CYCLING
Vansummeren wins classic
Belgian Johan Vansummeren upset the favorites to claim the 258km Paris-Roubaix classic on Sunday. Garmin-Cervelo rider Vansummeren, who is 1.97m tall, attacked a leading group of four riders with about 15km left before going on to win the Queen of the Classics. “I am the happiest man in the world. It’s a race that’s made for me, it’s made for my body,” he told reporters. Defending champion Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland raced away from a group 3.5km from the finish to end up second. Seconds after crossing the line Vansummeren went to his girlfriend Jasmin for a hug and proposed to her. “Some people give a ring, I give a rock,” he said, referring to the cobblestone trophy the Roubaix winner is awarded. Vansummeren even managed to ride the final 5km with a flat rear tire. “I had no time to change my wheel,” he said.
TENNIS
Clijsters injured at wedding
World No. 2 Kim Clijsters is a major doubt for the French Open next month after injuring her ankle at her cousin’s wedding. “Kim has injured her ankle. She won’t be able to compete for four to six weeks. Her participation in the French Open is no longer certain,” a statement said on her Web site on Sunday. “At the wedding party of her cousin Tim, Kim injured her ankle severely. The consequences are rather dire. Kim’s ankle is now completely immobilized and she can not use her foot for a few days.”
SOCCER
New boys Volga go top
Newly promoted Volga from Nizhny Novgorod unexpectedly jumped into the lead in the Russian league with a 3-1 win at Rostov on Sunday, while reigning champions Zenit were held to a 1-1 draw by CSKA Moscow. Volga made it nine points from four matches to sit one point ahead of Zenit and another promoted side FC Krasnodar, who share second spot. Zenit dominated in the opening half hour but it was CSKA, who took the lead in the 32nd minute through Mark Gonzalez. The hosts replied positively and pulled level in first half injury time, when Konstantin Zyryanov scored from Alexander Kerzhakov’s cross. After the interval Zenit looked fresher and more aggressive but CSKA defended well, dashing all of the hosts attempts to secure the win. Meanwhile, Volga looked confident in Rostov notching their third win to go top. They took the lead just before the break through Gocha Khodzhava, who beat Rostov goalkeeper Dejan Radic with a powerful shot. Anton Khazov and Sanzhar Tursunov added one apiece after the interval to make it 3-0 before Isaac Okoronkwo netted a consolation for the hosts.
SOCCER
Bender keeps Bayer bid alive
Bayer Leverkusen kept the Bundesliga title race alive by beating St Pauli 2-1 on Sunday to cut Borussia Dortmund’s lead to five points. In the day’s other game bottom club Borussia Moenchengladbach thrashed Cologne 5-1 to boost their survival hopes. Leverkusen floored St Pauli thanks to a 77th-minute goal from Lars Bender. Having dominated the first half the home team fell behind just before the hour when Charles Takyi steered in a cross by Florian Bruns. Stefan Kiessling leveled eight minutes later after Eren Derdiyok combined with Gonzalo Castro before pulling the ball back for the striker to score easily. Michael Ballack tested Benedikt Pliquett with two powerful drives but the St Pauli goalkeeper could do nothing when Bender beat the offside trap and slotted the ball under him.
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