Nepal on Wednesday marked 60 years since the first ascent of Everest, celebrating the pioneering climbers whose bravery spawned an industry that many mountaineers fear is now ruining the world’s highest peak.

Pakistan umpire Asad Rauf Wednesday denied spot-fixing allegations levelled against him during the Indian Premier League Twenty20 competition, saying he was ready to face any inquiry.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has back-tracked on his own suggestion he’d return to Test cricket as an emergency Ashes call-up by ruling himself out of the upcoming series against England.

Bayern Munich can make themselves ‘immortal’ by clinching an historic treble in Saturday’s German Cup final against VfB Stuttgart, according to chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

Germany coach Joachim Loew has calmed the war-of-words between manager Oliver Bierhoff and striker Lukas Podolski ahead of Wednesday’s friendly against Ecuador as their two-match tour of the USA gets under way.
“For me personally as a coach, he (Podolski) is incredibly important and an extremely important team player,” said Loew, speaking from Germany’s American training camp in Florida.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has said the club’s search for new recruits will not start until they have a new manager in place.

World number 83 Kimiko Date-Krumm saw age catch up with her on Tuesday as the 42-year-old Japanese slid out at the French Open, losing her opening round match to Australian ninth seed Samantha Stosur.

Highly-rated Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov reached the French Open second round while Japanese veteran Kimiko Date-Krumm bowed out on Tuesday as torrential rain caused havoc at Roland Garros.

Graeme Swann caused New Zealand yet more trouble as England eyed victory, and a 2-0 series win, in the second and final Test at Headingley on Monday.

Lazio beat bitter city rivals Roma 1-0 to win the Italian Cup on Sunday and qualify for next season’s Europa League.