■ Athletics
Russian sets world record
Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia broke her own world record in the women's pole vault in Lausanne, Switzerland on Tuesday with a jump of 4.93m at the Athletissima Grand Prix meet. Isinbayeva, the Olympic champion and the world's overall No. 1 ranked woman, had set the previous world record of 4.92 in Brussels in September 2004. The 22-year-old Russian said she was glad to break the record but was not really surprised with the result. "I was ready to be here. I was in good form," said Isinbayeva after recording her 14th pole vault world record. "It was perfect." The Russian said she would try to become the first women to break the 5m mark this year. Isinbayeva, eclipsed the outdoor world record Tuesday on her third attempt.
■ Basketball
Ray Allen remains a Sonic
All-Star guard Ray Allen agreed to a five-year, US$85 million contract extension with the Seattle SuperSonics, his agent said on Tuesday. Allen cannot sign the deal until the NBA free-agent signing period begins on July 22, but agent Lon Babby said Allen plans on signing the contract at the first available moment. The contract includes US$80 million in salary and US$5 million in bonuses, although terms of the bonuses and the yearly breakdown of salary haven't been determined. Allen earned about US$14 million this past season. Seattle spokesman Marc Moquin said the team couldn't comment on the agreement. Allen averaged a career-high 23.9 points per game last season -- 10th best in the NBA -- as Seattle shocked the league by winning 52 games and the Northwest Division title. In the playoffs, Allen scored 26.5 points per game.
Soccer officials yesterday offered “full support and assistance” to the Iranian team in Australia for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup after the US and Israel launched massive attacks on their homeland. Iran’s 26-strong squad arrived on the Gold Coast days before the strikes on Saturday killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as Washington and Tel Aviv seek to topple the Islamic republic. They are due to open their tournament today against South Korea. The AFC in a statement said it “continues to closely monitor the recent developments in the Middle East during this challenging period.” “The AFC’s foremost priority remains the welfare, safety and
ROAD RASH: Marc Marquez retired after a crash, marking the first time after 88 consecutive races stretching back to 2021 that a Ducati bike failed to make the podium Marco Bezzecchi yesterday won the MotoGP season-opening grand prix in Thailand from pole position as defending world champion Marc Marquez retired late with a buckled wheel. Aprilia’s Bezzecchi led from start to finish to top the podium in Buriram, with KTM’s Pedro Acosta second and Trackhouse’s Raul Fernandez third. Ducati’s Marquez is chasing a record-equaling eighth world title this season, but he exited the race in dramatic fashion while in fourth place with five laps to go. The Spaniard, who started from second on the grid, took a corner wide, with the jolt to his bike dislodging the rear tire, badly damaging his
EVERY DAY A VICTORY: Players on the women’s team faced pressure from society just getting out onto the field as they prepare for their first Women’s Asian Cup game today Bangladesh’s national soccer team face daunting odds at their first-ever Women’s Asian Cup, but have already scored a major victory by qualifying. In the South Asian nation of 170 million, social stigma, family expectations, poverty and religious hardliners have long relegated women and girls to sports sidelines. The first women’s soccer league matches took place in 2011 and the squad, known to fans as the Red and Green, have kept pressing forward despite deeply embedded prejudices. “Many more girls would have joined us if the community had been even slightly supportive,” captain Afeida Khandaker told AFP ahead of her side’s March 3
Liverpool on Tuesday suffered an embarrassing 2-1 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers as Andre’s stoppage-time strike sealed a dramatic victory for the English Premier League’s bottom club. Arne Slot’s side fell behind to Rodrigo Gomes’ strike in the closing stages at Molineux. Mohamed Salah hauled Liverpool level with his first goal in 11 top-flight games dating back to November last year. However, Andre’s first goal for Wolves inflicted the latest humbling loss in a chastening season for Liverpool. It was the first time the Premier League’s bottom club had beaten the reigning champions since Crystal Palace defeated Chelsea in 2017. Liverpool
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