SOCCER
Colombia edge lowly Peru
Midfielder James Rodriguez scored the only goal as Colombia beat Peru 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier in Lima on Sunday to give Jose Pekerman a winning start as their coach. Striker Dorlan Pabon flicked a through ball with the outside of his right foot past a defender to Rodriguez, who sidestepped goalkeeper Diego Penny and shot left-footed into the net. The victory at the Estadio Nacional lifted Colombia into fifth place in the nine-nation South American group with seven points from four matches. They are three points behind leaders Argentina, who have played one more match. Colombia, who have not reached the finals since 1998, appointed Argentine Pekerman after sacking Leonel Alvarez in November last year following a home defeat by Argentina. Peru, whose coach Sergio Markarian was deprived of half a dozen players through injury, are one from the bottom with three points from four matches.
SOCCER
Celta promoted to top flight
Real Club Celta de Vigo were promoted back to Spain’s top flight after five years in the second division after a 0-0 draw at home to Cordoba on Sunday secured them second place behind division winners and Galician neighbors Real Club Deportivo de la Coruna. Celta, who reached the last 16 of the Champions League in 2004 and won the Intertoto Cup three years earlier, have 85 points from 42 matches, six behind Depor, who were 1-0 winners at Villarreal B, setting a second-tier record of 91 points. Real Valladolid, AD Alcorcon, Hercules and Cordoba finished the season in third through sixth respectively and are to playoff for the final promotion spot. Celta’s return to La Liga may help the club tackle the financial problems that have forced it into administration as they are likely to reap more from selling audiovisual rights next season.
CRICKET
‘Little Master’ sworn in
Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar was sworn in as a member of the upper house of parliament yesterday after being nominated in a surprise move criticized by some government opponents. Tendulkar, who is worshipped by millions of cricket fans in India, took his oath in Rajya Sabha for a seat theoretically reserved for people who distinguish themselves in the fields of arts, sciences or social service. He is the first active sportsman to serve in the house, though he has previously vowed to steer clear of politics and is expected to hold the seat only as an honorary position. When he was nominated in April, the Times of India said the gesture made “little sense,” while some opposition lawmakers accused the government of crass populist politics.
RUGBY UNION
Kirwan knighted by queen
Former All Blacks great John Kirwan, who has also coached Italy and Japan at Rugby World Cups as well as being an advocate for sufferers of depression, was honored with a knighthood yesterday. The 47-year-old was named a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday honors list for his services to mental health and rugby union. Kirwan, who played 63 Tests for the All Blacks, has become a campaigner for mental health issues and he has written about his own battle with depression in the book All Blacks Don’t Cry. “There were scary times because of the stigma attached to depression, but I have tried to break those down because it is an illness, not a weakness,” he told the New Zealand Herald. He said he accepted the knighthood “on behalf of all those people who are suffering, to show there is hope.”
Two people died on Thursday after fans and police clashed outside the Estadio Monumental in Santiago ahead of a game in South America’s Copa Libertadores, Chilean authorities said. The fatalities happened shortly before the match between Chile’s Colo-Colo and Brazilian club Fortaleza, when police blocked about 100 fans when they attempted to enter the stadium. There were conflicting accounts of how the fatalities occurred, with local media reporting that one of the dead was a 13-year-old boy. The other victim was an 18-year-old woman, according to a relative at the hospital where she was treated. The fans died after being caught underneath a
College basketballer Kaitlyn Chen has become the first female player of Taiwanese descent to be drafted by a WNBA team, after the Golden State Valkyries selected her in the third and final round of the league’s draft on Monday. Chen, a point guard who played her first three seasons in college for Princeton University, transferred to the University of Connecticut (UConn) for her final season, which culminated in a national championship earlier this month. While at Princeton, Chen was named the Ivy League tournament’s most outstanding player three times from 2022 to last year. Prior to the draft, ESPN described Chen as
College basketballer Kaitlyn Chen (陳凱玲) has become the first player of Taiwanese descent to be drafted by a WNBA team, after being selected by the Golden State Valkyries in the third and final round of the league's draft yesterday. Chen, a point guard who played her first three seasons in college for Princeton University, transferred to the University of Connecticut (UConn) for her final season, which culminated in a national championship on April 6. While at Princeton, Chen was named the Ivy League tournament's most outstanding player three times from 2022 to last year. Prior to the draft, ESPN described Chen as a
Japan yesterday secured a second consecutive Billie Jean King Cup finals appearance with a 2-1 win over 2023 champions Canada, thanks to Ena Shibahara and Shuko Aoyama’s 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 win over Kayla Cross and Rebecca Marino in the qualifying doubles decider. Shibahara and Aoyama powered through the opening set 6-3, breaking twice for a quick 3-0 lead. Cross and Marino hit back in the second, edging it 7-5 to level the match, before the Japanese pair regained control in the third. Canada’s 18-year-old Victoria Mboko edged Shibahara 6-4, 6-7 (8/10), 7-5 in a marathon opening clash. Mboko fired eight aces to
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