■ATHLETICS
Kaohsiung set for marathon
Some 20,000 runners from 24 countries have registered to compete in this year’s Kaohsiung International Marathon Mizuno Cup tomorrow. It will be the first major sports event to be held in the port city since last year’s World Games and its biggest marathon in 15 years, the city’s Department of Sports said. The event will feature three races — a full-length marathon, a 24.235km race and a 4.47km run. City officials said yesterday that 1,679 runners have signed up for the full-length race, including six athletes from Kenya, Ryuji Suematsu of Japan and Ma Tianxing of China. Taiwan’s Wu Wen-chien, who achieved a personal best of 2 hours, 16 minutes in the 2008 Xiamen international marathon, will compete in the men’s category. Hsu Yu-fan, Taiwan’s first female Olympic marathon runner and a National Games record holder, will be among the competitors in the women’s race.
■SOCCER
Once Caldas beat Sao Paulo
Colombia’s Once Caldas came from behind to claim a 2-1 home victory over Sao Paulo of Brazil in the Copa Libertadores group stage on Thursday. Argentina’s Lanus were 4-1 winners over Bolivia’s Blooming, with Diego Lagos scoring twice, while Peru’s Universitario drew 0-0 at home with Libertad of Paraguay. Once Caldas, who were the surprise winners of the Libertadores in 2004, moved to the top of Group 2 after two games, three points clear of Sao Paulo and Mexico’s Monterrey. Goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni scored from a deflected free-kick to give Sao Paulo the lead in the 33rd minute, but Fernando Uribe equalized for Once Caldas in the 50th minute. Dayro Moreno scored the winner in the 72nd minute, picking up the ball on the halfway line and riding three challenges before firing a low shot into the far corner.
■FORMULA ONE
Webber fastest in testing
Mark Webber was fastest on Thursday as the last Formula One testing session before the start of the new season got under way. The Red Bull driver set a best lap time of 1 minute, 21.487 seconds around the Circuit de Catalunya — nearly a second faster than Nico Hulkenberg of Williams. Nico Rosberg of Mercedes GP, Sauber’s Pedro De la Rosa and Jenson Button of McLaren were the only other drivers within two seconds of the Australian driver. Tonio Liuzzi of Force India was sixth, while Fernando Alonso of Ferrari was seventh as the Spaniard was hampered by a mechanical problem.
■SOCCER
Six arrested over shooting
Mexico City prosecutors have charged six employees of a bar with covering for the suspect in the shooting of Paraguay striker Salvador Cabanas. The employees were already in custody for investigation in the case. Another employee faces attempted homicide charges. The waiters and other staff allegedly either helped the suspect escape, covered up evidence or failed to provide information on the crime. Cabanas is recovering after being shot in the head on Jan. 25.
■CYCLING
Aussie Rogers wins Tour
Australian Michael Rogers won the 56th Tour of Andulucia on Thursday after finishing third in the event’s fifth and final stage. Rogers finished two seconds behind stage winner Spain’s Francisco Ventoso, who covered the 161km course in 4 hours, 20 minutes, 5 seconds. Rogers’ compatriot Simon Gerrans of Team Sky finished in second place for the stage, behind Carmiooro rider Ventoso.
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