SOCCER
Mechelen put four past Mons
Taiwan international Xavier Chen’s KV Mechelen thrashed RAEC Mons 4-1 on Saturday to consolidate 10th position in the Belgian Jupiler League standings. Boubacar Dialiba Diabang opened the scoring for Mechelen in the 22nd minute. The hosts doubled their lead from the penalty spot against 10 men after Mons goalkeeper Olivier Werner was sent off, with Julien Gorius scoring in the 57th minute. Mons pulled one back after 65 minutes through Nicolas Timmermans, but Jaime Alfonso Ruiz made it three for Mechelen after 71 minutes and Dialiba Diabang scored his second 10 minutes from time to complete the rout. Chen played the full 90 minutes.
SOCCER
Catania-Roma match halted
A waterlogged pitch in Sicily forced Saturday’s Serie A match between Catania and AS Roma to be abandoned after 65 minutes with the score at 1-1. Nicola Legrottaglie headed the home side ahead after 24 minutes, with Daniele De Rossi nodding in Francesco Totti’s corner for Roma’s equalizer four minutes later. However, the rain, which fell heavily ahead of the kick-off, continued to pour at Stadio Angelo Massimino and the game was abandoned by referee Paolo Tagliavento after he demonstrated the ball would not bounce on the rain-soaked surface. Seventh-placed Roma and Catania, who are one place and five points behind their opponents, will meet again at a date yet to be determined.
CYCLING
Guo takes sprint gold
China’s Guo Shuang took gold in the women’s sprint on Saturday at the track cycling World Cup in Beijing, putting behind her the bad memories from last year when injury forced her out of the competition. The 25-year-old, a bronze-medalist at the Beijing Olympics, had already won gold in the women’s team sprint on Saturday and she dominated from the start of the event, beating Simona Krupeckaite from Lithuania in the final.
SKIING
Maze’s underwear approved
Slovenian skier Tina Maze has been given the go-ahead to wear her controversial long underwear again. The Swiss team lodged a protest after Maze finished second in a Super-G in Bad Kleinkircheim, Austria, earlier this month, saying the plastic level in Maze’s garments exceeded FIS rules, giving her an aerodynamic edge. The FIS issued a statement on Saturday saying “the air permeability rules were fulfilled” during a test of the one-piece undergarment “and consequently there will be no modification to the results of the competition.”
SOCCER
Cahill set to join Chelsea
England defender Gary Cahill is on the verge of becoming a Chelsea player after passing a medical, the English Premier League club’s manager Andre Villas-Boas said on Saturday. After days of negotiations over the Bolton Wanderers centerback’s terms, the deal now looks a formality after the medical at the London club’s training ground earlier on Saturday. “Gary passed his medical and should be our player soon,” Villas-Boas was quoted as saying by the BBC. The 26-year-old, who has seven caps and will cost Chelsea about £7 million (US$10.7 million), according to British media reports, will link up at Chelsea with England skipper John Terry and looks set to replace Alex. Cahill joined Bolton from Aston Villa in 2008 with his career apparently going backward, but he has developed into an outstanding defender even though Owen Coyle’s side have struggled all season.
CRICKET
South Africa beats Sri Lanka
Half-centuries from Hashim Amla and J.P. Duminy helped South Africa secure a five-wicket win in the second one-day international against Sri Lanka in East London, South Africa, on Saturday. Opening batsman Amla weighed in with 55 off 58 balls, while Duminy was not out on 66 off 87 deliveries. South Africa, chasing Sri Lanka’s 236 for six, reached 237 for five with eight balls remaining. Amla and Graeme Smith (28) provided the hosts with an impressive start thanks to an opening stand of 76 before Duminy controlled the middle-order as the hosts took a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. Amla looked in complete control during his innings, which included five fours and two sixes. Duminy was content to simply work the ball around and struck just one six. Sri Lanka owed their final total to Dinesh Chandimal, who ended not out on 92, and left-handed opening batsman Upul Tharanga. He made 66 off 85 deliveries with six fours and a six. Chandimal, together with Nuwan Kulasekara (22) and Angelo Mathews (28), provided the innings with some late impetus.
BOXING
Stieglitz retains title
Robert Stieglitz retained his WBO super-middleweight title with a unanimous decision over German countryman Henry Weber in Offenburg, Germany, on Saturday. Stieglitz dominated the 12 rounds, but was forced to go the distance against the challenger. Weber stood his ground, but took too much punishment to threaten the champion. The three judges ruled the fight 116-112, 118-110 and 119-109. Stieglitz improved to 41-2, while Weber dropped to 15-1, with one draw.
SAILING
Abu Dhabi clinch victory
Resurgent Abu Dhabi clinched their second home victory in two days when they came from behind to win a 106-nautical mile (196km) sprint in the Volvo Ocean Race on Saturday. The United Arab Emirates team, under pressure after retiring from the first offshore leg and limping home in fifth in the second, breathed new life into their campaign by winning their home in-port race on Friday and followed that up 24 hours later with a blistering success in the race to Sharjah. Abu Dhabi, skippered by twice British Olympic silver medalist Ian Walker, had England cricketers Graeme Swann and Alastair Cook on board as guest spectators for the first section of the race in Abu Dhabi. Key to victory was their speed over the closing stages, as they stormed home doing more than 20 knots to win in six hours, 29 minutes, 45 seconds.
TENNIS
Mayer withdraws
Germany’s Florian Mayer has withdrawn from the Australian Open in Melbourne after suffering a hip strain. The 20th seed was scheduled to play Taiwan’s Lu Yen-hsun in the first round today at Melbourne Park. Mayer would be replaced in the draw by lucky loser Rik de Voest of South Africa, organizers said yesterday.
SKIING
Brandsdal wins sprint
Norway’s Erik Brandsdal and Ida Ingemarsdotter of Sweden won the World Cup nordic skiing sprint events in Milan, Italy, on Saturday. Brandsdal, 25, beat Germany’s Josef Wenzl and Teodor Peterson of Sweden to claim his second career win, while favorite Alexei Petukhov of Russia could only manage fifth. In the women’s race, Ingemarsdotter claimed a maiden World Cup win, finishing ahead of US favorite Kikkan Randall and Maiken Caspersen Falla of Norway.
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