ALPINE SKIING
Hirscher silences critics
Marcel Hirscher silenced his critics in style when he won the most coveted slalom of the season in Schladming, Austria, on Tuesday, days after being embroiled in a bitter controversy over a previous victory. The Austrian won the floodlit race on the Planai piste, lined by 50,000 fans, in a combined time of 1 minute, 43.01 seconds for his sixth victory of the World Cup season. The 22-year-old Hirscher beat Italy’s Stefano Gross by 0.22 seconds, while fellow Austrian Mario Matt was third, a further 0.07 seconds behind. World Cup leader Ivica Kostelic of Croatia missed the podium by 0.01 seconds, but he retained top spot in the race for the overall title with an 80-point lead over Hirscher. The Austrian had never previously made it on to the podium on home snow and the result was a relief after the weekend’s row over his victory in Zagreb earlier this month. Hirscher’s performance on Jan. 5 was questioned after slow-motion videotapes showed he had straddled a gate — a mistake that should lead to disqualification — before being awarded victory.
BASKETBALL
Wizards fire Saunders
The Washington Wizards fired coach Flip Saunders on Tuesday after opening the season with a NBA-worst 2-15 record. The Wizards, who started the season with eight consecutive losses, were trounced by the Philadelphia 76ers 103-83 on Monday, their seventh road loss in as many tries this year. Assistant Randy Wittman will take over on an interim basis for the remainder of the season, beginning with the Wizards hosting the Charlotte Bobcats. “We felt the team had become unresponsive, and we will look to Randy to provide a different voice and a change in philosophy moving forward,” Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld said in a statement. “We were disappointed in the lack of development of our players at this point in our rebuilding plan.”
ICE HOCKEY
Alex Ovechkin pulls out
Suspended Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin has withdrawn from the NHL’s annual All-Star Game, saying he did not deserve to be there. The game, on Sunday in Ottawa, comes during the winger’s three-game suspension for a hit to the head and the Russian said he should not be allowed to play. “My heart is not there. I am suspended, so why I have to go there?” Ovechkin told reporters. “I don’t want to be a target. I feel like I’m not deserving to be there right now. If I’m suspended, I have to be suspended.” Ovechkin, a two-time winner of the NHL Most Valuable Player award, was suspended by the NHL on Monday for a hit on Pittsburgh’s Zbynek Michalek on Sunday. Capitals general manager George McPhee said the team supported Ovechkin’s decision. “It is a great event and he doesn’t want that distraction, and we don’t want it either,” McPhee said.
SOCCER
Taiwo joins QPR on loan
Nigeria international Taye Taiwo has joined English Premier League club Queens Park Rangers on loan from Italian giants AC Milan, it was confirmed on Tuesday. The 26-year-old will remain at Loftus Road until the end of the season after struggling to win a regular place in the starting lineup at Milan since joining from French side Olympique de Marseille last summer. The defender, who can also play in midfield, was reportedly the subject of interest from Arsenal, but he has joined QPR after receiving a work permit. Recently appointed QPR boss Mark Hughes was delighted to have secured Taiwo’s signature. “I have known of him for a long time and admired him from afar,” Hughes said.
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