■ 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.
Aaliyah Edwards on Monday pulled off the stunner of the opening round of the Unrivaled one-on-one tournament, beating top-seeded Breanna Stewart 12-0. The tournament to be played over three days featured 23 of the WNBA’s 36 players. A few had other commitments and a couple others were out with injuries. Stewart got the ball first against Edwards and missed a contested layup. Edwards then hit a three-pointer from the corner and a jumper from the elbow to go up 5-0. The player who scores keeps the basketball. Edwards hit two layups and a three-pointer to seal the win. Stewart, a two-time WNBA Most Valuable Player,
The Philippines curling team has been rocking it in Harbin, claiming the tropical nation’s first Asian Winter Games medal yesterday with a victory in the men’s final against South Korea. The team of Marc Pfister, Alan Frei, Christian Haller, Enrico Pfister and alternate Benjo Delarmente took gold with a 5-3 win at Harbin Pingfang Curling Arena. The Philippines Olympic Committee was quick to celebrate with a post on Instagram to mark the historic gold. “This is the first-ever medal for the Philippines at the Asian Winter Games, and the highest achievement for a Southeast Asian athlete in the Games’ history! What an incredible
Taiwan’s Lin Yun-ju and Kao Cheng-jui were defeated by their Chinese counterparts 3-0 on Saturday in the men’s doubles final at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Singapore Smash. Lin and Kao received their silver medals after being defeated by third-seeded duo Lin Shidong and Wang Chuqin of China 2-11, 4-11, 11-13. The Taiwan pair were left playing catch-up early in the match after the Chinese duo proved unstoppable in the first and second game. Although Lin and Kao picked up their pace in the third game and at one point took a 10-8 lead, they were crucially unable to take
Taiwan’s Wu Fang-hsien on Tuesday dumped compatriot and second seed Hsieh Su-wei out of the women’s doubles at the Qatar Open to set up another potential Taiwanese showdown, while world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka suffered a shock defeat in the second round. Wu and partner Jiang Xinyu, who earlier this year won the ASB Classic in Auckland and the Hobart International, defeated Hsieh and Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia 6-2, 6-7 (3/7), 10-5 in 1 hour, 29 minutes on Grandstand Court 3 at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex. Wu and Jiang on Sunday advanced to the round-of-16 with a 7-6 (7/7),