shrestha and Dhruba Raj Shrestha passed the IJF (International Judo Federation) Continental Referee exams. With their success, Nepal got three more international referees, NJA said. — HNS

Chelsea deny report

LONDON: Chelsea denied reports that Frank Lampard has broken a toe. British newspapers said that the England midfielder had broken the fourth toe on his left foot on the first day of the Blues’ preseason tour of the United States, and that Chelsea were set to drop the midfielder from the squad for Sunday’s Community Shield match against Manchester United. However, Chelsea said Lampard had only “a minor injury sustained over three weeks ago whilst training in Los Angeles.” — AP

Serena withdraws

CARSON: Serena Williams withdrew from her fourth consecutive tournament because of a lingering thumb injury. Williams was seeded fourth in the East West Bank Classic that begins on Monday in Carson. Maria Sharapova is the No 1 seed in the East West Bank Classic. Jelena Jankovic, the losing finalist last year, is seeded second, and Ana Ivanovic is No 3. — AP

Brazil teen joins Milan

MILAN: AC Milan have signed Brazilian under-20 striker Alexandre Pato on a five-year contract. Milan reportedly paid Brazil’s Internacional $30 million for the 17-year-old Pato, who was also being chased by Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Chelsea. He will earn $2.73 million per season. “He’s a great talent,” Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said in Moscow, where they

are playing a preseason tournament with Lokomotiv Moscow, PSV Eindhoven, and Real. — AP