Festival of Football

KATHMANDU: Nepal won all three 30-minute matches at the AFC Group ‘C’ U-14 Festival of Football in Islamabad on Saturday. Nepal blanked Bhutan 3-0, beat Sri Lanka 2-0 and edged past Pakistan ‘A’ 1-0. Sujal Shrestha scored twice (6th and 18th) and Ganesh Khadka added another against Bhutan while skipper Nirajan Malla scored both the goals against Sri Lanka. Ganesh Khadka netted the solitary goal against Pakistan ‘A’. Nepal will play against Pakistan and Bangladesh on Sunday. — HNS

Japan take 2-0 lead

TOKYO: Aiko Nakamura and Ai Sugiyama both posted victories on Saturday as host Japan took a 2-0 lead over Switzerland in their Fed Cup World Group II match up. Nakamura downed Timea Bacinszky 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 in a match that lasted two hours. Veteran Ai Sugiyama then widened Japan’s lead with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 win over Stefanie Vogele in the World Group II tie. Switzerland will have to win both the reverse singles and doubles on Sunday to advance to the World Group playoffs in July. — AP

Tele Santana dead

RIO DE JANEIRO: Tele Santana, who led Brazil into the FIFA World Cups of 1982 and 1986, died on Friday at the age 74. He had been suffering from a number of different infections and was in intensive care since March 28. Santana was loved by fans for his attacking style of play during his stint as Brazil’s head coach. Santana’s greatest moments arguably came as the head coach of FC Sao Paulo, who he led to the Brazilian league crown in 1992 and 1993. — DPA

Albert Costa to quit

BARCELONA: Former French Open champion Albert Costa confirmed on Friday he will retire at the end of next week’s Barcelona ATP event after which he hopes to become his country’s Davis Cup captain. The Spaniard won his only Grand Slam title in 2002, after which he reached a career high ranking of six. “I’m going to try to be Davis Cup captain one day and I would love to join the Tour of Champions, if I was invited,” he said. — AFP

Stenson takes lead

SHANGHAI: Swede Henrik Stenson maintained his one-stroke lead at the BMW Asian Open as a bevy of golfers charged up the leaderboard. Stenson mixed three birdies with two bogeys for a one-under-par 71 to be well placed to win his seventh European Tour event. Gonzalo Fernadez-Castano of Spain rattled in four birdies in his 69 to lie one stroke behind. Australian veteran Peter O’Malley, Englishman Paul Casey, and Mahal Pearce of New Zealand lurk a stroke further back. — AFP

Belgrade Marathon

BELGRADE: Japhet Kosgei of Kenya won the 19th Belgrade Marathon on Saturday ahead of countrymen Kioko Kikumu and Reuben Mtumwo. Kosgei finished in 2:10:52. He beat Kikumu by 34 seconds and set a record for the race. Mtuwmo finished third in 2:12:31. The women’s race was won by Halina Karnatsevich of Belarus in 2:34:35. Iaroslav Mushinski from Moldova won men’s half-marathon, finishing in 1:04:51. —AP