GOLF
Henderson leads at Meijer
Brooke Henderson on Saturday birdied the final three holes for a three-under 69 and a two-stroke lead over Annie Park at the Meijer Classic, with Lexi Thompson three shots back after a 62. Trying to break a tie for the Canadian victory record for both women and men, the 21-year-old Henderson had a 19-under 197 total at Blythefield Country Club. She opened with consecutive 64s, playing 30 holes on Friday after rain delayed the start on Thursday. Both Taiwanese at the tournament failed to make the cut, with Hsu Wei-ling shooting a pair of 72s and Chien Pei-yun shooting a 72 and a 73.
CRICKET
South Africa get first win
South Africa won their first match at the Cricket World Cup with a nine-wicket thrashing of Afghanistan under the DLS method at Sophia Gardens on Saturday. Quinton de Kock hit 68, including eight fours, and Hashim Amla was 41 not out in their 131-1 in 28.4 overs in reply to Afghanistan’s 125 all out in 34.1 overs. Captain Faf du Plessis was a happy man at the end. “Very relieved. Feel a little bit lighter, but I think all our cricket today was much better and much more competitive,” Du Plessis said. However, South Africa remained in the bottom half of the table with the West Indies, Bangladesh and Pakistan, but have played one more game. Afghanistan, have lost all four of their matches and remained last. In the top half, Australia defeated Sri Lanka by 87 runs to go to No. 1. Sri Lanka, whose top order threatened to overhaul Australia’s 334-7, were fifth.
SOCCER
Group E top two decided
The Netherlands and Canada ensured they would finish in the top two in Group E at the Women’s World Cup with victories. In Valenciennes on Saturday, Vivianne Miedema scored a brace as they saw off a spirited Cameroon 3-1, while Canada laid siege to the New Zealand goal in Grenoble to win 2-0.
SOCCER
Antuna scores hat-trick
Uriel Antuna went from not even being on Mexico’s roster to getting the start and scoring a hat-trick. The forward — who was a last-minute addition to the roster — scored three goals and had an assist as top-seeded Mexico cruised to a 7-0 rout over Cuba on the opening day of the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Saturday at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. “I am very happy I was able to score, but the team played a great game, so I am very happy to be here,” Antuna said to CONCACAF.com after the game. Canada opened play with a 4-0 victory over Martinique in Saturday’s first game.
BASEBALL
Ruth jersey sets record
A New York Yankees jersey worn by baseball legend Babe Ruth was sold at auction for a record-breaking US$5.64 million, a statement said on Saturday. Hunt Auctions said the jersey was the most expensive piece of sports memorabilia ever sold. “The legacy and significance of Babe Ruth to the game of baseball and American popular culture is unmatched by any other figure in the history of this country,” Hunt Auctions president David Hunt said in a statement. The identity of the buyer was not disclosed. Saturday’s sale shattered the previous record for sports memorabilia of US$4.4 million, also for a Ruth jersey, set in 2012.
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
Roger Federer on Wednesday said that staying involved with tennis in retirement helped him avoid feeling “like an alien” ahead of this week’s Laver Cup in Berlin. Federer, who helped create the tournament, retired at the Laver Cup in London two years ago and has since stayed involved with the competition as an ambassador. “I’m happy I went back right away to some tournaments,” the 43-year-old told reporters. “I feel I ripped the Band-Aid off quite quickly and when I walk around the tennis sites I still feel I belong there,” he said. “I don’t feel like an alien, which is 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