■SOCCER
N Korea lose, advance
North Korea continued their 2010 World Cup preparations by winning a four-team invitational tournament in Qatar despite losing their final match 1-0 to Iran. A draw between the hosts and Mali in the earlier match meant North Korea could afford to lose to Iran on Saturday having recorded victories in their opening two games. Mehrzad Madanchi scored the winner for Iran, lobbing a shot home in the 42nd minute to give his side a timely boost ahead of a key Asian Cup qualifier against Singapore on Wednesday. North Korea finished on six points from three matches ahead of Qatar on four, then Mali (4) and Iran (3). The North Koreans will next month head to Sri Lanka for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup, where the winners of the region’s second-tier tournament qualify for the 2011 Asian Cup.
■SOCCER
Tinhan turns down Benin
Grenoble midfielder Jonathan Tinhan has turned down a call-up from Benin to play at the African Nations Cup finals after just one senior game. The French-born Tinhan’s decision delayed the final selection of the 23-man Benin squad by coach Michel Dussuyer for this month’s tournament in Angola. The 20-year-old Tinhan had expressed surprise at being named and was advised by his parents and club not to play at the tournament given his lack of experience, Benin’s Le Matinal newspaper reported. Tinhan has played just 19 minutes of Ligue 1 soccer for bottom-placed Grenoble. Benin will play a warm-up friendly at home against Libya on Wednesday before departing for Angola. Their opening Group C game is against Mozambique in Benguela on Jan. 12.
■EQUESTRIAN
Showjumper in car crash
French showjumper Eric Levallois, who won team gold at the World Equestrian Games in 2002, is recovering in hospital after a serious car crash. The 46-year-old underwent an operation after the accident at the start of the week, his sister Sylvie Levallois told reporters, adding that he will be transferred in the coming days to start his rehabilitation. “He was in a very serious condition but we’ve seen him improve greatly. Eric has found mobility in his legs once more and should be able to walk again,” she said.
■SNOWBOARDING
Pearce still in hospital
Kevin Pearce remained in critical but stable condition in a hospital on Saturday, two days after suffering a serious head injury in training. Pearce, 22, struck his head on the side of the halfpipe while attempting a cab double cork — a difficult twisting double back flip. “Kevin sustained a severe traumatic brain injury,” doctor Holly Ledyard said. “He is currently in intensive care and in critical condition, but stable and has not needed to undergo surgery at this time. He is intubated and being kept sedated. The focus over the next week will be watching for swelling in his brain and keeping his brain pressure normal.”
■RUGBY UNION
White to miss Six Nations
Veteran Scottish backrow forward Jason White is out of this year’s Six Nations after suffering a double fracture of his left leg. The 31-year-old 77-times capped former Scotland captain fractured his tibia in training with Clermont on Friday and had an operation on Saturday. White had been due to start in yesterday’s Top 14 clash with Toulon. Scotland coach Andy Robinson said that White had an operation. “Jason had an operation this [Saturday] morning and we wish him a speedy recovery.”
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