■ Athletics
Isinbayeva goes higher
Yelena Isinbayeva cleared 5m to set her latest world record in the women's pole vault on Friday at the Crystal Palace Grand Prix in London. Ten minutes earlier, the 23-year-old Russian jumped 4.96m on her second attempt, surpassing the world mark of 4.95m she set last Saturday in Madrid, Spain. The Olympic champion easily cleared 5m on her first attempt, barely nudging the bar on a still evening of 21 degrees Centigrade. "It was my dream to be the first woman over 5m," Isinbayeva said. "I can't explain my feelings. I love the run-up and the stadium here. The weather was good and the crowd was great. I don't know how much higher I can go, maybe 5.05 or higher." It was the 17th world record -- indoors and out -- of her career. It was the largest increase on the world record since Isinbayeva began setting her marks in July 2003. She wins US$50,000 for the record, plus an undisclosed substantial bonus for clearing the 5m height.
■ Soccer
CBF wants US$50 million
The Brazilian Soccer Confederation (CBF) said Friday that it will not allow Robinho's transfer to Real Madrid unless the US$50 million buyout clause stipulated in the player's contract with Santos is fully paid. CBF also alerted that FIFA may give Robinho a four-month suspension if he breaks his contract with Santos. "CBF cannot allow the transfer because the current request does not follow the requirements of the law," the confederation said in statement released on its Web site. "In Robinho's contract, there is a buyout clause of US$50 million ... which has not been paid yet." Madrid said Thursday it had paid US$30 million for Santos' 60 percent stake of buyout clause.
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
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was