■ AUTO RACIN
Latvala leads Swedish Rally
Jari-Matti Latvala of Finland retained the lead in the Swedish Rally on Saturday, taking a 49.8-second advantage over Ford Focus teammate Mikko Hirvonen into the final day. Latvala, who finished out of the points in the season opener in Monte Carlo last month, had a total time of 2 hours, 3 minutes, 53.7 seconds after 14 stages. The 22-year-old Latvala won six of seven stages on Friday, but was winless on the penultimate day of the world championship event. "It was difficult being first on the road through the opening stage because there was a lot of slush for the first 3km and we did a lot of moving from snowbank to snowbank," Latvala said.
■ FIELD HOCKEY
N Zealand headed to Beijing
New Zealand will play in the men's field hockey tournament at August's Beijing Olympics after beating Argentina 3-2 in double overtime in the final of a six-nation qualifying tournament yesterday. Brad Shaw scored the winning goal eight seconds from the end of extra time after New Zealand had twice come from behind in regulation to tie the game 2-2. "It's an unbelievable moment," coach Shane McLeod said. "It's very difficult to describe when you understand all the effort the guys have put in." Argentinian players slumped on the field in tears as Shaw slammed home a rebound in the dying moments of the second overtime.
■ FOOTBALL
Redskins hire Zorn as coach
The Washington Redskins hired Jim Zorn as their coach on Saturday, a surprise ending to a monthlong search for a replacement for Joe Gibbs. "I've always dreamed of being a head coach with a franchise rich in tradition like the Redskins," Zorn said in a team news release. "As a player who had to fight Redskins teams at RFK [stadium] as well as at our home field, I know about the history of this franchise as well as the passion of its fans. I won't let you down." The Redskins said the 54-year-old Zorn agreed to a five-year contract. He was scheduled to be introduced at a news conference yesterday.
■ SKIING
Vonn wins milestone victory
Lindsey Vonn has joined Picabo Street and Daron Rahlves as the most successful US downhill skiers. Among current competitors, she has no equal. Vonn blew away the field in Sestriere, Italy, on Saturday for her fourth win in seven downhills this season. It was the ninth downhill victory of her career, matching Street and Rahlves. "Lindsey is pretty much unbeatable now," US downhill coach Alex Hoedlmoser said. "The only thing that could have beaten her here was herself." Using a much straighter line than any other skier, Vonn covered the 2.965km Kandahar Banchetta course in 1 minute, 38.86 seconds. The race announcer yelled, "She's a speed train!"
■ SKIING
Reinfried Herbst returns
The Austrian put together the fastest times in both runs to win a men's slalom on Saturday to cap his comeback from a serious knee injury. Herbst beat Manfred Moelgg of Italy by 0.65 seconds on a sun-drenched Gudiberg course in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Although he led by nearly half a second after the first run, the 29-year-old Austrian did not hold back in the second heat and attacked the course all the way to post his second World Cup victory. "What happened today is exactly what I had in mind at the start of the season: to show what I can do," Herbst said. "The feeling is simply great.
Tainan TSG Hawks slugger Steven Moya, who is leading the CPBL in home runs, has withdrawn from this weekend’s All-Star Game after the unexpected death of his wife. Moya’s wife began feeling severely unwell aboard a plane that landed at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on Friday evening. She was rushed to a hospital, but passed away, the Hawks said in a statement yesterday. The franchise is assisting Moya with funeral arrangements and hopes fans who were looking forward to seeing him at the All-Star Game can understand his decision to withdraw. According to Landseed Medical Clinic, whose staff attempted to save Moya’s wife,
Shohei Ohtani on Wednesday homered for the fifth consecutive game, tying a Los Angeles Dodgers franchise record. Yankees star Aaron Judge was the last player to homer in five consecutive games, accomplishing that feat last year. Ohtani, who leads the National League with 37 home runs, homered in the first inning off Minnesota Twins starter Chris Paddack. He hit a slow curveball 134m to center. He carried the bat midway down the first-base line and then did a bat flip. He did not hit a home run later in the game with the Dodgers trailing, but his presence was felt. With two outs
Taiwan’s world No. 6 shuttler Chou Tien-chen yesterday defeated India’s H.S. Prannoy to advance to the quarter-finals of the China Open in Changzhou. It was former world No. 2 Chou’s eighth win in 14 matches against Prannoy, who had earlier this week lamented the age divide between him and up-and-comers, although he is only two years younger than 35-year-old Chou. The Taiwanese, who is seeded sixth at the tournament, rebounded from a close 21-18 loss in game 1 on Court 2 at the Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium. He bounced back to take the next games 21-15, 21-8 and set up a tough quarter-final
The Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday acquired Taiwanese-American outfielder Stuart Fairchild from the Atlanta Braves for cash considerations to fill the roster after All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe was placed back on the injured list. Fairchild was designated for assignment by the Braves on Monday after hitting .216/.273/.333 in 28 games for Atlanta, with most of his work coming as a pinch runner or defensive replacement. He joins Tampa Bay as a versatile fourth outfielder option. To make room for Fairchild on the 40-man roster, the Rays transferred relief pitcher Manuel Rodriguez (forearm strain) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day
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