RIO OLYMPICS
France, Germany qualify
Germany and France on Monday both booked their tickets to the next year’s Rio Olympics as two of the best European teams in the Women’s World Cup in Canada. “It’s very, very good news for everyone,” France coach Philippe Bergeroo told reporters. “We’re going to the Olympics, but first of all we’re focusing on our quarter-final against Germany. The girls are all delighted. There’s a lot of joy, but we have to refocus very quickly.” In the event where results from the Women’s World Cup do not clearly identify the third-best team from Europe, a playoff with the two remaining teams would be organized by UEFA. Sweden is to miss out on the Olympics for the first time after their 4-1 defeat to Germany in the last 16. England do not participate in the Olympics, rather the UK competes at the Summer and Winter Games, so the Three Lionesses do not count in the qualification rankings for Rio.
RUSSIA
Usmanov foots Capello’s bill
Billionaire Alisher Usmanov has given the Russian Football Union (RFS) 300 million rubles (US$5.5 million) to pay salary arrears owed to the coach of the national team, Fabio Capello. Italian Capello took over as head coach in July 2012 before having his contract extended until the end of the 2018 World Cup, which Russia is to host. “As a member of the Russia 2018 Local Organizing Committee Supervisory Board, Usmanov decided to give financial help to the RFS to the tune of 300 million rubles,” Usmanov’s media service told the R-Sport news agency. “Ahead of the 2018 World Cup, the question regarding the head coach is of great importance for the national football team.” Usmanov, who according to Forbes magazine is Russia’s richest man, with an estimated fortune of US$14.7 billion, earlier this year loaned the RFS 400 million rubles on favorable terms to help pay Capello.
WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
Wambach criticizes referee
Abby Wambach could face a FIFA reprimand after the US striker suggested the French referee in Monday’s Women’s World Cup tie against Colombia “purposefully” booked players who had picked up yellow cards earlier in the tournament. The US beat a resolute Colombia 2-0 at Commonwealth Stadium, but had midfielders Megan Rapinoe and Lauren Holiday booked in the first half, and the pair are now to be suspended for the quarter-final against China. “I don’t know if they were yellows. It seemed like she was purposefully giving those to the players she knew were sitting on yellows. I don’t know if it was just a psychological thing, who knows?” Wambach told reporters. Rapinoe and Holiday were the only two US players that had started the game under the risk of a possible suspension. Referee Stephanie Frappart booked Holiday in the 17th minute and Rapinoe was given a yellow card four minutes before halftime.
U-20 WORLD CUP
Serbians celebrate victory
About 50,000 people on Monday gathered in downtown Belgrade to greet Serbia’s FIFA Under-20 World Cup winners. Chanting “Champions! Champions!” the crowd cheered the team that appeared at the balcony of Belgrade City Hall, a place where Belgraders traditionally greet Serb winning athletes. “I love you Serbia!” player Andrija Zivkovic said, as the crowd went wild after being showed the trophy. “Our dream has come true,” Serbia’s U-20 team coach Veljko Paunovic said. Serbia on Saturday pulled off a historic 2-1 extra-time defeat of favorites Brazil in the final of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Auckland.
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
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was