VENEZUELA
Player, friend shot dead
International player Jhonny Perozo has been shot dead along with a friend after an argument, public prosecutors said in a statement on Monday. Perozo, 29, who was a free agent after leaving first-tier club Zulia in December last year, was killed at a sports center on Sunday morning along with Jaime Alberto Tey. “According to the preliminary information, the two were involved in an argument with a man who opened fire,” the statement said. Venezuelan media said that the incident happened outside a bar at the sports center in the town of Lagunillas. Zulia, the Venezuelan Football Federation and the players’ union all issued statements offering their condolences. “The professional footballers of Venezuela express their heartfelt condolences, and repudiate the violence which affects the country and claims the lives of Venezuelans every day,” the union said. “We demand that the authorities clear up this crime which ended the life of a professional who will always be remembered in this country’s football.”
URUGUAY
Suarez doing ‘very well’
Uruguay striker Luis Suarez is progressing “very well” after undergoing keyhole surgery on his left knee, although his chances of playing at the World Cup are still in the balance, the team doctor said on Monday. “It’s only been a few days [since the operation], but we can say that progress is very good,” Alberto Pan told a press conference at the team’s training camp. “It would be adventurous to set a time line. We have nearly three weeks ahead of us. We can’t rule out that he will be ready for intense activity in this period, but we can’t be certain, either.” Pan praised Suarez’s attitude. “I’ve never heard a negative expression from him, he’s always been positive,” he said. Suarez, who helped Uruguay to fourth place at the World Cup in South Africa four years ago, underwent surgery on Thursday last week.
ENGLAND
Rodgers inks long-term deal
Brendan Rodgers has been rewarded for leading Liverpool to the brink of their first English league title for 24 years with a new long-term contract, the club said on Monday. Liverpool ended two points behind champions Manchester City after faltering at the end of the season, but are looking forward to a return to the UEFA Champions League for the first time since the 2009-2010 season. In a joint statement, owner John Henry and chairman Tom Werner said Rodgers was the right manager to bring silverware back to Anfield. “We are very fortunate to have a hugely talented individual leading our football performance and in whom we place our trust to deliver the vision we share for Liverpool Football Club,” they said.
BRAZIL
Romario launches attack
Former World Cup winner Romario launched another attack on the nation’s organization of the finals on Monday and accused former teammate Ronaldo of inconsistency. The once deadly striker said comments by Ronaldo, who works on the tournament’s organizing committee, but professed himself embarrassed at Brazil’s shortcomings in an interview with Reuters last week, were opportunism. “Everyone knows what I stand for,” the federal deputy was quoted as saying by UOL, a Brazilian news Web site. “I don’t change sides depending on how the game is going.” However, Romario said the organizational problems did not mean he would not be cheering on the hosts. “We’ve already lost off the pitch,” he said. “Now we have to hope and pray that we do well on it.”
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
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
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
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