■TABLE TENNIS
Taiwan grabs silver medal
Taiwan took the silver medal at the first French Open Table Tennis tournament for the disabled in Nantes, France, on Saturday. Taiwan’s Ko Kun-nan was among the final six in the men’s singles event. The team, composed of members of a Taichung welfare association for the disabled, arrived in Nantes on Wednesday. More than 200 athletes from about 20 countries participated in the tournament. France won the championship title. Michel Lu, Taiwan’s representative to France, cheered on the Taiwanese players during Saturday’s games. The Taipei Representative Office in France is set to throw a celebration party for the team tomorrow.
■ATHLETICS
Allen Johnson calls it a day
Four-times world champion and 1996 Olympic gold medalist Allen Johnson called an end to his remarkable sprint hurdling career on Saturday after years of defying his age in one of track’s most demanding disciplines. Johnson, who ended Briton Colin Jackson’s run of 44 consecutive sprint hurdles victories in 1995 and went on to dominate the event, said his 39-year-old body would not allow him to continue competing in the sport he dearly loved. “It’s just come to the point where my body can’t take it any more,” Johnson told the crowd at the Diamond League meeting in Gateshead, England, in a trackside interview. US Track and Field chief Doug Logan said in an e-mail: “Allen Johnson is an inspiration for competition as lifelong pursuit. Allen embodies all the qualities you could ask for from a champion. Above all, he conducted himself with class, on and off the track.”
■ATHLETICS
Rudisha closes on record
Kenya’s David Rudisha became the second fastest man ever over 800m when he set an African record of 1 minute, 41.51 seconds in Huesden, Belgium, on Saturday. Rudisha, who is still only 21, now only lies behind Denmark’s Kenyan-born world record holder Wilson Kipketer, who ran 1 minute, 41.11 seconds in 1997. He is only the fourth man to go under the 1 minute, 42 seconds barrier, leaping in front of Britain’s Sebastian Coe and Brazil’s Joaquim Cruz, who were both former Olympic 800m champions. “The world record is now my next target, but I have to work harder over the final 100m of my race,” Rudisha said.
■RUGBY UNION
Bakkies Botha suspended
South Africa lock Bakkies Botha will miss the rest of the Tri-Nations after being suspended for nine weeks for headbutting All Blacks scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan. Botha was suspended by judicial officer Dennis Wheelahan yesterday after a hearing in Auckland, New Zealand. He is not eligible to play again until after Sept. 4, the same date as South Africa’s final Tri-Nations match against Australia. Botha had been cited after the All Blacks beat South Africa 32-12 at Eden Park on Saturday. Television replays showed Botha appearing to pause after completing a tackle on Cowan, before launching himself at the back of the scrumhalf’s head.
■SUMO
Hundreds cancel tickets
One of Japan’s top sumo tournaments began in Nagoya yesterday without live TV coverage and with fans staying away in disgust at a scandal over illegal gambling. The 15-day event opened only days after police raided 13 sumo stables and dozens of offices and houses for evidence linking wrestlers and stablemasters to gambling on baseball organized by yakuza mobsters.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
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
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping