RUGBY UNION
Sharpe to return again
Veteran Wallaby lock Nathan Sharpe yesterday agreed to postpone his retirement again after a mayday call from Robbie Deans to keep going for the four-Test tour of Europe next month. The 34-year-old announced in February he would quit all competitive rugby at the end of July and move into the resources industry, while also working as a media commentator. However, he was enticed into staying on for the inaugural Rugby Championship over the Australian winter after injuries sidelined James Horwill and the forced retirement of Dan Vickerman. He had an exceptional tournament, taking the captaincy when injury hit David Pocock and then Will Genia, and agreed to remain with the squad for the Tests against England, France, Italy and Wales from Nov. 10.
CRICKET
Pietersen welcome: Broad
Kevin Pietersen will be welcomed back into the England team when the controversial middle-order batsman returns to the national side, Twenty20 captain Stuart Broad said on Wednesday. “Once the England management have decided when he’s available to return, he’ll be welcomed back into the changing room,” Broad told reporters at a book launch. The 32-year-old Pietersen, England’s best batsman in all forms of the game, has signed a new four-month contract after he was dropped in August for sending text messages about former Test skipper Andrew Strauss to South Africa players during the series between the two sides. He also admitted there had been problems in the dressing room. After lengthy negotiations, Pietersen was awarded another central contract which could be extended until September next year and will return to the England side following a “reintegration process.”
SOCCER
Muamba to meet Blatter
FIFA President Sepp Blatter will hold talks with Fabrice Muamba later this month as the player who unexpectedly recovered from an on-field cardiac arrest considers a career in soccer politics. The midfielder was forced to retire in August, four months after collapsing at Tottenham while playing for Bolton in front of a global television audience. Muamba finds going to matches tough emotionally, but says he’s now attracted to sports politics. On the sidelines of the Leaders in Football Conference, Muamba said: “I like this kind of side of it, making decisions ... I have a meeting with Sepp Blatter.’’ The former England under-21 international says “hopefully he can get a job for me.’’ The meeting is due to take place in Zurich on Oct. 30.
SOCCER
Hand gesture earns ban
UEFA has banned Montpellier coach Rene Girard from one Champions League match for directing an obscene hand gesture at the Schalke bench after the teams drew 2-2 last week. UEFA says a second ban for improper conduct was suspended for a three-year probationary period. Girard will serve the ban — which bars him from contacting players or coaches in the stadium — when Montpellier host Olympiakos on Oct. 24. He was fined 5,000 euros (US$6,430). The French coach made the gesture in a heated touchline exchange after his 10-man team scored a late equalizer in Germany last week. UEFA says it fined Montpellier 17,000 euros because five of their players received yellow cards and fans threw missiles and fireworks.
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