SOCCER
Marseille agree Bielsa deal
Slumping French giants Olympique de Marseille yesterday announced that they have reached “an agreement in principle” with Marcelo Bielsa to take over as coach. The 58-year-old Argentine, who has coached Chile and Athletic Bilbao, has long been the longtime favorite to succeed caretaker boss Jose Anigo. “There is an agreement in principle with Bielsa,” Marseille president Vincent Labrune said after Sunday’s 0-0 draw with LOSC Lille Metropole. “The agreement will be submitted to the contracts department, but we can state that we are relatively confident that things will be finalized in the coming days.” Anigo took charge of the Marseille first team in December following the sacking of Elie Baup but will return at the season’s end to his primary role of sporting director. He had been involved in the search for a new coach and Bielsa, whose last job was in charge of Athletic Bilbao, was the frontrunner, having spent the last two weeks in France studying them.
SOCCER
No Barca move: Zenit boss
Zenit St Petersburg manager Andre Villas-Boas yesterday dismissed out of hand rumors linking him with Spanish giants Barcelona. “All the rumors about my negotiations with Barcelona representatives are completely groundless,” the former Chelsea, Tottenham and FC Porto coach told reporters. “I’ve signed the contract with Zenit and I’m set to stay here until its expiry date.” The 36-year-old Portuguese said he was completely focused on his work with Zenit, adding he was happy with the club’s plans to strengthen the squad. “My work with Zenit is my top priority,” Villas-Boas said. He was speaking on the back of Saturday’s 2-1 win at Anzhi Makhachkala, which kept Zenit in a one-point lead over Lokomotiv Moscow at top.
RUGBY UNION
Schwalger out with clots
Former All Blacks prop John Schwalger will be sidelined for the remainder of the Super rugby season after being diagnosed with blood clots on his lungs. Mark Hammett, who coaches Schwalger’s Wellington-based Hurricanes team, said the “scary” diagnosis was made when the two-Test All Black sought treatment for what he thought was a chest infection. Hurricanes medical staff identified the ailment and Schwalger is likely to need blood-thinning drugs as part of his ongoing treatment. Hammett said: “I’m just pleased they got it when they did. It could have been a really scary case, particularly for a tough guy like him who would have probably just soldiered on with something like that.”
CRICKET
Aussie coach joins Afghans
Afghanistan’s new cricket academy coach, Peter Anderson from Australia, has started work in Kabul, officials said yesterday, as the fast-developing team prepare for their debut at next year’s World Cup. Anderson coached Papua New Guinea for two years before joining Afghanistan, where cricket is a rare symbol of optimism in a country beset by war, corruption and poverty. “I am excited to be here,” Anderson, 52, said in a press release from the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB). “I hope I can make a contribution to the quality of cricket here. I will start slowly, watching, listening and learning.” Anderson played 56 first-class matches for Queensland and South Australia as a wicketkeeper, scoring 1,399 runs at an average of 17.93. “We are pleased to be welcoming a person of Peter Anderson’s caliber to head our new Afghanistan Cricket Academy,” ACB president Noor Mohammad Murad said.
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