BASKETBALL
Braves beaten in Taipei
The winning streak of the Taipei Fubon Braves was snapped on Saturday in an upset 78-105 loss to Hong Kong Eastern in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) in Taipei. Before tip-off, the Braves, ranked second in the ABL, were seeking to extend their three-game winning streak after they stunned Thailand’s Mono Vampire Basketball Club by a single point a day earlier. US import Brandis Raley-Ross led the scoreboard with 27 points for Eastern at the Heping Basketball Gymnasium. Former NBA guard O.J. Mayo scored 23 points for the Braves. The Braves stayed second in the league, while Hong Kong moved to eighth. The season began on Nov. 16 last year, with 10 teams from East and Southeast Asia competing for the title. The regular season runs until March 29.
TENNIS
Monfils insists hand OK
Gael Monfils is nursing a swollen hand after he lashed out in frustration while playing a computer game, but he does not expect the bizarre injury to hamper his Australian Open. The 10th seed from France, who faces Taiwan’s Lu Yen-hsun in his first-round match at the Australian Open tomorrow, sustained the injury in a fit of pique last month. The 33-year-old played in the ATP Cup at the start of the year, but told reporters yesterday that his hand is still not quite right and he cannot volley as much as he would like. “I was playing a video game in my bedroom and I hit my right hand against the headboard” of the bed, Monfils said. “The real treatment would be rest, but since I can’t, I have taken anti-inflammatory drugs and put ice on it. But it’s getting better, it’s pretty positive, even if some days after big sessions I have to take the next day off to recover.”
BADMINTON
Ginting wins title at home
Indonesia’s Anthony Ginting beat Denmark’s Anders Antonsen in the men’s singles final at the Indonesia Masters yesterday, winning 17-21, 21-15, 21-9. In the mixed doubles at the Istora Senayan in Jakarta, Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong beat Wang Yilyu and Huang Dongping 21-9, 21-9 in an all-Chinese encounter. In the women’s singles, Malaysia’s Ratchanok Intanon beat Carolina Marin of Spain 21-19, 11-21, 21-18. In the men’s doubles, Marcus Gideon and Kevin Sukamuljo defeated Mohammed Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan 21-15, 21-16 in an all-Indonesian affair. In the women’s doubles, Indonesia’s Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu downed Maiken Fruergaard and Sara Thygesen of Denmark 18-21, 21-11, 23-21.
CRICKET
S Africa follow on amid rain
South Africa followed on after England bowled them out in double-quick time in the third Test yesterday, although rain again stopped play. England took the final four first-innings wickets in less than five overs at the start of day 4 in Port Elizabeth to end South Africa’s first innings at 209, a 290-run deficit. At tea yesterday, South Africa were 44-3.
CRICKET
Zimbabwe make steady start
Zimbabwe made a steady start batting first in the first Test against Sri Lanka yesterday. Openers Kevin Kasuza (48 not out) and Prince Masvaure (55) shared an opening stand of 96. At tea, Zimbabwe were 108-1.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping