■BOXING
Illegal immigrant wins title
A 17-year-old illegal immigrant from Afghanistan will receive his French residency permit after winning the super-lightweight title at the national amateur boxing championship, French media reported on Tuesday. Immigration Minister Eric Besson opened the way for the step by announcing, in a press statement released on Monday, “Starting now, Sharif Hassanzade can apply at the police headquarters of [the region] Nord to obtain his residency permit and initiate, if he so wishes, the procedure to become a citizen.” “This is the most beautiful day of my life,” Hassanzade told the daily Nord Eclair. “Inside me, it’s all crazy. I owe a lot to my club, my trainers ... I really don’t know what to say.” Besson acted after Hassanzade won his title late on Saturday, and it became known through the media that he had no legal standing in France and could be deported at the beginning of next year. Hassanzade arrived illegally in Lille at the age of 14, after a difficult three-month journey. On his arrival, he “could not write, could not speak any French” and he knew no one, said his trainer, Bruno Cardosso. Cardosso said they had “bluffed” his registration for the national championship tournament.
■MAHJONG
Association seeks umpires
The Taiwan Mahjong Development Association plans to recruit 20 umpires for various competitions. The association is slated to hold its first golden ox mahjong contest on Sunday at Caotun Township, Nantou County, with the aim of promoting the game as a wholesome leisure and entertainment activity, as well as creating jobs for mahjong lovers amid the economic slump. Chang Yen-chieh of the association’s Caotun branch said groups promoting the tile-matching game normally obtain referees by training, recruitment or seeking talent from mahjong competitions, Chang said. Given that the job market continues to shrink, working as a mahjong referee is a good opportunity for the jobless, he said. The association will hire 20 umpires to officiate in competitions or related activities with each umpire to be offered NT$2,000 per day, Chang said.
■CRICKET
India may reschedule IPL
India’s cricket board is looking to reschedule its hugely popular Indian Premier League (IPL) after the government, worried by Tuesday’s attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, said security forces would be preoccupied by national elections. The attack heightened security concerns for the league, involving many international players, due to be staged between April 10 and May 24. India goes to the polls between April 16 and May 13 with the votes to be counted three days later. Indian media reported yesterday the board was considering whether it could ensure no match was played when elections were held in a particular city.
■CRICKET
Aussies call up Magoffin
Fast bowler Steve Magoffin will join the Australian tour squad in South Africa as cover for injured pacemen Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle ahead of this week’s second Test, selectors said yesterday. West Australian Magoffin is a leading wicket-takers in this season’s Sheffield Shield competition and chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said his call-up was a precaution for the second Test, starting in Durban tomorrow. “With Ben and Peter suffering some soreness following the first Test, and with such a short turnaround between the first and second Test, the selection panel has taken the precaution of adding another bowler to the squad,” Hilditch said.
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
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
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
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and