■ATHLETICS
Washington to receive gold
American Tyree Washington is finally going to get the 2003 world 400m gold medal draped around his neck, the retired sprinter said on Sunday. USA Track and Field (USATF) will present Washington with the newly cast medal at this week’s US championships in Eugene, Oregon. USATF spokeswoman Jill Geer confirmed he would be recognized. Washington, now 32, said he had mixed emotions about the presentation, which is scheduled for Saturday after the men’s 400m final. He began pursuing the gold after 2003 winner Jerome Young admitted last year to using prohibited substances and agreed to return the medal. “I have been treated poorly,” said Washington, the 2003 runner-up. “The IAAF gave Jerome Young a lifetime ban [for a doping positive in 2004] ... so they knew I was going to be the world champion, yet they held on to that [the gold].”
■MOTORING
‘The Stig’ unmasked again
After years of keeping his identity secret, former Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher has revealed he is “The Stig,” the anonymous professional test car driver from BBC motoring show Top Gear. Each episode of the cult show sees “The Stig” whizzing around test tracks in powerful cars wearing a white jumpsuit with his features hidden by a white crash helmet. The original Stig was axed from the show after British racing driver Perry McCarthy revealed his identity in an autobiography in 2002. In an episode broadcast on Sunday, the current Stig took off his helmet to loud cheers from the studio audience, revealing himself to be Schumacher.
■RUGBY UNION
Bastareaud beating probed
Police said yesterday they were investigating an attack on French rugby player Mathieu Bastareaud in Wellington after Saturday’s Test loss to the All Blacks. Bastareaud was assaulted by four or five people early on Sunday in central Wellington as he was returning to the team’s hotel and was left with a cut and bruised face, French officials said. The French team did not make an official complaint because Bastareaud could not identify his attackers, but police said they were looking into the incident, which followed the touring side’s 14-10 defeat.
■SUPERBIKES
Spies closes gap on Haga
Ben Spies won the first race at the San Marino Superbike Grand Prix on Sunday to close the gap on championship leader Noriyuki Haga of Japan, who leads the standings with 292 points, 48 ahead of Spies and 55 ahead of Italian Michel Fabrizio. In the first race of the day at Misano Adriatico, US rider Spies finished eight seconds ahead of Ducati’s Shane Byrne in second and Fabrizio in third. In the second race, Jonathan Rea claimed his first-ever victory. The Briton came home ahead of Fabrizio, whilst Haga was third.
■BASEBALL
Burnett’s suspension cut
New York Yankees pitcher AJ Burnett’s suspension for throwing high and inside to Texas’ Nelson Cruz on June 2 has been reduced from six games to five, the team said on Sunday. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said the suspension would push Burnett’s next start to Saturday against the New York Mets. Burnett, 32, had appealed the suspension, saying he was surprised by the severity of the punishment.
Burnett fired a fastball near Cruz’s head during a 12-3 victory. Earlier in the game Texas hurler Vicente Padilla hit Mark Teixeira with two pitches.
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