■ATHLETICS
Bolt honored in Kingston
The world’s fastest man received one of his Caribbean homeland’s highest honors on Monday. Sprint superstar Usain Bolt received the Order of Jamaica award during heritage celebrations in Kingston. At 23, Bolt is the youngest person to ever receive the honor. In recent weeks Jamaica has also renamed a highway after the Olympic and world 100m and 200m champion and record-holder.
■RUGBY UNION
Mortlock out with calf injury
Former Australia captain Stirling Mortlock was yesterday ruled out of upcoming Tests against New Zealand and England because of a torn calf muscle, officials said. The Wallabies will play their first Test under new skipper Rocky Elsom against New Zealand in Tokyo on Oct. 31 and face England at Twickenham on Nov. 7. Mortlock, who said he had a “decent size tear in the muscle,” was hoping to rejoin the 35-man squad ahead of the Test against Ireland on Nov. 15. “I think realistically we’re targeting being 100 percent right by that week leading into the Ireland match,” he told reporters. “I’ll be ready to go, don’t worry about that.” Mortlock has just recovered from a knee injury that sidelined him for much of this year’s Tri-Nations series.
■FOOTBALL
Wesley suspended for hit
Carolina Panthers defensive back Dante Wesley has been suspended for one game for a hit on Clifton Smith of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Wesley “launched himself” and hit the “neck and head area” of Smith during a punt return, NFL executive vice president of football operations Ray Anderson said in a statement on Monday. Anderson said Smith, who had not touched the ball, was in a “defenseless posture.” The hit ignited an on-field scuffle between the two teams. Smith sustained a concussion and did not return to the game, won by Carolina, 28-21, on Sunday at Tampa Bay. Wesley will sit out the Panthers’ game this Sunday against Buffalo.
■BASEBALL
Tigers pursue Johjima
Japan’s Hanshin Tigers are keen to sign catcher Kenji Johjima after his decision to leave the Seattle Mariners and return home. The 33-year-old, who helped Japan retain the World Baseball Classic title earlier this year, opted out of the final two years of his contract with Seattle earlier this week. Johjima had signed a three-year, US$24 million contract extension with the Mariners during the 2008 season. “As a right-hander who can be a clean-up hitter he is a player we very much covet,” Tigers president Nobuo Minami told Japanese media yesterday. Johjima batted .268 during four seasons in Seattle, hitting 48 home runs with 198 RBI.
■TENNIS
Roddick books finals berth
American Andy Roddick has booked his place at the World Tour Finals with four weeks of the season remaining, the ATP said yesterday. The world No. 7 seven will join Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin del Potro at the end-of-season tournament. “The reaction I received from fans after the Wimbledon final was something I will never forget,” the 27-year-old Roddick told the ATP Web site. “I’ve always had great support in London and I’m looking forward to being back there in November.” Roddick, who reached the semi-finals in 2003 and 2004, has qualified for the season-ending event seven years in a row. Two places are still up for grabs with Russian Nikolay Davydenko and Spaniard Fernando Verdasco leading the chase.
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