CRICKET
Afghanistan takes ICC
Afghanistan defeated Canada by two wickets in a rain-affected Intercontinental Cup (ICC) one-day international in King City, Canada, on Sunday. Canada, who played in the World Cup earlier this year, made 230 all out in 44.5 overs before Afghanistan reached their Duckworth-Lewis target of 213 from 43 overs with 11 balls to spare. Afghanistan were quickly in trouble when Noor Ali Zadran (one) and Mohammad Shahzad (one) were back in the pavilion by the third over with the score at seven for two. Skipper Nawroz Mangal helped steady the innings with 34 off 33 balls before opener Shabir Noori, who made 94, and Mohammad Nabi put on 114 for the fourth wicket. Noori hit 11 fours and two sixes in his 109-ball innings while Nabi’s 58 came off 59 balls with three fours and two sixes. Afghanistan then lost five wickets for just 24 runs before Samiullah Shenwari and Mirwais Ashraf saw their team to victory.
GOLF
McIlroy to tour China
US Open champion Rory McIlroy has signed up to headline a made-for-TV golf odyssey through China this year to showcase the sport in the country and the nation’s fast-growing cities to the rest of the world. Former world No. 1 Ernie Els, Englishman Ian Poulter and China’s No. 1 Liang Wen-chong will also compete in the four-man event from Oct. 10-Oct. 16, at which the quartet will play just 18 holes, competing on two or three holes at each of eight courses. The even will tee off in Shanghai before heading to Dalian and Beijing, west to Chongqing and then south through Haikou in Hainan Province, Dongguan, Guangzhou Province, and Macau.
TRIATHLON
Brownlee wins in London
European champion Alistair Brownlee won the men’s race of the London triathlon on Sunday, completing a British double on the Hyde Park course to be used at next year’s Summer Olympics. The 23-year-old Brownlee was in a leading group of four by the end of the cycle route past Buckingham Palace. He surged clear over the run to cross the line in one hour, 50 minutes, nine seconds — clinching his third win from five World Championship Series events. A day after Britain’s Helen Jenkins won the women’s race in the first competitive triathlon on the Olympic course, Brownlee finished 25 seconds ahead of Russia’s Alexander Bryukhankov to meet the selection criteria for Britain’s Olympic team next year. Brownlee ran the 10km in 29:50, high-fiving fans along the home straight before walking over the line. Brownlee’s brother, Jonathan, finished another 30 seconds back in third to also reach the qualifying standard.
TRIATHLON
New York competitor dies
One competitor died and another was in critical condition on Sunday after they ran into difficulty in the swimming phase of the Nautica New York City Triathlon. New York City police said 64-year-old Michael Kudryk of Freehold, New Jersey, was pulled unconscious from the Hudson River on Sunday morning and was thought to have had a heart attack. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Police said a 40-year-old woman from Illinois, whose name was not immediately available, was in critical condition with heart attack symptoms and 26 others were taken from the water in need of first aid during the swim, which was the first phase of the race.
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
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely