Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 9 January 12:30 pm

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

# We start off with motorsport: South African Henk Lategan is still in the overall lead of the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, in spite of navigational problems during the fifth stage causing him to lose almost 13 minutes. He is facing serious opposition from the four Ford Raptor drivers, Mattias Ekstrom, Nani Roma, Carlos Sainz and impressive young American Mitch Guthrie. The last special stage of 300 kilometres of sand dunes takes place today.

# Rugby: The Champions Cup resumes this weekend, with the Bulls, the Sharks and the Stormers representing South African interests. The Bulls take on Bristol Bears at home at Loftus tomorrow afternoon, while the Sharks and the Stormers are playing in Europe. The Sharks face Sale Sharks in England tomorrow night, while the Stormers will compete with Harlequins in London on Sunday. The Stormers lead Pool 3 at the moment, while the Bulls and the Sharks lie in fifth positions in Pools 4 and 1, respectively.

# Cricket: The SA20 encounter between Joburg Super Kings and Paarl Royals was abandoned after the first innings at the Wanderers due to inclement weather. Faf du Plessis and James Vince shared an opening partnership of 73 as the homeside posted 187 for six. The visitors could not start their innings as lightning and rain resulted in the match being abandoned. Both teams were awarded two points, lifting Super Kings to 17 points, while Royals remain in third on 15 points. 

# Tennis: Former champion Stanislas Wawrinka, Jordan Thompson, and Chris O’Connell have received the last three wildcards for the men’s singles main draw for the Australian Open. Wawrinka won the title at Melbourne Park in 2014 and reached the semifinals in 2015 and 2017, as well as advancing to the 2020 quarterfinals. This year will be the Swiss star’s final season on tour. The addition of Thompson and O’Connell in the field means there are now 18 Australians set to compete in the men’s and women’s singles main draws.

China’s Olympic champion, Zheng Qinwen, has meanwhile withdrawn from the Australian Open, saying she isn’t fully fit yet after undergoing elbow surgery last year. The problem kept her on the sidelines since Wimbledon and she only returned in September when she had to withdraw in the third round of the Chinese Open. Zheng, who lost to world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the final of 2024’s Australian Open, says playing a Grand Slam tournament requires maintaining an extreme competitive condition which she hadn’t reached yet.

Stay tuned for more news………….