CYCLING
Taiwanese finishes epic trip
Taiwanese cyclist Wu Shih-chang has recently reached the town of Ushuaia in Argentina, near Tierra del Fuego, the southernmost tip of South America, completing a ride through the Americas that took him through 15 countries in North, Central and South America. Wu began his epic trek in Alaska 18 months ago and biked over 21,000km to reach Ushuaia, “the city at the end of the world.” Wu told the Clarin, the largest daily newspaper in Argentina, that he was left speechless with gratitude when a family shared their only food — some bread — with him. He departed Argentina on Saturday for Spain to continue his ride through Europe.
SKIING
Fenninger wins giant slalom
Austria’s Anna Fenninger claimed her first ever World Cup win by prevailing in the giant slalom on Wednesday in Lienz, Austria, ahead of Italy’s Federica Brignone and Tessa Worley of France. Germany’s Viktoria Rebensburg recorded the quickest time in a tight first leg, but missed out on a podium place by 0.10 seconds. She nonetheless conserved her place at the top of the World Cup giant slalom standings. Fenninger, the world super-combined champion, had never before finished on the podium in the giant slalom.
SOCCER
FA hits Suarez with new ban
Striker Luis Suarez has been banned by the FA for one match and fined ￡20,000 (US$30,864) for a gesture made toward Fulham fans in Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat at Craven Cottage earlier this month. Suarez had admitted the latest charge of improper conduct, and Liverpool have also been fined ￡20,000 for failing to control their players in the same match — a charge related to the dismissal of midfielder Jay Spearing. The ruling, announced on Wednesday by the FA, comes little over a week after Suarez was hit with an eight-game suspension for racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra during a match in October. Suarez’s new ban means he will miss today’s home game against Newcastle United in the Premier League.
BOXING
Ad overturns election
Mexico’s highest electoral court says it has overturned a recent municipal election partly because of a strange new form of political advertising — a party logo emblazoned on a boxer’s trunks. Mexican welterweight Juan Manuel Marquez wore the emblem of the opposition Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) in his match last month against Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines in Las Vegas, Nevada. The PRI won the next day’s elections in the city of Morelia, capital of Michoacan State. The ruling National Action Party complained that the logo violated a temporary ban on campaigning ahead of elections, as well as a prohibition on campaigning abroad. The federal electoral tribunal ruled in its favor.
SOCCER
Fans arrested after violence
Fourteen people were arrested after violence erupted during a derby game between CODM and MAZ Fez in the Moroccan city of Meknes on Tuesday evening, a police source announced on Wednesday. The derby match was stopped by the referee in the 52nd minute, with hosts CODM leading 1-0, after MAZ player Abdelmoula Berrabeh was struck by a missile thrown by supporters. MAZ coach Rachid Taoussi also claimed to have been hit by a bottle.
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
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
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
RSS