CRICKET
Facebook, Twitter eye IPL
The Indian cricket board yesterday said it had received interest from Facebook and Twitter for media rights to the popular Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket tournament. The social media companies are among a host of other firms, including Star India, Amazon.com, Reliance Jio and ESPN Digital Media, that have shown interest in acquiring media rights for the annual tournament. The bids for the rights — for 2018 onward — are expected by Tuesday next week. Cricket is the most popular sport in India and teams in the IPL count Bollywood stars and major conglomerates such as Reliance Industries as investors.
DIVING
Chen forced to retire
Chinese five-time Olympic gold medalist Chen Ruolin has been forced to retire at the age of 23 due to a problematic neck injury, the country’s diving team manager Zhou Jihong said. Chen, who also claimed six world championship titles, won the 10m individual and synchronized events at the Beijing and London Olympics before adding a final synchronized gold with partner Liu Huixia in Rio this year. “She has a neck injury which may cause some problems if she continues with her career,” Zhou was quoted as saying by the South China Morning Post. “Chen had great courage to get past the Rio Games, but now she has virtually retired. She could still have a lot more to offer due to her age, skills and experience in the sport.”
Chen, along with diver Wu Minxia and gymnast Zhou Kai, holds the record for most Olympic golds by a Chinese athlete.
GYMNASTICS
Watanabe voted FIG head
Morinari Watanabe of Japan was elected as the president of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) at the world governing body’s congress in Tokyo yesterday. The 57-year-old Watanabe, the secretary-general of the Japan Gymnastics Association, received 100 of 119 votes in an election against France’s Georges Guelzec, head of the European Union of Gymnastics. Watanabe will replace 82-year-old Italian Bruno Grandi, who is stepping down as president in December after 20 years in charge. Watanabe becomes the first Asian to head FIG and is the first Japanese president of an Olympic international federation since Ichiro Ogimura was president of the International Table Tennis Federation from 1987 to 1994.
BASKETBALL
Jury to deliberate Rose case
A jury on Tuesday heard pointed closing arguments in a lawsuit accusing NBA star Derrick Rose and two friends of raping a woman in her apartment three years ago. The woman’s lawyers said Rose, who was acquired by the New York Knicks this summer, and two longtime friends broke into the apartment and raped her. The defendants’ team insisted the men were welcomed in for consensual sex. The woman’s lead lawyer, Waukeen McCoy, called the three men “sexual deviants,” while one of Rose’s lawyers referred to him as “one of the nicest young men I have met.” The eight jurors were expected to begin their deliberations yesterday. The woman sued for more than US$21 million in damages, although no amount was stipulated on Tuesday.
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