■ GOLF
Duck lovers take action
Animal lovers in Australia have cried foul over a Sydney golf club's plan to cull native wood ducks living on its course, it was reported yesterday. The plan by Sydney's Warringah Golf Club to kill the ducks because they are ripping up its greens led to vandalism and threats against the course, local media reported. The club opted to hire a marksman to shoot its duck population after other deterrents, such as cat-like objects and rubber snakes, failed to work. But protesters dug up some of the greens in the dead of night over the weekend and left a threatening note after learning of the plan, the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper said. "Warning: you bastards kill one bird and we will destroy all your greens at our leisure. We will be watching and waiting," the note said. Club manager Brian Leggett said it had decided to cancel the cull because of the vandalism.
■ SUMO
Hakuho beats Kyokutenho
Grand champion Hakuho beat fellow Mongolian Kyokutenho yesterday to move into a four-way tie for the lead on the 10th day at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka, Japan. In the day's final bout at Fukuoka Kokusai Center, Hakuho quickly took a left-hand grip on the belt of Kyokutenho before forcing him out of the ring in a matter of seconds. Hakuho, who is gunning for his second title at sumo's highest rank, improved to 8-2. Fourth-ranked maegashira Kyokutenho dropped to 2-8. Ozeki Chiyotaikai, Kotomitsuki and rank-and-filer Baruto stay in the hunt for the title in the 15-day tourney.
■ SOCCER
Ballack plans return
Michael Ballack hopes to be playing for Chelsea before the end of the year. The Germany captain has not played since April after undergoing two operations on his left ankle. "I am making great progress. I started training last week and December looks good," Ballack said on Monday. "But I am not setting a specific goal or date when I'd like to play again. I am taking it week by week." The midfielder said he hoped to play for Germany when they play Austria in Vienna on Feb. 6. He was in Frankfurt to see Dr. Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt, who works for the national team and also for Bayern Munich, Ballack's former club. Ballack also took part in the first round of negotiations with the German soccer federation over bonus payments to players during next year's European Championship in Austria and Switzerland.
■ RUGBY UNION
Robinson to coach A team
Andy Robinson, the former England rugby coach, is returning to the international scene with the Scotland A team. Edinburgh coach Robinson, together with Glasgow counterpart Sean Lineen, will take charge of the Scotland reserve side this season with the pair combining their international work with club commitments. Robinson was forced out as England coach in November last year after the national side lost 13 of 22 Tests during his two years in charge. However, the ex-England flanker -- assistant to England's World Cup-winning boss Clive Woodward in Australia in 2003 -- returned to senior rugby when he took charge of Edinburgh last month. Robinson could now coach against England's A side in North America in June during the Churchill Cup, a tournament for emerging nations and second-string teams from major Test countries.
Harry Kane opened the scoring ahead of lifting his first career silverware as Bayern Munich beat Borussia Moenchengladbach 2-0, with veteran Thomas Mueller playing his last home game for the club. Bayern officially won the title on May 4 when defending champions Bayer Leverkusen were held to a 2-2 draw at Freiburg, but were presented with the Bundesliga shield in front of their home fans at full-time. Dripping wet after being showered with beer by teammates, Kane said the title win was “an incredible feeling,” and hoped it would be “the first of many.” “It’s been lot of hard work, a lot of
INTER AWAIT: Superb saves by PSG ’keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma inspired the victory, as Arsenal were punished for misses, including one by Bukayo Saka Arsenal on Wednesday fell short on the big stage again as their painful UEFA Champions League semi-final exit against Paris Saint-Germain left Mikel Arteta to rue his club’s failure to provide him with enough attacking options. Arteta’s side were unable to reach the Champions League final for the first time in 19 years as PSG clinched a tense 2-1 win at Parc des Princes. Trailing 1-0 from last week’s first leg in London, the Gunners made a blistering start to the second leg, but could not convert their chances as Gianluigi Donnarumma’s superb saves inspired PSG’s 3-1 aggregate victory. Arsenal were punished for
Taiwanese e-sports veteran Lin “ET” Chia-hung yesterday successfully defended his King of Fighters XV title at this year’s Evolution Championship Series: Japan (EVO Japan), securing his second consecutive championship. Lin claimed victory with a 3-1 win over Japanese pro gamer “mok” in the grand final, repeating his earlier 3-1 win against the same opponent in the winners’ final. The 40-year-old earned a ￥1 million (US$6,897) cash prize at the two-day tournament, which drew 294 competitors. Mok, Lin’s toughest rival in the bracket, took home ￥400,000 as runner-up. Lin remains undefeated in match sets against mok in King of Fighters XV, holding a 10-0 record,
THRILLER: Raphinha gave Barca a 3-2 lead with two minutes remaining of regular time, but Francesco Acerbi equalized the game in the second minute of added time Davide Frattesi on Tuesday fired Inter into the UEFA Champions League final with an extra-time winner that gave the Italians a stunning 4-3 triumph over Barcelona, 7-6 on aggregate. Italy midfielder Frattesi won a tie for the ages under a downpour in Milan when he lashed home in the 99th minute, sending a packed and rocking San Siro wild with joy. Simone Inzaghi’s team will face either Arsenal or Paris Saint-Germain at the end of this month in Munich, Germany, where they would feel they have a great chance to be crowned kings of Europe for a fourth time after
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