GOLF
Woods skips US Open
Tiger Woods has withdrawn from the US Open as he recovers from back surgery that has kept him out of golf for nearly three months. Woods said on his Web site on Wednesday he is physically unable to play golf at a high level. The announcement was not a surprise. Woods said a week ago while promoting the Quicken Loans National tournament at Congressional that he still has not taken a full swing with a golf club. He had microdiscectomy surgery on March 31. Woods last played a tournament on March 9 at Doral. The US Open will be the sixth major that Woods has missed because of injuries and it will be the second time in the past four years he has missed the US Open.
CRICKET
India bring back Gambhir
India on Wednesday brought back opening batsman Gautam Gambhir and axed fragile pace spearhead Zaheer Khan for their first five-Test tour of England in 55 years starting in July. The selectors, who picked an 18-man squad for the back-to-back Tests, included seven seamers and Wriddhiman Saha as reserve wicketkeeper for skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The left-handed Gambhir returns to the Test arena for the first time since December 2012. Gambhir, with 4,021 runs and nine centuries from 54 Tests, is one of the three openers in the squad alongside Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay. The squad includes three players, seamers Pankaj Singh, Ishwar Pandey and Stuart Binny, who have no Test match experience. India last played five Tests on an England tour in 1959, which the hosts swept 5-0. They have not played a five-Test series since losing 1-0 in the Caribbean in 1997.
RUGBY UNION
Springboks lose Etzebeth
Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth has been ruled out of four internationals next month after failing to recover from a long-term foot injury. South Africa play a World XV in Cape Town on June 7, followed by two Tests against Wales and one against Scotland. The South African Rugby Union said the 22-year-old Western Stormers star needs about three more weeks of rehabilitation before being considered for selection. The absence of Etzebeth leaves Northern Bulls pair Victor Matfield and Flip van der Merwe as the likely first-choice locks in the four-match buildup to the Rugby Championship. Matfield, who came out of retirement this year at the age of 37, is also a potential stand-in Springboks skipper. A knee injury forced captain and center Jean de Villiers to withdraw last weekend from the June matches.
RUGBY UNION
Guildford’s contract stopped
The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) terminated troubled winger Zac Guildford’s contract early yesterday, but said the door was still open for a return to the national squad. The decision means Guildford, whose struggles with alcohol have been well documented, will be free to pursue a fresh start with French club side Clermont earlier than anticipated. The 25-year-old was due to see out an NZRU contract with the Canterbury Crusaders until the end of the Super 15, then make the switch to Top 14 rugby with Clermont. However, NZRU general manager Neil Sorensen said a decision had been made to let Guildford go sooner, rather than later, saying the player was still trying to deal with his issues. “We’re really disappointed that Zac has not be able to achieve his full potential in New Zealand — he is a good man, talented but troubled,” Sorensen 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
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