■ SOCCER
FIFA officials visit US
FIFA World Cup inspectors visited New York on Tuesday as part of a three-day, five-city US tour that includes breakfast at the White House. The six-man delegation is touring potential stadiums and facilities as part of the process in determining if the US is a suitable host for the FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022. The highlight of the tour for the group, which is led by Chile Football Federation president Harold Mayne-Nicholls, was to be breakfast at the White House yesterday morning. Former US president Bill Clinton attended World Cup matches in South Africa and is chairman of the US bid. The US is one of eight of nine stops on the FIFA world tour. FIFA’s executive committee votes on both event hosts Dec. 2.
■ BASEBALL
S Korea to target drug tests
South Korean baseball officials could introduce drastic anti-doping protocols next year with a plan to target specific players for drug tests. The Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) said players who showed marked statistical improvement would be targeted in a clampdown on drug cheats, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported yesterday. The KBO currently tests five local players randomly selected from each of the eight ballclubs, plus all foreign players. League officials said they would begin examining the new testing procedures at the end of the season, with players exceeding their career averages set to be selected for testing.
■ FIGURE SKATING
Kim Yu-na to train in LA
Olympic figure skating champion Kim Yu-na is set to train in Los Angeles, although for how long and under whose tutelage remain to be seen. Since splitting from her longtime coach Brian Orser in a public spat last month, Kim had remained coy on her future plans. Kim eliminated some of the mystery on Tuesday, confirming she would be moving her training base from Canada to Artesia on the outskirts of Los Angeles.
■ SWIMMING
Stephanie Rice sorry for slur
Triple Olympic swimming gold medalist Stephanie Rice made a tearful apology yesterday for a homophobic slur she posted on Saturday on Twitter. Rice twice broke down in tears at a news conference she called in Sydney where she asked for forgiveness for her “thoughtless and careless” comment. Rice, 22, tweeted the derogatory remark after Australia’s last-minute win over South Africa in a Rugby Union test match at Bloemfontein. Rice, who reportedly is dating Australia flyhalf Quade Cooper, later deleted the tweet and apologized, saying she didn’t mean to cause offense. She said she called Wednesday’s news conference because she felt a public apology was also necessary. “I owe it to those who I have offended to publicly say, I am sorry,” Rice said. Saturday’s tweet cost Rice an endorsement contract with luxury carmaker Jaguar.
■ FOOTBALL
Parcells gives up control
Miami Dolphins vice president Bill Parcells is handing over control of the team to general manager Jeff Ireland and will remain a daily consultant, the Dolphins said on Tuesday. “Effective immediately, Jeff Ireland will assume full control over all aspects and decisions in regard to the Miami Dolphins football team and support staff,” the team said in a statement. Parcells had named Ireland the Dolphins’ general manager in 2008. Prior to joining the Dolphins in December 2007, Parcells spent 19 years as an NFL head coach with the New York Giants, New England Patriots, New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys.
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