■ Olympics
Marathon spoiler fined
An Athens court on Monday slapped a 3,000-euro (US$3,700) fine on the Irish-born former priest who disrupted the Olympic men's marathon by pushing the race leader into the crowd. The flagrant crimes court convening in Athens also barred Cornelius Horan, 57, from attending any sport events in Greece for three months. A 12-month prison sentence against Horan was suspended for three years. He paid the fine and was released. Horan told the court he wanted to announce the Second Coming of Jesus and did not intend to obstruct the marathon's Brazilian race leader Vanderlei de Lima. The Irishman, who now lives in London and has staged a number of demonstrations at high profile events, apologized for the incident and said he would not repeat it again. Horan was wearing a red kilt and green waistcoat when he bundled into de Lima. He carried a placard saying "The Grand Prix Priest. Israel Fulfilment of Prophecy Says The Bible. The Second Coming is Near." De Lima managed to rejoin the race but was passed 5km later by Italian Stefano Baldini and finished in third place. He was later awarded a fair-play medal by the International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge in front of hundreds of millions of television spectators during the Games' closing ceremony. Describing himself as "a Catholic priest on sabbatical," Horan was jailed for two months last year for a dangerous protest at the British Grand Prix when he ran out on the track and forced Formula One drivers to swerve to avoid him.
■ Rugby
Woodward wants soccer job
England coach Clive Woodward has stunned the rugby and football establishment after it was reported he is looking to walk away from rugby to become a football coach. According to the Daily Mail, Woodward, who has been England's rugby coach for the past seven years and led them to World Cup victory over Australia last November in Sydney, is hoping to gain a foothold in the English football scene so that he can one day lead the national team. The newspaper claims that 48-year-old Woodward would speed up a remarkable and unprecedented switch of sports by gaining "elite work experience" with a Premiership soccer club early next year. And that, they suggest, would open the door for bigger things, possibly landing a major role with the England football squad. Woodward's existing Rugby Football Union contract expires after the 2007 World Cup, when England will defend the Webb Ellis Trophy they won in Australia last autumn. Woodward has been in charge of England for 83 Tests, winning 59 games and culminating in the World Cup triumph.
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
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care