Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 27 March 12:30 pm

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

# We start off with news from the Olympics: The Sport and Rights Alliance, ILGA World and over 100 other allied organisations have criticised the International Olympic Committee’s new gender eligibility guidelines. The policy guidelines mandate genetic sex tests for all athletes competing in its women’s categories, as well as blanket bans of people who identify as transgender, intersex or with sex differences. The organisations have described the guidelines as a blunt and discriminatory response that is not supported by science and violates international human rights law. They have called for the IOC to prioritise safety over politics.

# Soccer: Four-time champions Italy defeated Northern Ireland 2-0 to secure a spot in the World Cup play-off final, where they will face Bosnia and Herzegovina. Wales missed out on qualifying for back-to-back World Cups after suffering a 4-2 penalty shoot-out defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ireland’s dream of reaching the World Cup finals for the first time in 24 years was shattered by the Czech Republic, who won 4-3 on penalties. Sweden, Poland, Denmark, Turkey, and Kosovo have also moved one step closer to qualifying for the World Cup.

# Motorsport: As expected, Mercedes set the pace in practice one of the Japanese Grand Prix. George Russell, who leads the drivers’ championship, pipped teammate Kimi Antonelli to the fastest time with McLaren proving their nearest challengers, as Lando Norris finished third. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was fastest in practice 2, ahead of Antonelli and Russell. Norris was fourth with the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finished over 0.7-seconds off the pace in fifth and sixth respectively.

# Rugby: South Africa’s United Rugby Championship franchises enter a pivotal weekend, hunting for a second consecutive “full house” of victories to secure their playoff spots. The Stormers, currently second on the log, headline the action, hosting Edinburgh in Cape Town tomorrow evening. Meanwhile, the Bulls and Lions look to climb into the top six, facing Munster and Dragons respectively at home. The Sharks, in 11th place on the log, host Cardiff in Durban tonight, desperate to maintain their late-season surge and keep their top-eight qualification dreams alive.

# And lastly, tennis: World number one Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus will face American Coco Gauff in the Miami Open final tomorrow. Four-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka defeated Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, 6-4, 6-3, to move within one win from securing the coveted Sunshine Double, following her victory at Indian Wells earlier this month. Gauff cruised past the Czech Republic’s Karolina Muchova, 6-1, 6-1, to reach her first Miami Open final. Sabalenka talks about what fans can expect from the final with Gauff:

Stay tuned for more news………….