■GOLF
Snedeker claims lead
Brandt Snedeker of the US birdied four of his last eight holes to surge to a one-stroke lead over compatriot Scott Piercy at the Phoenix Open on Saturday. Snedeker withstood windy conditions for a five-under 66 to put him at 14-under 199 after three rounds at the TPC Scottsdale. The 29-year-old birdied the 11th, 13th, 15th and 17th holes for a strong finish as he seeks his second USPGA Tour victory. He also had birdies at his first and seventh holes. Piercy used eagles at three and 10 for a 65 to enter the final round at 13-under 200. That put him one stroke ahead of fellow Americans Matt Every (68) and Rickie Fowler (69).
■BOXING
Jones remains undefeated
Welterweight Mike Jones of the US remained undefeated on Saturday with a unanimous decision over Puerto Rico’s Henry Bruseles at Bally’s Atlantic City. Former junior-welterweight champ Kendall Holt did not fare as well. With his close friend Brandon Jacobs of the New York Giants looking on, Holt lost his bid to get back into title contention with a sixth-round knockout loss to Kaizer Mabuza of South Africa. Bruseles, who had not lost in five years, kept the fight close early on, but Jones dominated down the stretch behind a sharp jab and crisp right hands.
■SUPERBIKES
Haslam wins by a whisker
Briton Leon Haslam won the closest race in 22 years of superbike world championship racing to get his season off to the best possible start with a maiden victory at Phillip Island yesterday. Just 0.004 seconds separated the Suzuki rider from Italian Michel Fabrizio’s Ducati in the opening race of the new season. Fabrizio was originally awarded the win, but the decision was reversed when officials studied photographs of the finish, which showed Haslam half-a-wheel ahead. “It’s not sunk in just yet, especially as it was such a close finish and not knowing if I had won for a while. That definitely added to the anticipation,” Haslam told reporters. The 26-year-old son of six-times Macau Grand Prix winner “Rocket” Ron Haslam, finished second behind Ducati’s Carlos Checa in the second of the two races in the opening round.
■SOCCER
Capello calls up Shawcross
Fabio Capello handed a surprise call-up to Ryan Shawcross of Stoke City for England’s friendly against Egypt. Capello also called up Arsenal winger Theo Walcott and Aston Villa midfielder Stewart Downing, while there was no place for out-of-form Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole. With first choice leftback Ashley Cole out with an ankle injury and deputy Wayne Bridge opting out of England duty as a result of John Terry’s alleged affair with his former partner Vanessa Perroncel, Capello turned to Aston Villa’s Stephen Warnock and Everton’s Leighton Baines. There was also a call-up for AC Milan midfielder David Beckham, despite his recent poor form with AC Milan, while Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe and Carlton Cole will compete for the job of partnering striker Wayne Rooney.
■SOCCER
Nigeria appoint Lagerback
Nigeria have appointed Swede Lars Lagerback as coach on a five-month contract to lead them at the World Cup in South Africa, the nation’s soccer federation said. The 61-year-old was handed the job after a meeting of the federation on Saturday. Lagerback, who stepped down as Sweden coach in October, takes over from Shaibu Amodu who was sacked after Nigeria lost to Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations last month.
Japan’s Shohei Ohtani is the record-breaking baseball “superhuman” following in the footsteps of the legendary Babe Ruth who has also earned comparisons to US sporting greats Michael Jordan and Tom Brady. Not since Ruth a century ago has there been a baseball player capable of both pitching and hitting at the top level. The 30-year-old’s performances with the Los Angeles Dodgers have consolidated his position as a baseball legend in the making, and a national icon in his native Japan. He continues to find new ways to amaze, this year becoming the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases
More than 180 years of horse racing came to an end in Singapore on Saturday, as the Singapore Turf Club hosted its final race day before its track is handed back to the Singaporean government to provide land for new homes. Under an overcast sky, the air-conditioned VIP boxes were full of enthusiasts, socialites and expats, while the grounds and betting halls below hosted mostly older-generation punters. The sun broke through for the last race, the last-ever Grand Singapore Gold Cup. The winner, South African jockey Muzi Yeni, echoed a feeling of loss shared by many on the day. “I’d
PREDICTION: Last week, when Yu’s father made a wrong turn to the former champions’ parking lot, he said that his son could park there after this year With back-to-back birdies on the 18th hole, Kevin Yu fulfilled his driving range-owning dad’s prediction that he would win the Sanderson Farms Championship and become Taiwan’s third golfer to claim a US PGA Tour title. The Taoyuan-born 26-year-old, who represented Taiwan in the Olympic golf at Paris, saw off Californian Beau Hossler in a playoff at the Country Club of Jackson, Mississippi, on Sunday. Having drained a 15-foot putt to claw his way into the playoff, Yu rolled in from five feet on the first extra hole, ensuring he joined Chen Tze-chung (LA Open in 1987) and Pan Cheng-tsung (RBC
Francesco Bagnaia yesterday profited from a mistake by rookie Pedro Acosta to win the Japan MotoGP sprint and close the gap on overall championship leader, Jorge Martin. Spaniard Acosta crashed with four laps to go while leading the field at Motegi, allowing defending world champion Bagnaia to take first ahead of Enea Bastianini and Marc Marquez. Spain’s Martin finished fourth and saw his overall lead over Italian Bagnaia in the championship standings cut to 15 points. “I am very happy because with these conditions, it’s not very easy to win and gain points,” Bagnaia said after a sprint race that took place under
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