BOXING
Pacquiao negotiating fight
Philippines boxing icon Manny Pacquiao is negotiating a July 2 fight with unbeaten Australian Jeff Horn, Pacquiao’s camp said yesterday. “We are working out the details for the fight on July 2,” Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz told reporters by text message. Arum had previously been quoted in international media as saying that the 38-year-old Filipino, dubbed “Pac-Man,” would get into the ring with Horn, 29, in April, possibly in Australia. Queensland also offered to host the fight in Brisbane, Australia. Pacquiao and British boxer Amir Khan in February had announced separately that they would fight on April 23, with a source from the Filipino’s camp saying the bout would be in the United Arab Emirates. However, the Pacquiao-Khan fight bizarrely fell through, with Arum describing the reported US$38 million UAE deal to the Los Angeles Times last month as “pie in the sky.” Koncz did not disclose the proposed Pacquiao-Horn prizemoney or the venue, telling reporters that the fighters’ purse was “nobody’s business.” World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Pacquiao is in the twilight of a glittering career that won him unprecedented world titles in eight weight divisions.
OLYMPICS
Devices sought for medals
Organizers of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics have begun collecting discarded electronic devices that will be used in the production of the medals to be awarded to athletes. Japanese Olympic swimmer Takeshi Matsuda and Paralympian Takuro Yamada attended a ceremony in downtown Tokyo yesterday to launch the campaign. “It’s a great project that turns your old unused phones into athletes’ treasured medals,” four-time Olympic swimming medalist Matsuda said. “I’m glad that by participating in this project, anyone can take part in the Games.” The organizing committee aims to collect eight tonnes of raw metal — 40kg of gold, 4,920kg of silver and 2,944kg of bronze — which should yield about two tonnes of pure metal, enough to produce 5,000 medals for the Tokyo Games. People are being asked to donate unwanted and obsolete electronic devices, including smartphones, digital cameras and laptops. Collection boxes have been set up throughout the country. The collection will end in the spring of 2019, or as soon as the eight-tonne target is reached.
BASKETBALL
Long streak broken
A historic 111-game winning streak by the University of Connecticut’s women’s basketball team ended on Friday as the Huskies fell 66-64 in overtime to Mississippi State University in the semi-finals of the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament. Guard Morgan William hit a jumper at the buzzer in overtime to lift the Bulldogs to the stunning victory in Dallas, Texas. Mississippi State led 64-62 before a flagrant foul call on Bulldogs guard Dominique Dillingham allowed Connecticut’s Katie Lou Samuelson to tie the score from the free-throw line with 26.6 seconds remaining in overtime. However, the Huskies could not score on the ensuing possession as Mississippi State created a turnover to set up William’s decisive shot. Four-time defending champions Connecticut, in their 10th straight women’s final four, had not lost a game since Nov. 17, 2014. Their streak of 111 straight wins eclipsed the previous record of 90 straight set by University of Connecticut teams from 2008 to 2010. Mississippi State are to play for the women’s national championship today against South Carolina, who defeated Stanford 62-53 in the other semi-final.
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
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
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
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care