Weightlifters will no longer be able to take their nation’s flag on
to the podium, the head of the sport’s governing body said here
today on the eve of the Asian Championships
In the eight days since a fashion designer ran from the crowd at the
Opening Ceremony of the European Weightlifting Championships in
Yerevan, Armenia and set light to the Azerbaijan flag, sport has had
to battle with politics for the headlines in this part of the world
and way beyond.
Iceland has a global reputation in strength sports and a long list of
champions dating from the 1980s, including the Game of Thrones
superstar known as Thor and two of the biggest names in CrossFit, but
until this weekend it had never had a major weightlifting champion.
And though that is unlikely to change, there is a Messi-esque youngster who could be about to be tasked with helping to fill the boots of one of, if not the greatest player of all time.
Rapid Vienna teenager Yusuf Demir has earned admiring glances from the Blaugrana after making an impressive transition into first-team football, though they are not the only interested party.
Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Ajax and Red Bull Salzburg have all also been linked with his signature, with a big move now seemingly only a matter of months away.
A left-footed creative midfielder capable of playing in any attacking position and with superb dead-ball ability, it should come as no surprise that the 17-year-old is already being likened to the player he could one day replace.
Unwanted Arsenal man rejects transfer to Serie A outfit
Date published: Saturday 9th January 2021 2:51 - Matthew Briggs
Unwanted Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi has rejected a January transfer to Genoa, claims a report.
The German centre-back is one of the players that Mikel Arteta is trying offload this month.
The 28-year-old is out of contract in June and can speak to other clubs this month and move for free in the summer.
SPOX that he was there to discuss Mustafi.
SPOX journalist Fabian Zerche said (via Sport Witness): “I’m not in Barcelona because of Yusuf Demir, but because of Shkodran Mustafi from Arsenal, whom we also represent.”