BASEBALL
Game postponed by rain
Torrential rain forced Major League Baseball to postpone Tuesday’s National League Division Series Game 4 between the Chicago Cubs and the Washington Nationals by 24 hours, the league said on Tuesday. The Cubs had been looking to lock up the best-of-five series with a victory after taking a 2-1 lead over the Nationals at Wrigley Field on Monday. However, steady rain over Chicago delayed the start of Game 4, and with no letup, league officials pushed back the game. Despite the delay, any fifth game in the series would still take place today.
CRICKET
India reassures Australia
Indian Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore yesterday sought to reassure Australia’s cricketers about their safety after a rock shattered a window on the bus taking them to their hotel after a series-leveling win in the second Twenty20 international. “Pretty scary having a rock thrown through the team bus window on the way back to the hotel,” batsman Aaron Finch said on Twitter after the eight-wicket win against India. Rathore, an Olympic silver medalist in shooting, said there were tight security arrangements in place for the Australia team. A Cricket Australia spokesman told reporters that they were “satisfied with the levels of security provided.”
RUGBY UNION
Ledesma to coach Jaguares
Mario Ledesma is to leave his assistant coaching job with the Wallabies to return home and coach the Jaguares in Super Rugby. The Australian Rugby Union yesterday said in a statement that Ledesma would assume the head coaching role for the Jaguares after Australia’s third and final Bledisloe Cup match against New Zealand in Brisbane on Saturday next week. Ledesma, a 44-year-old former hooker, played 84 Tests for Argentina over 16 years before then-Stade Francais head coach Michael Cheika signed Ledesma as his assistant. Ledesma then joined Cheika in Sydney at New South Wales Waratahs for the start of the 2015 Super Rugby season before signing on as Australia’s forwards coach ahead of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
SOCCER
HK fans jeer China anthem
Hong Kong soccer supporters on Tuesday again jeered China’s national anthem as tensions between sections of the territory’s population and Chinese authorities continue to simmer. A group of fans at Hong Kong Stadium for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup qualifier against Malaysia booed during The March of the Volunteers in a continuing show of defiance that began in the aftermath of the territory’s 2014 pro-democracy protests. Hong Kong Football Association chairman Brian Leung declined to comment on the behavior of the fans. “We always welcome fans to come and support the Hong Kong team,” he was quoted as saying by the South China Morning Post. “Our focus is solely on sport and we are not going to discuss subjects other than that.” Soccer matches have increasingly become venues for the voicing of discontent from those in Hong Kong who are unhappy with China’s role in running the territory since the handover of sovereignty from Britain in 1997. Hong Kong won Tuesday’s game against Malaysia 2-0 to move closer to securing a place at the Asian Cup finals in the United Arab Emirates in 2019.
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
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely