■TENNIS
Federer to play for Haiti
World No. 1 Roger Federer has organized a charity tennis exhibition today ahead of the Australian Open to raise money for victims of the Haiti earthquake. At least 50,000 people have been killed and 1.5 million left homeless in the Caribbean nation and Federer said he wanted to do something to help. “I had the idea that we could do something to help Haiti after the tragic earthquake,” he said yesterday. “So I spoke to some other top players. I got some connections, you know. They all said: ‘Yes, we should do something.’ So we’re going to play doubles or mixed doubles on Sunday, also with top women’s players, and try to fill the stadium [Rod Laver Arena].”
■SOCCER
Hammers fined over fans
West Ham United have been fined £115,000 (US$187,000) after serious crowd trouble marred their League Cup victory over London rivals Millwall in August. The Hammers have also been ordered to pay adjusted costs of £5,000, but they escaped being forced to play matches behind closed doors. Violent clashes outside Upton Park on Aug. 25 led to 64 arrests and the stabbing of a Millwall fan and there were also three pitch invasions by West Ham fans during the match. West Ham were found guilty of two charges — failure to ensure their supporters refrained from violent, threatening, obscene and provocative behavior, and failure to ensure their supporters did not enter the field of play.
■SOCCER
Hundreds mourn victims
Hundreds of mourners have gathered in Togo to remember the two victims of an attack on the national soccer team in Angola. Assistant coach Abalo Amelete and communications director Stanislas Ocloo were killed when gunmen fired on the team’s bus a week earlier. Togo captain Emmanuel Adebayor said on Friday that their deaths had “plunged us into deep despair.” Mourners wept as their coffins, draped in Togolese flags, were brought to the Palace of Congress. The team was headed to the Africa Cup of Nations when they were attacked and they later withdrew from the competition. The team’s Angolan bus driver also was killed. Eight people were wounded, including a goalkeeper who was flown to South Africa for treatment.
■SNOWBOARDING
Vaultier extends his lead
Pierre Vaultier of France won a snowboardcross World Cup race in Veysonnaz, Switzerland, on Friday to extend his lead in the standings. Norwegian teenager Helene Olafsen won the women’s event and jumped to third in the discipline standings. Vaultier beat Germany’s David Speiser for his eighth World Cup victory and third of the season. Nick Baumgartner of the US was third and Canadian Francois Boivin fourth. Olafsen got her third career World Cup win, beating Dominique Maltais of Canada. World Cup leader Maelle Ricker of Canada was third.
■SKELETON
Bernotas in rare US win
Eric Bernotas has become the first American in nearly two years to win a World Cup skeleton race in St Moritz, Switzerland, on Friday. Bernotas won in 1 minute, 9.15 seconds. The event was shortened to one run by race officials because of conditions at the start of the track. Kristan Bromley of Britain was 0.07 seconds back and World Cup leader Martins Dukurs of Latvia was third. In the women’s event, Shelley Rudman of Britain finished two runs in 2 minutes, 20.42 seconds. Canada’s Mellisa Hollingsworth was second and Kerstin Szymkowiak of Germany was third.
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was