■TAEKWONDO
Armless woman seeks belt
A US woman who was born without arms or kneecaps is preparing to test for her black belt. Sheila Radziewicz is scheduled to take her test next month at Bruce McCorry’s Martial Arts in Peabody, Massachusetts. The 32-year-old brown belt, who was born with TAR syndrome, told the Salem News she’s been training in martial arts for three years. McCorry, her teacher, said he’s never seen a student like Radziewicz. Despite her condition, she can use nunchacku and break boards with her kicks. The Salem, resident, who works as an advocate for victims of domestic violence, said she has never let her disability stop her. At 23, Radziewicz earned her driver’s license and uses a car that she controls with her feet.
■FORMULA ONE
Button puts vroom in Frome
World champion Jenson Button went back to school on Tuesday before receiving the freedom of Frome, the English country town where he was born 30 years ago. Button, who will soon have a footbridge named after him in the Somerset town that rhymes with vroom, visited his three boyhood schools and met teachers and pupils before a public address to locals. “It’s a real privilege to accept this,” the Monaco-based McLaren driver told the BBC. “I visited all the schools I went to here in Frome and that was a great experience. It made me feel like a kid again.” Button, who leads the championship after two wins in four races, was also representing the British Motor Sports Association’s Go Motorsport initiative to help more people into motorsport. “It’s quite an emotional day seeing all these people and hopefully helping these people realize that they can achieve their goals and dreams,” Button said.
■SOCCER
Injuries worry Del Bosque
Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque is concerned by the injuries plaguing several key Spanish internationals like Liverpool striker Fernando Torres ahead of the World Cup in South Africa. “We are worried because it is something that he cannot control,” he said in comments published yesterday in sports daily Marca. Liverpool’s medical chief Peter Brukner said on Tuesday that Torres, who is recovering from a second operation in three months to repair damage to his right knee, may not be fit in time for Spain’s opening World Cup clash with Switzerland on June 16. Fellow current walking wounded include Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas, Barcelona playmaker Andres Iniesta and Villarreal holding midfielder Marcos Senna. Del Bosque said “expectations were good” that the players would recover in time for the June 11 to July 11 World Cup. He also said he was confident that Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola would not put midfielder Xavi Hernandez, who has been playing with a tear in a leg muscle, “at risk.” Del Bosque is scheduled to announce his 23-man World Cup squad on May 20 before the group heads to Austria for a training camp ahead of the start of the tournament.
■GOLF
Bayron takes lead
Filipino Jay Bayron stayed on the birdie train yesterday to take the first round lead in the inaugural Kariza Indonesia Championship. Bayron fired a six-under-par 66 at Gading Raya Golf Club outside Jakarta. Indonesian No. 1 Rory Hie and Wisut Artjanawat from Thailand both carded 67s, while Singapore’s Mardan Mamat returned a 68. Bayron, 30, made seven birdies and one bogey to plant his name at the top of the leader board.
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