SOCCER
Blues sign defender Cahill
Chelsea strengthened their bid for silverware this season by completing the signing of England central defender Gary Cahill from Premier League rivals Bolton Wanderers on Monday. The 26-year-old Cahill reportedly cost £7 million (US$10.7 million). The fee was lower than would normally be expected for an England international because Cahill would have been able to leave on a free transfer at the end of the season. “Chelsea is a massive club,” Cahill said. “It is a club that looks to win trophies season in, season out, and it is a big opportunity for me to be a part of that.”
SOCCER
Ivory Coast down Libya
Chelsea striker Salomon Kalou scored on the hour mark to give Ivory Coast a 1-0 win over Libya on Monday in an Africa Cup of Nations warm-up match. It was the second victory in four days for the joint title favorites in Abu Dhabi after Kalou and Didier Drogba grabbed the goals that sank Tunisia 2-0 on Friday. Libya, fairy-tale qualifiers after playing while a civil war raged in the country last year, came under increasing pressure at the Al Nayhan Stadium and finally caved in 15 minutes into the second half. Defender Igor Lolo delivered a deep cross and Kalou rose between two defenders to nod the ball wide of Libya goalkeeper Samir Aboud.
FOOTBALL
Tebow named as starter
Tim Tebow earned the right to enter training camp as the Denver Broncos’ starting quarterback next season after turning around the team’s season and guiding them to their first playoff berth in six campaigns, the team said on Monday. Tebow took over the starting role after Denver got off to a 1-4 start to the season and led his team to the AFC West Division title. “Tim has earned the right to be the starting quarterback going into training camp next year,” said John Elway, executive vice president of football operations for the Broncos. “Obviously, the passing game was not where we want it to be. We’re looking forward to this off-season to be able to see him improve in that area.”
BASKETBALL
US names 20-man squad
The US has added Blake Griffin of the Clippers and LaMarcus Aldridge of the Trail Blazers to the 18 holdovers who hope to go for more basketball gold at this year’s Olympics. The US announced a 20-player pool on Monday, a list from which the 12-man Olympic squad will be chosen in June. Returning from the team that won the gold in Beijing are: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and Deron Williams. Back from the reigning world champions are: Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, Tyson Chandler, Eric Gordon, Rudy Gay, Kevin Love, Lamar Odom, Chauncey Billups, Russell Westbrook and Andre Iguodala.
OLYMPICS
Kiwis tout sheep shearing
The New Zealand Farmers Federation has called for sheep shearing to become an Olympic sport, hailing top wool-clippers as world-class athletes. Federation spokeswoman Jeanette Maxwell said shearing is now a bona fide sport that deserves international recognition. “Surely, time has come to elevate shearing’s sporting status to the ultimate world stage?” she said in a statement. “One way would be to make shearing a demonstration sport at a Commonwealth Games, if not the Olympics itself.” Maxwell said shearers clip up to 700 sheep over an eight-hour period, in a feat that has been likened to running two marathons back-to-back.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two