BASKETBALL
Yao Ming confident of return
Chinese star center Yao Ming, limited by doctors to only 24 minutes a game for the NBA’s Houston Rockets, is confident he might be freed from a ban on playing back-to-back nights by January. Medical experts placed the limits upon the 2.26m giant to keep Yao’s surgically repaired left foot from breaking as it has repeatedly in his NBA career, the latest such injury keeping him out all of last season. “I cannot play back-to-backs, at least not until January,” Yao told reporters on Tuesday as the Rockets, 1-5, prepared to begin a three-game road trip at Washington, where Chinese standout Yi Jianlian plays.
SOCCER
SvFF seeks to end rumor
Malmo must hand back the Swedish league trophy just days after receiving it to quell speculation it was tampered with by a soccer-mad silversmith. The Swedish Football Association (SvFF) said it was determined to end persistent rumors about a secret inscription made by Ingemar Eklund, a Stockholm-based engraver who died recently. “There is a rumor, or possibly a myth, that inside the trophy the silversmith inscribed the words ‘Bajen foerever.’ We don’t know if that’s the case, we believe that it’s a myth, but we decided that we have to find out,” SvFF general secretary Mikael Santoft told reporters on Tuesday. “Bajen” is the nickname of Eklund’s favorite club, Hammarby IF.
SOCCER
Russian men take title
Russia’s men emulated their female counterparts in Paris by taking the team saber world title here on Tuesday as they defeated Italy 45-41 to collect their first crown in the event since 2005. The Russians had only garnered a bronze apiece in the individual saber event, but redeemed themselves in style in the magnificent surroundings of the Grand Palais as first the women trounced titleholders Ukraine (45-33) and then their men came through against the Italians. The Russians had to mount a superb comeback as they trailed 15-4 early on.
SAILING
Franck Cammas wins race
Franck Cammas has won the Route du Rhum, but failed to beat the trans-Atlantic race record when he reached the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe on Tuesday. Cammas arrived in Pointe-a-Pitre in his multihull Groupama 3 at 4:16pm local time, finishing in nine days, three hours, 14 minutes, 47 seconds. Lionel Lemonchois set the record in the previous race four years ago in seven days, 17 hours, 19 minutes, six seconds after taking a more direct route. Groupama 3 covered the 4,471 nautical miles from Saint-Malo at an average speed of 20.39 knots. Eighty-five boats entered the race, which has been staged every four years since 1978.
BOXING
Court restrains Mayweather
A Las Vegas court has ordered boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr to stay away from his former girlfriend and their two sons after prosecutors say he hit her and threatened to beat his children if they called 911. Mayweather skipped a hearing on Tuesday before Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Diana Sullivan on eight misdemeanor and felony charges. Sullivan gave Mayweather a week to pay US$31,000 in bail. Authorities allege Mayweather took mobile phones belonging to Josie Harris and their sons following the Sept. 9 dispute. Mayweather faces charges of felony coercion, grand larceny and robbery, and misdemeanor domestic battery and harassment. He could face up to 34 years in prison if convicted on all charges. He is due back in court on Jan. 24.
Manchester United on Tuesday confirmed Michael Carrick as interim manager until the end of the season, tasking him with leading the Red Devils back into the UEFA Champions League. “Having the responsibility to lead Manchester United is an honor,” said Carrick, 44, who won 12 major trophies in his 12-year playing career at United. The former midfielder previously had an unbeaten three-game stint as caretaker boss at Old Trafford in 2021. Carrick then took on his first permanent managerial role at second-tier Middlesbrough in October 2022 and was sacked in June last year after the club finished 10th in the
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
Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Sunday sparked defending champions Oklahoma City to victory, while Anthony Edwards led Minnesota’s last-minute fightback to beat San Antonio. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points while adding eight assists and five rebounds in the Thunder’s 124-112 home victory over Miami, improving the NBA’s best record to 33-7 after outscoring the Heat 70-53 in the second half. “We locked in defensively. We were finally able to get some stops,” Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins said. “We were able to get out in transition a little bit, get going offensively and find the flow.” Jalen Williams scored 18 points, while
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