Peter Forsberg, the 36-year-old center who twice helped Sweden capture Olympic gold, was named on Sunday to the 23-man provisional roster for the reigning Winter Olympic ice hockey champions.
The 2003 NHL Most Valuable Player, set up the winning goal in Sweden’s 3-2 victory over Finland in the 2006 Turin Olympic final and scored the deciding goal in a shootout win over Canada for 1994 Olympic gold.
Sweden coach Bengt-Aake Gustafsson’s lineup was largely comprised of NHL stars. Final squads are not set until Feb. 15, the eve of the Olympic openers.
Gustafsson Daniel Alfredsson despite the influential center being ruled out for four to six weeks on Saturday with a separated left shoulder.
Nicklas Lidstrom, a six-time winner of the NHL’s Norris Trophy as top defenseman, was among four Detroit Red Wings named to Sweden’s team, joined by Niklas Kronwall, Tomas Holmstrom and Henrik Zetterberg.
Goalkeepers: Jonas Gustavsson (Toronto Maple Leafs), Stefan Liv (HV 71), Henrik Lundqvist (New York Rangers)
Defenders: Tobias Enstrom (Atlanta Thrashers), Magnus Johansson (Linkopings HC), Niklas Kronwall (Detroit Red Wings), Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit Red Wings), Douglas Murray (San Jose Sharks), Johnny Oduya (New Jersey Devils), Henrik Tallinder (Buffalo Sabres), Mattias Ohlund (Tampa Bay Lightning)
Forwards: Daniel Alfredsson (Ottawa Senators), Nicklas Backstrom (Washington Capitals), Loui Eriksson (Dallas Stars), Peter Forsberg (Modo), Tomas Holmstrom (Detroit Red Wings), Patric Hornqvist (Nashville Predators), Fredrik Modin (Columbus Blue Jackets), Samuel Paahlsson (Columbus Blue Jackets), Daniel Sedin (Vancouver Canucks), Henrik Sedin (Vancouver Canucks), Mattias Weinhandl (Dynamo Moscow), Henrik Zetterberg (Detroit Red Wings)
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
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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
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