■FIELD HOCKEY
Kiwis qualify for World Cup
The New Zealand men’s hockey team capped a successful weekend for the South Pacific nation yesterday when they joined their soccer counterparts as World Cup qualifiers. New Zealand booked their ticket to February’s hockey World Cup tournament in India when they came from behind to beat Malaysia 2-1 in the final of the qualifying tournament in the southern New Zealand city of Invercargill. Malaysia took a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute when Razie Abd Rahim found the net from a penalty corner. It was the first time in the tournament New Zealand had trailed and it took until late in the second half before they were able to draw level and then take the lead. The tournament’s top scorer Andy Hayward provided both goals with drag flicks from penalty corners, the first in the 57th minute and again three minutes later. New Zealand coach Shane McLeod said his squad had watched and been inspired by the soccer win. “All sports get motivated by the success of others, I think it assisted us with our campaign,” he said.
■RUGBY LEAGUE
England coach resigns
England coach Tony Smith announced yesterday he was standing down with immediate effect. The decision came after Saturday’s Four Nations final defeat to Australia in Leeds. But the Australian-born coach said the crushing 46-16 defeat had no bearing on his decision. He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I’m stepping down ... even if we had won last night I’d still have stepped down.” He said he made the decision largely for family reasons but will help the Rugby Football League find a successor. “I have greatly enjoyed my time as national coach and wish the team all the best in the future,” Smith said.
■CRICKET
Sri Lanka receive boost
Sri Lanka’s hopes of winning their first ever Test on Indian soil were given a huge lift yesterday when Tillakaratne Dilshan was declared fit to play after an ankle injury. The dashing batsman twisted an ankle in Mumbai last week and was not available for the three-day tour opener against the Indian board president’s XI. But Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara said Dilshan was certain to take his place at the top of the order in the first match of the three-Test series starting today. “Dilshan is fully fit and will play,” Sangakkara told reporters. “He went well at practice today and looked in good touch.” Dilshan has enjoyed a successful run over the past 12 months, scoring 910 runs in nine Tests at an average of 65.00 with a best of 162 against Bangladesh. Sri Lanka are brimming with confidence after back-to-back series wins at home against Pakistan and New Zealand, which lifted them to the No. 2 spot in the Test rankings behind South Africa.
■VOLLEYBALL
Italy beat Japan to win Cup
European champions Italy captured their first World Grand Champions Cup women’s volleyball tournament when they defeated Japan to complete a clean sweep yesterday. With a 32-30, 25-22, 24-26, 25-18 win, Italy ended the six-team round robin competition with five straight wins against no defeats, beating defending champions Brazil into second place. The Brazilians, who also finished runners-up to Italy in the 2007 World Cup, outgunned Asian champions Thailand 25-22, 25-20, 25-18 earlier in the day for a 4-1 win-loss record. The Dominican Republic, the winners over South Korea 25-17, 25-18, 25-22, were third with a 3-2 record, followed by Japan with 2-3, South Korea with 1-4 and Thailand with 0-5.
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