BOXING
Boxer Khan meets royalty
Boxing star Amir Khan met Prince Charles on Tuesday and discovered that the heir to the British throne had sustained more injuries playing polo than the former world champion had suffered in the ring. The pair met in Sunderland, England, where the Prince of Wales was visiting a National Citizen Service project backed by Khan where youngsters help older people learn to use social media. “We had a bit of a chat about boxing and we had a chat about his polo and how many injuries we’d had. He’d had more injuries in that than I have in boxing,” Olympic silver medallist Khan said. Charles, 66, broke his right arm after falling off his polo horse in 1990. He was also left unconscious following another fall during a charity match in 2001. By contrast, Khan has won 30 of his 33 professional fights and so far avoided serious injury.
SWIMMING
Brazilian fails dope test
The Brazilian short-course relay team might lose three gold medals after swimmer Joao Gomes failed a dope test from last month’s world championships, Brazilian TV reported on Tuesday. The urine test taken at the Doha world championships, where breaststroker Gomes helped win the 200m medley, 400m medley and the 200m mixed medley relay titles, reportedly revealed a masking agent. The Brazilian swimming authority said it hoped to prove the presence of the masking agent was due to accidental contamination, Globo TV reported. Gomes helped the team qualify for the finals, but did not take part in any of the finals himself. However, the team could be stripped of the medals concerned and Gomes could face a four-year ban.
SOCCER
Japan captain ‘a bit dim’
Japan captain Makoto Hasebe has shown impeccable leadership in steering the Blue Samurai through the group stages, but he is also, according to Eiji Kawashima, “a bit dim.” The goalkeeper gently teased his captain as he said: “He’s a superb leader and has really grown into the captaincy. But I went out for a walk yesterday to buy him a birthday present and he wanted to come with me, so I couldn’t get him anything. At times like that you want him to be more switched on.”
SOCCER
Once bitten, twice shy
He was dubbed “Rottweiler” by Alex Ferguson, but Iran coach Carlos Queiroz is once bitten, twice shy after being fined for slamming refereeing at the Asian Cup. Queiroz, after being hit with a US$3,000 sanction for criticizing a referee, kept his counsel when asked about Brisbane’s shoddy pitch. “I don’t want to make comments about the pitch, the players, the opponents, the referees, or the AFC, the weather in Australia, nothing, because in my life usually when I give my opinions ... you usually pay for that, so I don’t want to be in that position,” he said.
SOCCER
14 seconds to immortality
The head of the United Arab Emirates’ football association said Ali Mabkhout’s name would reverberate through the ages after he scored after just 14 seconds against Bahrain. After combing through nearly 60 years of results and statistics, officials confirmed Mabkhout’s goal as the fastest recorded in Asian Cup history. What’s more, he outdid Fathi Kameel, a player for Gulf neighbors Kuwait who scored a lightning strike in 1976. “We are delighted. It’s enough that Fathi Kameel of Kuwait was the record holder for over 30 years,” Yousef Al Serkal was reported as saying. “Now Ali Mabkhout’s name will be immortalized, and with it will be the name of the Emirates.”
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
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely