Sheikh Salman to stand unopposed in AFC presidential election

* Tiger Woods was beaten on day two of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play in Texas on Thursday, succumbing 2&1 to fellow American Brandt Snedeker in Texas. The result left 13th seed Woods with an uphill battle to win his group and advance to the 16-man knockout phase at Austin Country Club.

* Russian boxing chief Umar Kremlev has offered to settle the International Boxing Federation's (AIBA) US$16 million debt if it is allowed to remain in charge at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The IOC has frozen boxing's preparations for Tokyo as it seeks proof that the AIBA has cleaned up its act sufficiently after allegations of bout-fixing at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

* Chelsea striker Gonzalo Higuain has retired from the Argentina national team with immediate effect, ending an eventful international career which included three losing major final appearances.

* Italian international defender Daniele Rugani has extended his contract with Juventus until 2023, the Serie A champions announced on Thursday (Mar 28). The 24-year-old, who joined Juventus in 2013 from Empoli, has already made 81 appearances for the Turin giants, and scored seven goals, including two this season.

* Colombia's Miguel Angel Lopez climbed to a brilliant solo victory on stage four of the Tour of Catalonia on Thursday (Mar 28) thereby clinching a narrow lead on his key rivals for the overall victory.

* England soccer captain Harry Kane received the MBE award on Thursday for services to football after leading the national team to the World Cup semi-final in Russia last Summer. Prince William, the president of the English Football Association, presented the 25-year-old Tottenham striker with his medal at Buckingham Palace after Kane was included in Queen Elizabeth's 2019 New Year's honours list.

* Perth has been chosen as the third city to host the inaugural ATP Cup in January 2020, signalling an end to the Hopman Cup international mixed team event that has been hosted by the Western Australian city for the past 31 years. Sydney and Brisbane were announced as the other ATP Cup host cities in January, with Sydney hosting the knockout rounds and final.

* The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) on Wednesday (Mar 28) welcomed to a decision by the International Olympic Committee to provisionally lift the sport's conditional status for the Paris 2024 Games.

* UEFA opened disciplinary proceedings against Ireland on Thursday (Mar 28) after supporters hurled tennis balls onto the field during their European Championship qualifier against Georgia.