ICE HOCKEY
Guilty plea in deadly crash
The driver of a truck involved in a fatal crash with a bus carrying a Canadian junior team on Tuesday pleaded guilty to 29 counts of dangerous driving causing death or bodily harm. Jaskirat Singh Sidhu, 29, is to be sentenced later this month after his brief plea hearing in Melfort, Saskatchewan. He faces up to 14 years in prison over the incident, which left 16 people dead, 10 of them players aged 16 to 21, and injured 13. The Humboldt Broncos’ bus was traveling to a playoff game in Saskatchewan on April 6 when it collided with Sidhu’s truck at a highway intersection. Canadian police said the semi-trailer was exceeding the speed limit and failed to stop.
GOLF
Curry’s tournament axed
The PGA Tour has pulled the plug on a new tournament hosted by NBA star Stephen Curry with time running short and failure to arrange details including the course and sponsorship. The San Francisco Chronicle first reported the development, and Curry told the newspaper he is not giving up on the idea. “We are still committed to bringing an event to San Francisco,” Curry said. “It just won’t be this year.” Talks with Pleasanton-based Workday unexpectedly broke off, the newspaper said. The tournament was to be played from Sept. 19 to 22, but it still did not have a director and there were concerns that work to Lake Merced Golf Club could not be completed in time.
FOOTBALL
Kraft wins ‘Jewish Nobel’
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has been awarded Israel’s Genesis Prize in recognition of his philanthropy and commitment to combating anti-Semitism, prize organizers announced yesterday. The US$1 million award, widely known as the “Jewish Nobel,” is granted each year to a person recognized as an inspiration to the next generation through professional achievement and commitment to Jewish values. Kraft, who grew up in an observant Jewish home, has been an outspoken supporter of Israel and has arranged trips for NFL Hall of Famers to the Holy Land. His prize money is to be donated to initiatives combating anti-Semitism, other forms of prejudices and what some portray as attempts to delegitimize Israel.
TENNIS
Seeds tumble in Auckland
Top seed John Isner yesterday crashed out of the ASB Classic as a calf injury dashed four-time champion David Ferrer’s hopes of a fairy-tale final appearance in New Zealand. Isner was sent packing after fellow American Taylor Fritz held his nerve in two tiebreaks to win 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/5), while compatriot Tennys Sandgren brushed aside third seed Marco Cecchinato of Italy 6-3, 6-3. Second seed Fabio Fognini narrowly avoided the same fate, with German’s Peter Gojowczyk taking the match to a third-set tiebreak before the Italian prevailed 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5). The draw now has only two seeds remaining. Former world No. 3 Ferrer has retired from Grand Slams, but is making a few appearances at his favorite ATP tournaments this year, with Auckland first on the list. “Remember, I won the last point,” he joked before limping off center court to a standing ovation. Meanwhile, Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber defeated Ugo Humbert of France 6-4, 6-4 to set up a quarter-final against Fognini.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two