CRICKET
Misbah makes 99 again
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq was dismissed for 99, a week after he was left stranded on the same score, as his side took an 81-run first-innings lead in the second Test against the West Indies in Barbados on Tuesday. Misbah had the dubious honor of becoming the first player from his country to finish on 99 not out during the first innings of last week’s seven-wicket first Test victory in Jamaica. Seeking his 11th Test century on Tuesday, the 42-year-old failed to control a rising delivery from West Indies captain Jason Holder, with the ball hitting his glove and popping up for an easy catch at second slip. Despite the personal disappointment, his team ended the day in a strong position after opener Azhar Ali scored his 13th Test century. The West Indies had to endure a nervous 14 overs in their second innings before stumps and were 40-1 at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, still 41 runs behind Pakistan’s 393. Kraigg Brathwaite was on 8 with Shimron Hetmyer on 22 at the close. Opener Kieran Powell was caught behind by Sarfraz Ahmed for 6 off Mohammad Abbas.
AUSSIE RULES
Teams prepare for China
From chopstick etiquette to dealing with hierarchy, Aussie Rules players are learning about Chinese customs ahead of a groundbreaking match in Shanghai, with teams eager to avoid any missteps. Port Adelaide Power and the Gold Coast Suns have engaged cultural awareness firms to teach players the do’s and don’ts of China ahead of their game on Sunday next week, a report said yesterday. The match is the first-ever played for premiership points outside Australia and New Zealand as the sport seeks to make inroads into the potentially massive Chinese market. “The idea ... is to get a heads up on how cultures are different, how to respect them and not make fun of them,” Port Adelaide player Jack Hombsch told the Age newspaper. “Some things in other cultures are really important to them and what is funny can be different to us.” The clubs have scrambled to make the most of Chinese traditions, with the Gold Coast this week winning the right to play in their home colors of red and yellow, which they share with the Chinese flag. Port Adelaide, who paid A$500,000 (US$375,000) for the rights to the match, had argued that the Suns should wear white, fearing Chinese supporters would gravitate to the challengers. One Australian report, which the club later brushed aside, had suggested that a star player abandon his No. 4 jersey, as the number is considered unlucky in China. All 10,000 tickets to the match at Shanghai’s Jiangwan Stadium have been sold.
GOLF
Thailand Open confirmed
The Thailand Open has rejoined the Asian Tour after an eight-year hiatus, organizers said yesterday, confirming that Australia’s Scott Hend and local favorite Thongchai Jaidee would headline the event later this month. The deal will be seen as a new blow to the struggling rival OneAsia Tour, who poached the tournament from the Asian Tour in 2010, and comes just weeks after the Asian Tour announced it had made a breakthrough deal to return to China, where OneAsia had previously had a foothold. Thailand’s national championship, which dates back to 1965, is to be held this year at Bangkok’s Thai Country Club from May 18 to May 21, with a prize fund of US$300,000.
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