ICE HOCKEY
Staal out indefinitely
New York Rangers defenseman Marc Staal will be sidelined indefinitely with a serious eye injury he sustained after being hit in the face by a puck, the team said on Wednesday. Staal was hit in the right eye by a deflected puck while playing against the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday, an injury that saw him collapse on the ice before skating off bleeding. “The injury has improved significantly and [doctors] are optimistic that Marc will make a full recovery,” the Rangers said in a statement. Staal also fell victim to injury last season when he missed the first 38 games due to a concussion. The 26-year-old has two goals and nine assists this year having played in every game this campaign before his latest setback.
SOCCER
Fan reports ref ‘crime’
A teenage Manchester United fan who dialled police to report a referee for the “crime” of sending off Nani during his side’s Champions League defeat by Real Madrid has apologized. The 18-year-old, who has not been named, was watching at home when, like thousands of United fans at Old Trafford on Tuesday, he was incensed by Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir’s decision to show a red card to Nani. That prompted the supporter, who was watching the match on television in a village near Bingham in Nottinghamshire, central England, to dial Britain’s emergency 999 telephone line to tell operators a crime had been committed. United, leading 1-0 on the night, then lost the match 2-1 and the tie 3-2 on aggregate as they exited the Champions League at the first knockout stage of the last 16. “While this recent example may be amusing, it illustrates the sort of insincere calls we have to deal with on a daily basis in the control room,” chief inspector Ted Antill of Nottinghamshire Police said on Wednesday. “They waste our time and they direct us away from genuine victims of crime, particularly if we dispatch officers out to something that turns out to be a bogus report.”
SOCCER
Bruno denies ordering killing
Former Flamengo goalkeeper Bruno has acknowledged for the first time that he knew about the death of his ex-girlfriend, but denies ordering her killing. Bruno said during his trial in Minas Gerais on Wednesday that a friend hired someone to kill model Eliza Samudio, who allegedly was dismembered before her remains were fed to dogs. Bruno said he “was not the one who ordered” the killing but “in a way” feels “guilty” for her death. Bruno was captain of the Flamengo team that won the Brazilian championship in 2009. That year, Samudio made the first allegations to police that she was pregnant with Bruno’s child, and that the player and others kidnapped her and tried to force her to terminate the pregnancy. He is facing charges he ordered her killing.
SOCCER
Ronaldo slams Fergie
Former Brazil striker Ronaldo says Manchester United manager Alex Manchester was disrespectful when he made a comment about his weight, saying he was glad United lost to Real Madrid in the Champions League. Ferguson earlier in the week poked fun at the Brazilian’s recent weight issues while comparing him with current Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo. The Brazilian, who has gotten back in shape, said on Wednesday that “Real Madrid shut [Ferguson’s] mouth for me.” He said the comment made by Ferguson represented “a lack of respect” and “was not polite” for someone in his position. Ronaldo had already complained of Ferguson’s comments on Tuesday.
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
Playing soccer and competing for trophies is the best way that many transplanted Hong Kongers and Macanese have found to stay in touch, and to interact with Taiwanese society, said officials at the Taiwan-Hong Kong-Macau Football Friendship Cup, which was held on April 13. Twelve clubs, mostly of players and coaches originally from Hong Kong and Macau, took part in the tournament in New Taipei City. The event is sponsored by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) and the Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Co-operation Council. Participating teams were from the wider Taipei area, Hsinchu, Taichung, Kaohsiung and other areas. They divided into two