■SOCCER
Benayoun renews Reds deal
Liverpool’s Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun on Monday signed a new two-year extension to his contract that will keep him at the club until 2013. The 29-year-old told www.liverpoolfc.tv: “I am very happy that we have reached an agreement. Of course, to be at a club like this is a dream come true and I want to keep playing here. Hopefully now I can concentrate on the hard work that needs to be done and try to play better and better and win some silverware.” Benayoun, who moved to Anfield from West Ham in July 2007, scored nine goals in 42 appearances during the 2008-2009 campaign, including the late winner against Real in the Champions League last 16 at the Bernabeu stadium in February.
■TENNIS
Kournikova in ring mystery
Anna Kournikova was sparkling brighter than usual in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, on Monday. Kournikova, who has long been linked to singer Enrique Iglesias, showed up for Monday night’s World Team Tennis match with a huge diamond ring on her left ring finger — the finger normally reserved for engagement rings. When asked the significance of the ring by The Associated Press, Kournikova replied: “I thought you were the good press.” The former Grand Slam doubles champion put her hand behind her back and did not elaborate. Kournikova was scheduled to play for the St Louis Aces. She will miss the season with a wrist injury, and wore a protective wrap on her left hand. She still participated in a kid’s clinic, signed autographs and cheered on her teammates.
■FIGURE SKATING
Bobek charged in meth bust
Former US champion Nicole Bobek has been charged with being part of a northern New Jersey drug ring. The 31-year-old Bobek made her first court appearance on Monday by video from the Hudson County Jail. Bobek, who has homes in New York and Jupiter, Florida, was arrested in Florida last week. She is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Hudson County. Attorney Sam DeLuca entered a not guilty plea for Bobek. She was held on US$200,000 bail and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Prosecutor Edward DeFazio says 20 people have been arrested in connection with the ring.
■GOLF
Mickelson’s mom also ill
Six weeks after Phil Mickelson announced his wife had breast cancer, his mother was diagnosed with the disease and is to have surgery later this week. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported on its Web site that Mary Mickelson discovered she had breast cancer last week. She is to have surgery on Friday at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, the same hospital where Mickelson’s wife, Amy, had surgery last Wednesday. Mickelson’s sister, Tina, told the newspaper she wanted to make her mother’s condition known so she could receive the same outpouring of support and prayers that meant so much to Amy Mickelson.
■RUGBY UNION
Bleddyn Williams dies
Welsh and British and Irish Lions legend Bleddyn Williams, known as the “Prince of Centres,” has died aged 86, the Welsh Rugby Union said on Monday. Williams was capped 22 times by Wales after making his debut in 1947 and captained both his country and the Lions including the last time the Welsh beat the All Blacks back in 1953. In total Williams played in 20 of the Lions’ 29 matches and scored 13 tries, including one in the first Test win over Australia in Brisbane.
The US’ bid for a fourth consecutive CONCACAF Nations League title came to a stunning end as they fell 1-0 to Panama after a stoppage-time goal from Cecilio Waterman on Thursday in Inglewood, California. Despite dominating possession, the US struggled to break down a resilient Panama side for long periods. Panama spent the bulk of the match defending, but pounced on a giveaway by the US before substitute forward Waterman sent a shot from the right side of the area to the bottom left corner late in stoppage time. Up next for Panama in tomorrow’s final is to be Mexico, who beat
DOMINATION: McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris took the first two spots as Mercedes’ George Russell and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen followed them Australian Oscar Piastri yesterday roared back from season-opening disappointment in his home race by winning the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix from pole position in a McLaren one-two with championship-leading teammate Lando Norris. George Russell finished third for Mercedes, ahead of Red Bull’s reigning champion Max Verstappen with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Saturday’s sprint winner Lewis Hamilton fifth and sixth respectively. Piastri’s win denied Norris a third victory in a row, including last year’s Abu Dhabi season-ender, but left champions McLaren unbeaten in two races so far this year. “Mega job guys. The car was very, very lovely,” Piastri said
TO FINAL FOUR: France had 22 chances and scored two goals, while Croatia could not manage a single shot on target in 120 minutes. Les Bleus won 5-4 on penalties France on Sunday overturned a two-goal deficit to qualify for the UEFA Nations League Final Four by eliminating Croatia 5-4 on penalties after a 2-0 victory in their quarter-final second leg at the Stade de France. Dayot Upamecano scored the winning spot kick in a nail-biting shootout in which France keeper Mike Maignan made two saves, sending Les Bleus into the semi-finals against Spain. Michael Olise opened the scoring and Ousmane Dembele doubled their lead 10 minutes from time to send the tie into extra time after their 2-0 loss in Split, Croatia, on Thursday. France had a total of
Armand Duplantis will be among the reigning Olympic champions adding star power to the world indoor championships this weekend when the Chinese city of Nanjing hosts the first major global athletics meet since the Paris Games last year. The three-day event was originally slated for 2020 and faced multiple postponements due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Nanjing’s Sports Training Center would finally welcome more than 570 athletes for the start of the showpiece today. One of the main attractions would be pole vaulter “Mondo” Duplantis, who soared 6.27m to break the world record for a staggering 11th time in Clermont-Ferrand last
RSS