BASKETBALL
Lakers sign Yi Jianlian
Yi Jianlian, who is fresh off an appearance with the Chinese national team at the Rio Olympics, has signed a contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, the NBA team announced on Monday. Yi, of China’s Guangdong Province, averaged 20.4 points and 6.6 rebounds in five games at the Summer Olympics, which ended on Sunday. Yi, 28, joins a team that has been at or near the bottom of the NBA the past several seasons. The Lakers declined to release details of the contract. Yi was the Milwaukee Bucks’ first-round draft in 2007. He has not played in the NBA since 2012 and has spent the past four seasons playing in the Chinese Basketball Association.
CRICKET
S Africa, NZ draw over rain
The first Test between South Africa and New Zealand yesterday ended in a damp draw without a ball bowled over the final three-and-a-half days due to a sodden outfield at Kingsmead. Only 100 overs were possible in the match, with New Zealand frozen on 15-2 in their first innings for 11 sessions after the players left the field prior to lunch on the second day, never to return. The tourists were replying to South Africa’s first innings total of 263 all out on a difficult batting surface in what was the first winter Test to be played in Durban. The debacle will now place the spotlight on Cricket South Africa’s decision to play the game at Kingsmead, with no play possible for three days, despite no rain.
CRICKET
Trinidad launches probe
The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board has launched an investigation after only 22 overs could be played over five days in the fourth and final Test between the West Indies and India at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, due to a soggy outfield. The lack of action meant India won the four-Test series 2-0, but surrendered the top spot in the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings to Pakistan, less than a week after taking over the No. 1 position from Australia. Rain halted play on the first day of the Test after the West Indies had reached 62-2, and no further play was possible over the next four days, despite periods of sunshine. The abandonment and lack of modern equipment at the ground has been panned by critics and former cricketers. The ground might also face action from the ICC if Sri Lankan match referee Ranjan Madugalle submits an adverse report against the venue.
SOCCER
Leganes debut with victory
Victor Diaz on Monday scored the only goal as CD Leganes defeated RC Celta de Vigo 1-0 in the club’s first-ever game in the Spanish top flight. Diaz steered in from a corner on 75 minutes to hand Leganes victory on their La Liga debut, having won promotion to the top tier by finishing runners-up in Spain’s second division last season. Meanwhile, UD Las Palmas stunned Valencia 4-2 at the Mestalla, with Croatian striker Marko Livaja netting a brace in the final game of the opening round of matches in Spain. Santi Mina headed Valencia into a sixth-minute lead, but Livaja equalized before Jonathan Viera converted a penalty and Kevin-Prince Boateng stretched the visitors’ advantage on his Las Palmas debut. Mina struck again to make it 3-2 after just 34 minutes, but Livaja rounded out a famous victory late on.
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
Rafael Nadal on Tuesday lost in straight sets to 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round at the Madrid Open, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s doubles. Nadal said that he was feeling good about his progress following his latest injury layoff. Nadal called it a “positive week” in every way and said his body held up well. “I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches,” Nadal said. “So very positive, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis. I enjoyed a lot playing at home. I leave here with
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
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just