ASIAN CUP
North Korea win warm-up
A second-half goal from substitute Chol Hyok gave North Korea a 1-0 victory over Bahrain on Tuesday in a warm-up match before the Asian Cup. Hyok, who replaced Choe Kum-chol at halftime, collected a cross from Pak Chol-min on the left and fired past Bahrain goalkeeper Mahmood Mansoor. The friendly was part of both teams’ preparations for the Asian Cup, which starts in Doha tomorrow. North Korea will face a daunting task in Group D as they take on defending champions Iraq, three-time champions Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Bahrain are in Group C with Australia, India and South Korea. North Korea were lifted by news from Germany that striker Jong Tae-se, who plays for second division side VfL Bochum, has been released by his club for the Asian Cup. The 26-year-old forward has been suffering from a persistent knee injury and his club had hoped he would remain in Germany to concentrate on fully recovering for the second half of the season, but after talks with the player, Bochum agreed to release him for the tournament.
ASIAN CUP
Goal-shy Saudi disappoint
Saudi Arabia drew 0-0 with Angola in an Asian Cup warm-up match on Tuesday. Thousands of fans were disappointed to see the Saudi team produce a very weak performance in the absence of their star striker Yasser Al Qahtani. The home team improved in the second half, but could not find a winner. Nasser Al Shamrani, Muhanad Asiri and Nayef Hazzazi missed the Saudis’ best chances. Angola failed to muster a serious threat on goal in the entire match as they focused on defense. Saudi Arabia opens their Asian Cup campaign against Syria on Sunday. They also face Japan and Jordan in Group B.
GERMANY
Match-fixing stuns St Pauli
Bundesliga club St Pauli reacted with shock on Tuesday after a former player said in a magazine interview he took 100,000 euros (US$133,100) to fix five matches in 2008. Rene Schnitzler, who played for the club when they were still in the second division, told Stern magazine he accepted the money from a Dutchman working with a betting outfit, although he denied influencing any matches. St Pauli said Schnitzler, who is now 25 and has dropped into regional soccer after leaving the club in 2009, ended up not playing in three of the five games, which were all away. “Even when no manipulation has taken place, it is a kick in the face,” St Pauli team manager Christian Boenig told reporters. “We didn’t notice anything conspicuous and neither did the other players, had we done so we would have reported it, but it’s a very uneasy feeling when a player whom we’ve discussed tactics with and worked with in private is connected with the betting mafia. We knew Rene had problems and we had offered him help, but we were not aware they were so deep.”
ENGLAND
Gunners to loan out Vela
Mexico striker Carlos Vela is set to be sent out on loan by Arsenal until the end of the season, with Bolton Wanderers emerging as the likely destination. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says that Bolton, who had Gunners midfielder Jack Wilshere on loan for part of last season, is one of “many clubs” interested in Vela. The 21-year-old Vela has seen his first-team chances at Arsenal limited this season, with Marouane Chamakh, Nicklas Bendtner, Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott all ahead of him in the pecking order.
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