OLYMPICS
Mark Todd knighted
Equestrian Mark Todd, who competed at his seventh Olympic Games in London this year and won his fifth medal, has received a knighthood in New Zealand’s annual New Year’s honors list. Todd won a bronze medal in the three-day teams event in London, 28 years after winning gold medals in the individual and teams events at the 1984 Los Angeles Games. In total, the 60-year-old Todd has won two gold and three bronze medals. He also won the prestigious Badminton Horse Trials on four occasions, including at his first attempt in 1980 and again in 2011, when he became the oldest winner of the event. International Cricket Council president Alan Isaac was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
SOCCER
Deportivo fire coach Oltra
Deportivo La Coruna, lying bottom of the Spanish league, fired Jose Luis Oltra as coach on Sunday. “We think it’s an ideal time to go ahead with such a change,” club president Augusto Cesar Lendoiro said, adding that a replacement would be named shortly. Deportivo have won just two of their 17 La Liga matches this season. A former coach of Tenerife and Almeria, the 43-year-old Oltra had been at the Galician club since 2011 and had led them back into the top-flight.
GOLF
Jimenez breaks leg
Spanish golfer Miguel Angel Jimenez has broken his right shinbone and will be sidelined for up to five months. Jimenez said in a statement on Sunday that he had undergone surgery on his leg after injuring it while skiing on Saturday. Jimenez was a vice captain on Europe’s Ryder Cup-winning team in September. In November, the 48-year-old Jimenez became the oldest European Tour winner by capturing his third Hong Kong Open title. He has 19 career European Tour titles.
TENNIS
Sport hits new low in mine
Sport will plunge to new depths in March when former professional tennis players Marcelo Rios and Guillermo Coria contest a match 1,500m down inside the world’s largest copper mine. “A tennis court of clay and cement will be built at a depth of 1,500m,” organizer Juan Romero told El Mercurio newspaper. El Teniente is the world’s largest copper mine and situated 120km south of the Chilean capital, Santiago. “This event will go down in the history of our country,” Romero added. Chile’s Rios, 37, is a former world No. 1 who collected 18 ATP titles before retiring in 2004. Argentine 30-year-old Coria retired in 2009 after reaching world No. 3 and claiming nine titles.
SOCCER
Nene mulls Brazil move
Paris Saint-Germain’s Brazilian striker Nene said on Sunday he was looking to move back to his homeland after falling out with the Ligue 1 leaders, adding that he has received the green light to do so from sporting director Leonardo. “My intention is to play in Brazil — that is clear for me — I have already spoken to Leonardo and they will agree to let me go,” Nene told the Web site of Brazilian sports daily Lance before heading off for PSG’s winter camp in Doha. “My idea is to return to Brazil, but I also have offers from European clubs, clubs in Sao Paulo and another country. My priority is to head home,” said the forward, who Lance says is a reported target for Santos, where he played in 2003. Nene has been frozen out at the Parc des Princes since he was left out of the starting line up for a Champions League game against Porto earlier this month.
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