ICE HOCKEY
Jean Beliveau’s funeral held
Hundreds of fans, many clad in his famed No. 4 jersey, and a who’s who of hockey stars and politicians paid an emotional farewell to Montreal Canadiens great Jean Beliveau on a snowy Wednesday in Montreal, Canada. The afternoon funeral for Beliveau, who died last week at 83, was held at Mary Queen of the World Cathedral and featured affectionate eulogies from former Canadiens teammates Dickie Moore, Yvan Cournoyer, Serge Savard and Ken Dryden, as well as Canadiens owner Geoff Molson. After the service, a giant Canadiens flag that draped Beliveau’s casket throughout the service was folded carefully and given to his widow, Elise. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper also attended the service, along with Canadian Governor-General David Johnston and former Canadian prime ministers Jean Chretien and Brian Mulroney.
BASEBALL
Tomas can opt out of deal
Yasmany Tomas can become a free agent again after receiving US$36 million during the first four years of his contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Under the agreement announced on Monday, the Cuban defector is guaranteed US$68.5 million over six seasons. Tomas gets a US$14 million signing bonus that is payable within 30 days of the deal’s approval by Major League Baseball, and then salaries of US$2 million next year, US$4 million in 2016, US$6 million in 2017 and US$10 million in 2018.
ASIAN GAMES
Wushu athlete suspended
Wushu’s international governing body has banned Malaysia’s Tai Cheau Xuen from competition for four months over a positive doping test at the recent Asian Games, the Wushu Federation of Malaysia said yesterday. Tai, who was stripped of the Asian Games gold medal she won in September, has been banned until March 20 next year, after the banned stimulant sibutramine was found in her system following the competition in Incheon, South Korea, the federation said. Tai has returned her gold medal.
ICE HOCKEY
Dave Lewis to coach Belarus
Former Detroit Red Wings coach Dave Lewis will be the new coach of Belarus. The Belarusian Ice Hockey Association said in a statement on Wednesday that Lewis, aged 61, will be officially presented on Monday. Lewis had short-term assistant coaching roles with Belarus for the 2009 world championship and 2010 Olympics. The former New York Islanders defenseman takes over a team that hosted the worlds in May, losing 3-2 in the quarter-finals to eventual bronze medalists Sweden.
SOCCER
Asprilla flees after threats
Former soccer star Faustino “Tino” Asprilla says he has fled his home city of Tulua, in western Colombia, in fear for his life after receiving death threats and extortion demands from a criminal gang. Police were on Wednesday investigating the threats that forced Asprilla, a striker who played in the 1994 and 1998 World Cups, out of Tulua. Asprilla, 45, whose career included stints in Italy and England and who once hit a hat-trick against Barcelona while playing for Newcastle United in the UEFA Champions League, called it “one of the saddest days of my life.” “My family was threatened before me, my father, my sisters,” Asprilla said. “I dedicated my life to representing my country abroad, to giving happiness to my Colombian people. When I settled down to rest, to recover the time lost with my family, I’m forced to leave by the back door of my own town.”
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
Rafael Nadal on Tuesday lost in straight sets to 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round at the Madrid Open, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s doubles. Nadal said that he was feeling good about his progress following his latest injury layoff. Nadal called it a “positive week” in every way and said his body held up well. “I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches,” Nadal said. “So very positive, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis. I enjoyed a lot playing at home. I leave here with
A soccer jersey carrying a national map including disputed Western Sahara has become a hot commodity in Morocco after a diplomatic dispute with Algeria. Retailers said RS Berkane jerseys have been flying off the shelves after a Confederation of African Football (CAF) Cup match against Algerian club USM Alger was canceled last month over the jerseys. “We are overwhelmed by the influx of messages and requests,” said Brahim Rabii, representative of the official RS Berkane jersey distributor. Algeria broke off diplomatic relations with Morocco in 2021, partly over the issue of Western Sahara. The former Spanish colony is largely controlled by Morocco, but claimed
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