SOCCER
Juve three clear of Roma
Ten-man Juventus restored their three-point lead over AS Roma with a brace of goals in either half from Paul Pogba and a Carlos Tevez strike that underlined the champions’ credentials in a 3-0 win at SS Lazio on Saturday. Juventus were down to 10 after midfielder Simone Padoin saw red in the 70th minute after a foul on Italy international Antonio Candreva. However, by then, the damage had already been done, as Pogba hit the opener in the 24th minute and Tevez doubled Juve’s lead with a fine strike on 55 minutes. Pogba effectively put the match beyond reach for Stefano Pioli’s men in the 64th minute and despite Lazio making two changes in the wake of Padoin’s sending off, the hosts failed to capitalize on their advantage. Juve’s 10th win in 12 games leaves them top on 31 points, three ahead of Roma who clinched a 2-1 win away to Atalanta BC earlier in the day. Roma fought back from a Maxi Moralez goal in the first minute to prevail thanks to Adem Ljajic’s 23rd minute leveler and Radja Nainggolan’s winner three minutes from halftime. Both Roma and Juventus are in UEFA Champions League action next week, the title challengers away to CSKA Moscow, while the Serie A champions travel to Swedish champions Malmo FF on Wednesday.
GOLF
Cool Cullen wins Melbourne
Nick Cullen nervelessly struck a sublime bunker shot for a tap-in par putt on the last hole to win the A$1 million (US$867,000) Australian Masters by a stroke in Melbourne and frustrate Adam Scott’s bid for a hat-trick of titles yesterday. Clinging to a one-stroke lead on the 18th, Cullen’s approach shot found a steep sand-trap left of the green, but the unheralded Australian put his recovery within two feet of the hole to seal the biggest win of his career on a sun-drenched afternoon at the Metropolitan Golf Club. “I was trying to concentrate,” an ecstatic Cullen said as he wore the winner’s “gold” jacket. “I knew Adam was one shot back. I didn’t really want to have to go into a playoff with him... I got lucky hitting a great bunker shot on the last and didn’t have a very long putt.” The 30-year-old’s round of three-under 69 gave him a nine-under total of 279, one ahead of a trio of compatriots: world No. 2 Scott (68), James Nitties (70) and Josh Younger (69). After struggling with an opening round of 73 in searing northerly winds, Scott was forced to play catch-up all week and though he started yesterday four strokes adrift, the 34-year-old came agonizingly close to dragging Cullen into a playoff.
GOLF
PGA elects female officer
Suzy Whaley, a former LPGA player who qualified and played in a 2003 men’s PGA event, was elected on Saturday as the first femlae officer in the PGA of America’s history. The balloting all-but assures that Whaley, who was voted into a two-year term as secretary, will become the first president in the organization’s history in 2018 as officers typically rotate into higher PGA roles. Derek Sprague was elected president and Paul Levy was elected vice president. Each will serve in their post for the next two years, when Levy would typically rotate into the presidency and Whaley would move into the vice president’s role. Each step requires another vote, but typically the rotation approval is routine. Whaley, a golf teacher, became the first woman to qualify and play in a PGA event in 58 years when she took part in the 2003 Greater Hartford Open.
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