■ SOCCER
Talks aim for unified team
Talks sponsored by the world game's governing body have begun to try to create a unified national team for the divided island of Cyprus. The presidents of the official Cyprus Football Association, representing the Greek Cypriot side, and the unofficial Turkish Cypriot Football Association met at FIFA headquarters in Zurich last week, the body said yesterday. The Cyprus national team recruits players only from the Greek Cypriot side of the island, which has been divided since Turkey invaded the north in 1974. Only Turkey recognizes the state subsequently declared by the Turkish Cypriots in the northern part. FIFA only recognizes the Greek Cypriot association because the world body's statutes forbid competing associations. That means teams and players from the Turkish-Cypriot side are prohibited from taking part in official international matches.
■ SOCCER
North Koreans avoid shops
A North Korean official at the Women's World Cup tournament in China has played down his side's reticence in dealing with the media, while explaining that the team did not go shopping like others because it wasted energy. Explaining the North Koreans' preference for a low profile, the squad's general manager Kim Jong-su said they found the media a distraction. "Our coach isn't against doing interviews per se, he just prefers not to because he feels they can be distracting," Kim told Fifa.com. The players also preferred the quiet approach when it came to relaxing away from soccer. "We believe that we can only compete to the best of our ability if we conserve our energy for when we need it," Kim said. "Shopping does not help anyone to relax. On the contrary it merely distracts the players' attention, and is an unnecessary waste of players' physical and mental strength and energy." North Korea were knocked out in the quarter-finals.
■ HOCKEY
Star hurt in freak accident
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Dan Boyle will miss up to six weeks after surgery to repair tendons in his left wrist that were cut in a freak locker room mishap. Boyle, who was second in goals among NHL defensemen last season, suffered the injury on Saturday night when a skate fell off a hook in his locker and cut his wrist, completely severing the tendons. Boyle scored 20 goals and recorded 43 assists, finishing fourth in points among defensemen in 82 games last season.
■ SOCCER
Ex-Brazil striker in hospital
Former Brazil striker Casagrande was in stable condition in an intensive care unit on Sunday after being injured in a car accident, doctors said. Casagrande, one of Brazil's strikers during the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, was taken to hospital with head trauma and other injuries after the car he was in rolled over and struck several parked vehicles late on Saturday night in Sao Paulo. Casagrande's girlfriend also had to be hospitalized because of a back injury, the Albert Einstein hospital said in a statement. Casagrande, who was unconscious when he was admitted to the hospital, would remain under observation for an undetermined period, doctors said in the statement. "His prognosis is good," doctor Artur Timerman told the G1 Web site, adding that exams showed the player's head injury was not serious. Authorities were still investigating what caused the accident.
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
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
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just
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