GYMNASTICS
Biles equals record
US star Simone Biles on Saturday equaled the all-time record of 23 world championship medals, but said that she had little time to reflect on her feat with two more finals to come. The 22-year-old Biles needed one more medal from yesterday’s beam and floor finals in Stuttgart to overtake Belarussian gymnast Vitaly Scherbo. “I don’t have time to think about these things. I think of my performances — and then dinner,” Biles told reporters when asked about equaling Scherbo’s record from the 1990s.
BASEBALL
Yankees take Game 1
The New York Yankees tagged the Houston Astros’ Zack Greinke in their American League Championship Series opener on Saturday. Greinke allowed two home runs in a span of three batters in the sixth inning and the Yankees went on to a 7-0 win at Minute Maid Park. “I think it’s important not to overreact to anything,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “And credit the Yankees for having a really good first game. We’ll see them tomorrow [yesterday].”
TENNIS
Medvedev dominates Zverev
Daniil Medvedev won his fourth title of a spectacular year with a thumping 6-4, 6-1 victory over Alexander Zverev in the Shanghai Masters final yesterday. The 23-year-old was at his ruthless best in the second set as he raced to a 5-0 lead before Zverev finally showed some resistance to hold serve. However, Medvedev served out the match with an emphatic ace to claim his second consecutive ATP Masters 1000 crown following his triumph in Cincinnati. When asked why he does not like celebrating his victories on court, Medvedev quipped: “I said it after Cincinnati, I think that everyone has been talking that they want to see something new. So I don’t celebrate my wins, just get the win and it’s done.”
CRICKET
India crush South Africa
India took 30 minutes to wrap up the South Africa tail after tea on Day 4 to win the second Test by an innings and 137 runs in Pune yesterday. Umesh Yadav picked up two quick wickets after the resumption of play in the final session, while Ravindra Jadeja also chipped in with one as South Africa were bowled out for 189 runs in 67.2 overs. Yadav took 3-22 while Jadeja finished with 3-52 as the duo shared six wickets to wrap up the Proteas’ second innings, which lasted only 6.2 overs after the players returned to the field for the final session.
BOXING
Usyk wins pro debut
Oleksandr Usyk dominated in his professional heavyweight debut at the Wintrust Arena, earning a technical knockout win over Chazz Witherspoon in the seventh round in Chicago on Saturday night. In his highly anticipated pro debut, Usyk (17-0) showed his dominance over Witherspoon in the third round, teeing off with an array of jabs. Usyk landed a series of combinations in the fourth. Witherspoon spent most of the second half of the sixth round leaning on the ropes as Usyk had his way. Witherspoon (38-4) showed a strong chin, never going down, but his corner saw stopped the fight.
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