WINTER OLYMPICS
Preparations ‘on track’
South Korea’s new chief organizer for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang yesterday said that preparations are on track with less than two years to go despite lingering concerns over venue constructions and sponsorships. Lee Hee-beom said that organizers will be able to reach 90 percent of their target of 870 billion won (US$730 million) in domestic sponsorships by the end of the year and downplayed concerns about cash shortages entering the final phase of constructions and ahead of a series of test competitions beginning in December. Lee, 67, a former government minister, was elected by the organizing committee as its new president last week. He replaced business tycoon Cho Yang-ho, who stepped down to deal with financial troubles at a major shipping company his family controls.
CYCLING
Skujins cruises to stage win
Toms Skujins pulled away from Adam De Vos and Xabier Zandio, the only remnants of an early breakaway, and cruised across the finish line to win Stage 5 of the Tour of California on Thursday. Julian Alaphilippe finished 43 seconds back in a pack of overall contenders on the 212.4km route through vineyards and forestland to retain the yellow jersey. Peter Stetina remained 22 seconds adrift in second and George Bennett 37 seconds back in third. Earlier in the day, American rider Megan Guarnier won the opening stage of the women’s race with a solo attack. Emma Johansson was second and Kristin Armstrong was third. Yesterday’s sixth stage was an individual time trial for the men and a team time trial for the women over the same course that begins and ends in downtown Folsom.
TENNIS
Zverev books semi-final birth
Alexander Zverev saved two match points to beat second-seeded Gilles Simon 6-3, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (1) and book a spot in the semi-finals of the Nice Open on Thursday. Zverev led 6-4 in the tiebreak of the second set, but Simon managed to stay in contention and had two chances to seal the match on the German’s serve at 6-5 in the decider. He could not seize them and Zverev secured a third win over his French rival this year. “Playing against Gilles is always tough, especially on this surface,” said Zverev, who fended off eight of the 10 break points he faced. Zverev will next play Joao Sousa of Portugal. The other semi-final pits top-seeded Dominic Thiem against Adrian Mannarino. The 15th-ranked Thiem is chasing a sixth career title.
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