■ Athletics
Fans protest Israel
More than 1,000 protesters burned an Israeli flag outside the stadium where Israeli athletes competed on Monday at the European Athletics Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden. The protesters waved Lebanese flags and demanded an end to the fighting between Israeli forces and the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon. The group also called for a political, trade and sports boycott of Israel and said its athletes should not be allowed to compete in European competitions.
■ Baseball
Matsui up for examination
New York Yankees left fielder Hideki Matsui will have his injured left wrist re-examined on Friday, at which time he could be cleared to intensify his workouts. Matsui is currently hitting off a tee with a mini-bat, one-handed with his right arm. The Japanese star is also throwing in the outfield, but is having a second person catch the return throws for him. Matsui will be examined in Tampa, Florida, where he is recovering from the broken wrist he suffered while diving for a fly ball against Boston on May 11. "I'm really not frustrated or tired of the situation," Matsui said on Monday through a translator.
■ Soccer
Reggina to face fixing probe
Italian Serie A side Reggina have been ordered to appear before a sports tribunal to answer allegations of match-fixing in the latest twist to the scandal that has rocked Italian soccer, it was reported on Monday. Reggina's case has been referred to legal authorities after the club were placed under investigation at the request of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) last month, ANSA news agency reported. The club's 56-year-old president Lillo Foti, three referees, two assistant referees and another official have been targeted by prosecutors. According to magistrates, these people tried to predetermine the result of six matches involving first division club Reggina last season.
■ Athletics
Kenyan duo falsified age
A Kenyan police officer allegedly helped two runners lower their ages so they could take part in the World Junior Championships, the country's sports minister said on Monday. "We must stop this age cheating habit once and for all," Maina Kamanda said. Emmanuel Chamer had a passport that said he was born in 1988 but he was actually born in 1984, Kamanda said, making him too old to compete at the Aug. 15-20 championships in Beijing. Chamer admitted getting the passport with the help of police inspector Silas Ruto, the minister said. Thomas Loriongosiwa was also detained last week by authorities. Loriongosiwa was born in 1982 -- not 1988 -- which would have qualified him to run, Kamanda said last week. Loriongosiwa was arrested Friday and charged. He is out on bail and his case will be heard on Oct. 25.
■ NHL
Rangers hook Hossa
The New York Rangers and Slovakian forward Marcel Hossa agreed to terms on a one-year deal worth US$600,000 on Monday. The 24-year-old left winger posted career highs with 10 goals, 16 points and 64 games played in the last NHL season, his first with New York. Hossa, who represented Slovakia at this year's Turin Olympics, also had a goal,and three assists in seven games at the ice hockey world championships. During the 2004-2005 NHL lockout, Hossa skated in 48 games with Mora IK of the Swedish Elite League and had 18 goals and six assists. He tied his brother, Marian of the Atlanta Thrashers, for second on the team in goals. He was acquired by New York on Sept. 30 last year, for forward Garth Murray.
■ Rugby Union
'Boks bolster squad
Springbok selectors added two uncapped players to their squad and recalled center Jean de Villiers after an injury lay-off on Monday for their three remaining home Tri-Nations games. The Sharks duo of scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar, who can also play flyhalf, and prop Brendon Botha were named in the 28-man squad to take on New Zealand twice and Australia once. Cats flyhalf Andre Pretorius was recalled to the squad for the first time this season. De Villiers and lock Danie Rossouw, who were both injured while playing for South Africa against Scotland and Australia respectively, also returned to bolster the team, who have lost their last four tests.
■ Olympic games
Sponsorship prices soaring
Commercial partners for the 2012 Olympics may have to pay up to triple the original asking price for sponsorship, a London Organizing Committee report said on Monday. The organizing committee released a "business support initiative" report indicating it needs to raise £2 billion (US$3.82 billion) in sponsorship revenue for the London Games. With 10 "Top Tier" companies expected to raise 80 percent of this amount, exclusive partners could be paying out above the original £50 million price tag the organizing committee set during bidding for the games.
■ Motogp
Doohan pleads to assault
Former world motorcycle champion Mick Doohan pleaded guilty to assaulting a security officer at a strip club and was fined AU$2,500 (US$1,900. Doohan arrived late at Darwin's Magistrates Court in Australia's Northern Territory -- often referred to as the "Top End" -- yesterday, narrowly avoiding having an arrest warrant issued. When he arrived, he admitted to assaulting the bouncer and failing to leave a licensed premises early on Saturday morning.
Taiwan’s men’s table tennis team won bronze on Saturday at this year’s International Table Tennis Federation World Team Table Tennis Championships in London, matching the country’s best-ever finish at the regular tournament. Consisting of Lin Yun-ju, Taiwan’s top-ranked player at world No. 7, Feng Yi-hsin, Kuo Guan-hong, Hong Jing-kai and Hsu Hsien-chia, the team won bronze after losing 0-3 to Japan in the semifinals. In the opening match, 24-year-old Lin played the first game against world No. 3 Tomokazu Harimoto 11-5, but ultimately lost the next three closely contested games 9-11, 10-12 and 10-12. Feng then faced world No. 8 Sora Matsushima in
Lin Yun-ju on Thursday handed Taiwan two key victories as they advanced to the semi-finals of the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals in London. The Taiwan men’s table tennis team beat Sweden 3-2 in five singles matches. The 24-year-old Lin, Taiwan’s top-ranked player at world No. 7 and nicknamed the “Silent Assassin,” opened the tie by defeating world No. 2 Truls Moregard 3-0 (11-8, 11-9, 13-11) before clinching the deciding fifth match with a 3-0 (11-8, 11-9, 11-5) win over Anton Kallberg to hand his team the overall victory. Kuo Guan-hong put Taiwan up 2-0 with a 3-2 (4-11, 11-8, 8-11,
Taiwanese fire dancer Yang Li-wei advanced to the final of Britain’s Got Talent this weekend after receiving a Golden Buzzer during her live semi-final performance. Yang, a member of Taiwan’s Coming True Fire Group, awed judges and audiences with a high-intensity fire performance featuring flaming umbrellas, fire swallowing and spinning metal structures balanced with her legs. Judge Simon Cowell praised Yang as a star, while guest judge KSI reacted with amazement before pressing the Golden Buzzer, sending her to the finals. The dance group wrote on social media that the Golden Buzzer was “the highest honor” on the talent show, adding: “Twenty-three years
As Super Rugby fast approaches its playoff season it finds itself racing toward a reckoning with many issues that threaten the southern hemisphere tournament. A group of stakeholders met in the New Zealand city of Christchurch late last month to address problems that are making the future of the 31-year-old competition increasingly tenuous. The discussion was made more urgent by the decision by the owners of Moana Pasifika to fold the Auckland-based club for financial reasons. That followed the closure of the Melbourne Rebels at the end of the 2024 season, likewise because of financial difficulties. Problems addressed included player retention as more
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