■ Police arrest River fans
Argentine federal police said on Friday they detained four suspected River Plate hooligans wanted in connection with the Aug. 7 shooting death of Martin Gonzalo Acro. The slain man was a fan from a rival River gang. They added they were seeking 10 others. Judge Jose Luis Rodriguez ordered the detentions and police reported those detained were arrested amid a series of raids in around Buenos Aires and in central Cordoba Province. The killing of Gonzalo, 29, remains unsolved.
■ Soccer
Porto drop first points
Portuguese Premier League leaders Porto were held to a 1-1 home draw by Belenenses on Friday, ending their 100 percent record this season. Despite the setback before Tuesday's Champions League match against Marseille, Porto comfortably retained the lead with 25 points from nine matches, nine ahead of Benfica. Porto striker Helder Postiga scored his first goal of the season, slipping a low shot under Belenenses goalkeeper Costinha after 20 minutes. Five minutes after half-time Belenenses midfielder Ze Pedro slotted in a pass from Brazilian winger Roncatto to equalize.
■ Trotting
Thieves steal star horse
A celebrated Italian trotter worth several million euros, Equinox Bi, was stolen overnight from a training stable near northeastern Venice, its owner said on Friday. Equinox Bi, winner of this year's Breeders Crown Open Trot in Campbellville, Ontario, Canada, was to have raced for trotting's most prestigious prize, the 1 million euro (US$1.45 million) Prix d'Amerique in Paris in January. Equinox Bi's trainer was in the US to sign a stud service contract worth some US$6,000 for his star to stand at Blue Chip Farms in New York next year when the theft occurred. Another racehorse, Lemon Dra, was stolen from the center in Mirano two years ago and never recovered.
■ Soccer
Dida attacker sentenced
The fan who ran on to the pitch during Celtic's Champions League win over AC Milan last month was sentenced to 120 hours of community service on Friday after admitting causing a breach of the peace. Robert McHendry, 27, ran on to the pitch and confronted visiting goalkeeper Dida as Celtic celebrated a last-minute winning goal against AC Milan in Glasgow on Oct. 3. McHendry made the slightest of touches with his hand on Dida's cheek, who collapsed theatrically to the ground. UEFA responded to the keeper's antics by banning him for two matches, one of which was suspended on appeal. Celtic were fined 60,000 Swiss francs (US$50,750) for failing to control their crowd.
■ Doping
Chinese duo fail tests
Two Chinese athletes have failed drugs tests at a domestic event in the city of Wuhan, the official Xinhua news agency said yesterday. The two were wushu competitor Zhao Jie and cyclist Xu Xiang, who were taking part in the 6th Chinese City Games, the report said. They were suspected of using "stimulants and anabolic agents", Xinhua quoted event spokesman Jiang Zhixue as saying. Chinese officials have been at great pains to assure the world its doping problems are a thing of the past after several scandals uncovered systematic doping in the 1990s. With much prestige invested in next year's Beijing Olympics, China has repeatedly pledged it would rather win no gold medals than have one positive test.
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