■ CYCLING
Renshaw wins first stage
Australian sprint specialist Mark Renshaw won yesterday's opening stage of the six-stage Tour Down Under, the season-opening event of the ProTour international cycling series. Renshaw, who rides for the Credit Agricole team, emerged from a bunch sprint to win the 129km stage from the northern Adelaide suburb of Mawson Lakes to the Barossa Valley town of Angaston. Caisse D'Epargne sprinter Jose Rojas Gil of Spain was second and Australian Graeme Brown of the Rabobank team third. A three-man break went clear just after 40km and led by 6 minutes and 50 seconds at about the halfway mark. But the peloton steadily came back into the race and caught the trio with about 5km to go. Renshaw said it was "really special" to win his first stage of a ProTour event in Australia.
■ OLYMPICS
More smoke-free rooms
Beijing is working to increase the number of smoke-free hotel rooms available in the capital in time for this year's Olympic Games. In a proposal by the municipal government, the proportion of smoke-free rooms in hotels will be raised to 70 percent, according to a notice on the Web site of the city's legislative affairs office yesterday. The anti-smoking initiative is the latest development as Beijing officials move to keep fans from lighting up when the Olympics open on Aug. 8. Legislation already exists that bans smoking in public places, but enforcement is uneven. Smoking indoors is very common in China. Smoking should be banned indoors and outdoors in schools, sport and fitness centers, cultural protected areas, cinemas and other public places, the notice said.
■ SOCCER
Fiji players fined, banned
Eight members of Fiji's Olympic soccer team have been fined and banned from representing the country for five years after leaving a training camp to go on a drinking spree. Fiji Football Association president Muhammad Shamsu Dean Sahu Khan said the players would be fined between 10,000 Fijian dollars (US$6,400) and F$18,000 and banned for leaving the camp at Lautoka without authority. Sahu Khan said the incident occurred on Jan. 12 while the players were in camp with the national team. "Our academy rule is no kava, no alcohol and no smoking in the academy area," he said. "Eight players jumped the fence at 10.30pm and went away. They went and had drinks the whole night and came back to the academy 4:45 on Sunday morning. They will not be considered for any national commitments for the next five years."
■ SOCCER
Al-Hilal defeat United
Bader al-Kharashi scored with an overhead kick in the 73rd minute on Monday to give Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal a 3-2 friendly victory over England's Manchester United in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Owen Hargreaves missed an equalizing penalty attempt in injury time, giving the host club a victory in its tribute match for former Saudi Arabian national team hero Sami al-Jabar before a capacity crowd of 80,000 at King Fahd Stadium. United used several regulars for the game, with a starting lineup that included goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar, Rio Ferdinand, Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez. Hargreaves and Wayne Rooney were inserted at halftime. Al-Jabar, who retired from international soccer in June 2006 and from Al-Hilal a year later, scored in the 40th minute.
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