TENNIS
Chan Chin-wei eliminated
Taiwan’s Chan Chin-wei crashed out of the doubles at the WTA Bol Open in Croatia on Friday. After a first-round bye, her first match at the tournament with partner Renata Voracova of the Czech Republic was a quarter-final against Romanian duo Andreea Mitu and Patricia Maria Tig, which they lost 6-3, 6-3. In the singles quarter-finals, Ana Konjuh defeated Tereza Mrdeza 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) to earn a semi against Mandy Minella, who beat New Zealan’s Marina Erakovic 6-4, 6-4. In the second semi-final, Nao Hibino — who beat Stefanie Voegele 6-2, 6-2 — was to play Polona Hercog, who defeated Kristina Kucova 6-4, 6-1.
MOTOR RACING
Luis Salom dies after crash
Moto2 rider Luis Salom died on Friday after crashing during practice for the Catalunya Grand Prix. He was 24. The death of the Spanish rider was announced at a news conference a few hours after the incident at a fast turn on the Barcelona track. “He underwent surgery, but despite the best efforts of the trauma team, he passed away,” said Giancarlo di Filippo, a medical director for the International Motorcycling Federation. Race directors said the weekend races would go on “as agreed with Salom’s family, the riders, teams and the safety commission,” but on an alternate track layout. The crash happened at turn 12, a fast right-hander in the final sector of the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit. The turn is not used in Formula One, where cars have to go through a chicane to slow down before entering the front straight. Officials said the F1 layout would be used for all three bike races this weekend. MotoGP medical director Angel Charte said Salom was in cardiac arrest when doctors arrived at the scene. He was intubated and submitted to cardiopulmonary resuscitation for 18 minutes. Treatment continued for 40 minutes during an ambulance transfer, but he deteriorated. At the hospital, doctors performed exploratory surgery, but he was declared dead about 45 minutes after arriving.
SOCCER
Barcelona fined over flags
La Liga champions Barcelona on Friday said they were fined 150,000 euros (US$170,000) by UEFA after separatist flags were flown at the Camp Nou during Champions League games last season. In a statement, the club said that it would do everything to overturn a punishment it described as “totally unjust and ... opposed to the exercise of the freedom of expression.” Of the fine, 50,000 euros will be suspended if there is no repeat offense in the next two years. The Catalan estelada has in recent years become a symbol of the independence movement within Catalonia.
SWIMMING
Phelps wins one, loses one
Michael Phelps won one and lost one on Friday in a tuneup meet in Austin, Texas, where he was competing with an eye on this month’s US Olympic trials and a berth at the Rio de Janeiro Games. Joseph Schooling, a 20-year-old from Singapore who swims for the University of Texas in Austin, clocked 51.58 seconds to edge 18-time Olympic gold medalist Phelps (51.65 seconds) in the 100m butterfly — an event in which Phelps holds the world record. Schooling admitted it “felt great” to get his first win over Phelps, but added that the US great was still in hard training before the US trials and not in peak racing form as he will be in Omaha this month and Rio de Janeiro in August. Phelps was swimming in his second final of the night, having won the 100m freestyle in 49.49 seconds, with Jack Conger second.
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
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and