■ Ice Hockey
`Puck death' case settled
The family of a teenage girl, who died at a National Hockey League (NHL) game two years ago, received US$1.2 million in a settlement, the Columbus Dispatch reported on Wednesday. Court documents unsealed on Wednesday show that the parents of 13-year-old Brittanie Cecil split the settlement money from the club owners, the NHL and the arena operators, the paper said. Brittanie was killed when a hockey puck sailed into the stands of a Columbus Blue Jackets game. The incident resulted in protective netting being placed behind the goals in the majority of hockey rinks in both the US and Canada.
■ Rugby
Pay agreement on the cards
England's World Cup-winning players could have a new four-year pay agreement in place before they head for Tests against New Zealand and Australia in June. "We would be failing in our duty if we didn't sort out a new four-year deal before the summer tour gets under way," Damian Hopley, chief executive of the Professional Rugby Players Association, told the Evening Standard. Negotiations to establish new payments to cover match fees and image rights with the Rugby Football Union and the leading Premiership clubs were halted after England's Six Nations defeat by Ireland.
■ Cricket
Pacemen get contracts
England pacemen Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard and Simon Jones have all been rewarded for their part in the history-making series win in the Caribbean by being handed contracts for the summer. The three bowlers as well as leading batsman Graham Thorpe were given six-month deals by the England and Wales Cricket Board on Thursday which take immediate effect and cover the forthcoming international season in England. That will involve three Tests against New Zealand and four against the West Indies as well as the one-day NatWest Series involving both touring sides.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
Playing soccer and competing for trophies is the best way that many transplanted Hong Kongers and Macanese have found to stay in touch, and to interact with Taiwanese society, said officials at the Taiwan-Hong Kong-Macau Football Friendship Cup, which was held on April 13. Twelve clubs, mostly of players and coaches originally from Hong Kong and Macau, took part in the tournament in New Taipei City. The event is sponsored by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) and the Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Co-operation Council. Participating teams were from the wider Taipei area, Hsinchu, Taichung, Kaohsiung and other areas. They divided into two