■SOCCER
France to host Euro 2016
France were unveiled as hosts of Euro 2016 by UEFA president Michel Platini on Friday, the French bid beating strong opposition from the two other candidates — Turkey and Italy. France, hosting the competition for the third time after 1960 and 1984, prevailed with seven of the 13 votes cast by UEFA executive committee members in the second round of voting, edging Turkey by one vote. France’s candidacy was supported by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who had spoken out in its favor at the final round of presentations to UEFA delegates in Geneva earlier on Friday. “We are very happy, very honored,” Sarkozy said.
■CRICKET
Malik’s ban lifted
Former captain Shoaib Malik will be available for Pakistan in next month’s Asia Cup and for the tour of England after a judge yesterday recommended lifting his ban for disciplinary offenses. Earlier this year, the Pakistan Cricket Board banned Malik from the national squad for a year and fined him 2 million rupees (US$23,270) for breaches of discipline while on tour. The PCB also punished six other players who took part in the tours of the United Arab Emirates, New Zealand and Australia. The punishments were referred to a retired judge for review.
■RALLYING
Ogier leads Citroen charge
France’s Sebastien Ogier led a Citroen charge ahead of Dani Sordo and reigning world champion Sebastien Loeb in the Rally of Portugal on Friday. Ogier took control on the third special, also winning the following four, to finish 26.6 seconds ahead of Spaniard Sordo, with France’s Loeb finishing the day in third, 44.8 seconds back. The Citroen Junior Team driver more that tripled his lead on the final stage thanks to Sordo suffering an accelerator problem on his C4. Citroen’s Petter Solberg also had problems, arriving at the finish control with his rear tire in shreds.
■ICE HOCKEY
Outdoor games planned
The NHL plans to hold an outdoor game in Calgary next season, marking the first one in Canada since the Edmonton Oilers hosted the Montreal Canadiens on a chilly afternoon in 2003. The Pittsburgh Penguins also plan to hold an outdoor game next season, commissioner Gary Bettman announced on Friday. The Calgary Flames are expected to play the Canadiens, while the Penguins will host the Washington Capitals at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. The Flames’ game will be held on Feb. 20 at McMahon Stadium, home of the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League.
■BOXING
Mbaye takes vacant title
Souleymane Mbaye of France won a unanimous decision to beat Antonin Decarie of Canada and take the vacant WBA interim welterweight title. Mbaye won on all three judges’ scorecards on Friday, 116-113, 116-112 and 116-113. The 35-year-old Frenchman, a former WBA light-welterweight champion, improved his record to 39-3-1, with 21 knockouts. Mbaye handed the 27-year-old Decarie his first loss in 24 bouts.
■SOCCER
Rain stops play in Taipei
The inaugural Taiwan World Cup scheduled for yesterday at the Ying Feng Riverside Park in Dazhi had to be canceled because of heavy rain yesterday morning. A new date has not been determined.
Jobe Bellingham on Tuesday admitted to having “anxieties” on following in brother Jude’s footsteps after joining Borussia Dortmund in the summer. Jobe Bellingham, 19, is two years younger than Jude Bellingham, who joined Real Madrid in 2023 after three years at Dortmund. A centerpiece of the England national team, Jude Bellingham has emerged as one of the best players in the world in recent seasons. The younger Jobe Bellingham joined Dortmund in June from Sunderland after their promotion to the English Premier League. He admitted he understood what the perception would be ahead of the move to Germany. “It’s something you do think about.
Before Tuesday’s 7-2 win at the Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy suggested “most people couldn’t tell you five players on our team.” A look at the standings would indicate more Brewers players soon will be recognized by more fans. After all, it is difficult to overlook a team that not only continues to extend their lead in the National League Central, but also boasts the best record in the majors. “What we’re doing in here right now is special,” right-handed pitcher Freddy Peralta said after allowing only four hits and one run in five innings, while setting a career high with
A baseball team from New Taipei City won the US Pony Palomino Division World Series yesterday in Laredo, Texas, defeating the US West representative team from Azusa, California, 2-1. Ku-Pao Home Economics and Commercial High School earned the right to represent Taiwan in the Pony Palomino (17 to 18 age group) World Series after winning this year's Wang Chen-chih Cup, a competition named after Taiwanese-Japanese baseball legend Wang Chen-chih (王貞治), also known as Sadaharu Oh. In the championship game against Azusa, Ku-Pao's starting pitcher Luo Yu-yan (羅于晏) was erratic early, giving up two hits in the bottom of the first inning, followed
NEXT ROUND: World No. 1s Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka opened their title defenses with straight-sets wins, while Iga Swiatek and Taylor Fritz also advanced Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka got their title defenses off to smooth starts as they powered into the third round of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open on Saturday. The men’s and women’s top seeds, each ranked No. 1 in the world, were both competing for the first time since Wimbledon, where Sinner lifted the title and Sabalenka bowed out in the women’s semi-finals. Sinner crushed Colombian Daniel Elahi Galan 6-1, 6-1 in steamy afternoon weather, while Sabalenka beat 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova 7-5, 6-1 under the lights of the night session. Sabalenka needed 54 minutes and a service break in the final game
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