TABLE TENNIS
Jun breaks national record
Mizutani Jun has broken the Japanese national record to become the first man to win the country’s table tennis championships five times in a row. “I knew almost everyone was expecting me to win this singles title and I wanted to do so in dominant fashion,” the 21-year-old told Kyodo News. The old record was held jointly by Fujii Norikazu and Saito Kiyoshi who won the titles in 1946-1949 and 1982-1985. Jun climbed three notches in the world rankings to reach a career high of seven earlier this month.
SOCCER
Casillas to score for UN
Real Madrid and Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas signed up to a UN drive against poverty on Monday, joining five other sports stars as a goodwill ambassador for the UN Development Programme (UNDP). “While my job on the pitch is to prevent goals, my job at UNDP will be to help score them,” Casillas said. Casillas will be involved in raising awareness for the UN’s Millenium Development Goals, aimed at halving world poverty between 2000 and 2015 by tackling hunger and disease. “Life has given me so many things, I would like to give something back,” he said during a ceremony at the UN’s European headquarters in Geneva. “I want to travel and help,” he added.
CRICKET
Injury sends Swann home
England spinner Graeme Swann is returning home from Australia because of a lower back strain, but should be fit for the World Cup, team coach Andy Flower said yesterday. Swann, who was instrumental in England’s first Ashes series victory in Australia for 24 years, was already struggling with a knee injury he suffered while batting in the one-day series. “Graeme Swann will be taking the earliest flight home,” Flower told reporters in Adelaide. “He’s unfortunately got a strain in his lower back and that, allied with his knee problem, means that it is best for him to go home and get ready for the World Cup now.” Flower said he was confident both Swann and seamer Tim Bresnan, who has also returned to England with a torn calf muscle, would be ready to play at the World Cup, which starts next month in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
SOCCER
Italy’s ‘Oscars’ awarded
Inter striker Diego Milito was voted Italian Players’ Association player of the year for 2009/2010 on Monday in Milan, Italy, with his former boss Jose Mourinho winning the best coach award. Milito, 31, scored the winning goals in the three key matches as Inter claimed last term’s unprecedented Italian treble of Serie A, Champions League and Italian Cup in his first season at the club. He netted 22 league goals last season. “It’s an immense honor. For me, 2010 will always be a truly unforgettable year,” late bloomer Milito said at the ceremony dubbed the “Italian soccer Oscars.” The Argentine beat off competition from Dutch teammate Wesley Sneijder, who has missed out for a second time after being left off the three-man shortlist for the FIFA Ballon d’Or won by Lionel Messi this month. Mourinho was odds-on to win the best coach award for a second straight year despite quitting Inter for Real Madrid immediately after sealing May’s treble. The Portuguese, who cheekily revealed he had won during a Real news conference on Sunday, could not attend the glitzy show at a Milan theater, but sent a video message. The annual January gala, which recognizes achievements from the previous season voted on by Serie A players, also saw Julio Cesar again named goalkeeper of the year, while Inter teammate Maicon won the award for best goal.
SSC Napoli will have to wait one more week to seal the Serie A title after on Sunday being held to a goalless draw at Parma, while closest rivals Inter drew 2-2 in a dramatic game with SS Lazio. Antonio Conte’s team stayed one point ahead of Inter and were unfortunate not to win after twice striking the woodwork through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Matteo Politano, while Scott McTominay also had a free-kick tipped onto the crossbar. The away side thought they would be handed a chance to take the points from the penalty spot in the 96th minute when David Neres
A stunning Lamine Yamal strike on Thursday helped crown Barcelona La Liga champions with a 2-0 win over local rivals RCD Espanyol, with victory ensuring Real Madrid cannot catch them at the top of the table. Yamal’s effort and Fermin Lopez’s goal took Hansi Flick’s side seven points clear of Los Blancos with two matches remaining, to clinch Barcelona’s 28th title and complete a superb domestic treble. Only the UEFA Champions League title escaped an exciting young Barca side this season, as they won the league for the second time in six years, at Espanyol’s ground again just as in 2022-2023. Back then,
Jannik Sinner on Thursday marched into the semi-finals of the Italian Open after destroying Casper Ruud in straight sets 6-0, 6-1, while Coco Gauff won a marathon three-set battle with China’s Zheng Qinwen to advance to the women’s singles final. American Gauff is to face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in today’s title match after pulling through 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) in a match that lasted over three-and-a-half hours. Ruud was supposed to be Sinner’s toughest test in Rome since he came back from his three-month doping ban, as the Norwegian came into the match in hot form on clay after winning in
Omar Marmoush’s stunning long-range strike on Tuesday upstaged Kevin de Bruyne on the Manchester City great’s Etihad farewell. Marmoush let fly from about 30m to put City ahead in their 3-1 win against AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. The victory moved Pep Guardiola’s team up to third in the standings and left qualification for the UEFA Champions League in their own hands heading into the last round of the season. “It’s really important. To be in the Champions League after what happened [this season] will be really nice,” the City manager said. De Bruyne was making his final home appearance for City before
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