Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 12 October 12:30 pm

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

# We begin with rugby: Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi could see his career at the Sharks cut short as he is awaiting a disciplinary ruling over alleged misconduct. The 35-year-old is embroiled in a months-long disciplinary hearing, stemming from an alleged breach of team rules during a pre-season team-building session. According to Rapport, Mbonambi, Eduan Swart and Trevor Nyakane allegedly broke socialising protocols laid down by coach JP Pietersen. Mbonambi has yet to be selected by the Sharks this season amid the ongoing disciplinary process.

# Cricket: Former South African head coach Eric Simons is set to be appointed as the bowling coach of England Test coach Stephen Fleming’s backroom team. Fleming is assembling his staff for the series against the Proteas in December. Simons was in charge of the South African team between 2002 and 2004 and had a spell as India’s bowling coach. He also worked with Fleming at the Joburg Super Kings in the SA20. Simons also accepted a consultancy role with the Proteas’ white-ball teams when Rob Walter was in charge.

# Motorsport: Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won the Singapore Grand Prix for the first time in his Formula One career. The Dutchman held off an early challenge from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to clinch his 73rd career victory on his 250th Grand Prix start. Leclerc finished second, with Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli third. The McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Antonelli has extended his lead over his teammate George Russell to 102 points in the Drivers’ Championship. Russell finished ninth after starting from 19th.

# Tennis: Twenty-four time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic is back in the world top ten after winning the China Open recently. He exited the list last month, but returns after beating world number two, Alexander Zverev of Germany, on his way to victory in Beijing. Australian Alex de Minaur, who lost to Djokovic in the final, improved to ninth. Italian Jannik Sinner is still number one, with Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz third, followed by American Ben Shelton, Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, Russian Daniil Medvedev, and Italian Flavio Cobbili.

And following her historic China Open victory, Zheng Qinwen has withdrawn from the Wuhan Open, citing fatigue and a right shoulder injury. She defeated Russian Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 6-4 in the final, becoming the first Chinese player to clinch the title in Beijing. The former world number four underwent elbow surgery last year and missed nearly eight months of action. Zheng says since returning, she has played a demanding stretch of tennis, and her body is feeling very fatigued.

Stay tuned for more news………….