■CRICKET
Black Caps target coach
New Zealand’s cricket team want coach Andy Moles sacked, and claim captain Daniel Vettori has effectively been filling the role for the last six months, a report said yesterday. An unnamed source said senior players claimed Moles had not provided them with adequate tactical or technical support, a report by Dominion Post cricket writer and former New Zealand fast bowler Jonathan Millmow said. New Zealand Cricket responded to the report by confirming Moles’ position as coach. Moles would continue to prepare the team for a series of one-day internationals and Twenty20 matches against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates starting early next month, chief executive Justin Vaughan said.
■BOXING
Kelly Pavlik scraps title bout
Middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik called off a title defense against Paul Williams set for Dec. 5 because of an infected left hand. Pavlik was to fight Williams at Atlantic City in one of the year’s most anticipated bouts, but promoter Top Rank said on Wednesday that Pavlik was unable to make a fist or punch with the injured hand. Pavlik (35-1, 31 KOs) believes the infection could date to last October, when he was pounded by Bernard Hopkins.
■SOCCER
Houston out of CONCACAF
A surprise defeat for Houston Dynamo at the hands of group minnows Metapan on Wednesday cost the US club a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League quarter-finals, handing the berth to Panama’s Arabe Unido. El Salvador’s Metapan had lost all five of its previous group games, but Emerson Umana’s deflected freekick gave the hosts a 3-2 win over a stunned Houston, which would have reached the quarters with a win. That meant Arabe Unido clung onto second spot in Group A despite losing 2-0 to Mexico’s Pachuca, which topped the group and also progresses to the last eight. In the night’s other group game, Trinidad’s W Connection defeated Honduras’ Real Espana 3-2 in Group D. That result eliminated Real Espana from quarter-final contention.
■SOCCER
Match to be screened in 3D
The match between top Mexican sides America and Guadalajara on Sunday will be screened in 3D, with broadcasters Televisa claiming on Wednesday it will be the first broadcast of its kind in the world. The Clausura championship match at the Azteca in Mexico City will be screened in cinemas in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey.
■OLYMPICS
Torch made for bad weather
The torch that train, plane and motorized sled manufacturer Bombardier made for Canada’s upcoming Olympic Winter Games was to be lit at the birthplace of the Olympics in Greece yesterday. Inspired by the contours of Canada’s winter landscape, the torch is designed to withstand colder temperatures than any other torch in Olympic history and uses a dual burner system to guard against extreme weather conditions. It will be flown back to Canada at the end of the month for a 45,000km relay ahead of the February Games in Vancouver. The torches are made from anodized aluminum, stainless steel and a composite compound. Each weighs 1.6kg, including fuel, which is a mix of propane and isobutane. Its designers said the torch would remain lit through “rain, sleet, snow and wind” and in temperatures from minus 40˚C to 40˚C.
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