■ Soccer
Rooney to sue tabloid
Wayne Rooney is to the sue the Sun, Britain's biggest-selling daily newspaper, over a story the tabloid ran claiming the Manchester United and England striker slapped his girlfriend, Coleen McLoughlin. Rooney has instructed lawyer Keith Schilling to issue proceedings for libel (written defamation) against the Sun, his media adviser Ian Monk said on Wednesday. Rooney, 19, is alleged to have hit his girlfriend Coleen, also 19, after a row in the Brasingamens club in Alderley Edge, Cheshire, north-west England while enjoying a night out with other United stars on Sunday, April 10. He denies hitting his girlfriend. The Sun reported the story and has since claimed Rooney is in danger of losing lucrative sponsorship deals because of the bad publicity. Monk said: "I can confirm that as a result of their entirely false allegation that he hit his girlfriend, the Sun is being sued by my client."
■ Soccer
Charges after seven deaths
Officials charged with deaths Iran has charged two low-ranking officials over the deaths of seven people in a post-match crush following last month's World Cup qualifier with Japan, Iranian newspapers reported on Wednesday. The head of the stadium and the police commander in charge of security of the stadium, only identified by their last names Azeri and Hadinejad, have both been indicted, the papers said. Seven people were crushed to death as fans tried to leave the Azadi stadium on March 25 after Iran beat Japan 2-1. Another spectator died of a heart attack during the match. A further 40 were injured. The fatal incident happened when a police helicopter blocked the 60m-wide Azadi stadium main gate. As a result the crowd of several thousands was directed towards the secondary 7m-wide gates, which according to wounded and witnesses were not opened.
■ Football
Doping in NFL scrutinized
The US congressional committee that investigated doping use in Major League Baseball will turn its inves-tigation to the same problem in pro gridiron football. The panel said on Tuesday it will ask National Football League (NFL) officials and union representatives to testify at a hearing next week. "A public review of the NFL's strategy for combatting steroid use marks the next step in our investigation," said Repres-entative Tom Davis, chair-man of the House of Rep-resenatatives' Government Reform Committee. "Exam-ining the effectiveness of the NFL's policy is a key part of understanding why 500,000 high school students today have tried steroids," he said.
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