FORMULA ONE
Hamilton sets pace in US
Lewis Hamilton set the early pace for the US Grand Prix, punching in the fastest time of Friday’s afternoon practice session ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. A distant eighth in the morning session, Hamilton’s best lap in the afternoon was 0.301 seconds faster than Leclerc. Hamilton is chasing a sixth career Formula One championship on a track where he has won five times since 2012 and clinched the championship in 2015. The opening practice sessions were marked by cool temperatures and a bumpy track at the seven-year-old Circuit of the Americas. The track is built on clay soil that expands with rain and contracts when dry. Drivers spent the morning session dealing with noticeable bumps that bounced the cars around several areas of the course. Some of the most notable bumps were heading into the first turn as cars sped through the straight at the starting grid in front of the main grandstand and as they pulled out of pit lane. “This must be the bumpiest track in the world,” Hamilton radioed to his garage in the morning session.
SOCCER
Big MLS crowd expected
The MLS Cup final is to be played before one of the largest crowds in league history. The Seattle Sounders on Friday announced that the final on Sunday next week at CenturyLink Field against Toronto is sold out, with more than 69,000 fans expected. The team had sold more than 50,000 tickets to season-ticket holders through a presale before tickets went on sale to the public on Friday.
OLYMPICS
US wait on 3s basketball
The US men’s and women’s teams were not among the eight qualifiers announced on Friday for the Tokyo Olympics in three-on-three basketball. The US teams needed to be one of the top four teams in the FIBA Federation rankings to earn the automatic berths to next year’s Olympics. The men were fifth and the women 12th. Russia led the way with its men’s and women’s teams qualifying, joined by Serbia, China and hosts Japan. The Russian women’s team are joined by China, Mongolia and Romania.
UFC
Jones adds to reward
A reward has risen to US$80,000 for information about Aniah Haley Blanchard, the missing stepdaughter of Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight Walt Harris. Media reported that UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones on Thursday announced on Instagram that he would donate US$25,000 in the case of 19-year-old Blanchard. The money is in addition to two US$25,000 donations from UFC president Dana White and an anonymous donor, along with a US$5,000 donation from the state of Alabama. An Auburn police statement says evidence found inside Blanchard’s vehicle indicates she was a victim of foul play. The Southern Union State Community College student was last seen on Oct. 24.
GOLF
McIlroy leads by one
Rory McIlroy held a one-stroke lead over Louis Oosthuizen after the third round at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai yesterday. McIlroy put on a driving clinic for most of the day, his accuracy and prodigious length off the tee an impressive sight at Sheshan International. He carded a bogey-free five-under-par 67. South African Oosthuizen threw down the gauntlet with birdies at the first five holes en route to a 65, the day’s best score in ideal conditions.
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
Rafael Nadal on Tuesday lost in straight sets to 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round at the Madrid Open, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s doubles. Nadal said that he was feeling good about his progress following his latest injury layoff. Nadal called it a “positive week” in every way and said his body held up well. “I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches,” Nadal said. “So very positive, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis. I enjoyed a lot playing at home. I leave here with
A soccer jersey carrying a national map including disputed Western Sahara has become a hot commodity in Morocco after a diplomatic dispute with Algeria. Retailers said RS Berkane jerseys have been flying off the shelves after a Confederation of African Football (CAF) Cup match against Algerian club USM Alger was canceled last month over the jerseys. “We are overwhelmed by the influx of messages and requests,” said Brahim Rabii, representative of the official RS Berkane jersey distributor. Algeria broke off diplomatic relations with Morocco in 2021, partly over the issue of Western Sahara. The former Spanish colony is largely controlled by Morocco, but claimed
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just