■ RUGBY UNION
Players' boots stolen
Several Russia players had to train in socks on Wednesday after thieves stole the team's boots ahead of this weekend's European Nations Cup match with Romania. "The whole story happened last night after [Russia's] training session," said a report on the Romanian Rugby Federation (FRR) official Web site (www.frr.ro). "The Russia players put their boots in the [Bucharest] hotel lobby but they disappeared during a power shortage." The report added that police had launched an investigation ahead of Sunday's game in Bucharest. "The FRR regrets the incident and will offer boots to the visiting players if they ask for them," it added. The Nations Cup, also known as the `Six Nations B,' is a second-level competition for European countries.
■ Badminton
Lin Dan defeats Sony
World champion Lin Dan of China beat Indonesia's Sony Dwi Kuncoro 21-18, 17-21, 21-7 in the first round of the French Super Series tournament on Wednesday. The victory was a repeat of the world championship final in Kuala Lumpur in August when Lin also emerged triumphant and the top seed continues in great form after winning the Denmark Super Series event in Odense on Sunday. No. 2 seed Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia, keen to make amends for his semi-final exit in Odense, started with a solid 21-14, 21-11 success over Denmark's Kenneth Jonassen. Jonassen's compatriot Peter Gade, who made an early exit in the Danish tournament, fared better with a 21-13, 21-18 win over Ronald Susilo of Singapore. The French tournament is round 10 of the 12-event series which culminates in the finals next month at a venue to be confirmed.
■ Athletics
John Woodruff dies
John Woodruff, whose halting, come-from-behind victory in the 800m run in the 1936 Berlin Olympics astonished the sports world and, along with the gold-medal success of Jesse Owens and other black athletes, helped embarrass Adolf Hitler, died on Tuesday in Fountain Hills, Ariz. He was 92. The cause was atrial fibrillation and chronic renal failure, his wife, Ruth, said on Wednesday. Woodruff had earlier lost his legs because of a circulatory ailment. Woodruff was the last survivor of the 12 American men who won track and field gold medals in the 1936 Olympics. Hitler, the German chancellor, had opened the games confident they would showcase the prowess of German athletes and prove his theories of Aryan racial superiority. He was said to be deeply embarrassed when Owens, Woodruff and three other black athletes came away with eight gold medals. Owens, a sprinter and long jumper, won four.
■ Rugby Union
RFU angered by criticism
English rugby's ruling body has responded angrily to criticism of coach Brian Ashton by England World Cup stars Lawrence Dallaglio and Mike Catt. Dallaglio and Catt have both accused Ashton of failing to properly prepare and organize England during their run to the World Cup final. England recovered from a dismal start to their campaign in France and were eventually only beaten by South Africa in the final. But that didn't stop two of the team's senior players expressing their displeasure at Ashton. The Rugby Football Union are reviewing England's World Cup performance and have yet to decide if they want to keep Ashton, but they remain publicly supportive of the coach.
SS Lazio on Monday fired the far-right sympathizer who handles their eagle mascot after he posted online a series of videos and pictures of his erect penis. Falconer Juan Bernabe, who has been present at Lazio home matches with Olimpia the eagle since the 2010-2011 season, posted the footage on social media after having surgery on Saturday to implant a penile prosthesis to improve his sexual performance. Lazio said that they had “terminated, with immediate effect” their relationship with Bernabe “due to the seriousness of his conduct,” adding that they were “shocked” by the images. The Serie A club added that Bernabe’s dismissal
‘TOUGH TO BREATHE’: Tunisian three-time Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur suffered an asthma attack in her 7-5, 6-3 victory over Colombia’s Camila Osorio Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei yesterday cruised into the second round of the women’s doubles at the Australian Open, while Iga Swiatek romped into a third-round women’s singles showdown with Emma Raducanu and Taylor Fritz was just as emphatic in his pursuit of a maiden Grand Slam title. Hsieh and Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia, the third seeds, defeated Slovakia’s Tereza Mihalikova and Olivia Nicholls of Britain 7-5, 6-2 in 90 minutes in Melbourne. Ostapenko and Hsieh — who won the women’s doubles and mixed doubles at the Australian Open last year — hit 25 winners and converted five of nine break points to set
Dubbed a “motorway for cyclists” where avid amateurs can chase Tadej Pogacar up mountains teeming with the highest concentration of professional cyclists per square kilometer in the world, Spain’s Costa Blanca has forged a new reputation for itself in the past few years. Long known as the ideal summer destination for those in search of sun, sea and sand, the stretch of coast between Valencia and Alicante now has a winter vocation too. During the season break in December and January, the region experiences an invasion of cyclists. Star names such as three-time Tour de France winner Pogacar, Remco Evenepoel and Julian Alaphilippe
AGING WELL: Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, 22, was sent packing after being dispatched by world No. 97, Laura Siegemund, the second-oldest player in the draw at 36 Novak Djokovic yesterday created a slice of Grand Slam history on his way into the Australian Open third round, but last year’s women’s finalist Zheng Qinwen was knocked out in the biggest shock so far. Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, in-form Coco Gauff, two-time Melbourne winner Naomi Osaka and a rampant Carlos Alcaraz were all victors on a rainy day four. Play was suspended on the outside courts for a couple of hours in the early evening because of the wet weather. That led to the rescheduling of a women’s doubles match between wild-cards Tsao Chia-yi of Taiwan and Thailand’s Peangtarn Plipuech and 11th
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