SOCCER
Draw delays Uruguay
Uruguay drew 2-2 with Japan and delayed their likely qualification to Copa America’s knockout stage until the last round of the group stage. Koji Miyoshi opened the score at 25 minutes, hitting the ball hard to the left of goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. Luis Suarez leveled at 32 after a penalty-kick awarded by video review following a foul by a Japanese defender. Miyoshi added Japan’s second at 59 in a rebound after Muslera tried to block a cross from the left. At 66 minutes, Uruguay drew with a header by Jose Gimenez after a corner-kick. Uruguay have four points in two matches and lead Group C. Defending champions Chile could have reached six points with a win over Ecuador yesterday. Japan have one point and Ecuador have none. Uruguay and Chile play tomorrow, the same day that Japan play Ecuador.
GOLF
Weather hits opening day
Hannah Green on Thursday did not let an equipment oversight spoil her opening round at the Women’s PGA Championship, shooting a bogey-free 68 for a one-shot lead. The Australian had a hard time keeping warm and dry, because she forgot to put rain gear or towels in her bag. “I only brought one jacket and I was freezing cold,” she said. However, Green fought the elements and finished with a slim lead over runner-ups Mel Reid of England and South Korea’s Kim Hyo-joo on a day when just 16 players broke par in Chaska, Minnesota. Taiwan’s Hsu Wei-ling carded a one-over-par 73 to land in 32nd place, while compatriot Chien Pei-yun was 14 back at 46th with a 74.
OLYMPICS
Hosting rights returned
The International Olympic Committee on Thursday gave India the all-clear to resume bidding for major sports events, lifting a ban that had been triggered when Pakistani athletes were denied visas to compete in the country. The committee in February suspended all Indian applications to host events after two Pakistanis were denied visas to compete in New Delhi. The denial of entry visas for two shooters, who were due to take part in a World Cup event in February, followed an attack by a Pakistan-based militant group in Kashmir. The Indian Olympic Association last year laid out an ambitious road map to host the Youth Olympics in 2026, the Asian Games in 2030 and the Summer Olympics for the first time in 2032.
OLYMPICS
Bill to address US reform
A top US Olympic and Paralympic Committee official on Thursday said that the organization is addressing its failure to protect its athletes from the sexual abuse of a team doctor, comments that come days after legislation was introduced aimed at reforming the body. US Representative Diana DeGette on Monday announced that legislation that would create a commission to look into the committee and its national governing bodies. The bill would require the US Congress to appoint a 16-member commission, which would include at least eight athletes, to study how the committee operates and provide Congress with a list of reform recommendations. The commission would have the power to subpoena witnesses and information from federal agencies as part of its review. The bill is similar to one introduced in the US Senate in January.
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