■TENNIS
Lu bows out in Tenerife
Lu Yen-hsun’s run at the Tenerife Challenger came to a disappointing end when he retired from his match against Marco Chiudinelli trailing 6-1, 4-0. Having not dropped a set in his first two matches at the US$35,000 hard court tournament, it was a different story against the 304th-ranked, 27-year-old Swiss qualifier who earned himself a semi-final clash against Spain’s Ivan Navarro. It was the third time Lu had played the Swiss Davis Cup player, with the Taiwanese now trailing 2-1 in their career head to head.
■SUMO
Wrestlers to get face masks
Japan’s sumo authority will give hundreds of wrestlers anti-virus face masks and liquid hand soap to keep swine flu out of the national sport, a spokeswoman said yesterday. “We have decided to distribute 10 masks to each one” of the more than 1,000 members of the Japan Sumo Association and their families, a spokeswoman said. Reports said the association will buy 100,000 masks. The association will also send anti-bacterial liquid soap to sumo stables with a recommendation that wrestlers wash their hands often, as well as gargle and take other health measures.
■BOXING
Death camp boxer dies at 86
Salamo Arouch, a Jewish boxer who survived the Auschwitz death camp by fighting exhibition bouts for Nazi officers and inspired a Hollywood movie about his life, has died in Israel, the Haaretz newspaper reported on Thursday. He was 86. Haaretz did not give the cause of death of the Greek-born fighter, but quoted his daughter as saying he had been unwell since suffering a stroke 15 years ago. Born in the Greek town of Saloniki, Arouch became middleweight champion of the Balkans, but his professional career was cut short by World War II. Like thousands of other Saloniki Jews, he was deported to Auschwitz. Arouch, ordered by the Nazis to fight other prisoners for their entertainment, survived the camp. His story was the basis for the 1989 movie Triumph of the Spirit, starring Willem Dafoe.
■SKIING
Skier AWOL with Witnesses
A Nepali ski racer has disappeared from his team’s base in the French Alps after joining a group of Jehovah’s Witnesses, his coach said on Thursday. “Uttam Rayamajhi, 17, vanished from the team ski base at Les Arcs on Monday with no money, minimal French and very little clothing. He has not been seen or heard from since and team members fear for his safety,” Richard Morley said in a statement. “He was approached by Jehovah’s Witnesses and recruited into their church. The day after attending his first service with the sect he vanished from the team’s mountain chalet home during a heavy rainstorm.”
■GOLF
Daly gets into swing
Dane Soren Hansen broke the PGA Catalunya Stadium course record with a nine-under 63 at the Spanish Open on Thursday. Hansen took a one-stroke lead after the first round with nine birdies and an eagle. Meanwhile, twice major champion John Daly, who has lost nearly 30kg in weight and revamped his swing while serving a six-month US tour bans, signed for a two-under 70. “I was pretty happy with the way I hit the ball,” he said. “There’s a big change in my swing now. My elbow used to be about three feet [90cm] away from my body and now I can get it up to my ribs. It used to just hang on my love-handles and now I can get through the ball a bit more.”
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