■SOCCER
Benayoun renews Reds deal
Liverpool’s Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun on Monday signed a new two-year extension to his contract that will keep him at the club until 2013. The 29-year-old told www.liverpoolfc.tv: “I am very happy that we have reached an agreement. Of course, to be at a club like this is a dream come true and I want to keep playing here. Hopefully now I can concentrate on the hard work that needs to be done and try to play better and better and win some silverware.” Benayoun, who moved to Anfield from West Ham in July 2007, scored nine goals in 42 appearances during the 2008-2009 campaign, including the late winner against Real in the Champions League last 16 at the Bernabeu stadium in February.
■TENNIS
Kournikova in ring mystery
Anna Kournikova was sparkling brighter than usual in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, on Monday. Kournikova, who has long been linked to singer Enrique Iglesias, showed up for Monday night’s World Team Tennis match with a huge diamond ring on her left ring finger — the finger normally reserved for engagement rings. When asked the significance of the ring by The Associated Press, Kournikova replied: “I thought you were the good press.” The former Grand Slam doubles champion put her hand behind her back and did not elaborate. Kournikova was scheduled to play for the St Louis Aces. She will miss the season with a wrist injury, and wore a protective wrap on her left hand. She still participated in a kid’s clinic, signed autographs and cheered on her teammates.
■FIGURE SKATING
Bobek charged in meth bust
Former US champion Nicole Bobek has been charged with being part of a northern New Jersey drug ring. The 31-year-old Bobek made her first court appearance on Monday by video from the Hudson County Jail. Bobek, who has homes in New York and Jupiter, Florida, was arrested in Florida last week. She is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Hudson County. Attorney Sam DeLuca entered a not guilty plea for Bobek. She was held on US$200,000 bail and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Prosecutor Edward DeFazio says 20 people have been arrested in connection with the ring.
■GOLF
Mickelson’s mom also ill
Six weeks after Phil Mickelson announced his wife had breast cancer, his mother was diagnosed with the disease and is to have surgery later this week. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported on its Web site that Mary Mickelson discovered she had breast cancer last week. She is to have surgery on Friday at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, the same hospital where Mickelson’s wife, Amy, had surgery last Wednesday. Mickelson’s sister, Tina, told the newspaper she wanted to make her mother’s condition known so she could receive the same outpouring of support and prayers that meant so much to Amy Mickelson.
■RUGBY UNION
Bleddyn Williams dies
Welsh and British and Irish Lions legend Bleddyn Williams, known as the “Prince of Centres,” has died aged 86, the Welsh Rugby Union said on Monday. Williams was capped 22 times by Wales after making his debut in 1947 and captained both his country and the Lions including the last time the Welsh beat the All Blacks back in 1953. In total Williams played in 20 of the Lions’ 29 matches and scored 13 tries, including one in the first Test win over Australia in Brisbane.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two