■ Athletics
Njenga wins Tokyo Marathon
Daniel Njenga of Kenya won the Tokyo Marathon yesterday, navigating a revamped course in steady rain and chilly temperatures. Njenga pulled away from the pack at the 25km mark and crossed the finish line in two hours, nine minutes and 45 seconds. Japan's Tomoyuki Sato was second with a time of 2:11.22. Around 30,000 runners took part in the race that wound its way through the downtown streets of the capital. The new course was designed to pass some of Tokyo's most famous sites, including Tokyo Tower, Ginza and Asakusa. Njenga, who won the race in 2004 when it was known as the Tokyo International Marathon, was among several invitees taking part in the race. Njenga, who is based in Japan, was running in his 14th career marathon. His personal best of 2:06.16 came in placing second at the Chicago Marathon in 2002.
■ Athletics
Powell wins first 400m
World 100m record holder Asafa Powell won his first ever 400m race at the University of West Indies Invitational at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica, on Saturday. Powell's time of 47.17 seconds improved on his previous personal best of 47.46 in his last outing at the Queen's/Grace Jackson Invitational at the same venue on Jan. 27. Unlike his race last month where he finished fourth overall, Powell's time was the best of all in Saturday's time final event. Meanwhile, Sherone Simpson won the women's race in 52.65, a personal best.
■ Soccer
Voronin to join Liverpool
Ukraine striker Andriy Voronin is set to join Liverpool in the summer from Bayer Leverkusen on a four-year deal, the British Press Association reported. The 27-year-old played for Leverkusen as they lost to Hannover 1-0 in Germany's Bundesliga on Saturday. After the match it was announced Voronin would be moving to Anfield at the end of the season, with a four-year deal having reportedly been agreed. Voronin, who has scored six goals in 20 league appearances for Leverkusen so far this season, featured in the Ukraine team that reached the quarter-finals of last year's World Cup.
■ Athletics
Bekele sets 2,000m record
Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia set a world best for the indoor 2,000m of four minutes, 49.99 seconds at the Norwich Union Grand Prix in Birmingham on Saturday, beating a nine-year-old mark of Haile Gebrselassie. Bekele, the Olympic champion and world record holder for 5,000m, set the world best running at the same National Indoor Arena where Gebrselassie ran his 4:52.86 in February 1998. But there was disappointment for Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva and US sprinter Xavier Carter in the 400m, who had hoped to set new marks here. After winning the men's 400m, Carter was disqualified for stepping out of his lane before overtaking Robert Tobin of Britain just ahead of the line. Tobin won with 46.07. Isinbayeva failed to beat the world mark she set at the ``Pole Vault Stars'' in Ukraine last week, but a leap of 4.73 was enough to land the 24-year-old Russian her third successive victory.
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
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely