CRICKET/BOXING
Flintoff trades bat for gloves
Having knocked down many an off-stump during his time as England cricket captain, Andrew Flintoff hopes to do the same to opponents when he takes to the boxing ring later this year. Flintoff’s preparations for his debut fight, scheduled for Nov. 30 at the Manchester Arena, are to be televised in a documentary The Gloves Are Off. The 1.93m sportsman, who would box as a heavyweight, has yet to apply to the British Boxing Board of Control for a license, but is being trained by former world featherweight champion Barry McGuigan and the Irishman’s son, Shane. Flintoff played in 79 Tests for England as an all-rounder before retiring from cricket in 2010 because of injury. He transcended sporting fame to become a national treasure by leading England to a famous Ashes victory in 2005 — their first Test series win over Australia in almost two decades. He has made numerous media appearances since on sports panel shows and was a guest commentator during some matches of last year’s Darts world championship in England. Robert Smith, the general-secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control, said obtaining a license was not a foregone conclusion.
RUGBY SEVENS
UAE to host tournament
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) plans to host an inter-Arabian Gulf Rugby Sevens tournament to boost the sport regionally, ahead of the 2014 Asian Games and the 2016 Olympics. The event is also part of a drive to get Sevens into the West Asian Games, UAE Rugby Association chief Ian Bremner said. Officials have held talks with rugby’s world governing body, the International Rugby Board (IRB), and plan to stage the four-nation event in November. “We’ve just applied last week to the IRB to run a ... tournament here with Lebanon, Iran, Saudi Arabia and ourselves,” Bremner told reporters. “It’s a West Asian Sevens competition and this is obviously on the route towards the Asian Games.” Bremner said the IRB had encouraged the UAE to invigorate the sport within the region. “This is our first step in terms of hosting that tournament,” he said. “We’d be very happy for any of the other teams attending to host another leg of that next year.” The UAE’s rugby chiefs are looking to increase the number of nationals playing the game with a view to future involvement in the Asian and Olympic Games. The sport will feature in the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, and also for the first time at an Olympics in Rio de Janeiro 2016.
RUGBY UNION
Argentina finalize team
Argentina coach Santiago Phelan finalized his team for their Rugby Championship clash on Saturday against New Zealand when he named his replacements bench yesterday. The Pumas had named their starting side on Tuesday, with flyhalf Juan Martin Hernandez and openside flanker Juan Manuel Leguizamon returning to the side after injuries. Both players missed Argentina’s 16-16 draw with South Africa in Mendoza, Argentina, two weeks ago and will bring an added dimension to a Pumas side packed with experience and burning to stamp their credentials on the competition. “We are really excited to play the match against New Zealand,” center Santiago Fernandez said in a statement on the Argentine Rugby Union Web site. “They are the best in the world and we hope things go well. We have to try to put them under a lot of pressure, because if you let them play, they are lethal. They are the best in the world and if you have not closed spaces [they will punish you].”
Soccer
US seek qualification
The US are seeking their first World Cup qualifying win in Jamaica as the two top teams in Group A square off in back-to-back matches, beginning today in Kingston. The US continue their qualifying run to the 2014 World Cup when they travel to Kingston for the first contest. The teams meet again on Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio. The US have earned draws in their previous four attempts to win qualifying matches on Jamaican soil. “Obviously these are two huge games for us with six points on the line,” coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. “We are in a good position at the moment in our group, but we are going into the games against Jamaica with the mindset that we want to win both. We feel very confident in the group that we have coming in. We are developing a lot of good chemistry and experience in the team, and now our goal is to become more and more consistent.” The US and Jamaica lead Group A with four points after two matches, but the US have a better goal differential. The US prepared to face Jamaica by holding a three-day training camp in Miami. “We are trying to get the players focused on going into Jamaica for the Friday night game and hopefully pull off a victory,” Klinsmann said. “We’re confident of doing well and focused on our work. If I look at our team and our roster, I am excited.”
GOLF
Tour back at Kingsmill
The LPGA Tour is back on the River Course at Kingsmill, for many a return to one of their favorite stops on tour. The return to Kingsmill is also part of a resurgence in the women’s game, so much so that a purse that has fallen from US$2.2 million when the tour last visited in 2009 to US$1.3 million this time around hardly seems to matter to the field.Cristie Kerr won twice on the layout when the tournament was sponsored by Anheuser-Busch. She says the Bermuda rough is more prevalent than she remembers, but hopes her return might help her end a victory drought that started in 2010. It might help that only four of the top 10 on the money list are playing.
SOCCER
Mob storms headquarters
Hundreds of people stormed the headquarters of Egypt’s Football Association on Wednesday to protest a decision to resume league games despite an ongoing trial over rioting and stadium deaths, witnesses and security sources said. The protesters, mostly passionate fans of Cairo’s Al-Ahly club known as “Ultras” attacked the building with flares and other projectiles, witnesses said. No one was hurt, secrity sources said. The Ultras were furious after the Football Association decided to resume league games before the trial ends. More than 70 people were killed in Port Said in February, in the deadliest incident in Egypt’s football history, after clashes in the Suez Canal city between fans of home side Al-Masry and those of Al-Ahly. The fighting erupted at the final whistle when Al-Masry fans invaded the pitch after their team beat the visitors 3-1, throwing rocks, bottles and fireworks at Al-Ahly supporters, causing chaos and panic as players and fans fled in all directions. The Port Said stadium deaths sparked days of violent protests in Cairo, in which another 16 people were killed. The violence was one of the deadliest incidents in football history, and came amid charges from witnesses that security forces did little to prevent the rioting, prompting more deadly clashes in the days that followed.
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
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
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