America’s lightweight contender, Teofimo Lopez, is targeting a shot at Richard Commey’s International Boxing Federation (IBF) strap in July after his upcoming bout with Edis Tatli.
The undefeated American has called out the Ghanaian world champion to a fight in a bid to snatch the IBF strap in what could be Commey’s first title defence.
Commey (28-2, 25 KOs) has commenced training having been passed fit following a hand injury he sustained in his last bout with Isa Chaniev.
The 31-year-old Ghanaian could fight Lopez (12-0, 10 KOs) in his first defence should the IBF declare the American’s upcoming fight with Tatli a mandatory to Commey’s crown.
Speaking to DAZN, Lopez noted that he has planned three fights ahead of him which commences with Tatli on April 20 before slugging it out with Commey in July and then a possible unification against Ukrainian Vasyl Lomachenko.

- Youngest runner taking part just four days after his 18th birthday
- Eileen Noble, 84, is oldest female runner for second year in a row
85-year-old KEN JONES is not only the oldest runner in the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon, he is also one of just 11 remaining Ever Presents who have run every edition of the race since the first one in 1981.
That means Jones, from Strabane in Northern Ireland, is now gearing up for his 39th consecutive London Marathon and though last year’s race was his toughest yet, there was never any doubt in his mind he would be back on the Start Line for the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday 28 April.
“Nope, never any doubt,” said Jones. “I’m in much better shape than last year. I’ve been swimming three times a week instead of doing as much running and that has helped.
“Besides I’ve got my eyes focused on next year, the 40th birthday of the London Marathon. That’s a big one for me and for all the Ever Presents as it will be our 40th straight marathon.”
Jones was living in Chingford, in Greater London, for the first 22 of his 38 marathons. He was a lot swifter around the 26.2 miles back then, too.

One Day International (ODI) status and a place in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 will be decided this month, as six teams compete in the last ever ICC World Cricket League Division 2 in Namibia between 20 and 27 April.
 
Canada, Hong Kong, Namibia, Oman, PNG and USA will battle it out for places to confirm which league they will be competing in on the road to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. The top four teams will earn ODI status and will join Scotland, Nepal and United Arab Emirates in League 2 which is just two steps away from qualification to the 2023 event.
 
The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 will see seven teams play 126 ODI matches across two years with the top three teams earning a spot directly to the Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier in 2022.

Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim and Abderrahman Samba have donated kit to the IAAF Heritage Collection which will be on display at the IAAF Heritage World Athletics Championships Exhibition, which opens in City Center Doha shopping mall in one week's time.
Barshim, the reigning world high jump champion, has donated his London 2012 Olympic Games competition vest and number, while Samba has given the bodysuit which he wore when winning the 2018 IAAF Continental Cup Ostrava 2018 400m hurdles title.
At the exhibition opening ceremony on the evening of Thursday 18 April, the Qatari stars, who are the second-best all-time performers in their respective events, will officially hand over their donations to IAAF President Sebastian Coe and Dahlan Al Hamad, IAAF Vice President and Director General of the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 Local Organising Committee.

USA’s 2012 London Olympic Games 110m hurdles champion Aries Merritt has become the latest star athlete to give his support to the IAAF Heritage World Athletics Championships Exhibition which opens in Doha, Qatar on Thursday 18 April.
Merritt, the fastest man ever over the sprint hurdles, has generously donated to the IAAF Heritage Collection the pair of spikes which he wore when flying to the current 110m hurdles world record of 12.80 seconds in the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Brussels on 7 September 2012.
The spikes will be on public display in the IAAF Heritage Exhibition in the City Center Doha shopping mall for six months leading into and through the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 (27 Sep to 6 Oct).
In a special ceremony on the evening of Thursday 18 April, IAAF President Sebastian Coe together with Dahlan Al Hamad, IAAF Vice President and Director General of the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 Local Organising Committee, will officially open the world’s largest ever display of athletics artefacts and memorabilia.

NEW YORK (USA)/MIES (Switzerland)/RIGA (Latvia) - The National Basketball Association (NBA), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the Latvian Basketball Association (Latvijas Basketbola Savieniba) on Wednesday announced that the 18th edition of Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Europe will be held from June 9-June 12 at Elektrum Olympic Center in Riga, Latvia, marking the first time that the NBA and FIBA's global basketball development and community outreach program will be held in Latvia.
BWB Europe 2019 will bring together the top male and female players ages 17 and under from throughout Europe to learn directly from current and former NBA and FIBA players, coaches and legends and to compete against the best young players from the region.

Tokyo, 10 April 2019 – The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020) today welcomed KADOKAWA CORPORATION (KADOKAWA) as a Tokyo 2020 Official Supporter, the third domestic tier of the Tokyo 2020 Sponsorship Programme.
The company has been attributed the category “Books and Magazines Publishing Services”. Its addition brings the total number of Tokyo 2020 domestic partners to 62*, including 15 Gold Partners, 32 Official Partners and 15 Official Supporters (including one Official Supporter which sponsors only the Paralympic Games), all of whom will play vital roles in the successful delivery of the Games.
Tokyo 2020 President Yoshiro Mori welcomed the announcement, commenting, “We are delighted to welcome KADOKAWA, one of Japan’s leading publishing companies, as an Official Supporter.KADOKAWA has supported Japanese cultural activities for many years, and I am confident their publishing services will help us to disseminate the excitement of the Tokyo 2020 Games to many people.”

After a successful AIPS Africa Congress, the sports media in Ghana will shift attention on the 44th MTN / SWAG Awards which comes off on Saturday, May 11, 2019 at the Accra International Conference Centre.
A number of sportsmen and women have been nominated and named for the prestigious event which comes under the auspices of distinguished personalities.
The president of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG), Mr. Kwabena Yeboah says top personalities will grace the occasion as Special Guest and Chairman, and he is looking forward to another wonderful event.
As usual, one of the country’s best musicians and bands will be playing to give sports enthusiasts and guests of the night the full entertainment.

Societe Generale Ghana and Ghana Rugby announced their intention to build character for youth together based on the World Rugby “Get Into Rugby” (GIR) youth development programme that is underpinned by the Rugby values of integrity, passion, solidarity, discipline and respect.

The announcement was made at the Secretariat of Ghana Rugby during a meeting between Mr Daniel Rex Danquah (External Communication Officer, Societe Generale Ghana), Ms Angela Nanansaa Bonsu (GM Company Secretariat, Societe Generale Ghana), Ms Jannifer S. Darko (Community Manager, Societe Generale Ghana), Mr Abdul-Aziz Issah (Board Member, Ghana Rugby) and Ms Rafatu Inusah (Board Member and ‘Get Into Rugby’ Coordinator, Ghana Rugby).

According to Mr Danquah, Societe Generale has been involved in Rugby since 1903 and the bank became the official bank of French rugby in 1987. Societe Generale is also the official banker of Ghana Rugby and is a major partner of the Rugby World Cup in Japan later this year. ​

The Egyptian Embassy has announced its intention to collaborate with Egypt Air to give Ghanaians a ‘comprehensive package’ to enable them to travel for the TOTAL Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament scheduled in the Arab Republic of Egypt from June 21 to July 19 this year.
This was made known by H.E Emad Magdy Hanna when the Youth and Sports Minister, Isaac Kwame Asiamah, called on him today at his residency.

The Black Stars of Ghana will hold a month’s training tour in Qatar ahead of the 2019 AFCON in Egypt.
Coach Kwesi Appiah’s men were initially billed to camp in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) for their groundwork.
However, weather conditions prompted a change of plan to Doha.

Tickets for the official warm-up fixtures ahead of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 will go on sale at 10am (BST) on Wednesday 10 April, to coincide with 50 days to go until the tournament gets underway on 30 May.
 
Ten warm-up fixtures will be played between 24-28 May, with each competing side playing two matches ahead of the main tournament.
 
The warm-up fixtures will be held across four official CWC19 Host Venues: Bristol County Ground, Cardiff Wales Stadium, Hampshire Bowl and The Oval, but will not carry official ODI status.  
 
Ticket prices for the fixtures start from as low as £15 for adults and £1 for under 16s.
 
Tickets for seven of the ten warm-up fixtures will have a maximum advanced price of £15, while the top advanced price for any fixture is just £25. Fans will be able to purchase tickets for the warm-up fixtures on the Official CWC19 Ticketing Site from 10am (BST) on Wednesday 10 April using their existing account details.

It’s fair to say that Italy knows a thing or two about durability. Its capital is known as the Eternal City. Across the Mediterranean there are magnificent structures that even now cause tourists to marvel at the glories of the Roman Empire. Imperial engineers used precise mathematical calculations to construct roads, bridges and aqueducts, many of which are still in use even in the 21stCentury. Despite earthquake damage, sporting venues such as the Coliseum in Rome and the Arena in Verona attract thousands of visitors who marvel at the formidable walls of these spectacular buildings. 

Ghana’s Beach Volleyball top players, Kevin Carboo and Eric Tsikata are sad as their hopes of competing at the elite African Championship in Egypt to gain points and also qualify them to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games have been dashed.
According to amazing Beach volleyball player Carboo Kelvin, a silver medalist from Algeria, where they participated in the All African Games last year said the Ghana volleyball Association disappointed them, because they have been training none stop to go to Cairo for world championship qualifiers U21, only to be informed at the last hour that there is no money for the trip.
He said the announcement has affected him morally, physical and spiritual as they have prepared and planned very well.

The Ghana Taekwondo Federation has started their National Licence Coaching Course, which is part of their 3-month Development of National Sports Systems (DNSS) .
The Coaching course which is for only unlicensed has seen some young people training to become experts in the sport.
President of the Ghana Taekwondo Federation, Frederick Lartey Otu, believes, the sport will look more attractive than before after the DNSS programs are done.
“We seek to expand the growth of the sport, the reason why we want to train 40. We have brought a very experienced Taekwondo Practitioner & Coach, in the person of Patrice Remarck whose expertise will have a great impact on the participants. After these programs, Taekwondo in Ghana will become different and look attractive as well.” He said.

Following Nigeria’s success in claiming an ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2020 spot, the battle for the four remaining places heads to the Asia Qualifier in Malaysia, with six teams vying for the top spot.  
Kuwait, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Singapore and the UAE will compete in the tournament taking place between 12 and 18 April, where the winners will become the 13th team to confirm their place in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in South Africa in 2020. This is the second stage for teams in Asia, who due to the depth of strength in the region, competed in a Division 2 in 2018, where Kuwait and Oman qualified to continue their U19 journey. 
The direct 2019 regional qualifiers provide teams with a winner-takes-all opportunity to compete in a World Cup. The winner of the Asia qualifier will join Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the West Indies and Zimbabwe in the tournament next January and February.
15 matches will be played across three venues in the Kuala Lumpar area - Kinrara Oval, Bayuemas Oval and Selangor Turf Club.

The thrilling, innovative and inspiring Bukom Fist of Fury Boxing League moves to the tenth week with exciting pairings.
According to the Technical Directorate of the Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF), Attoh Quarshie (AQ) versus Sea View Boxing club.
Wisdom Boxing Gym will face CSPY, and Charles Quartey Boxing Foundation (CQBF) will clash with Akotoku Academy in an all Bukom affair.
PPBA will also take on Seconds Out Boxing Gym in other bouts that promise to be fire works.

Ghana’s two top seeds in Table Tennis, Derek Abrefa and Cecelia Baah Danso have qualified to play at the 2019 Liebherr World Table Tennis Championship to be held in Budapest, Hungary, but they are faced with financial problem of getting flight tickets to get to the venue to lift the flag of Ghana.
Derek Abrefa said thought he is very happy because it is over a decade that Ghana was able to make it to the world championship stage, he is not safe as he wants to participate in order to win points qualification to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
According to the number one seed of Ghana for 15 years, Ghana’s flag had not been hoisted at the world stage and this time they are going to make Ghana visible.
The multiple SWAG Awards winner commended the President of the Ghana Table Tennis Federation, Mawuko Afadzinu for his support for the game as Ghana was able to host the ITTF Cadets and Juniors Tournament.

Kumasi, the Garden City is warming up for one of the expected biggest fitness walks and blood donation to stock the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) on Easter Saturday, April 20.
At least 1,000 participants from the Kumasi Technical University, the KATH Nursing Training College and 20 other fitness clubs are billed to rock the metropolis.
The 10-kilometer walk is being put together by Mamedia Ventures with support from communication giants, MTN, and State Insurance Company.
At the launch at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi on Saturday the Head, Transfusion Medical Unit of KATH, Dr Shirley Owusu-Ofori, said blood donors were 88 per cent less likely to suffer heart attack than those who do not donate.

Sir Mo Farah is set to return to the Vitality London 10,000 on Monday 27 May to defend his title at the capital’s most inspiring 10km road race on the spectacular course which starts on The Mall and finishes in front of Buckingham Palace.
Great Britain’s Olympic legend and multiple world champion won the 2018 Vitality London 10,000 in a time of 29:44 where he outsprinted British runners Richard Allen (29:48) and Matthew Sharp (29:50) in the final 500m.
This year will be the 36-year-old’s seventh appearance in London’s top 10k, with wins in 2009 and 2010, when he set the course record of 27:44, then three more victories in 2012, 2013 and 2018.
A record number of more than 17,000 participants are expected to run on the course which passes iconic London landmarks such as Admiralty Arch, Nelson’s Column, St Paul’s Cathedral, Mansion House, the Bank of England, the Old Bailey, Somerset House, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey.

Tokyo, 8 April 2019 – The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020) today confirmed the route of the Paralympic marathon events, following its approval by the World Para Athletics organisation. For the first time in recent Paralympic history, the course will not only follow the same route as the Olympic marathon, but will start and finish at the same location too – Tokyo’s new National Stadium (Olympic Stadium). It is hoped this will provide an unforgettable experience for the athletes and for the spectators who will cheer them on.
Traversing the heart of the Japanese capital, the route will take in famous Tokyo landmarks including the Kaminarimon ("Thunder Gate") in Asakusa, the Imperial Palace, Ginza’s upmarket Chuo Street, the Zojoii temple with the city’s iconic Tokyo Tower as a backdrop, and Nihombashi bridge, the historic centre of the Japanese capital. The climax of the race will see para-athletes running the final stretch leading to the new Stadium uphill.

​APO Group is the Main Official Sponsor od World Rugby’ African association, Rugby Africa
LUSAKA, Zambia, April 8, 2019/ -- The Founder and Chairman of media giant APO Group, Mr Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th April, 2019 was at hand to witness first hand the strides and efforts being implemented by the Zambia Rugby Union towards growing the game in the country.

APO Group is the Main Official Sponsor od World Rugby’ African association, Rugby Africa.

The media guru who on Saturday watched a women's rugby game between Red Arrows Rugby vs Green Eagles Rugby at the Showgrounds in Lusaka expressed delight at the competition exhibited by the women. "I'm totally impressed by the levels of competition among the rugby ladies, it symbolises passion and dedication, both teams have a mixture of youth & experience which is very encouraging and is a catalyst for continuity".

​Chipu beat the defending champions Namibia 21-18 in what was a very intense match
NAIROBI, Kenya, April 8, 2019/ -- Chipu as the Kenya Under 20 side is referred to by the fans lifted the Barthes Trophy Cup on 7th April at the KCB Sports Club Ruaraka. Chipu beat the defending champions Namibia 21-18 in what was a very intense match.

Delron Brandt drilled in two penalty kicks for Namibia in the first ten minutes for them to take a 6-0 lead. Kenya’s Brian Amaitsa aggression on attack saw him fend off two defenders and head for the in goal area landing Chipu’s first try and narrowing the gap to 6-5 after the conversion sailed wide. Exactly 24 minutes after Amaitsa’s try and off a break down, flyhalf Michele Brighetti send the ball wide to land in Beldad Ogeta’s hands and he dashed for the try box extending Chipu’s lead to 10-6 at the breather.

Debutant Silas Mwetich won the 29th HAJ Hannover Marathon while Racheal Mutgaa took the race, breaking the course record. Kenya’s Mwetich ran his marathon debut in fine weather conditions and surprisingly won the race in 2:09:37. Fellow-Kenyan Hosea Kipkemboi was second with 2:10:40, Ethiopia’s Debas Alebachew Wale took third place in 2:10:57. Last year’s winner Seboka Negusse of Ethiopia, one of the favourites, dropped out at the 35k mark.
 
Racheal Mutgaa won the women’s race in a course record time of 2:26:15, improving the former mark by almost a minute. Back in 2013 Ukraine’s Olena Burkovska ran 2:27:07. In a contest that was very close for a long time Kenya’s Mutgaa finished ahead of Ethiopia’s Tigist Memuye Gebeyahu who clocked 2:27:35. Karolina Nadolska of Poland was third in 2:27:43.
 
Including shorter races the HAJ Hannover Marathon had a record entry of 26,792 runners. 3,037 of them were running the marathon distance. The event is an IAAF Silver Label Road Race.

Nancy Kiprop produced the outstanding performance of the 36th Vienna City Marathon when she broke the women’s course record by over a minute and a half in running 2:22:12 and for good measure also became the first woman to win three VCM titles. Kiprop led a Kenyan clean sweep of the podium with all three women setting personal bests. Angela Tanui was runner-up in 2:25:37 and Maurine Chepkemoi third with 2:26:16.
 
In the men’s race Vincent Kipchumba of Kenya won with a personal best of 2:06:56, improving his lifetime best by almost four minutes. He surged away in the closing stages from Switzerland’s Tadesse Abraham who finished second with 2:07:24. Uganda’s Solomon Mutai took third with 2:08:25, improving his best by just over one minute. 40,590 runners were in action in all the events of the Vienna City Marathon on Sunday, which is an IAAF Gold Label Road Race.


Women’s Race
 
Nancy Kiprop came to the Vienna City Marathon and conquered in even more convincing style than on her visits in the last two years. The Kenyan became the first woman to win a hat-trick of VCM titles and what style she showed in the achievement, running a personal best of 2:22:12. It signified an improvement of more than a minute and a half over the previous best of 2:23:47, set by the late Italian Maura Viceconte in 2000.