■ Squash
Tycoon offers cash rewards
A fan in Hong Kong is dangling a HK$750,000 (US$96,000) carrot under the noses of the territory's squash players as an incentive to do well at the Asian Games in Doha next month. Businessman Jactino Tong Man-leung said he would match the Hong Kong Sports Institute's (HKSI) incentive awards scheme in an attempt to encourage excellence. "I think it's time to arouse the interest of Hong Kong people and pay tribute to our sports heroes," Tong told the South China Morning Post. "A lot of hard work and effort is required for an athlete to win a medal at an international event like the Asian Games, and if they are able to make it, they should be recognized by the community and rewarded in tangible fashion." Hong Kong's best squash prospect is defending champion Rebecca Chiu Wing-yin. Should she successfully defend her crown, she will get HK$250,000 from the HKSI and the same from Tong. Her work is cut out for her, though, with Malaysian world champion Nicol David also in the field. Tong, a property market investor, said he hoped other individuals and companies would follow his lead.
■ Soccer
Coach refused Iranian visa
South Korea's Iranian-born assistant coach Afshin Ghotbi has been denied an entry visa to Iran ahead of today's Asian Cup qualifier, the Korea Football Association (KFA) said. Ghotbi, who left Iran in his early teens and now has US citizenship, has joined up with the team in Dubai and will try to get a visa before they move on to Tehran for the game. "The Iranian Embassy in Seoul notified us that a visa for Ghotbi was not issued, without giving a specific reason," Yonhap news agency quoted Lee Won-jae, a spokesman for the KFA, as saying yesterday. "He might have been denied because of his US citizenship, even though he was born in Iran. If he is unable to enter Iran in the end, we will have to consider protesting to the Asia Football Confederation," he said.
■ Soccer
Police to question Rooney
England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney will be questioned by police investigating an early morning scuffle outside a nightclub last month. Greater Manchester Police said on Monday that they would interview the 21-year-old Rooney over allegations a photographer was assaulted outside the Panacea nightclub in downtown Manchester on Oct. 15. Police said Rooney was not arrested and the photographer did not require medical treatment.
■ Baseball
Red Sox aim for Matsuzaka
The Boston Red Sox won negotiation rights for Japanese star pitcher Daisuka Matsuzaka for US$42 million, ESPN reported on Monday, saying the bid was far more than any Major League Baseball rival. The Red Sox have frustrated several other clubs by winning the secret bidding for the chance to negotiate a Matsuzaka deal. Matsuzaka was due to learn this morning in Japan whether the Seibu Lions have accepted the bid for him. The amount of the bid was sent to Japanese baseball officials last week, and if the Lions accept, the winning US bidder will be disclosed. If they refuse, the Lions will keep Matsuzaka but lose the king's ransom of money the Red Sox are paying.
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