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Ireland have asked FIFA to be allowed into the World Cup as a 33rd team after Thiery Henry's handball helped France eliminate the Irish in a playoff.

Ireland ask for World Cup entry

Ireland have asked FIFA to be allowed into the World Cup as a 33rd team after Thiery Henry’s handball helped France eliminate the Irish in a playoff. FIFA president Sepp Blatter revealed Monday that the Irish had written to football’s world governing body asking to be let into the 2010 tournament in South Africa because of Henry’s handball. FIFA has already rejected a call by the Irish for a replay. FIFA will discuss the request at a meeting of its executive committee on Wednesday,and will also discuss the possibility of having extra match officials on the field at the World Cup.

Pakistan drop 4-nation tourney

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has dropped plans to host a four-nation international tournament before the 2010 World Cup after getting a lukewarm response from invited countries due to the security situation in the country. PHF secretary Asif Bajwa admitted that the plan to host the four-nation event had not come off. He said the International Hockey Federation had given the nod for the four-nation tournament but “it (FIH) can’t force any country to send its team to Pakistan”.

15 lakh prize money competition

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Chess Association of India,a rebel body comprising disgruntled members of the official All India Chess Federation (AICF),announced the country’s biggest ever prize money tournament to be held next month. The Delhi All India Open Chess Tournament’ a Rs 15 lakh event will be held at the Sadhu Vaswani International School for Girls from December 23 to 29. The winner of the event would take home Rs 3 lakh as prize money.

Womens challenge ends

Curtains were drawn on the women challenge at the Chess World Cup in Khanty Mansisyk,Russia,with the defeat of Judit Polgar at the hands of top seeded Grandmaster Boris Gelfand of Israel. Hungarian Polgar,the world’s highest rated woman player,lost the rapid tie-break games with a 1.5-3.5 margin. The first set of normal games resulted in one win for each player. In the rapid tie-break,the Israeli won two of the first three games to seal his place in the next round of sixteen.

Nets fire coach,suffer record loss

The New Jersey Nets fired coach Lawrence Frank on the same day their nightmare season took a historic turn as they slumped to 0-17,matching the NBA record for worst start to a season on Sunday. Following their 106-87 defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers,the league’s worst team joined the 1988-89 Miami Heat and 1999 Los Angeles Clippers for the mark of futility. A determined Kobe Bryant put on a shooting display with five 3-pointers and 30 points to lead the Lakers to a routine victory. Pau Gasol added 20 and Los Angeles (13-3) left the turbulent Nets dazed and confused,practically putting the game away before halftime when they took a 59-34 advantage.

PGTI season-ender from Dec 16

Top 60 players in the PGTI Order of Merit will take part in ssthe Rs 80 lakh season-ending event of the domestic tour which will tee off at the Classic Golf Resort in Manesar on December 16. PGTI Director Padamjit Sandhu said no cut will be applied after 36 holes and all players will be guaranteed prize money. “PGTI Masters will be developed into a flagship event on the tour over the years,” Sandhu said.