■ENGLAND
Former star hurt in crash
Former England striker Mick Channon was in stable condition on Thursday after being seriously injured in a car crash that killed one of his friends. Channon, 59, suffered a punctured lung, broken ribs, a fractured jaw and a broken arm in Wednesday’s crash on the M1 motorway in Leicestershire. He was to undergo surgery yesterday to pin bones in his arm and have his jaw wired, his son Michael said. Channon, who is now a race horse trainer, was traveling with racing agent Tim Corby, 63, who was killed in the crash. Channon’s 15-year-old son Jack was also in the car, but was not seriously hurt. Corby was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics, after the Mercedes he was driving went off the road and hit a concrete pillar, Leicestershire police said.Channon, who played 46 times for England in the 1970s before embarking on a highly successful career in horse racing, was taken to the Queen’s Medical Centre by helicopter.
■ENGLAND
Wright-Phillips rejoins City
England winger Shaun Wright-Phillips rejoined Manchester City on a four-year deal on Thursday in a bid to revive his career after three faltering years at Chelsea. After switching to Stamford Bridge in 2005, the 26-year-old Wright-Phillips struggled to command a place in the Chelsea team, starting just 43 matches. Chelsea, who signed him for £21 million (US$36.8 million), are thought to have recouped less than half that amount, although deals were not disclosed. The signing will help allay fears that City owner Thaksin Shinawatra’s spending power has been blunted since seeking refuge in Britain earlier this month to avoid pending corruption charges in Thailand, where the former prime minister was ousted from power in a 2006 coup.
■ENGLAND
Keane vows to help striker
Sunderland manager Roy Keane has promised to help striker Michael Chopra as he “deals with some personal problems.” Reports in England on Thursday claimed that Chopra had gone into rehab at the Sporting Chance clinic. The clinic, founded by former Arsenal star Tony Adams, aims to help sportsmen and women deal with addictions. Chopra, 24, has played once this season, coming on as a substitute against Liverpool, and it has been reported that the former Newcastle player recently split with his wife after being married for one month. Keane is determined to help him get back on track. “We are helping Michael as he deals with some personal issues and he has the full support of everyone at the club,” Keane said.
■FRANCE
Wiltord in war of words
The lawyer of former France star Sylvain Wiltord said on Thursday his client did not wish to leave top flight side Rennes. “I deny that Sylvain wants to leave — I find it shocking that they should say that. He has never wanted out,” Fabrice Henon-Hilaire said. Rennes suspended Wiltord for criticizing club coach Guy Lacombe in sports daily l’Equipe earlier this month. “Lacombe talks too much”, the former Arsenal striker told l’Equipe. “It’s no longer a footballing issue — it has become personal.” Wiltord reacted after Lacombe told him he could not be sure of a place in the first-team after just six goals last season for Rennes following his move from Lyon. Lacombe has since brought the veteran back into the fold but he was not in the team to face Stabaek of Norway in the UEFA Cup on Thursday and the coach maintained that “he wants to leave.”
Taiwan’s top women’s badminton doubles duo, Hsieh Pei-shan (謝沛珊) and Hung En-tzu (洪恩慈), achieved a straight-sets victory over Japan’s Kaho Osawa and Mayui Tanabe at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super 300 Macau Open on Sunday. The Taiwanese pair won the final 21-18, 21-12, marking the duo’s second title this year after their win at the BWF Super 300 Taipei Open in May. The match on Sunday was their first encounter with the Japanese duo, ranked No. 63 in the world. Hsieh and Hung, ranked No. 12, began the opening game well. Hung, who plays left-handed, performed strongly at both the net and the
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko upset top-seeded Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday night to reach the National Bank Open quarter-finals. “Your support was incredible,” Mboko told the crowd in French after a chorus of “Ole, Ole, Ole” chants echoed around the venue. “I’m really happy to win today ... It’s incredible. I’m so happy to beat such a great champion.” Gauff dropped to 2-3 since winning the French Open. She followed the major victory with opening losses in Berlin and Wimbledon, then overcame double-fault problems to win two three-set matches in Montreal. Gauff had five double-faults on Saturday after having 23 in
Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen on Thursday said that he is staying with the Red Bull team next year, ending months of speculation over his future. “Some people just like to stir the pot, some people just like to create drama, but, for me, it’s always been quite clear, and also for next year,” the four-time champion said ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. “I’m discussing with the team already the plans — the things that we want to change for next year, so that means that I’m also staying with the team for next year,” he said. Verstappen has a contract with
Alex Michelsen on Thursday rallied for a 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 upset victory over third-seeded Lorenzo Musetti in the men’s singles, converting his seventh match point to reach the fourth round of the Canadian Open. Michelsen reached the last 16 of a Masters 1000 for the first time with his second win over a top-10 player in eight attempts. The 20-year-old American survived nearly 50 unforced errors and converted just two of nine break chances, but it was enough to vanquish Italy’s Musetti, a two-time Grand Slam semi-finalist ranked 10th in the world. “It feels really good,” the 26th-ranked Michelsen said. “I’ve put
RSS