OLYMPICS
S Korea apologizes for laser
South Korea’s embassy in Beijing is confirming reports that one of its athletes from the recent Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing was responsible for zapping Chinese Premier Li Keqiang with a laser pen. TV pictures from last week Thursday’s closing ceremony showed a beam of light flicking across Li’s face as he waved to the crowd at the Nanjing Olympic Sports Center Stadium. “It’s extremely improper and regrettable to shine a laser pointer on state leader,” the embassy posted on a Chinese microblog. “This should not have happened.” The sporting competition involved almost 4,000 athletes aged between 14 and 18 and International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach was among the 60,000-strong crowd at the closing ceremony. Laser pens have become something of a menace at major events, with world soccer’s governing body FIFA fining Algeria 50,000 Swiss francs (US$56,400) after its fans shone lasers at players during a World Cup Group H game against Russia.
RUGBY UNION
Prop banned for pushing ref
Waikato prop Ben Tameifuna has been suspended from rugby for five weeks for pushing referee Glen Jackson to the ground during a provincial championship match in New Zealand last week. The 140kg tighthead, who was called up to the All Blacks training squad last year, was cited for “acting against the spirit of good sportsmanship” when he shoved Jackson out of the way while defending on the try line. Tameifuna apologized to the referee immediately after the game and accepted his actions had been “inexcusable,” but maintained he had been focused on defending the line and had acted instinctively and not maliciously in pushing Jackson.
SOCCER
Japan lose Hasebe
Japan’s “new start” under coach Javier Aguirre is to get under way without captain Makoto Hasebe after he pulled out of the squad for today’s friendly against Uruguay due to a knee injury. The Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder said he felt pain in his left knee, the same one he had surgery on five years ago, in a league match at the weekend and had decided to return to Germany after speaking to new coach Aguirre. Japan are also to play a friendly against Venezuela on Tuesday as Aguirre, who took over from Alberto Zaccheroni in July, looks to build his side ahead of the Asian Cup in Australia next year. “It’s really disappointing, but I am not in the right condition to play properly,” Kyodo News agency quoted Hasebe as saying.
SOCCER
Nigeria face suspension
FIFA threatened Nigeria on Wednesday with a second suspension since July if officials who won an unauthorized election to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) last month do not step down by Monday. “The NFF will be suspended with immediate effect should there still be persons claiming to have been elected to NFF positions on 26 Aug. 2014 and occupying their offices on Monday, 8 Sept. 2014,” FIFA said in a statement on its Web site. This is the second deadline FIFA has given Nigeria after the NFF appeared to ignore an Aug. 29 letter confirming world soccer’s governing body would not recognize the results of the election held in the absence of NFF president Aminu Maigari. The first deadline was Sept. 1. FIFA had already suspended Nigeria briefly in July due to government interference in affairs at the NFF which has been mired in a power struggle.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
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
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and