GYMNASTICS
Japan overturn China’s run
Kohei Uchimura’s Japan finally toppled China at the world gymnastics championship, but Britain warned they were ready to challenge for Olympic gold after taking men’s team silver. The Japanese scored 270.818 points to take gold after four consecutive silver medals as Britain won their first world men’s team medal with 270.345 and China bronze with 269.959. It ended Olympic champions China’s 12-year domination of the world team event in which they had won six straight titles. The much-hyped clash between the Asian giants failed to ignite Glasgow’s Hydro Arena, with Japan leading out-of-sorts China all the way despite a fall by Uchimura and two by Yusuke Tanaka. Britain showed that they are ready to challenge for Olympic gold after their historic bronze in London 2012 behind China and Japan. “This has definitely thrown a spanner in the works being so close to Rio [de Janeiro],” Britain’s Louis Smith said.
CRICKET
Afghanistan win T20 series
Afghanistan clinched a 2-0 victory over Zimbabwe in their two-match Twenty20 series on Wednesday and dedicated their win to people affected by this week’s earthquake, which rocked their nation and Pakistan. Four days after becoming the first non-Test side to beat a Test-playing nation in a one-day 50-over series, Afghanistan hammered home their superiority with a five-wicket win. They won the first Twenty20 clash at the same Queen’s Sports Club venue by six wickets on Monday. “Our win is dedicated to all quake-smitten people of Afghanistan’s major earthquake,” tweeted Mohammad Nabi, the team’s leading all-rounder in reference to Monday’s magnitude 7.5 quake, which left almost 400 people dead and thousands homeless.
SOCCER
Bologna hire Donadoni
Former Italy coach Roberto Donadoni on Wednesday was named as Bologna’s new manager to succeed Delio Rossi, who was sacked by the Serie A strugglers earlier in the day. Donadoni, 52, penned a two-year deal with Bologna, who are third from bottom with only six points from 10 games after losing 1-0 to Inter on Tuesday. Donadoni won the Champions League three times as a player with AC Milan and has already coached SSC Napoli and Parma in the top flight as well as taking charge of Italy from 2006 to 2008. Rossi was the second top-flight coach to be sacked this season after Fabrizio Castori, who had been in charge of rock-bottom Carpi.
SOCCER
Mascherano banned for two
Barcelona will be able to call on Javier Mascherano for next month’s clash with Real Madrid after the Argentine received just a two-game ban for the red card against Sociedad Deportiva Eibar, the club said on Wednesday. Mascherano was sent off seven minutes from time in Barca’s 3-1 win over the Basque minnows on Sunday by referee Carlos del Cerro Grande for a comment regarding the official’s mother, according to the referee’s report. The former Liverpool man will be absent for tomorrow’s visit to Getafe and a home match against Villarreal on Nov. 8. Mascherano could have been banned for at least four games had the comment been deemed as a grave insult, which would have meant him missing the trip to Madrid on Nov. 21. Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu said the club would not appeal the decision, despite vice president Jordi Mestre claiming earlier in the week it was a “moral and legal obligation” to defend their player.
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