GOLF
Seven-way split for lead
Seven players shared the lead after the opening day of the Portugal Masters on Thursday including Alvaro Quiros who carded a 29 on his closing nine holes at the Oceanico Victoria course. The Spaniard, who was the champion on the Algarve in 2008, but whose career was interrupted by wrist surgery last year, suffered two bogeys early in his round. However, he stormed back with an impressive run on the home stretch to card a six-under 65. He shares the lead with Felipe Aguilar, Jamie Donaldson, David Lynn, Max Kieffer, Graeme Storm and Simon Thornton. “It was a good fight after being two over after five holes,” the 30-year-old Quiros said.
SOCCER
Grandkids sue Pele
Two teenage grandchildren of Brazil legend Pele are suing him for child support, the Diario de Sao Paulo reported on Thursday. The pair, aged 13 and 15, are the sons of Pele’s daughter Sandra Regina, who died in 2006. They are seeking support payment of US$6,000 each to cover health insurance and education as well compensation of an unspecified amount. The daily quoted their lawyer, Claudio Forssell, as saying that the teenagers “were abandoned intellectually, morally and materially” by their grandfather. “Pele always rejected them,” according to the lawyer who said the teenagers had not met with their grandfather since 2011. Pending a final ruling scheduled for next month, judges ordered Pele to pay each grandchild US$760.
TENNIS
Becker promotes book
German star Boris Becker said on Thursday his new autobiography was his chance to respond to those who condemned a notorious extramarital affair with a model. Becker was the subject of a tabloid frenzy after it emerged he had cheated on his pregnant wife and fathered a child in the back room of a trendy London restaurant in 1999. Presenting Life Is Not a Game to the Frankfurt Book Fair, Becker said the book took on “those who took the opportunity to judge me and sometimes to condemn me and my family.” In one passage, he says he was simply “looking for love, a feeling of security,” adding, “when you do not have that at home then you may look for that elsewhere, when the opportunity presents itself.” The resulting divorce from wife Barbara Feltus cost the three-time Wimbledon champion millions. Becker’s first autobiography The Player, released in 2003, made headlines worldwide with its booze-soaked tales of championship tennis, luxury hotels and a string of female conquests.
FORMULA ONE
Female driver found dead
Spanish test driver Maria de Villota, one of the few women to come near to competing at the top of the sport, has been found dead in a hotel in the southern Spanish city of Seville, a police spokeswoman said yesterday. De Villota, 33, lost her right eye and fractured her skull in a horrific accident at a straight-line test in England last year. She recovered from life-threatening injuries, but no longer competed. “We are assuming it was a natural death, but we cannot confirm anything,” the police spokeswoman said, adding that forensic scientists and police from the homicide unit were to examine the scene. De Villota was appointed test driver for Anglo-Russian Formula One team Marussia last year, before her crash. However she never took part in a general test with other drivers.
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