Sports Shorts: Pakistan averts hockey Asiad boycott over allowance payments

A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Wednesday

IMAGE: China and Pakistan players shake hands after the 7th/8th place match between Pakistan and China on day nine of the Hero Hockey World League Semi-Final at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre on June 25, 2017 in London, England. (Image used for representational purposes). Photograph: Steve Bardens/Getty Images)

Pakistan has averted an Asian Games boycott by its hockey players after the country's federation gave assurances that overdue daily allowances would be paid in full before the multi-sports event begins in Indonesia later this month.

The Pakistan men's team are the most successful at the Asian Games with eight gold medals but players had threatened to skip the upcoming edition after not being paid their allowances for the last six months.

However, captain Mohammad Rizwan Senior said on Tuesday that Pakistan Hockey Federation President Khalid Sajjad Khokar had assured him unpaid allowances would be cleared before the Aug. 18-Sept. 2 Games and therefore the players would end their protest.

"We will clear all dues before going to Asian Games," Khokar was quoted as saying by local media. "Unfortunately, our grant was stopped due to certain unknown reason.

"If we don't get the money I will pay the players through my own means."

LeBron James opens school for underprivileged kids

IMAGE: LeBron James addresses the crowd during the opening ceremonies of the I Promise School in Akron, Ohio, on Monday. Photograph: Jason Miller/Getty Images

NBA star LeBron James has opened a school for underprivileged kids. The school, named I Promise School, is built in Akron, Ohio and will house over 200 at-risk children and fourth grade students.

According to the BBC, James will serve as primary donor to help form the extra-curricular goals of the school. The school's board will oversee the curriculum development.

The 33-year-old, who recently moved from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Los Angeles Lakers on a four-year contract worth $154m (£116m), hopes the school will help kids who are falling behind in education and struggling at home.

James was congratulated by former First Lady Michelle Obama.

“@BarackObama and I are so proud of @KingJames and @IPROMISESchool. Kids in Akron and across the US are lucky to have you as a role model on and off the court. Keep using your platform for good and giving our kids a chance to shoot for the stars. #ReachHigher #BetterMakeRoom,” she tweeted.

Australian Lyle stops cancer treatment

IMAGE: Australian golfer Jarrod Lyle. Photograph: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Australian golfer Jarrod Lyle has decided to stop active treatment in his third fight against cancer and will return home for palliative care, his wife said in a message on Facebook.

The 36-year-old, who had two wins on the feeder Web.com tour in 2008 and played 121 U.S. PGA Tour tournaments, was diagnosed with leukemia as a teenager and suffered a relapse in 2012.

After a second relapse last July, he had a third stem cell transplant before returning to hospital in May.

"Earlier today, Jarrod made the decision to stop active treatment and begin palliative care," Briony Lyle posted on Facebook under a picture of the golfer in a hospital bed hugging the couple's two young daughters.

"He has given everything that he’s got to give and his poor body cannot take any more. We'll be taking him closer to home in the next couple of days so he can finally leave the hospital."

Briony Lyle asked for the media to respect the family's privacy and said she would post details of a memorial service for her husband when appropriate.

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