■ ASIAN GAMES
Diamonds for records
Hong Kong athletes will receive a diamond worth 100,000 yuan (US$14,770) if they break a world record at November’s Asian Games in Guangzhou, China. Breaking an Asian record at the Games would earn the athlete a diamond worth 50,000 yuan from a local sponsor, a report on the China News Service said yesterday. At the last Asian Games in Doha four years ago, the only world marks set were in weightlifting and shooting.
■ CRICKET
Gul ruled out of series
Pakistan paceman Umar Gul will miss the remainder of the Test series against England because of a torn hamstring, the team’s management said on Tuesday. Gul, who was hurt on Saturday during the second Test defeat in Birmingham, is to sit out the third match at The Oval next week and the fourth and final game at Lord’s. Pakistan manager Yawar Saeed said the fast bowler would have his injury examined again next Wednesday to determine his involvement in the limited-overs section of the tour. “We are hoping he will be available for the Twenty20 and one-day series next month,” Saeed said.
■ SOCCER
Fans beat Ancona president
Ancona president Flavio Mais is recovering in hospital after he was attacked by three of the club’s fans on Tuesday. Mais was attacked by the “ultras” just minutes before he was due to host a meeting with disgruntled supporters. Ancona dropped out of Serie B at the end of last season because of a lack of sufficient funds to guarantee their future. The club had earlier on Tuesday also failed to register to Serie D due to a lack of funds. A 38-year-old man has been held in connection with the attack while two more are being sought. The extent of Mais’ injuries is not yet known. Ancona were playing in Serie A as recently as 2003-2004.
■SOCCER
New boys sign four players
Premier League newcomers Blackpool have signed four players with manager Ian Holloway making his first acquisitions of the close season to help bolster the squad, the club said yesterday. Defender Craig Cathcart joined from Manchester United on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee, along with midfielders Ludovic Sylvestre, Malaury Martin and Elliot Grandin. ex-France under-21 winger Grandin, now 22, signed on a two-year deal as a free agent from CSKA Sofia having failed to settle at the 31-times Bulgarian champions. “He wasn’t happy here and moving to another club was the best option for him,” CSKA coach Pavel Dochev told reporters. Martin, 21, has joined on a one-year contract as a free transfer from Monaco having been on trial for the past month. Former Barcelona trainee Sylvestre, 26, arrived from Czech side Mlada Boleslav on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee. Blackpool open their Premier League campaign at Wigan Athletic on Saturday.
■ SOCCER
Senderos set for long layoff
Switzerland and Fulham defender Philippe Senderos is set to miss most of the season after reportedly rupturing an Achilles tendon. Senderos was injured training alone after withdrawing from the Swiss squad to play Austria in a friendly yesterday, the Tribune de Geneve daily said. Senderos will likely undergo an operation by the same surgeon in Finland who treated David Beckham for an Achilles injury in March, the newspaper reported. The 25-year-old defender joined Fulham in June after failing to command a regular first-team place at Arsenal.
MARRED FINAL: As most of Senegalese players walked off the pitch after a controversial decision, some supporters threw objects and attempted to get onto the pitch Senegal on Sunday won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as Pape Gueye’s extra-time winner sunk hosts Morocco 1-0 after a chaotic final that saw the eventual champions storm off the pitch late in the game. Brahim Diaz could have won the trophy for Morocco with a controversial spot-kick in the 24th minute of added time at the end of normal time as ugly scenes broke out in the stands. However, Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy easily saved the weak attempted “Panenka” chip by the Real Madrid winger, who was clearly distracted by the long delay that followed the penalty award.
James Harden on Friday scored 31 points and came up big in overtime to help the Los Angeles Clippers erase a double-digit deficit on the way to a 121-117 NBA victory over the Toronto Raptors. Harden scored 16 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Clippers pushed their wining steak to five games despite the absence of star Kawhi Leonard with a sprained right ankle. The Clippers trailed by 11 entering the fourth quarter, but Harden drilled a pair of free-throws with 1:24 left in regulation to tie it and after misses from both teams, they went to
Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg on Wednesday was ruled out for the second half of their 118-109 loss to the Denver Nuggets after the No. 1 pick sprained his left ankle in the first half. Flagg was called for a foul while defending against Peyton Watson and turned the ankle as he fell to the floor with 6 minutes, 1 second left in the second quarter. Flagg limped to the bench and continued to the locker room, but returned for the final 2 minutes, 35 seconds before the break. The 19-year-old did not come out for the second half before the announcement that
Yassine Bounou on Wednesday saved two penalties, while Youssef en-Nesyri netted the decisive spot-kick as hosts Morocco secured a 4-2 shoot-out victory over Nigeria following a 0-0 draw in a tense Africa Cup of Nations semi-final in Rabat. Morocco, seeking their first continental title in 50 years, are to face 2021 winners Senegal in Sunday’s decider in Rabat, while Nigeria take on Egypt in the third-place playoff tomorrow. The 120 minutes before the shoot-out had few clear-cut chances for either side, but it was Morocco who created more opportunities, although they were denied by some fine saves from Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. Nigeria
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