Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 23 August 12:30 pm

Good day, let’s look at the latest sports news and scores:

# We start with roadrunning: Four members of the Comrades Marathon Association have resigned with immediate effect. They are chairperson Mqondisi Ngcobo, vice-chairperson Leslie Burnard, and board members Kerwin Basson and Pumlani Ntuli. Ngcobo says the past few weeks have taken a toll on the association’s members, and he empathises with those who have been at the coalface dealing with the issues. Jeff Minnaar has been appointed interim chairperson, while Peter Proctor will serve as the interim vice-chairperson until the annual general meeting is held in November.

# On to rugby: Only three rounds remain in the Currie Cup before the semifinals. The Bulls are currently on top of the log, followed by the Lions and the Cheetahs. The Sharks are in fourth place, followed by the Pumas, Western Province, Griquas and Griffons. The Bulls host Griquas in Pretoria this evening. Tomorrow Province and the Sharks will meet in Cape Town and the Cheetahs and the Lions will face off in Bloemfontein. The Griffons and the Pumas will play in Welkom on Sunday.

# Cricket: The first-ever women’s Test to be played at the hallowed grounds of Lord’s in London will see England and India do battle in 2026. This will be England’s first home Test since the Ashes series in 2023, when Australia beat them at Trent Bridge. That was played over five-days compared to the usual women’s format of four days, but BBC Sport reports the length of the Lord’s Test hasn’t been confirmed. The famous stadium was opened in 1814 and hosted 130 Tests since 1884.

# Motorsport: Reigning Formula One world champion, Max Verstappen, says he is not overly confident about his prospects of winning his home race, the Dutch Grand Prix, this weekend. The Red Bull driver leads the Drivers’ Championship by 78 points over McLaren’s Lando Norris. Since its return to the calendar in 2021, Verstappen has won every Dutch Grand Prix. The 26-year-old, who will make his 200th Grand Prix start at Zandvoort on Sunday, says it has already been an incredible ride:

# And finally, tennis: Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur, who has been struggling with a shoulder injury, has withdrawn from the US Open. Her only match during the summer hard-court swing has been an opening-round loss to Japan’s Naomi Osaka in Toronto. She was runner-up to Poland’s Iga Swiatek in the 2022 final in New York and made the round of 16 last year. Her seeded spot in the draw will be filled by Belgium’s Elise Mertens, who will now take on Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova in the opening round.

Stay tuned for more news………….