SOCCER
Trujillo bail agreement set
A Guatemalan judge indicted in a probe of global soccer corruption must wear an electronic monitor and cannot be more than about 80km from the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, as part of a bail agreement set on Thursday by a US magistrate. The bail agreement for Hector Trujillo also set his bond at US$4 million. Trujillo’s attorney said friends and relatives would be putting up cash and real estate properties as security for the bond. Trujillo was general secretary of Guatemala’s soccer federation at the time of his arrest last month. US authorities took him into custody on a cruise ship docked in Florida waters. He was among 16 men charged in an indictment that is part of a broad investigation into FIFA, the international soccer governing body, and he faces charges including racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering.
MOTOR RACING
McLaren stalwart dies
American Tyler Alexander, who helped Bruce McLaren found the McLaren Formula One team in the 1960s and remained a part of it for more than 40 years, died on Thursday at the age of 75. “Tyler Alexander was one of the first pillars of our company,” McLaren Group head Ron Dennis said in a tribute on the McLaren Web site. “Bruce couldn’t have asked for a sturdier pair of shoulders upon which to help build the team’s reputation. Tyler was one of the finest of the old school: hardy, humble and wise, leaving a reputation and a legacy that will remain indelible in the history of international motorsport.” Raised in Hingham, Massachusetts, Alexander befriended Pennsylvania lawyer Teddy Mayer, who was involved in motorsport with his racing driver brother Timmy, and then met New Zealander McLaren in England.
CRICKET
Younis contract extended
Pakistan on Thursday said that they will keep national team head coach Waqar Younis in place until the end of their England tour later this year. Waqar’s two-year contract expires in May, but Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan said his team management would continue until September. “We have not taken a final decision on the contracts of the team management, but Waqar and other staff will continue until the end of Pakistan’s tour of England,” Khan said. Pakistan play four Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 on the tour which starts on June 29. After two warm-up games the first Test starts at Lord’s from July 14. Waqar took over as head coach in June 2013, and under him Pakistan have lost six of their nine one-day series. They have shown improvement in Tests, however, winning four of their six series, losing one and drawing the other.
SOCCER
Curtis ‘impresses’ Swansea
Alan Curtis will stay in charge of Swansea until the end of the Premier League season after impressing in his role as caretaker manager following the firing of Garry Monk last month. Swansea has collected five points in five games under Curtis, who has kept the Welsh team out of the relegation zone. “We have all been impressed with the way [Curtis] has improved performance levels ... the players have obviously responded to him because we have seen an uplift in performances,” Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins said. Jenkins on Thursday said that finding a replacement for Monk “hasn’t been easy because we didn’t want to make a short-term decision that would be detrimental to the club long-term.” Swansea is 17th in the 20-team Premier League.
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
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care