■ Speedskating
Wang wins short-track
China's Wei Wang won the women's title at a World Cup short-track speedskating event Saguenay, Quebec on Friday, covering 1,500m in 2 minutes, 25.258 seconds. American Allison Baver took second with 2:25.864, while Kim Hyo-jung of China came third in 2:26.151. American Apolo Anton Ohno won his sixth World Cup short-track speedskating gold of the year with a time of 2:20.285 in the men's competition. Canada's Mathieu Turcotte was second in 2:20.376 and countryman Steve Robillard was third in 2:21.556.
■ Boxing
Yohannes keeps WBA title
Indonesian boxer Yohannes Christian John retained his WBA featherweight title in Jakarta on Friday after reaching a technical draw in a title bout against Jose "Cheo" Rojas of Venezuela. The scheduled 12-round fight at Rondong Demang Stadium in Tenggarong, a district town in Indonesian province of East Kalimantan, was stopped in the fourth following a head-to-head collision that left both fighters bleeding from their right temples. After insignificant action in the first two rounds, John, who fought for his second title defense, initiated an attack in the third round with a series of right hooks and straights, forcing Rojas to clinch. Then, in the fourth round, both fighters collided heads again, forcing the referee to stop the show.
■ Baseball
Owners OK Expos move
Major League Baseball owners gave their conditional approval in New York on Friday to moving the Montreal Expos to Washington next year. Owners voted to approve the move during a telephone conference call. The vote was 29-1, with the Baltimore Orioles dissenting, a baseball official said on condition of anonymity. The decision is subject to the District of Columbia government enacting by Dec. 31 funding for a new ballpark for the team, which would be renamed the Nationals. The DC Council voted earlier this week to approve funding, put placed a US$630 million cap on the project, a provision that was not included in the September agreement signed by the Expos and Washington Mayor Anthony A. Williams. Baseball commissioner Bud Selig has not said whether that provision is acceptable. For the funding to become law, the Council must approve the measure again, and it must be signed by Williams, who favors the project.
■ Boxing
Gatti to defend WBC title
Arturo Gatti will defend his WBC super lightweight title against two-time former champion James Leija in Atlantic City, New Jersey on Jan. 29. The 32-year-old Gatti, 38-6 with 29 knockouts, won the title last Jan. 24 when defeated Italian Gianluca Branco by decision. He kept the crown in July with a one-punch knockout of previously unbeaten Leonard Dorin. Leija, 38, is 47-6-2 with 18 knockouts. The scheduled 12-round bout is to be telecast as part of HBO's "World Championship Boxing Series."
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping