■TENNIS
Venus Williams pulls out
Seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams pulled out of next week’s Cincinnati Open with a knee injury, the tournament’s organizers said on Friday. Williams, disappointed to miss out after making her debut in the event last year, said she experienced pain in her knee last week after returning to her normal practice schedule. “My medical advisors and physio have recommended that I refrain from competition until I am pain free,” Williams, whose sister and world No. 1 Serena will also not be competing, said in a statement released by the organizers. “Unfortunately, I am not at a point where I can commit to competing next week.” Despite losing Venus Williams, the event still boasts eight top 10 players on the WTA Tour, and 26 of the top 30, including defending champion and top seed Jelena Jankovic, defending US Open champion Kim Clijsters and three-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova.
■DIVING
Guo to skip Asian Games
The world’s most successful female diver, Guo Jingjing, will skip this year’s Asian Games in southern China, state media said yesterday, fueling speculation about her future in the sport. “We have selected a 20-member provisional squad for the diving events of the Guangzhou Asian Games and Guo Jingjing is not included,” Zhou Jihong, head of the Chinese diving team, was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency. China’s most famous female athlete, Guo won six Olympic medals — four of them gold — at the 2004 and 2008 Games. The 29-year-old has not competed since the East Asian Games in December last year, the report said, fueling speculation that reports saying she would retire could be true. “Whether she will resume training or retire, we have to wait and see,” Zhou said.
■FOOTBALL
Okung agrees six-year deal
Offensive tackle Russell Okung, the sixth player selected in this year’s NFL Draft, has agreed to a six-year US$46.5 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks, the NFL said on its Web site on Friday. The deal included a guaranteed US$30 million, but could net Okung up to US$58 million with performance-based bonuses. Okung was the last first-round pick to sign. Running back C.J. Spiller agreed to terms with the Buffalo Bills earlier in the day. “It feels great, I always say this is the best job in the world,” Okung said.
■GOLF
Westwood out with injury
Lee Westwood pulled out of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and next week’s USPGA Championship on Friday because of a badly swollen right calf and ankle. The British world No. 3 has been hampered by the injury since before the start of last month’s French Open, but he battled through that tournament and The Open at St Andrews. “I will be out for as long as it takes to get better,” Westwood said in a statement after carding a six-over 76 in the second round at Firestone Country Club. “I am just hoping that it will be in time for me to play in the (Oct. 1 to Oct. 3) Ryder Cup.”
■CYCLING
Armstrong to defend title
Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong will defend his title at the Leadville 100 mountain bike race next Saturday and fellow American Levi Leipheimer will race alongside him. Organizers announced the two Radio Shack teammates will be among a field of 1,500 riders who are set to start the top US cycling high-altitude endurance challenge.
■NORWAY
Taiwanese girls triumph
Kaohsiung Municipal Ruei-siang High School’s girls’ team won their age category tournament at the 2010 Norway Cup on Friday, the first time in 23 years that a Taiwanese team has tasted victory at the world’s largest youth soccer tournament. Ruei-siang High School were level at 1-1 in the final with Bergen Nord from Norway after normal time, but the team from southern Taiwan broke the deadlock in the last minute of extra time to triumph. It was the first time that the Ruei-siang High School team had participated in the tournament. Ruei-siang won their five games on the way to the final 6-0, 7-1, 5-0, 7-0 and 5-0. The Norway Cup, held in Oslo, attracted the participation of up to 30,000 youngsters from 51 nations.
■FRANCE
‘Mutineers’ attend hearing
France captain Patrice Evra and Nicolas Anelka were among five players summoned on Friday for a disciplinary hearing for their part in Les Bleus’ mutiny during the World Cup, the French Football Federation (FFF) said. Eric Abidal, Franck Ribery and Jeremy Toulalan were the other three players ordered to appear for the hearing along with Evra and Anelka, who was sent home from South Africa during the tournament for insulting coach Raymond Domenech. France’s Word Cup ended in shame with the players boycotting a training session in support of Anelka and the team were subsequently eliminated in the first round. The five have been branded by French media as “the ring leaders of the mutiny of Knysna” — the South African town were the squad refused to train two days before their last group game.
■ITALY
Prandelli rings changes
National coach Cesare Prandelli called up newcomers Mario Balotelli and Brazilian-born Amauri on Friday for a friendly against Ivory Coast, the team’s first match since their disastrous World Cup campaign. Sampdoria striker Antonio Cassano also returns to the squad for the first time since Euro 2008. Prandelli’s predecessor Marcello Lippi snubbed Inter’s Balotelli as well as Cassano for the World Cup in South Africa and many blamed the dismal showing on his decision to stick with experienced but ageing players. Juventus striker Amauri — who only recently obtained an Italian passport — is one of seven new names for the friendly against Ivory Coast next Monday in London.
■RUSSIA
Smog causes postponements
Two league matches were postponed on Friday as heavy smog caused by wildfires cloaked Moscow, sparking health fears for players and fans. Spartak Moscow’s home clash with Zenit-St Petersburg and the Moscow derby between Dynamo and CSKA were called off as high levels of toxic particles were detected. Earlier on Friday, the Russian Football Union (RFU) moved Wednesday’s friendly match with Bulgaria to Saint Petersburg also because of the heavy smog in Moscow. “It’s impossible to play in Moscow under existing conditions. It can be dangerous for the players’ health,” RFU chief Sergei Fursenko said.
■NETHERLANDS
Champs held by Roda
Champions Twente Enschede were held to a goalless draw at Roda JC Kerkrade on the opening day of the league season on Friday. Despite dominating the match Twente, now coached by Belgian Michel Preud’homme after predecessor Steve McClaren joined Bundesliga side Wolfsburg, failed to capitalize on their supremacy.
MOTHER KNOWS BEST: Warriors’ coach Kerr said his 91-year-old mother criticized him for his attitude toward officials that led to his ejection from Monday’s game Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Wednesday rescued the Oklahoma City Thunder with a game-tying buzzer-beater before finishing with 46 points in a 129-125 overtime victory against the Utah Jazz. The reigning NBA champions looked to be heading for a third straight loss after the Jazz inched into a 114-112 lead following Lauri Markkanen’s layup with just three seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. However, NBA Most Valuable Player Gilgeous-Alexander drained a superb 13-foot jump shot to tie it up at 114-114 as the buzzer sounded to send the game into overtime. Gilgeous-Alexander then took over in the extra period with nine points as the Western
Mohamed Salah’s Egypt knocked reigning champions Ivory Coast out of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a 3-2 win in the quarter-finals on Saturday, while Victor Osimhen starred as Nigeria beat Algeria 2-0 to set up a clash with hosts Morocco. In Agadir, Morocco, a thrilling last-eight tie saw Omar Marmoush and Ramy Rabia net in the first half for the Pharaohs before an own goal by Ahmed Aboul-Fetouh brought the Ivorians back into it. Salah then got Egypt’s third early in the second half and they held on after Guela Doue again reduced the deficit. Egypt is to face Senegal
AUSTRALIAN ADVENTURE: Sabalenka aims to follow up with a third Australian Open win, while Taiwanese Joanna Garland claimed a WTA 125 title in Canberra Aryna Sabalenka beat Karolina Muchova in straight sets to reach her third Brisbane International final in a row yesterday, a week ahead of the Australian Open. Sabalenka looked in great touch against the tricky Czech, who had won their last three meetings and went into the match as one of the few players with a winning record over the world No. 1. However, Sabalenka showed her class and power as she broke Muchova once in each set to take the semi-final 6-3, 6-4 in 89 minutes to face Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in the final. “I struggled against her a couple of times [in
His team were knocked out of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in agonizing fashion on Tuesday, but the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DR Congo) human statue Michel Kuka Mboladinga would be remembered as the tournament’s most remarkable supporter. The colorfully dressed Kuka has earned fame as the fan who stands completely immobile throughout his team’s games, looking toward the sky with his right arm raised and palm open. He has become a media star and on Tuesday was accompanied by a delegation of several hundred Congolese supporters whose trip to Morocco was paid for by the country’s government. They took their
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