CYCLING
Giro to cross iconic bridge
Budapest’s oldest bridge is to be crossed by riders on the first stage of this year’s Giro d’Italia after its use was originally ruled out because of planned renovation works. A statement said that race organizers had reached an agreement with the city government to include the iconic Szechenyi Chain Bridge for stage one, an 8.6km individual time trial. The bridge across the Danube was completed in 1849 and remains one of the city’s most visible landmarks, although increased traffic means major work is required. It is the 14th time the Giro has started outside Italy, but the first time an eastern European city is to host. After the initial time trial, there would be two further stages in Hungary before the race switches back to Italy. The Giro begins on May 9.
CRICKET
India win World Cup opener
Leg-spinner Poonam Yadav yesterday bowled India to an upset 17-run win over defending champions Australia in the opening game of the Women’s Twenty20 World Cup in Sydney. India were restricted to 132-4 off their 20 overs and a half-century from Australian opener Alyssa Healy appeared to have the hosts on track for victory. However, the dangerous Yadav took 4-19 to halt their momentum, with Australia all out for 115 with one ball to spare.
FOOTBALL
Owners approve new CBA
NFL owners on Thursday accepted the terms of a proposed new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), with the lone hurdle remaining being a vote of approval by the players. The NFL released a statement indicating that the owners have approved the negotiated terms of the deal. The current agreement was ratified in 2011 and is to expire following the 2020-2021 season. “Following more than 10 months of intensive and thorough negotiations, the NFL players and clubs have jointly developed a comprehensive set of new and revised terms that will transform the future of the game .... and ensure that the NFL’s second century is even better and more exciting for the fans,” the league said in a statement. If approved by the players, the new deal could reportedly go into effect in time for the new season, which begins on March 18.
RUGBY UNION
Crusaders crush Highlanders
Reigning champions Canterbury Crusaders yesterday celebrated 25 years in Super Rugby with a 33-13 demolition of the Highlanders in Christchurch, New Zealand. The 10-time title winners chose this week to celebrate the Southern Hemisphere competition’s silver jubilee, inviting more than 200 former players to a post-match function in their hometown. The current players turned on the style as their predecessors looked on, scoring five tries to two as they bossed the South Island derby. The Crusaders scored four first-half tries in front of an ecstatic home crowd, capitalizing on some woeful Highlanders defense. The visitors’ task was made more difficult when Shannon Frizzell was sin-binned early after the break for a tip-tackle on Braydon Ennor. The Highlanders lifted and were rewarded with a try to Jona Nareki, but Sione Havili put the result beyond doubt when he crossed the line with six minutes left on the clock.
A sumo star was born in Japan on Sunday when 24-year-old Takerufuji became the first wrestler in 110 years to win a top-division tournament on his debut, triumphing at the 15-day Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka despite injuring his ankle on the penultimate day. Takerufuji, whose injury had left him in a wheelchair outside the ring, shoved out the higher-ranked Gonoyama at the Edion Arena Osaka to the delight of the crowd, giving him an unassailable record of 13 wins and two losses to claim the Emperor’s Cup. “I did it just through willpower. I didn’t really know what was going
The US’ Ilia Malinin on Saturday produced six scintillating quadruple jumps, including a quadruple Axel, in the men’s free skate to capture his first figure skating world title. The 19-year-old nicknamed the “Quad god,” who is the only skater to land a quadruple Axel in competition, dazzled with an array of breathtakingly executed jumps starting with his quad Axel and including a quadruple Lutz in combination with a triple flip and a quadruple toe loop in combination with a triple toe. He added an unexpected triple-triple combination at the end to earn a world-record 227.79 in the free program for a championship
Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter is being criminally investigated by the IRS, and the attorney for his alleged bookmaker said Thursday that the ex-Los Angeles Dodgers employee placed bets on international soccer — but not baseball. The IRS confirmed Thursday that interpreter Ippei Mizuhara and Mathew Bowyer, the alleged illegal bookmaker, are under criminal investigation through the agency’s Los Angeles Field Office. IRS Criminal Investigation spokesperson Scott Villiard said he could not provide additional details. Mizuhara, 39, was fired by the Dodgers on Wednesday following reports from the Los Angeles Times and ESPN about his alleged ties to an illegal bookmaker and debts well
HSIEH MAKES QUARTERS: Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei and Elise Mertens of Belgium won in the women’s doubles and face Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Sofia Kenin of the US Top-ranked Iga Swiatek and US Open champion Coco Gauff were knocked out of the women’s singles at the Miami Open on Monday, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced in the women’s doubles. Swiatek lost to Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-4, 6-2, hours after third seed Gauff fell in three sets to No. 23 Caroline Garcia 6-3, 1-6, 6-2. Alexandrova beat a top-ranked player for the first time and advanced to face Jessica Pegula, a 7-6 (7/1), 6-3 winner over Emma Navarro, in the quarter-finals. Alexandrova recorded her second win over Swiatek, following a 2021 victory in Melbourne. Swiatek had won their three matches since. “We played quite