■ CricketBangladesh start well
Bangladeshi spinners restricted Zimbabwe to 184-9 in the first limited overs international in southwestern Khulna yesterday. Abdur Razzak snared four wickets and he was well supported by fellow spinners Mohammad Rafique and Sakib Al Hasan who each grabbed two wickets. Rafique became the first Bangladeshi bowler to get 100 wickets, in 104 matches, after dismissing Brendan Taylor who topscored with 38. Taylor and another opener Stuart Matsikinyeri (27) gave Zimbabwe a solid start after captain Prosper Utseya won the toss and opted to bat first at Bir Shrestha Shaheed Matiur Rahman Stadium.
■ Basketball
Jackson fined after outburst
Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson was fined US$25,000 by the NBA on Wednesday for criticizing referees after a 114-108 loss to the Utah Jazz last Friday. Jackson was quoted in several newspapers about the way the officials -- Derrick Stafford, Derek Richardson and Leroy Richardson -- handled second-year center Andrew Bynum. "The league throws out some referee corps that you're dubious about to start with and, you know, the game ends up to be like that," he said. Each team was called for 26 fouls.
■ Boxing
Kronk forced to close
The Kronk Gym, the dingy basement that helped produce world boxing champions Evander Holyfield and Oscar De La Hoya, has closed. Champions Thomas Hearns and Lennox Lewis also trained at Emanuel Steward's gym, which had been struggling after thieves stole copper pipes in September, cutting off its water supply. Steward had been paying to keep the Kronk running for months after Detroit shut down the recreation center that houses it because of a budget shortfall. Some of the world champions tutored by Steward at the gym included Dennis Andries, Alexis Arguello, Julio Cesar Chavez, Jeff Fenech, Oliver McCall, Gerald McClellan, Milton McCrory, Welcome N'cita, Aaron Pryor, Graciano Rocchigiani, Leon Spinks, Duane Thomas, and Vitali Klitschko.
■ Horse racing
Fallon gets six-month ban
Jockey Kieren Fallon was suspended from racing for six months on Wednesday after testing positive for a banned substance. Henri Pouret of France Galop said Fallon failed a doping test at the Prix Jean Prat on July 9. Both samples were positive, but Pouret did not say what substance was found in his system. Fallon has the right to appeal, Pouret said. Earlier this year, the Irish jockey was caught in a race-fixing case. After losing an appeal in July, he will not be allowed to ride in Britain until the end of his trial next year. Fallon is still licensed to ride in other countries, but his lawyer, David Pannick, has said the ban would "effectively end his career." Fallon, who became champion jockey for the first time in 1997, won the English Derby in 1999, 2003 and 2004.
■ Libya
Sampdoria to pick Qaddafi
The son of Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi is training with Sampdoria this week and will play in a friendly for the Serie A club next year. Saadi Qaddafi, who had previously made one substitute appearance each for Perugia and Udinese in the Serie A, will play for Sampdoria against a northern African team on either Jan. 5 or 6 or Feb. 14. "I want to thank Garrone and Sampdoria for this possibility, which strengthens the already optimal relations between my family and the Garrone family," Qaddafi said. "It will also add to the political and economic relations between Italy and Libya." Sampdoria president Riccardo Garrone's oil company Erg has strong relations with Libya.
■ Australia
Hiddink mulls return
Dutch coach Guus Hiddink has not ruled out a return as coach of Australia for the 2010 World Cup, according to local media. Hiddink, who was at the helm as Australia reached the second round of the World Cup finals in Germany earlier this year, is now in charge of Russia but says he is eager to coach at the next finals in South Africa. "Anything is possible as I have a plan to coach at the World Cup in 2010 and of course my contract with Russia is until the middle of 2008," Hiddink was reported as saying. "After that who knows what will happen? Australia have continued to improve since I have left and that's good to see. I still follow them very closely. I have ruled out nothing at this stage. I have great thoughts of my time with the Socceroos and great respect for the team," he said.
■ United Kingdom
Court clears Welsh star
A court has cleared Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy of assaulting two women in a nightclub. The Wales international was accused of assaulting Sophie Palmer and Holly Smith at the No. 10 nightclub in Cardiff in February. But district judge John Charles said on Wednesday there were "serious discrepancies" in the prosecution's case and the two charges were dismissed. Palmer, 19, told the court Bellamy grabbed her around the throat and held her against a wall after they exchanged angry words in a corridor at the club. Smith, 18, accused him of grabbing her by the wrist. Bellamy said neither assault took place. He said he and Palmer made eye contact in the corridor and, when she asked him what he was looking at, he replied: "Not you. If I was looking at anyone it would be those two girls over there. They're far prettier than you."
■ Chile
Colo Colo fans run riot
Police used water cannon on Wednesday to disperse thousands of angry Colo Colo supporters who had missed out on a chance to buy tickets for the final of the Copa Sudamericana. Some 7,000 fans waited for hours outside the club's stadium in Santiago but when tickets went on sale, they were snapped up in less than an hour leaving some fans disappointed. They refused to leave, prompting police to use water cannon. One fan was injured when he fell in front of a moving car during the chaos, a photographer at the stadium said. The fans were looking for tickets to the second leg of the final of the Copa, the region's equivalent of the UEFA Cup. Colo Colo, the first Chilean team to make a regional final in 13 years, take on Mexico's Pachuca in the first leg in Mexico today before hosting the return on Dec. 13.
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