■ Chess
Anand and Kramnik draw
Careful defense brought Russian challenger Vladimir Kramnik a draw against world champion Viswanathan Anand of India on Thursday in the seventh game of their championship match. The draw means that Anand leads 5-2, maintaining his three-point advantage in the 12-game match. While the draw moves Anand closer to retaining his title, it also stems a bad run for Kramnik, who had lost three of the last four games. US grandmaster Yasser Seirawan praised Anand’s “dominating performance so far.”
■ Cricket
Pakistan could suffer: Imran
Former Pakistan star Imran Khan has warned the standard of his country’s side could suffer because of instability that has prompted the cancelation of home international fixtures. “Not just the Pakistan cricket team, every sport in Pakistan because if it applies to cricket, it applies to every other sport,” he said. Imran also warned that plans for Pakistan to play their home games abroad were unsustainable during an interview on Thursday. Imran, who is now chairman of the Pakistan Movement for Justice, said foreign teams would not be targeted by militants if they came to Pakistan, despite fears that saw the Champions Trophy one-day tournament, due to take place in Pakistan last month, delayed until next year. “Terrorists do not target cricketers because cricket is a passion in Pakistan,” he said.
■ Soccer
‘Holy Goalie’ in trouble
Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc escaped a match ban after a Scottish Football Association disciplinary panel chose to fine him £500 (US$764) on Thursday following gestures he made to Rangers fans during the last Old Firm derby. Photographs published in Scottish newspapers appeared to show the Polish international making a one-fingered salute during Celtic’s loss to Rangers on Aug. 31. Boruc is nicknamed the “Holy Goalie” -— but the epithet is more ironic than a nod to his miraculous saves. Boruc is Roman Catholic, thus fitting in with a long-held tradition at Celtic. But he has regularly found himself in hot water for stepping over the line between displaying his faith and provoking Rangers fans, who are predominantly Protestant. In June he escaped disciplinary action after stripping off his top after a game against Rangers to reveal a T-shirt with the slogan “God bless the Pope.”
■ Cricket
Court overturns Malik ban
A Pakistan court on Thursday overturned a life ban against former captain Salim Malik for alleged involvement in match fixing. Malik was banned following a 2001 inquiry into allegations by three Australian players that he offered them bribes. Malik appealed against the punishment to Pakistan’s top court which earlier this year ordered Lahore’s Civil Court to hear the case. Judge Malik Mohammad Altaf ruled in favor of Malik on Thursday and ordered the ban be lifted. Malik’s lawyer said the court ruled that the Pakistan Cricket Board wrongly imposed the ban after acting on recommendations from the inquiry which was headed by a High Court judge. “The PCB did not have the jurisdiction to ban Salim Malik so the court lifted the ban on our appeal,” lawyer Shahid Salim said. Malik was banned after Shane Warne, Mark Waugh and Tim May claimed he offered them bribes to underperform during Australia’s tour of Pakistan in 1994. Malik’s name also featured in an Indian match-fixing inquiry and the late South African captain Hansie Cronje named Malik as an offender in a probe in South Africa.
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