OLYMPICS
Congolese seek asylum
Six members of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DR Congo) Olympic and Paralympic teams are seeking asylum in Britain, citing political and rights abuses in their country, an official said on Wednesday. Lawyer Patrick Pindi, who heads a Congolese association for disabled people, said three members of the Olympic delegation, a Paralympic committee official and two disabled athletes “don’t want to go home.” The three Olympic delegates — judo trainer Blaise Bekwa, athletics coach Guy Nkita and boxing coach Adelard Ibula — have been missing since the Olympic Games finished on Aug. 12. Pindu said the disabled athletes — Dedeline Mibamba and Levy Kitambala — and the delegation official, Robert Dikazolele, had called him on Sept. 7 to tell him they would not return to the DR Congo. Pindu said his organization deplored Mibamba and Kitambala’s decision. “I had said to them that it was the first time that people living with handicaps had taken part in such an important international event and that it would be better if they came home,” Pindu said.
Golf
Palmer honored by US
Arnold Palmer became the sixth athlete to earn a Congressional Gold Medal at a ceremony on Wednesday where the golfing great and humanitarian made light of the divided US lawmakers who gave him the award. Congress bestowed Palmer, 83, with its highest civilian award in “recognition of his service to the country in promoting excellence and good sportsmanship.” To be sure, this, one of the most unpopular and unproductive congresses in history, came together to salute this king of swing. “I’m particularly proud of anything that the House and Senate agree on,” said Palmer, drawing laughter and applause from a US Capitol crowd of a few hundred people, including often warring Democratic and Republican leaders. A winner of more than 80 professional tournaments worldwide, including seven major championships, the charismatic Palmer helped popularize the game of golf over a half century ago with a hard-charging style that drew his own “Arnie’s Army” of fans.
tennis
Ferrero set to retire
Former No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero says he will retire after playing in his hometown Valencia Open next month. The 32-year-old Spaniard moved to the top of the rankings in 2003 after winning the French Open and reaching the US Open final. In 14 years as a professional, he won 15 titles and helped Spain win the first two of its five Davis Cups in 2000 and 2004. Ferrero plans to devote time to his tennis academy and hotel.
Olympics
Medalist’s bikes stolen
Law enforcement officials in Germany and the US are investigating the theft of a road bike and time trial bike owned by Olympic gold medalist Kristin Armstrong. The two bikes went missing while they were being shipped from Germany to Boise, Idaho, US media reported Wednesday. Armstrong’s time trial bike was the same one she used to win the gold medal at the London Olympics and is valued at US$30,000. The bikes were on display in Germany before being packed in boxes to be sent to the US. The bikes were shipped from Germany last Friday and made stops in Frankfurt and Atlanta, but the boxes that arrived at Armstrong’s house on Tuesday were empty.
CRICKET
Bolt can bowl: Gayle
The West Indies’ opening batsman Chris Gayle rates the bowling of fellow Jamaican Usain Bolt and reckons the six-times Olympic gold medalist has what it takes to excel at the game. The sprinter expressed his desire to repackage himself as a big-hitting cricketer in Australia’s Twenty20Big Bash League following an invitation by Shane Warne after he repeated his Beijing 2008 feat with three more golds at this year’s London Games. “He wouldn’t embarrass himself. In a charity game, he actually played against me and almost knocked my head off with a good competitive bouncer,” Gayle said as his team started training for the Twenty20 World Cup in Sri Lanka. The sprinter grew up playing street cricket and soccer in Jamaica and during the London Games said he wanted a trial at English Premier League giants Manchester United.
TENNIS
Champions eye Brisbane
French Open winner Maria Sharapova is to join US Open champions Serena Williams and Andy Murray in warming up for next year’s Australian Open at the Brisbane International, organizers said yesterday. Williams and Murray started their seasons at the tournament this year, but Russian Sharapova will be making her first appearance at the event, which takes place at the Queensland Tennis Centre from Dec. 31 this year to Jan. 6 next year. Williams beat Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka at Flushing Meadows last week to win her 15th Grand Slam title. Murray, who won his first grand slam title on Monday, was already confirmed to return to Brisbane to defend the title he won by beating Alexandr Dolgopolov. The Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year, begins in Melbourne on Jan. 14.
SOCCER
Ronaldo to ‘think of club’
Cristiano Ronaldo is concentrating on playing well for Real Madrid and is not agitating to improve the terms of his contract with the Spanish champions, the Portugal forward said on Wednesday. Arriving back in Madrid after helping his country to World Cup-qualifying wins against Luxembourg and Azerbaijan, Ronaldo wrote on his Facebook page it is “now time to return to the club and think only about my club.” He added: “I would like to reaffirm, without being concerned about contracts, that my focus is solely on winning every game and every available trophy with the essential company of my teammates and all madridistas.” Ronaldo dropped a bombshell after Real’s match at home to Granada this month when he said he was “sad” for professional reasons, prompting speculation he might be seeking an exit.
TENNIS
Lendl to sub for Connors
Ivan Lendl is going to sub for Jimmy Connors on four stops in the upcoming series of matches around the US featuring several former Grand Slam champions. Andre Agassi, John McEnroe and Pete Sampras are also in the group of competitors scheduled to take part in the four-player mini-tournaments. Each event is to feature one-set semi-finals and a one-set title match. Connors is out with a hip injury, so Lendl is planning to compete in Chicago, Detroit, Boston and San Jose, California. Michael Chang is to fill in when the series comes to Surprise, Arizona; Tampa, Florida; and Atlanta. Formerly known as the Champions Series, the PowerShares Series begins on Oct. 13 in Surprise and the final day is on Nov. 30 in Anaheim, California.
Shohei Ohtani and Clayton Kershaw on Friday joined their Los Angeles Dodgers teammates in sticking their fists out to show off their glittering World Series rings at a ceremony. “There’s just a lot of excitement, probably more than I can ever recall with the Dodger fan base and our players,” manager Dave Roberts said before Los Angeles rallied to beat the Detroit Tigers 8-5 in 10 innings. “What a way to cap off the first two days of celebrations,” Roberts said afterward. “By far the best opening week I’ve ever experienced. I just couldn’t have scripted it any better.” A choir in the
The famously raucous Hong Kong Sevens are to start today in a big test for a shiny new stadium at the heart of a major US$3.85 billion sports park in the territory. Officials are keeping their fingers crossed that the premier event in Hong Kong’s sporting and social calendar goes off without a hitch at the 50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium. They hope to entice major European soccer teams to visit in the next few months, with reports in December last year saying that Liverpool were in talks about a pre-season tour. Coldplay are to perform there next month, all part of Hong Kong’s
Shohei Ohtani, Teoscar Hernandez and Tommy Edman on Thursday smashed home runs to give the reigning World Series champions the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-4 victory over Detroit on the MLB’s opening day in the US. The Dodgers, who won two season-opening games in Tokyo last week, raised their championship banner on a day when 28 clubs launched the season in the US. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shuffled his batting lineup with all four leadoff hitters finally healthy as Ohtani was followed by Mookie Betts, then Hernandez and Freddie Freeman in the cleanup spot, switching places with Hernandez. “There’s a Teoscar tax to
Marcus Rashford’s first goals for Aston Villa on Sunday inspired a 3-0 win against Preston North End that sent his side into the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time in 10 years. Rashford struck twice in the second half at Deepdale to end Preston’s stubborn resistance before Jacob Ramsey wrapped up Villa’s long-awaited return to the last four. Villa are to face Crystal Palace — 3-0 winners at Fulham on Saturday — in the semi-finals at Wembley Stadium in London. Revitalized since joining Villa on loan from Manchester United during the January transfer window, Rashford is beginning to show the form that
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