Football | FIFA candidate Van Praag seeks support in South Korea

FIFA presidential candidate Michael van Praag has visited South Korea’s soccer leaders seeking support for his challenge to Sepp Blatter. Van Praag’s visit to Seoul comes days after tension was exposed at an Asian Football Confederation election meeting between its leaders, who support Blatter, and the South Korean delegation. Van Praag says “I feel that the Korean FA has a very clear vision on the future of FIFA and that many of our ideas truly match.” The Dutch official was joined by Guus Hiddink, who coached South Korea to the 2002 World Cup semifinals. Blatter is expected to extend his 17-year presidential reign in the May 29 election. He currently has three opponents: Van Praag, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan and Luis Figo.

Benni McCarthy robbed at gunpoint in SAfrica

Former South Africa international and Champions League winner Benni McCarthy was robbed at gunpoint at a barber shop in South Africa. McCarthy’s agent told local radio that the 2004 Champions League-winning forward with Porto was targeted in the Johannesburg shop, where armed men stole jewelry from him. Agent Percy Adams said other customers were ignored in the incident Tuesday. He said one man pointed a gun at McCarthy’s face and demanded his watch, earrings and wedding ring. Adams told Eyewitness News that McCarthy was not hurt. McCarthy is South Africa’s record goal-scorer and played in Spain, Portugal and England.

Athletics | Zhang gets gold medal back after doping ban overturned

The Olympic Council of Asia has returned an Asian Games gold medal to Chinese hammer thrower Zhang Wenxiu after overturning a doping ban. Zhang won the women’s hammer throw at the Asian Games at Incheon, South Korea, last September, but was later disqualified and stripped of the medal after a pre-competition test showed traces of the prohibited substance zeranol in her sample. The three-time Asian Games champion lodged an appeal in the Court of Arbitration for Sport in October, saying her positive case resulted from contaminated food. The OCA issued a statement yesterday saying that based on further tests, it recognized that Zhang did not commit a doping violation and planned to return the medal.

Cricket | NZ selection manager Bruce Edgar steps down

New Zealand’s national selection manager Bruce Edgar, who was one of the men behind the team’s recent strong performances, is stepping down because his role is being restructured. The former test opening batsman, along with New Zealand coach Mike Hesson and captain Brendon McCullum, were credited as the keys to New Zealand’s recent rise in one-day and test cricket. New Zealand’s runner-up finish at the World Cup lifted it to third in the one-day rankings. New Zealand Cricket is changing Edgar’s position from a part-time to a full-time talent identification role to capitalize on the World Cup success. Head of Cricket Lindsay Crocker said “Bruce felt he was unable to accept the revised role and terms and while it’s a decision we regret, it’s also one we respect.”