■TENNIS
Lu makes round two
Lu Yen-hsun defeated Britain’s Josh Goodall 6-1, 6-2 to reach the second round of the Tenerife Challenger on Tuesday. The Taiwanese No. 1 made short work of the 232-ranked British No. 3 and next faces Germany’s Dominik Meffert. The German defeated South Africa’s Izak van der Merwe 6-2, 6-3 in their first round clash. Lu is the top seed in the hard court tournament.
■SOCCER
Hong Kong FA slams Reds
Liverpool were yesterday accused of pricing themselves out of the market by making “outrageous” demands to play in Hong Kong. A Hong Kong Football Association source told the South China Morning Post that the team’s planned exhibition match against the Hong Kong national side in July had been scrapped because of the financial demands. Liverpool wanted a US$1.5 million appearance fee, exclusive television rights and half the advertising revenue from the match, the newspaper said. The club also wanted accommodation and air fares paid for, the source said. “This is outrageous,” the newspaper quoted the source saying. “Hong Kong, as well as other parts of the region, has been severely hit by the financial meltdown, but Liverpool still want the world for their pre-season tour.” The source said Liverpool argued the organizers could charge HK$800 (US$103) per ticket.
■SOCCER
Gerets to quit Marseille
Marseille coach Eric Gerets on Tuesday told his players he would quit the club at the end of the season. The Belgian has turned them into title contenders after years as also-rans. Gerets told radio station RTL that he felt he had no option but to quit since Robert Louis-Dreyfus, the largest shareholder in the club, to his mind criticized him in an interview with L’Equipe. “Certain people seem to forget that in my first season with the club I took them to third place in the league, they having finished 18th in the previous campaign. However, this season after December we oscillated between third and fifth place, and then Robert Louis-Dreyfus gave this interview. He felt obliged to attack me, and I certainly took it as a personal attack, and he certainly forgot my record with the club,” Gerets said.
■SOCCER
Vela returns after flu scare
Mexican striker Carlos Vela returned to training with Arsenal on Tuesday after being held out of practice the previous day due to fears over swine flu. After seeking medical advice, the Premier League club told the player on Monday to stay away from training. The concerns had been prompted by the visit of friends from Mexico, where more than 150 deaths have been blamed on the virus. Vela was cleared by doctors on Tuesday.
■BOXING
Calzaghe won’t fight Froch
Joe Calzaghe has ruled out fighting Carl Froch, saying the WBA super-middleweight champion was not in his class. The Welshman said he had no interest in facing Froch, who beat Jermain Taylor on Saturday. “Enough is enough with Carl Froch calling me out,” Calzaghe said in Tuesday’s South Wales Argus. “I can tell you categorically that I will not fight the guy even if I did come out of retirement which I am not going to do.” Froch called on Calzaghe to return to the ring after beating Taylor. “I am sick to death of him drumming up free publicity for himself by using my name,” Calzaghe said. “No one who watched the fight [on Saturday] can believe he’s in my class,” he 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
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