■ Cycling
Michele Gobbi comatose
Italian cyclist Michele Gobbi was in a coma on Monday with severe head injuries following a fall in the GP Beghelli race. Blood flowed from Gobbi's head and his helmet was split in two after the accident in Saturday's race. He was airlifted to a Bologna hospital, where he is being treated. The 29-year-old Gobbi rides for the Milram team. He has four victories in his pro career.
■ Snooker
`Beckham of the baize' dies
Paul Hunter, the British snooker player dubbed "the Beckham of the baize," died after an 18-month battle with cancer late on Monday, aged 27. The three-times Masters champion is survived by a wife and daughter, the sport's governing body World Snooker said. "Paul was a man who had everything going for him, an outstanding talent, good looks, fame, riches, charm and a beautiful wife," World Snooker Chairman Rodney Walker said on the governing body's Web site. "This shows us just how quickly life can change. It's a bitter blow for snooker but most importantly for his family and our thoughts are with them."
■ Athletics
Kiplagat nets bonus
Lornah Kiplagat of the Netherlands will receive a bonus of US$50,000 for setting a world record in the women's 20km road race in Debrecen, Hungary. Kiplagat, who moved to the Netherlands from Kenya in 2003, finished in 1 hour, 3 minutes, 21 seconds to win Sunday's inaugural IAAF World Road Running Championships. She broke the previous record of 1:03:26, set by Paula Radcliffe of Britain on Oct. 6, 2001, in Bristol, England. Kiplagat will receive the bonus even though Sunday's race was not part of the IAAF's World Record Program, the International Association of Athletics Federations said on Monday. "After seeing the fantastic competition yesterday and the great world record of Lornah Kiplagat, we believe it is right that athletes at this event should also be rewarded for exceptional performances, even if we do not have a sponsor for that," IAAF president Lamine Diack said in statement.
■ Golf
European Tour extended
The Portugal Masters and the MasterCard Masters in Australia have been added to next year's PGA European Tour schedule, helping to take the total to at least 50 tournaments for the first time. The schedule, which also includes the return of two events, starts next month with the HSBC Champions Tournament in Shanghai and will finish 12 months later with the Volvo Masters at Valderrama, Spain. "We share with all sports the incentive to break records and we are naturally both delighted and encouraged to announce, that for the first time in our 36-year history, there will be more than 50 tournaments on the schedule," said Keith Waters, the director of international policy for the European Tour. The MasterCard Masters will be staged next month at Huntingdale Golf club in Melbourne.
■ United States
Glenn Myernick dies
Glenn Myernick, an assistant coach for the US soccer team and a former head coach of Major League Soccer's (MLS) Colorado Rapids, died on Monday after suffering a heart attack last week. He was 51. Myernick collapsed on Thursday after his regular morning jog and never regained consciousness, Rapids spokesman Jurgen Mainka said. Myernick coached the Rapids from 1997-2001, taking them to the MLS Cup title game in his first year, and coached the US Olympic team from 2002-2004, when it failed to qualify for the Athens Games.
■ North Korea
Women's team pulls out
North Korea has pulled out of an international women's soccer competition scheduled for later this month in South Korea, citing a "complex" situation, organizers said yesterday, in an apparent reference to the country's nuclear test. North Korea had been scheduled to participate in the 2006 Peace Queen Cup Korea from Oct. 28-Nov. 4, but a South Korean businessman acting as an agent for the North's team told organizers on Monday that the North's participation would be difficult, according to Huh Kyung-rak, an official of the organizing committee. "He cited that the situation is complex," Huh said. "I think it's because of the North's nuclear test."
■ Poland
Ronaldo the danger man
Poland has struggled in European Championship qualifying and faces Portugal today with winger Cristiano Ronaldo in top form. With four points from three games, the Poles want at least a draw in Chorzow. Portugal, on four points from two games, hasn't lost on the road in international qualifying for 10 years. "Of course we're going there looking for a win, even though we know Poland is a tough outfit," said Ronaldo, who scored two goals last weekend in Portugal's 3-0 win over Azerbaijan. The Manchester United winger has taken over the playmaker role left by retired Luis Figo.
■ The Netherlands
Van Persie to lead attack
Robin van Persie is expected to again play as a lone striker in the Netherlands' European Championship qualifier against Albania today. He was the only striker when he headed in the equalizer in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Bulgaria. With Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Dirk Kuyt out or in doubt with ankle injuries, Van Persie should fulfill the role again. "I think Robin played well as a central striker," Netherlands coach Marco van Basten said on Monday "He is the kind of player who can play in every position up front." Vennegoor is injured and Ruud van Nistelrooy turned down a call-up.
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