Asia

Indian athletes will compete under the Olympic flag rather than their national flag at next month’s winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia.

The Japanese government and Tokyo authorities are in final talks with a view to appointing former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori as head of the city’s local organising committee for the 2020 Olympic Games, according to Kyodo News.

Indian Premier League governing body council chairman Ranjib Biswal has left the door ajar for the 2014 edition of the Twenty20 cricket tournament to be moved, according to the Indian Express newspaper.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) has established a new bureau dedicated to preparations for the delivery of the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games ahead of the formation of the local organising committee, which is due to be unveiled by the end of February.

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has confirmed that the 2014 Asia Cup national team cricket tournament will take place in Bangladesh despite widespread civil unrest in the country.

The tension between the organisers of golf’s Royal Trophy and EurAsia Cup has escalated after the family of Seve Ballesteros accused the European Tour of showing “disrespect” to the deceased major winner by suggesting he would support the latter event.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship mixed martial arts organisation has detailed plans of a major expansion in the Asian market, with UFC Asia managing director Mark Fischer stating as many as seven events could be held in the continent this year.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) national governing body has stalled on committing to send its national team to Bangladesh for two events amid security concerns.

Bans have been handed out to Spanish tennis player Guillermo Olaso and several football players and officials in Malaysia as the sporting world continues to fight match-fixing.

Myanmar and Philippines will co-host the 2016 AFF Cup, the Asean Football Federation has confirmed.

Victorious 2012 Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal has hit out at the decision of golf's European Tour to launch the EurAsia Cup team match play event next year, stating that it should have sought to renew ties with the established Royal Trophy tournament.

The Japanese Football Association (JFA) has announced it will refocus on bidding for the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup after initially targeting the 2019 event, according to the Kyodo News agency.

The French Football League (LFP) has announced that Beijing will host the 2014 edition of the Trophée des Champions, which acts as the traditional curtain-raiser to the domestic season.

Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe has insisted that the resignation of Tokyo Governor Naoki Inose will have no impact on the city’s preparations for the 2020 Olympic Games.

Women’s golf sensation Lydia Ko has signed up the IMG agency for management and marketing representation.

The All India Football Federation has “put in a request” to host the 2015 Fifa Club World Cup, according to president Praful Patel.