GOLF
Uribe wins Brazil Cup
Mariajo Uribe of Colombia shot a 6-under 66 to defeat Lindsey Wright of Australia by a stroke in the final round of the Brazil Cup on Sunday, picking up her first LPGA Tour win. Uribe, last year’s runner-up in the 36-hole exhibition event, made seven birdies and a bogey to finish at 9-under 135 at the Itanhanga Golf Club. Uribe was 5-under after the first seven holes on Sunday, then picked up two more birdies and a bogey on the back nine before finishing with four straight pars to secure the victory in the 30-player tournament just outside Rio de Janeiro. Uribe, who lost last year’s tournament to the US’ Meaghan Francella in a six-hole playoff, received US$108,000 of the US$720,000 prize fund.
ATHLETICS
Hardee wins Hypo Meeting
World decathlon champion Trey Hardee of the US scored personal bests in long jump and shot put while winning the 37th edition of the Hypo Meeting on Sunday. Hardee, who led after Saturday’s first five events, finished on 8,689 points to beat second-place Leonel Suarez of Cuba by 289 points. Mikk Pahapill of Estonia was third with 8,398 points. Hardee, whose personal best is 8,790 points, had a 7.88m effort in long jump and a 15.63m throw in the shot put to set two new personal records. World and European champion Jessica Ennis of Britain won the women’s heptathlon event for a second successive year. Tatyana Chernova of Russia came second. Antoinette Nana-Djimou of France took third.
RUGBY UNION
S Africa wins Edinburgh
South Africa’s Bernardo Botha scored a late try to clinch the Edinburgh Sevens title in dramatic 36-35 Final victory over Australia on the last day of the Sevens World Series. In a tense encounter, the injury-hit Springbok Seven came back from 28-7 down to finish strongly thanks to Botha and Steven Hunt, who scored a hat-trick of tries for the South Africans. The South Africans also came from 14-0 behind in their semi-final against Wales, as Botha, Kyle Brown, Hunt and Delport secured a 22-19 victory to set up the final with Australia, who had earlier beaten New Zealand to reach their first Cup final of the season.
BADMINTON
China wins Sudirman Cup
The rest of the badminton world was left wondering yesterday how they would ever catch up with China after the dominant force in the game romped to a fourth successive Sudirman Cup win. The hosts demolished Denmark, Europe’s best team, 3-0 in Sunday’s final in front of a raucous sell-out crowd in the seaside city of Qingdao. Hot pre-tournament favorites China were the outstanding side at the world mixed team championships and no other country came even remotely close to toppling them as they rampaged their way to yet another big title.
BADMINTON
BWF scraps skirt rule
Badminton’s world governing body has decided to scrap a controversial rule that would have forced female players to wear skirts in competition. The Badminton World Federation (BWF), which held its annual general meeting in Qingdao, China, over the weekend, had already delayed the implementation by a month until June 1 following an outcry among female players. It said after the meeting it would continue to investigate the issue following further consultation with player representatives, who had been instrumental in getting the body to change the implementation of the rule.
NATIONS CUP
Keane’s strike wins Cup
The Republic of Ireland had Robbie Keane’s 49th international goal to thank for a 1-0 win over Scotland that secured the inaugural Nations Cup in Dublin on Sunday night. Veteran Keane, who bagged a brace in a 5-0 romp over Northern Ireland, scored midway through the opening period after taking a pass from Paul McShane and slotting the ball left-footed under Scotland goalkeeper Allan McGregor. The goal by the former Inter striker on 23 minutes equaled the British Isles goalscoring record set by England legend Sir Bobby Charlton and the Spurs forward’s effort also earned the hosts the cup in the revamped version of the old Home Internationals — minus England — which had previously seen both of Sunday’s protagonists see off Wales and Northern Ireland with something to spare. Scotland gave as good as they got, but they were unable to conjure an equalizer, skipper Kenny Miller denied a penalty when Stephen Hunt appeared to grab his arm in the box as he prepared to shoot.
ENGLAND
Joey Barton wants to stay
Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton insists he wants to stay at the Premier League club, even though he has been told he will not be offered a new contract when his current deal expires. The 28-year-old has one year remaining on his contract at St James’ Park and is keen to extend his stay. However, talks over a new deal broke down recently and his agent, Willie McKay, revealed this week that his client would not be offered another contract. Speaking on micro-blogging Web site Twitter, Barton said he would remain committed to Newcastle for as long as the club want him. “Finished playing golf, 72 not bad. Came in to questions about joining Everton? I don’t want to leave Newcastle, but thanks anyways,” Barton wrote. “I can’t sign a contract if am not offered one? I will tell all when the time is right, basically they want a younger, better, cheaper player.”
NORWAY
Rushfeldt breaks record
Tromso striker Sigurd Rushfeldt struck a hat-trick against Brann to break Harald Brattbakk’s record of 166 goals in Norway’s top division on Sunday. The 38-year-old, who had spells in England, Spain and Austria, scored with his left foot, right foot and a header to take his goal haul to 168. Rushfeldt was substituted to rapturous applause just after completing his hat-trick with a bullet header. Tromso scored a fourth in the final minute to win 4-0 and go top of the league.
FRANCE
Lizarazu to take naked run
Former France defender Bixente Lizarazu will run naked through the streets of Evian to celebrate the local club’s promotion to Ligue 1. Evian were promoted earlier this month and clinched the Ligue 2 title on Friday, a year after winning promotion from the third tier. “I’ll do it, I’ll do it,” the former Bayern Munich defender, who is a shareholder of Evian, told French television channel TF1 when asked if he would keep a promise he made last July. “I’ll keep my word, I’ll do it, but I’m not going to call the international press.”
ASIA
Zhang Jilong takes over
China’s Zhang Jilong will take the reins of the Asian Football Confederation in the absence of Mohamed bin Hammam, who was suspended from all soccer activities by FIFA on Sunday, a source said yesterday. The vice president ran for a seat on FIFA’s executive committee earlier this year, but he was beaten in a vote at a congress in Doha.
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
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
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and