■TENNIS
Federer to play for Haiti
World No. 1 Roger Federer has organized a charity tennis exhibition today ahead of the Australian Open to raise money for victims of the Haiti earthquake. At least 50,000 people have been killed and 1.5 million left homeless in the Caribbean nation and Federer said he wanted to do something to help. “I had the idea that we could do something to help Haiti after the tragic earthquake,” he said yesterday. “So I spoke to some other top players. I got some connections, you know. They all said: ‘Yes, we should do something.’ So we’re going to play doubles or mixed doubles on Sunday, also with top women’s players, and try to fill the stadium [Rod Laver Arena].”
■SOCCER
Hammers fined over fans
West Ham United have been fined £115,000 (US$187,000) after serious crowd trouble marred their League Cup victory over London rivals Millwall in August. The Hammers have also been ordered to pay adjusted costs of £5,000, but they escaped being forced to play matches behind closed doors. Violent clashes outside Upton Park on Aug. 25 led to 64 arrests and the stabbing of a Millwall fan and there were also three pitch invasions by West Ham fans during the match. West Ham were found guilty of two charges — failure to ensure their supporters refrained from violent, threatening, obscene and provocative behavior, and failure to ensure their supporters did not enter the field of play.
■SOCCER
Hundreds mourn victims
Hundreds of mourners have gathered in Togo to remember the two victims of an attack on the national soccer team in Angola. Assistant coach Abalo Amelete and communications director Stanislas Ocloo were killed when gunmen fired on the team’s bus a week earlier. Togo captain Emmanuel Adebayor said on Friday that their deaths had “plunged us into deep despair.” Mourners wept as their coffins, draped in Togolese flags, were brought to the Palace of Congress. The team was headed to the Africa Cup of Nations when they were attacked and they later withdrew from the competition. The team’s Angolan bus driver also was killed. Eight people were wounded, including a goalkeeper who was flown to South Africa for treatment.
■SNOWBOARDING
Vaultier extends his lead
Pierre Vaultier of France won a snowboardcross World Cup race in Veysonnaz, Switzerland, on Friday to extend his lead in the standings. Norwegian teenager Helene Olafsen won the women’s event and jumped to third in the discipline standings. Vaultier beat Germany’s David Speiser for his eighth World Cup victory and third of the season. Nick Baumgartner of the US was third and Canadian Francois Boivin fourth. Olafsen got her third career World Cup win, beating Dominique Maltais of Canada. World Cup leader Maelle Ricker of Canada was third.
■SKELETON
Bernotas in rare US win
Eric Bernotas has become the first American in nearly two years to win a World Cup skeleton race in St Moritz, Switzerland, on Friday. Bernotas won in 1 minute, 9.15 seconds. The event was shortened to one run by race officials because of conditions at the start of the track. Kristan Bromley of Britain was 0.07 seconds back and World Cup leader Martins Dukurs of Latvia was third. In the women’s event, Shelley Rudman of Britain finished two runs in 2 minutes, 20.42 seconds. Canada’s Mellisa Hollingsworth was second and Kerstin Szymkowiak of Germany was third.
‘AWFUL PERFORMANCE’: Golden State were always chasing the game after failing to threaten from long range, making just eight of 33 three-point attempts Aaron Gordon on Monday scored 38 points as the Denver Nuggets shrugged off the absence of Nikola Jokic to halt the Golden State Warriors’ seven-game winning streak with a 114-105 victory over their Western Conference rivals. A dazzling display from Gordon inspired what was ultimately a comfortable win for Denver, who were missing regular starters Jokic and Jamal Murray from their lineup. The absentees were barely felt by Denver, who startled the Warriors early at San Francisco’s Chase Center and led for most of the game. The Warriors threatened to stage a late rally after slashing the Nuggets’ fourth-quarter lead from 15 points
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
Barcelona’s Ferran Torres scored twice on Sunday to help secure a late 4-2 comeback win at Atletico Madrid in a pulsating La Liga clash that took the Catalan side back to the top of the table. Barca have 60 points and a game in hand after last week’s postponement of their home game with CA Osasuna. They are level on points with Real Madrid, who won 2-1 at Villarreal on Saturday. “I am happy and proud of this team,” Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick told a news conference. “They never give up... It’s a great three points and we are happy to
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
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