BOXING
Haye defeats De Mori
Britain’s former world heavyweight champion David Haye marked his return to the ring with a comfortable first-round win over Australian journeyman Mark de Mori at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday. In his first fight for three-and-a-half years, following a career-threatening shoulder injury, the 35-year-old Haye needed just 2 minutes, 11 seconds to see off De Mori, who was sent to the canvas by a strong right hand and scrappy combination before failing to beat referee Robert Williams’s count. Haye, also a former world cruiserweight champion, is now looking for a bout with British rising star Anthony Joshua, given he is likely to have to wait for a while for a clash with compatriot Tyson Fury, who holds the WBA version of the world heavyweight titles. “Tyson Fury is pretty clear about not wanting to fight me,” Haye said. “Why not go for bigger, better fights? A bigger fight is Anthony Joshua. I believe that fight can be made later on in the year. I am in shape, I am punching hard. I am a little bit older. It will make for a great fight.”
BASEBALL
Davis said to sign for Orioles
First baseman Chris Davis has agreed to a seven-year, US$161 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles, pending a physical, say multiple people with knowledge of the situation. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on Saturday because the Orioles have not announced the transaction. Also, the Kansas City Royals and pitcher Ian Kennedy agreed to a US$70 million, five-year deal that includes an opt-out after the first two years, a person familiar with the situation said. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract is not to be completed until the 31-year-old right-hander passes a physical. That could happen this week. The 29-year-old Davis hit an MLB-leading 47 home runs and amassed 117 RBIs last season. Davis became a free agent after last season and the Orioles were his most aggressive suitor, offering a seven-year deal last month.
BASKETBALL
Bryant to miss Olympics
Five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant on Saturday said that he would not play in the Rio Olympics, but would make his retirement from basketball official with his last Los Angeles Lakers game. Bryant, 37, has said this 20th season of his NBA career would be his last. Although he said in December last year that another Olympic appearance would be a “beautiful” ending to his career, he said on Saturday that it was not on the cards. “I think, as beautiful as it would be to play for our country, when I say my last game is going to be my last game, I am going to retire, then that is it,” Bryant said prior to the Lakers’ game against the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City. Bryant’s final game is scheduled to be April 13, when the Lakers host the Jazz at the Staples Center.
BASKETBALL
Noah to undergo surgery
Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah is to undergo surgery to repair a dislocated left shoulder and miss the next four to six months, the NBA club announced on Saturday. The Bulls’ estimated timetable means, at best, Noah would not be healthy enough to return until the NBA playoffs were half over. Noah suffered the injury during Friday’s 83-77 loss to Dallas when he became entangled with Mavericks center JaVale McGee. Noah departed the court in pain and an MRI exam on Saturday confirmed the severity of his injury.
SOCCER
Rwanda win their opener
Hosts Rwanda got their CHAN 2016 campaign off to a bright start when they pipped holders Ivory Coast 1-0 at the Amahoro Stadium on Saturday. Defender Emery Bayisenge secured all three points for the Amavubi Wasps with a well-taken free-kick in the 16th minute. Bayisenge had a chance to make it 2-0 just before halftime, but his penalty was saved by Ivory Coast goalkeeper Badra Ali Sangare. Also on Saturday, Gabon battled to a 0-0 draw with Morocco in the second Group A match of the tournament. Morocco dominated the first half, but failed to find a way through, with Abdelilah Hafidi missing two close chances. The tournament, being held in Rwanda for the first time, has attracted 16 teams divided into four groups, with the matches played in Kigali, Butare and Gisenyi. It is reserved for players who play in their national leagues and alternates with the higher profile Africa Cup of Nations.
GOLF
Europe claim crushing win
Europe’s Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke secured an encouraging first triumph as skipper yesterday as his side romped to a lopsided victory over hosts Asia in the EurAsia Cup. Englishman Danny Willett secured the trophy after beating South Korea’s An Byeong-hun 3-and-1 in the singles, giving Europe an unassailable 13-3 lead with eight matches still to be finished at the Glenmarie Golf Club in Kuala Lumpur. Europe began the day with a 9-3 lead after taking 4.5 points in both Friday’s fourball and Saturday’s foresome sessions, and the 12-man team showed no mercy in the singles as they continued to pummel Jeev Milkha Singh’s struggling side. Ian Poulter, who has played in four winning Ryder Cup sides, began yesterday’s march to the title by beating Malaysia’s Danny Chia 4-and-3. Andy Sullivan swiftly added another point after overcoming Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee by the same margin, before Lee Westwood then made it 12-3 after crushing Nicholas Fung 7-and-6. That paved the way for Willett, the European team’s top-ranked player, to secure the trophy for Europe on the 17th.
GOLF
Blair, Snedeker share lead
Zac Blair had six birdies in a six-under 64 on Saturday to grab a share of the third-round lead alongside Brandt Snedeker at the PGA Tour’s Sony Open in Hawaii. Blair had a chance to take sole possession of the lead at the Waialea Country Club in Honolulu, but missed a birdie putt from inside three feet at the 18th. “I hit a bad putt, nothing more to it than that,” said the 25-year-old, who went into yesterday’s final round in search of his first PGA Tour title tied with seven-time winner Snedeker on 16-under 194. Overnight leader Snedeker carded a bogey-free four-under 66. The leaders were one stroke in front of Kevin Kisner of the US, who carded a 66 for 195. South Korean Kim Si-woo, 20, was two off the pace on 196 — two shots in front of Argentina’s Fabian Gomez, who carded a 65 for 198.
GOLF
Wall in three-way tie
England’s Anthony Wall grabbed a share of the third-round lead with South Africans Zander Lombard and Haydn Porteous at the European Tour’s Joburg Open on Saturday. Wall carded a bogey-free round of 68 on the East course at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club for a tournament total of 15-under to set up a three-way tie going into yesterday. Lombard was the big mover as he birdied three of his final four holes for an excellent 65, while Porteous picked up shots on his last two holes for a 68.
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
RALLY: It was only the second time the Taiwanese has partnered with Kudermetova, and the match seemed tight until they won seven points in a row to take the last set 10-2 Taiwan’s Chan Hao-ching and Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova on Sunday won the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix women’s doubles final in Stuttgart, Germany. The pair defeated Norway’s Ulrikke Eikeri and Estonia’s Ingrid Neel 4-6, 6-3, 10-2 in a tightly contested match at the WTA 500 tournament. Chan and Kudermetova fell 4-6 in the first set after having their serve broken three times, although they played increasingly well. They fought back in the second set and managed to break their opponents’ serve in the eighth game to triumph 6-3. In the tiebreaker, Chan and Kudermetova took a 3-0 lead before their opponents clawed back two points, but