ICE HOCKEY
Kings’ Kopitar needs surgery
Anze Kopitar, the Los Angeles Kings’ leading scorer, will have surgery to repair torn ankle ligaments and is unlikely to play again this season, the team said on Monday. The Kings had hoped Kopitar, who has a team-high 73 points in 75 games, including 25 goals, could return from the injury in six weeks, but it is now more likely he will not return before the start of the 2011-2012 NHL campaign. The 23-year-old Slovenian fell awkwardly after getting tangled up with Colorado defenseman Ryan O’Byrne in the second period of Saturday’s game. Kopitar’s absence is a severe blow to the Stanley Cup ambitions of Los Angeles (43-26-6), who are currently tied for fifth in the Western Conference.
RUGBY UNION
Sivivatu inks with Clermont
All Black winger Sitiveni Sivivatu will leave New Zealand after this year’s Rugby World Cup to play with French club Clermont, reports said yesterday. The Fijian-born flyer signed a two-year deal with Top 14 champions Clermont after rejecting a contract extension from the New Zealand Rugby Union, Fairfax Media reported. It said Sivivatu’s management team had confirmed the 28-year-old would move to France next year, with an official announcement expected today. Sivivatu has scored 27 tries in his 43 Tests for the All Blacks and is set to be a key part of the team’s campaign at the World Cup.
SOCCER
Dead gangster attends game
Hooligans supporting Colombian top-flight club Cucuta Deportivo managed a new low on the weekend after they smuggled a dead gang member in a coffin into a match. Cristopher Jacome, 17, had been shot by hitmen overnight on Sunday, but still made it to the match later in the day at the 45,000-capacity General Santander Stadium in the northeastern city of Cucuta, which finished in a 1-1 draw with Envigado. “This regrettable incident happened on Sunday when a group of hooligans managed to hoodwink stadium security and get the body of young Cristopher Jacome into the stadium,” local police colonel Alvaro Pico said.
SOCCER
La Liga case in court
A Madrid court yesterday was to hear arguments for and against industrial action that could lead to the postponement of this weekend’s La Liga matches. The professional soccer league (LFP) have threatened to suspend the 30th round of matches on April 2 and Arpil 3 in an attempt to force the government to scrap a rule that one La Liga game per weekend should be shown on freeview television. With talks seemingly failing and strike action looming, six clubs, known as the G-6 and including heavyweights Sevilla and Villarreal, have broken ranks and filed a legal challenge to try to have the move declared void. A decision from the judge is expected today.
RUGBY UNION
Ashley-Cooper hops squads
Versatile Australia back Adam Ashley-Cooper is to join the New South Wales Waratahs from rival Super Rugby team the ACT Brumbies at the end of the season. The 27-year-old, who re-signed with the Australian Rugby Union for another two years last month, will join the Sydney-based Waratahs on a two-year deal after six seasons in Canberra. Ashley-Cooper has been a key member of the Wallabies under coach Robbie Deans, playing in 14 of their 15 Tests last year. Able to play at fullback, winger or outside center, he delayed the announcement of his move until after the two teams met last weekend.
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