■ATHLETICS
Sex shock runner to coach
India’s Santhi Soundarajan, who was stripped of her Asian Games medal after failing a gender test, has swapped competition for coaching to keep her athletic aspirations alive. Soundarajan lost the women’s 800m silver medal she captured in Doha in 2006 and was hospitalized in September following an apparent suicide bid because of the media intrusion following the incident. However, she recently started a sports academy, the Times of India newspaper reported yesterday. “I’ve stopped training. I’m not returning to the track. I’m happy coaching,” she told the newspaper.
■SQUASH
Darwish claims No. 1 spot
Egypt’s Karim Darwish on Thursday became the world’s new No. 1, ending the 33-month reign of illustrious compatriot Amr Shabana. Darwish, 27, from Cairo, is the 13th player to top the men’s world list, but only the second Egyptian. Former world junior champion Darwish was eighth in the rankings at the start of last year, but he made his mark by reaching six finals, including the World Open in October, and secured three titles, including his first Super Series crowns in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Shabana slips to No. 2, but World Open champion Ramy Ashour remains at No. 3.
■FORMULA ONE
Kubica cools title talk
Polish driver Robert Kubica said on Thursday he won’t get carried away by predictions that BMW Sauber are about to break the two-team, Formula One domination of McLaren and Ferrari. Kubica, who briefly led last year’s world championship after his maiden grand prix victory in Canada, believes his team will have to wait a while longer before being able to make an accurate prediction of how strong they will be this year. “It’s too early to judge whether we will make the final step [to being title winners] or not,” Kubica told www.autosport.com. “The ideal would be to fight for the championship to the end and achieve better results than this year, but it’s difficult to predict. Next year is a big challenge with so many changes to the regulations. You have to be lucky to get the right direction straight away.” Last year Kubica, finished with 75 points, good enough for joint-third in the driver standings. BMW Sauber were third in the constructors standings, 37 points behind champions Ferrari. This year’s world championship gets underway with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 29.
■FOOTBALL
Favre errors costly: Jones
New York Jets running back Thomas Jones, stung by the team’s failure to make the NFL playoffs, said quarterback Brett Favre’s errors were just too costly for the team. Jones told a local radio station that mistakes by the Hall of Fame signal-caller should have seen him benched. The Jets lost four of their last five games, and Favre threw nine interceptions with just two touchdowns in that span. The 39-year-old quarterback finished with 22 touchdowns and a league-worst 22 interceptions, but still somehow made the Pro Bowl. “We’re a team and we win together ... But at the same time, you can’t turn the ball over and expect to win,” Jones told the radio station. “If somebody is not playing well, they need to come out of the game,” Jones told Hot 97 FM. “You’re jeopardizing the whole team because you’re having a bad day. To me, that’s not fair to everybody else.”
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