FRANCE
PSG hold on to Ibrahimovic
Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday announced that Zlatan Ibrahimovic has extended his contract, tying him to the club until 2016. The Swede, whose existing deal was due to expire in the summer of 2015, is now set to stay at the Parc des Princes until close to his 35th birthday. “I don’t see a more ambitious club in Europe than Paris Saint-Germain,” the former Ajax, Juventus, Inter, Barcelona and AC Milan striker said in a statement released by PSG. “My wish is that Paris Saint-Germain is my last big club.” PSG won the Ligue 1 title last season, during which Ibrahimovic scored 30 goals and was named player of the year.
ITALY
Udinese edge Genoa 1-0
Udinese on Tuesday scraped a narrow 1-0 win at home to Genoa in Serie A and needed the help of an own-goal to do so. The home side dominated possession and had the better of the chances, but struggled to test Genoa goalkeeper Mattia Perin. The deadlock was broken 11 minutes from time when Emanuele Calaio headed Antonio di Natale’s free-kick into his own net. Di Natale thought he had scored in the first half, but the Udinese captain’s effort was ruled offside. Udinese extended their unbeaten home run in the league to 21 games. Both teams had been level on four points, but Tuesday’s win moved the Bianconeri provisionally into the top half of the table ahead of the midweek fixtures.
ENGLAND
Walcott to undergo surgery
Arsenal and England forward Theo Walcott was to undergo “minor” surgery on his abdomen yesterday that will keep him out of action until after next month’s World Cup qualifiers, the Premier League leaders announced on Tuesday. Walcott’s injury means he will be sidelined from the Wembley Stadium fixtures against Montenegro and Poland on Oct. 11 and Oct. 15 respectively, with England still to book their place at next year’s World Cup finals in Brazil. The winger missed Sunday’s win over Stoke City after developing slight damage to his posterior abdominal wall. “Theo will be out for a few weeks,” manager Arsene Wenger told the club’s Web site. “He will have the procedure in Germany on Wednesday and, because it’s so minor, we can begin his rehab immediately.” Walcott will miss yesterday’s League Cup tie with West Bromwich Albion, Saturday’s league match at Swansea City and the Champions League home game against SSC Napoli on Tuesday next week. He joins an Arsenal injury list that already includes Lukas Podolski, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Santi Cazorla, leaving Wenger with few other options in wide positions.
SCOTLAND
Celtic shamed out of Cup
Celtic suffered an embarrassing Scottish League Cup third-round exit, losing 1-0 at home to second-tier Greenock Morton after extra-time on Tuesday. Dougie Imrie scored a penalty for the Scottish Championship strugglers in the 97th minute after Efe Ambrose was penalized for handball. Celtic manager Neil Lennon made five changes for the tie and, while it was one-way traffic for the Scottish champions and Champions League participants, they could not find a way through. The Scottish League Cup is the only domestic trophy that Lennon has yet to win. Morton have won just one of their six second-division games this season and are second-to-last in the tables.
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
Rafael Nadal on Tuesday lost in straight sets to 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round at the Madrid Open, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s doubles. Nadal said that he was feeling good about his progress following his latest injury layoff. Nadal called it a “positive week” in every way and said his body held up well. “I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches,” Nadal said. “So very positive, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis. I enjoyed a lot playing at home. I leave here with
A soccer jersey carrying a national map including disputed Western Sahara has become a hot commodity in Morocco after a diplomatic dispute with Algeria. Retailers said RS Berkane jerseys have been flying off the shelves after a Confederation of African Football (CAF) Cup match against Algerian club USM Alger was canceled last month over the jerseys. “We are overwhelmed by the influx of messages and requests,” said Brahim Rabii, representative of the official RS Berkane jersey distributor. Algeria broke off diplomatic relations with Morocco in 2021, partly over the issue of Western Sahara. The former Spanish colony is largely controlled by Morocco, but claimed
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just