■ Football
Benfica signs China striker
Yu Dabao, an 18-year-old striker from China, has signed a three-year contract with Portuguese club Benfica, the Beijing Times said yesterday. Currently on loan from Chinese club Qingdao Hailifeng, Yu has agreed to a more permanent move worth US$536,000 to join Benfica, which is currently second-place in the Portuguese league, the paper said. While on loan since the beginning of this year, Yu scored 12 goals in just eight appearances for Benfica's development side.
■ Football
Stingley dies at 55
Darryl Stingley, the former New England Patriots wide receiver who was paralyzed by a vicious hit in a 1978 NFL preseason game, died on Thursday at the age of 55. Stingley was pronounced dead at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago on Thursday after he was found unresponsive at his home, according to a spokesperson with the Cook County medical examiner's office. The cause of death was not immediately known. "This is a sad day for all who knew Darryl Stingley," Patriots chairman Robert Kraft said.
■ Basketball
Gators heading to NBA
With two coveted collegiate basketball championships in their pockets, Joakim Noah and his fellow University of Florida starters are heading to the NBA. Forwards Noah and Corey Brewer, center Al Horford and point guard Taurean Green all announced on Thursday they will forego their final year of college eligibility and enter the NBA draft. Shooting guard Lee Humphrey is in his final senior year of college and also headed for the pros.
■ Basketball
Arenas likely out for season
Washington Wizards point guard Gilbert Arenas was scheduled to have surgery on Thursday on his left knee and is essentially done for the season. Arenas was diagnosed with a lateral meniscus tear and was to have arthroscopic surgery later in the day at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington. The Wizards said the recovery time will be two to three months, meaning he might play again this season only if Washington manages to make the NBA finals without him. Arenas was injured in the first quarter of Wednesday night's 108-100 loss to the Charlotte Bobcats.
■ Soccer
Arsenal shares sold
Another US sports team owner bought into an English soccer club as Stan Kroenke, the billionaire owner of the Colorado Avalanche, Denver Nuggets and Colorado Rapids, purchased 9.99 percent of Premier League team Arsenal from British broadcasting company ITV. Kroenke follows Malcolm Glazer, Randy Lerner, Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr. as US investors in Premier League teams. Kroenke's British-based vehicle KSE UK bought the shares on Thursday, ITV said in a statement.
After letting another big lead slip with an error-strewn performance at the French Open on Wednesday, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka felt like getting as far away from the courts as possible. “Just want to quit tennis right now,” Sabalenka said after wasting a lead of a set and two breaks in a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 loss to Diana Shnaider in the women’s singles quarter-finals. “We’ll see in few days. Hopefully I’ll get back on track mentally.” Sabalenka’s wait for a first French Open title continues despite the four-time major winner leading 4-1 in the second set and being two points from victory while
BIG NAMES GONE: Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title, reaching semi-finals for the fifth time in six years and finishing second on three occasions Alexander Zverev on Tuesday breezed past Rafael Jodar to stay on course for an elusive Grand Slam title at the French Open, while Jakub Mensik halted Joao Fonseca’s scintillating run in the quarter-finals. Zverev, the highest-ranked player left in the men’s draw, put an end to Spanish teenager Jodar’s impressive Roland Garros debut, easing into the semi-finals with a 7-6, (7/3), 6-1, 6-3 win. The 29-year-old Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title. He has finished runner-up on three occasions, including at the 2024 French Open. “I want to win the matches that are ahead of
Liverpool are in advanced talks with former AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola as they seek a replacement for Arne Slot, reports said on Tuesday. Iraola has emerged as Liverpool’s top target to replace Slot, who was sacked on Saturday last week after a turbulent second season in charge. Liverpool have reportedly agreed a deal in principle to bring the Spaniard, who left Bournemouth at the end of this season, to Anfield. Sporting director Richard Hughes was heavily involved in hiring Iraola during his time at Bournemouth and is again spearheading the recruitment of the highly rated coach. The Reds are
US President Donald Trump said he would attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday at Madison Square Garden, but said he does not have much sympathy for ordinary basketball fans who cannot afford sky-high ticket prices to do the same. “They can watch it on television,” Trump said aboard Air Force One on Friday as he flew to Wisconsin for an event with farmers, after he was asked about tickets that have climbed as high as US$8,000 each when the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs square off in Manhattan for the first time in the series. “It’s sorta
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