CRICKET
NZ taps Stokes for award
After ripping the heart out of New Zealand fans on Sunday with a man-of-the-match performance in the World Cup final, England all-rounder Ben Stokes has now been nominated for the New Zealander of the Year award. The 28-year-old was born in New Zealand, but grew up in England. His exploits in the final earned some early nominations for the awards, as did New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, local media reported yesterday. “The way he [Williamson] conducted himself, not only in the face of such devastating disappointment at Lord’s, but throughout the tournament, resonated powerfully with Kiwis from all walks of life,” the award’s chief judge Cameron Bennett told the New Zealand Herald.
CYCLING
Push for women’s Tour
The International Cycling Union is hopeful it can convince Tour de France organizers to hold a women’s equivalent, president David Lappartient said. Women participate in La Course, a one-day competition during the Tour. This year’s edition is a 121km circuit race around Pau in southwestern France before the men began Stage 13 yesterday. Lappartient said that he had held discussions with the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) to increase the event to 10 stages and match the Giro Rosa. “What’s missing in our sport is a big stage race for women that can be seen worldwide. The Tour de France can really help with this,” Lappartient told BBC Radio 5 Live. The 46-year-old said he would continue fighting for a women’s Tour and hoped ASO would overcome logistical hurdles that prevent a longer event during the men’s race.
SOCCER
Arsenal fans petition club
Arsenal fan Web sites in the US are playing a pivotal role in a protest campaign against the club’s owners as a petition demanding change surpassed 100,000 signatures on Thursday, three days after launching. Sixteen supporters’ groups, three from the US, came together to launch the “#WeCareDoYou” campaign in response to “poor leadership” from owner Stan Kroenke and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, declaring the club to be in need of “meaningful action” to “reinvigorate” it. Supporters said they are unhappy with the fact that Arsenal face a third successive season in the Europa League, believe the atmosphere at Emirates Stadium to be “soulless” and feel “marginalized” by the club’s owners. Arsenal director Josh Kroenke responded with an open letter “respectfully disagreeing” with the fans’ view of where the club is at and insisting that he, his father and the club “want to win.”
CRICKET
Council suspends Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe was suspended on Thursday because of government interference. The International Cricket Council said it was also freezing all funding to the country, which is a Test-playing nation and full member of the council. The ban will be in place until at least October, when the council is to meet again to reconsider Zimbabwe’s status. Zimbabwe were suspended after its Sports and Recreation Commission removed the cricket board last month and installed temporary leadership. The commission acted after alleging corruption, but the council viewed it as government interference.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care