Karate qualifier

KATHMANDU: Four men and a lady qualified for the 10th South Asian Games (SAG), to be held in Sri Lanka, from the first day of the National Karate Selection Tournament on Monday. Birendra Dahal (50kg), Ram Limbu (65kg), Kushal Shrestha (70kg) and Bikram Meche have been selected for the men’s events while Krishnakala KC qualified for the women 48kg category. The ninth and tenth South Asian Games gold medallist Deepak Shrestha and Subash Naharki entered the final in the 60kg category. Member secretary of the National Sports Council Bodhraj Niraula inaugurated the tournament organised by Nepal Karate Federation. — HNS

Vucinic to join Roma

ROME: Serbia and Montenegro international Mirko Vucinic is close to signing for Roma, according to Italian newspaper reports on Sunday. Lecce striker Vucinic is keen to leave the Italian club after they were relegated from Serie A last season and Corriere dello Sport claims Roma have met the player’s agent to discuss a move. Vucinic, who was forced to pull out of World Cup squad with injury, has been at Lecce since 2000 and would cost around 10 million euros. — AFP

Reid signs new deal

BLACKBURN: Ireland international Stephen Reid signed a new four-year contract with Blackburn on Monday. Reid scored four times in 34 appearances for the club this season. He joined Rovers from Millwall for $4.6 million in 2003. We are delighted that Steven has pledged his future to Rovers,” chairman John Williams said. Terms of the contract were not released, but it is Blackburn’s second long-term signing this offseason, after Morten Gamst Pedersen signed a deal with the club on June 9. — AP