GOLF
Thailand Open postponed
This year’s Thailand Open has been postponed after the Thai government declared a 60-day state of emergency in the troubled Southeast Asian country, organizers of the golf tournament said yesterday. Emergency was declared on Wednesday, with the Thai government hoping to prevent an escalation in anti-government protests. Originally scheduled from March 13-16 at Thana City Golf & Sports Club on the outskirts of Bangkok, the US$1 million tournament would be moved to “a more suitable date” later in the year, organizers said in a statement. “We want to ensure the environment is stable in order to stage our world-class tournament and national Open,” Thailand Golf Association president Rungsrid Luxsitanonda said. The tri-sanctioned event was scheduled to be the season-opener for both OneAsia and the Japan Golf Tour Organization.
CRICKET
Warne to coach T20 spin
Shane Warne is to work with the Australia squad as a specialist spin bowling coach in the lead-up to the Twenty20 World Cup in Bangladesh in March, the country’s cricket board said yesterday. The former Australia legspinner is to work with head coach Darren Lehmann as a consultant during the short-time assignment, Cricket Australia said in a statement. The 44-year-old is to join the Australia Twenty20 squad in South Africa ahead of a three-match series in early March. “We believe our national teams can really benefit from more specific skill-based coaching as and when it is needed,” Lehmann said in the statement. “In the case of the ICC World Twenty20, we believe spin bowling will be critical to success. There’s no better person than Shane to help guide the spinners we select in that squad.” Warne, Australia’s top Test wickettaker and second all-time behind Sri Lanka’s Murali Muralitharan, had regularly played the shortest format of the sport in domestic leagues in India and Australia after retiring from international cricket in 2007.
BASEBALL
Sizemore joins Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox agreed to sign Grady Sizemore to a one-year deal on Wednesday, providing a new location for the veteran outfielder to attempt to work his way back from injury. Sizemore is to sign a contract for a base salary of US$750,000, but could earn up to US$6 million at the World Series champions based on incentives. The 31-year-old Sizemore has not played in the Majors since 2011, missing the past two seasons because of injuries to his knee and back. “I’m looking for an opportunity to play,” Sizemore said. At his best, Sizemore became a three-time All Star while playing eight seasons with the Cleveland Indians. He has a career average of .269, with 139 career home runs and 458 RBIs.
OLYMPICS
Aussies name largest squad
Australia has named 56 athletes in their largest-ever team for a winter Olympic Games. Two more competitors will be named from alpine disciplines and one may be added in biathlon, bringing the complement to 59, topping the 40-strong team sent by Australia to the previous two winter Games. The Olympics start in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 7. Australia have a target of four to five medals, which would eclipse the three-medal haul they achieved at Vancouver four years ago. Their best chances are thought to be Alex Pullin in snowboard cross, Lydia Lassila in freestyle aerials, Torah Bright in snowboard halfpipe and slopestyle, and Russ Henshaw in ski slopestyle.
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
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was