■BRAZIL
Palmeiras win derby match
A hat-trick by Obina gave Palmeiras a 3-0 win in their Sao Paulo derby on Sunday against Corinthians, who lost Ronaldo with a suspected broken hand. Palmeiras joined Atletico Mineiro, shock 1-0 losers at home to Goias, at the top of the Brazilian championship standings with 28 points from 14 matches. Atletico lead by a difference of one goal. The two teams are four points ahead of Vitoria, who beat Coritiba 1-0 at home, and Internacional, who went down 3-2 away to Botafogo on Saturday. Palmeiras, unable to fly because of poor visibility on Saturday, had to make a 570km bus trip to the city of Presidente Prudente where the derby was played to avoid crowd trouble in Sao Paulo, but still turned in the better performance. Ronaldo, who fell badly on his left arm, had to leave the field after 20 minutes and Corinthians doctor Paulo de Faria said he had “a suspected fracture of the hand, he hurts a lot and cannot play.”
■BRAZIL
Romario facing jail term
Former Brazil striker Romario is appealing a tax evasion conviction that could keep him in prison for up to three-and-a-half years, Brazilian media reported on Sunday. Romario was convicted and sentenced on June 9 after accusations he evaded about US$500,000 in taxes when he played for Brazilian club Flamengo in 1996 and 1997, Globo’s G1 Web site reported. He allegedly did not declare his earnings in full at the time. The striker, who helped Brazil win the 1994 World Cup in the US, is likely to escape prison time, however, and the sentence could be transformed into community service after an appeal, G1 said, citing prosecutors. Less than two weeks ago, Romario was arrested in a child support case involving his first wife and spent a night in jail until reportedly paying what he owed.
■ENGLAND
Shearer still in the dark
Alan Shearer still has no idea whether he will be appointed permanent Newcastle United manager, only two weeks before the club begins life in the Championship (second division), the former England striker said on Sunday. Shearer took over as manager of the club for the last eight games of the Premier League season, but could not prevent their relegation. With owner Mike Ashley trying to sell the club, assistant manager Chris Hughton has taken charge of their pre-season friendlies, including a 6-1 defeat by League One (third division) Leyton Orient on Saturday. “I am the same as everyone else, I am in limbo — I don’t know what is going on,” Shearer told the BBC at a St James’ Park match to raise funds for former Newcastle and England manager Bobby Robson’s cancer charity. “I know as much as you. I would dearly love it to be sorted out one way or the other, then the club can move forward. Everyone is telling me there are people in to buy the club. If that is the case, then great. I’m a fan like everyone else and I don’t like to see the situation the club is in.”
■HONDURAS
Two fans shot dead
Two people were shot dead and more than 15 injured in Honduras on Sunday when fans of rival soccer teams clashed outside a stadium following a match, police said. Police arrested dozens when they moved in to quell the violence, which erupted after the two teams, Olimpia and Motagua, tied 0-0 in the Honduran capital, police spokesman Orlin Cerrato said. “There are two dead,” Cerrato told reporters, saying they had been shot. Honduras has been on edge since president Manuel Zelaya was ousted in a coup last month.
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
Rafael Nadal on Tuesday lost in straight sets to 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round at the Madrid Open, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s doubles. Nadal said that he was feeling good about his progress following his latest injury layoff. Nadal called it a “positive week” in every way and said his body held up well. “I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches,” Nadal said. “So very positive, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis. I enjoyed a lot playing at home. I leave here with
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just
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