SOCCER
Deportivo, Rayo draw 2-2
RC Deportivo de La Coruna twice came from behind to draw 2-2 against Rayo Vallecano de Madrid on Monday. Nicolas Fedor Miku put Rayo ahead in the eighth minute and Jozabed Sanchez Ruiz restored the visitors’ advantage in the 23rd, while Deportivo got equalizers from Lucas Perez in the 19th and Faycal Fajr in the 46th. Fajr’s goal shortly after the interval was a remarkable long-range shot that curled into the top corner. The result left Deportivo in ninth place with 30 points from 22 rounds. Rayo were 18th with 20 points. Deportivo have not won a league game since December.
TENNIS
Marcos Baghdatis advances
Eighth-seeded Marcos Baghdatis advanced to the second round of the Open Sud de France on Monday with a 7-5, 7-5 win over Lukas Lacko. Baghdatis hit nine aces and converted four of his eight break points to win his first match this season at the indoor tournament. “I don’t have many matches in my legs, because I only played the Australian Open this year. Here I was lucky enough to get the wild card,” Baghdatis said. He next faces Taro Daniel, who beat Denis Istomin 6-2, 6-2. Also advancing to the second round was Alexander Zverev, who saved one match point to rally past Luca Vanni 6-7 (3/7), 6-4, 7-5. Zverev next faces second-seeded Marin Cilic.
SOCCER
Marseille sign Fletcher
Olympique de Marseille have signed Scotland striker Steven Fletcher on loan from Sunderland AFC until the end of the season, the Premier League side confirmed on Monday. Fletcher joined Sunderland from Wolverhampton Wanderers Wolves for £12 million (US$17 million) in 2012 and scored 23 goals in 108 appearances, but he fell out of favor with Black Cats boss Sam Allardyce and has been allowed to move to the French giants. The 28-year-old’s Sunderland contract expires at the end of the season, making it unlikely he will return to the Stadium of Light once he has completed his surprise spell in Ligue 1. “Sunderland AFC have confirmed that striker Steven Fletcher has joined French side Olympique Marseille until the end of the season, when his contract with Sunderland expires,” Sunderland said on their Web site. Fletcher had played just 10 times since Allardyce took over from Dick Advocaat in early October last year.
MOTOGP
Baz in high-speed crash
Frenchman Loris Baz escaped serious injury when his rear tyre exploded, hurling him off his bike in a spectacular high-speed crash during MotoGP pre-season testing in Malaysia yesterday. Baz, who celebrated his 23rd birthday on Monday, said that at the time of the incident he was traveling at about 290kph along the Sepang circuit’s main straightaway. A reporter witnessed the rear tyre on Baz’s Ducati blowing out just before he went down. His Avintia Racing team said they were investigating the cause of the crash. “Now we have to check what happened,” the team said on Twitter. Baz counted himself lucky afterward. “What do you say when you walk away [from] a 290kph crash with a bruised elbow and nothing else? BIG THANKS YOU TO Alpinestars,” he said on Twitter, referring to the manufacturer of his protective gear. Tires are among a number of technical issues expected to be in sharp focus this year after Michelin replaced Bridgestone as MotoGP’s official supplier of tires from this season. Reigning MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo of Spain set the pace on the first day of testing Monday, just ahead of his Yamaha teammate, Italy’s Valentino Rossi.
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
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely