■ 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.
Yu Yao-hsing on Tuesday nabbed Taiwan’s only goal in the final round of qualifiers for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, as they fell 3-1 to Sri Lanka at Taipei Municipal Stadium. Early goals from Sri Lanka in the first half left Taiwan struggling to get on the board, and Christopher Tiao’s own goal at 53 minutes sealed the team’s fate in the third round of qualifiers. While acknowledging that the defeat, Taiwan’s sixth in Group D, was disappointing, head coach Matt Ross said he saw reasons to stay positive about the team’s development. “There were lots of positive signs in terms of the
Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli yesterday vowed to “keep raising the bar” after winning the Japanese Grand Prix to become the youngest driver in Formula One history to lead the championship standings. The 19-year-old Italian took advantage of a mid-race safety car to jump into the lead after a dreadful start from pole position, crossing the line ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Antonelli’s Suzuka victory came two weeks after the first grand prix win of his career in China, and sent him top of the championship standings after three races, nine points ahead of team-mate George Russell. Mercedes are struggling to
INDIGESTION: Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup for a third consecutive time after a 4-1 defeat to Bosnia on penalties in a loss Gattuso said was ‘difficult to digest’ Coach Graham Arnold on Tuesday challenged his players to “shock the world” after Iraq became the 48th and final team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup with a nerve-shredding 2-1 win over Bolivia in an intercontinental playoff in Mexico, as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Sweden and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) also secured their places at the finals. Iraq, whose preparations were disrupted by the war in the Middle East, sealed their first appearance at the finals in 40 years and are to play in Group I against France, Senegal and Norway. Goals from Ali al-Hamadi
Teng Kai-wei, the only Taiwanese player on an opening-day roster in this year’s Major League Baseball (MLB) season, took his first win of the year with the Houston Astros in his season debut. Teng entered in relief in the top of the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday, with the Astros trailing 5-0. He pitched 2-1/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts, as Houston scored 11 runs during his outing to snatch an 11-9 comeback victory. The win is the Astros’ first of the season and the third of Teng’s MLB career. “It’s my first time pitching for the Astros, so
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