GOLF
Mozo leads in NZ five
Spain’s Belen Mozo shot an eight-under 64, including a hole in one on the par-three 13th yesterday to take a five-stroke lead after two rounds of the New Zealand Women’s Open. Mozo birdied the 18th after a double-bogey on the 17th and a 10-foot putt for par on the 16th. She had a 14-under total of 130 on the newly-established Windross Farm course. Three golfers shared second place — Emily Tubert of the US, who shot 65 yesterday, Madelene Sagstsrom of Sweden (67) and Canada’s Brooke Henderson, the coleader after the first round who had a 70. Local favorite Lydia Ko shot 68 and was eight strokes behind Mozo.
OLYMPICS
Stadium nears completion
Construction has nearly been completed on a controversial stadium that is to host the opening and closing ceremonies for next year’s Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games in South Korea. The Pyeongchang organizing committee yesterday said the pentagonal, 35,000-seat stadium would be finished today. It is to be torn down after the Games, with the site to be used for a new museum and leisure facilities. South Korea had considered using existing stadiums in other cities for the opening and closing ceremonies to reduce costs. The country went on to build the temporary structure after Pyeongchang residents angrily opposed moving the ceremonies out of town.
SOCCER
City striker hurt in car crash
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has been involved in a road accident in the Netherlands and was to be assessed by club doctors when he returned to England yesterday, the Premier League side said. “Sergio Aguero will be assessed by Club doctors today after being involved in a road accident on Thursday,” City said of the Argentina striker in a statement on their Web site. “The City forward was in Holland on his day off and has sustained injuries. He will return to Manchester this morning and his status will be checked ahead of tomorrow’s Premier League clash at Chelsea.” Earlier reports in the Argentine media said Aguero, who has scored six goals in six league appearances this season, traveled to Amsterdam to attend a concert and was the passenger in a taxi that crashed into a pole. Aguero’s first club, Club Atletico Independiente, said on Twitter: “Strength and fast recovery. All Independiente is with you at this difficult time.”
RUGBY UNION
Wessel to coach Rebels
South African Dave Wessels said he has accepted the head coaching job at Super Rugby’s Melbourne Rebels, switching from the now-disbanded Western Force in Perth. The Rebels, who finished last in the Australian conference this year with just one win, signed Wessels for two seasons in the deal announced yesterday. Local and overseas media said Wessels had declined an offer from Irish side Munster Rugby in Europe’s Pro14 competition. “I was obviously very flattered that there was some interest from other places ... I feel a huge amount of loyalty to Australian rugby and I’m just very grateful that Melbourne offered me this opportunity,” Wessels said. Force were cut by the Australian Rugby Union when Super Rugby was reduced from 18 to 15 teams for next season.
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
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was