RUGBY UNION
Hartley tipped as captain
Firebrand hooker Dylan Hartley is to replace Chris Robshaw as England captain under new coach Eddie Jones, British media reported yesterday. Loose forward Robshaw led England 42 times under former coach Stuart Lancaster, culminating in this year’s World Cup, when England failed to get past the group stage on home soil. Hartley was dropped from the World Cup squad after being suspended for a head-butt in a club game for Northampton, the latest in a long line of disciplinary offenses that have plagued his career.
BASEBALL
S Korean linked to Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles and South Korean outfielder Kim Hyun-soo have agreed to a two-year deal worth US$7 million, the Baltimore Sun reported on Wednesday. The Major League Baseball club did not immediately confirm the deal, which is reportedly pending a medical review. The left-handed hitter boasted a batting average of .318 over 10 seasons with the Doosan Bears of the Korea Baseball Organization. He had a career-high 28 home runs and 121 runs-batted-in while drawing 101 walks in 141 games this season, after which he became a free agent. According to the Sun, Kim is in the US to take his physical exam and complete the contract.
BASKETBALL
WNBA criticizes Arenas
The WNBA on Wednesday hit back at former NBA guard Gilbert Arenas after he suggested scanty uniforms would increase the appeal of the women’s pro basketball league. “Gilbert Arenas’ comments are repugnant, utterly disrespectful and flat-out wrong,” spokesman Mike Bass said in a statement on behalf of the NBA and WNBA. “WNBA players are strong, talented and determined individuals, who give it their all on the court and serve as inspiring role models to millions around the world. They should be celebrated for their accomplishments, not disparaged with ignorant insults.” On Wednesday, Arenas posted photographs on Instagram of women playing basketball in their underwear, urging the WNBA to adopt the look.
SOCCER
Police seek Peralta suspects
The gunmen who allegedly murdered Honduras-born international star Arnold Peralta in his hometown last week have been identified and are being sought, officials said on Wednesday. “We have identified the persons believed to have participated” in the Dec. 10 slaying, Honduran Minister of Security Julian Pacheco told a news conference. “In the coming hours we will carry out actions in this case. We have important leads that will lead to the capture of those responsible and at that point we will give the reasons why this player, so promising in our country, died in this criminal act.” Gunmen killed the 26-year old former Rangers player in a drive-by shooting in a shopping mall car park in the coastal city of La Ceiba. Security cameras recorded the incident. Police at the time discounted robbery as a motive, noting that Peralta’s possessions were untouched. The head of Honduras’ police, Hector Ivan Mejia, told national media it appeared Peralta was killed for “individual, personal” reasons, but did not elaborate. Peralta was laid to rest in La Ceiba at the weekend. The midfielder made his name in the local leagues in his coastal hometown and was picked for the Honduras squad for the Under-20 World Cup in Egypt in 2009. He joined Rangers in 2013, but returned home in January to sign for CD Olimpia, the most successful team in Honduras.
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