■ Rugby Union
Canada qualifies for Cup
Canada clinched a berth in the rugby World Cup next year by thumping the US 56-7 on Saturday. Winger James Pritchard tallied 36 points, and broke the national team record of 29 he set in Canada's previous qualifier against Barbados in June. Canada, which has played in all five previous World Cups, will head to France and join Pool B with Australia, Fiji, Wales and an Asian side yet to be determined. The US faces an Americas regional playoff against Uruguay, with home and away matches next month and October for a berth in Pool A. The loser of that two-leg series will still have a chance to qualify in a repechage against a European or African team.
■ Cycling
Richard Virenque injured
Former Tour de France cyclist Richard Virenque suffered serious facial injuries in a fall during an amateur race on Saturday. Virenque, who was the Tour's best climber a record seven times, crashed during the L'Alpes-Open-Tour, a five day race in the Alps. Organizer Bernard Thevenet, a Tour winner in 1975 and 1977, said Virenque taken to hospital in Grenoble to be treated for a fractured nose. A large cut on his head required 32 stitches. Virenque was part of the Festina team kicked off the Tour in 1998 after police found large quantities of doping products in a team car. Virenque, now a minor television celebrity, later made a tearful confession to a French court that he had used doping products.
■ Basketball
New Zealand beat Qatar
Phill Jones led all scorers with 26 points as New Zealand beat Qatar 99-76 yesterday in the second of two warmup matches ahead of this month's world basketball championships in Japan. Captain Pero Cameron scored 16 points, Kirk Penney had 15 and impressive center Craig Bradshaw had 11 as New Zealand followed up on its 94-77 in the first match at Dunedin on Friday. Guard Daoud Musa led Qatar's scorers with 16 points. New Zealand, coached by American-born Tab Baldwin, has now completed its world championship warmup schedule.
■ Basketball
Spain down world champs
Spain's national basketball team outplayed the defending world champion on Saturday on the second day of the Philips Singapore Cup at the Singapore Indoor stadium. Spain defeated Serbia and Montenegro 80-65 in the tournament, seen as a warm-up to the World Championships next week in Japan. Also on Saturday, 2004 Olympic champions Argentina recouped their loss from the day before by beating Slovenia 94-72. The Argentine team is led by NBA star Manu Ginobili, who plays for the San Antonio Spurs.
■ Cricket
Bangladesh down Kenya
Mohammad Ashraful hit an undefeated 67 on Saturday to lead Bangladesh to a six-wicket win over Kenya in the first one-day international. Ashraful hit 12 boundaries and one 6 in his 43-ball innings. Bangladesh reached 170-4, with almost 20 0vers to spare, in reply to Kenya's 168 all out in 49 overs. Bangladesh won the toss and elected to field. The decision was quickly justified as Mashrafe Mortaza swept through the Kenyan openers, leaving the hosts on 4-2. Kenyan captain Steve Tikolo stopped the collapse and hit 10 fours before being bowled for 47 while trying to sweep Abdur Razzak. Tanmay Mishra, Kenya's brightest prospect, hit four 4s and a 6 on his way to 35.
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
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
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and