SOCCER
France U21 players scolded
France manager Didier Deschamps criticized the “intolerable behavior” of five players from the under-21 France squad on Tuesday for going to a nightclub between two playoff games for next year’s junior European Championship. Midfielders Yann M’Vila and Wissam Ben Yedder, winger Antoine Griezmann, striker Mbaye Niang and defender Chris Mavinga all left the Le Havre training camp late at night and drove two hours to Paris and back before the return match against Norway last week. France lost that match 5-3 to end its qualification hopes and under-21 manager Erick Mombaerts quit immediately after the defeat. “I have a big problem accepting what happened between the two games because it led to a sporting failure that cost the coach his job,” Deschamps said in an interview with Eurosport. “It was intolerable behavior on the part of the players.” M’Vila and Mavinga have both been dropped by Stade Rennais and ordered to train and play for the reserves until further notice. Deschamps insists M’Vila, touted as a major talent two years ago, still has a future with France if his attitude improves.
CRICKET
Murali to coach NZ bowlers
Test cricket’s leading wicket-taker, Muttiah Muralitharan, will be asked to pass on his expertise to New Zealand’s bowlers and batsmen on their tour of Sri Lanka, the country’s head coach has said. The New Zealand-based members of the team leave for the tour, which includes a Twenty20 match, five one-day internationals and two Tests, today with new bowling coach Shane Bond making his first tour with the side. The former New Zealand paceman was only appointed to the role last week and has had little to do with spin bowlers throughout his career, hence head coach Mike Hesson’s decision to seek Muralitharan’s help. The 40-year-old off-spinner retired from the longer form of the game in 2010, capturing his 800th wicket with the final ball of his Test career.
BASKETBALL
Nowitzki encouraged
Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki says he felt encouraged after the first knee surgery of his career, but says a timetable for his return is “pretty ridiculous to talk about.” Nowitzki walked gingerly, but without a noticeable limp, on Tuesday, four days after arthroscopic surgery on his ailing right knee. Macericks coach Rick Carlisle said the 11-time All-Star was expected to miss six weeks. The 34-year-old Nowitzki battled soreness and swelling in the knee throughout training camp and only played in one preseason game — the opener in his native Germany. Nowitzki has never missed more than nine games in a season during his 14-year career.
BOXING
Berto insists he is clean
Even after a failed doping test earlier this year, Andre Berto insists he has always been a clean fighter. The former welterweight champion believes the only way to overcome the stigma on his name is by getting back in the ring with his eyes on another belt. Berto and Robert Guerrero met on Tuesday at the Grammy Museum to announce their Nov. 24 welterweight title bout in Ontario, California. Berto said he realizes his reputation was indelibly stained by a positive test for norandrosterone in May. The fighter and his camp claimed the positive test resulted from contamination. The California State Athletic Commission believed them, licensing Berto in August. Guerrero said he has no idea whether Berto is telling the truth.
Aaliyah Edwards on Monday pulled off the stunner of the opening round of the Unrivaled one-on-one tournament, beating top-seeded Breanna Stewart 12-0. The tournament to be played over three days featured 23 of the WNBA’s 36 players. A few had other commitments and a couple others were out with injuries. Stewart got the ball first against Edwards and missed a contested layup. Edwards then hit a three-pointer from the corner and a jumper from the elbow to go up 5-0. The player who scores keeps the basketball. Edwards hit two layups and a three-pointer to seal the win. Stewart, a two-time WNBA Most Valuable Player,
The Philippines curling team has been rocking it in Harbin, claiming the tropical nation’s first Asian Winter Games medal yesterday with a victory in the men’s final against South Korea. The team of Marc Pfister, Alan Frei, Christian Haller, Enrico Pfister and alternate Benjo Delarmente took gold with a 5-3 win at Harbin Pingfang Curling Arena. The Philippines Olympic Committee was quick to celebrate with a post on Instagram to mark the historic gold. “This is the first-ever medal for the Philippines at the Asian Winter Games, and the highest achievement for a Southeast Asian athlete in the Games’ history! What an incredible
Eugenie Bouchard already has her own signature pickleball paddle. She is No. 17 in the pickleball rankings and constantly appears on the main court at events because she is always a big draw. However, just to be absolutely clear, she is not retired from tennis. The 2014 Wimbledon finalist still practices on the tennis court, still competes at tennis events and still has a Women’s Tennis Association ranking (No. 1,288). The Canadian standout just has a new sport that has caught her attention. Bouchard is one of several familiar tennis names — like Jack Sock and Donald Young — crossing over to
Taiwan’s Wu Fang-hsien on Tuesday dumped compatriot and second seed Hsieh Su-wei out of the women’s doubles at the Qatar Open to set up another potential Taiwanese showdown, while world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka suffered a shock defeat in the second round. Wu and partner Jiang Xinyu, who earlier this year won the ASB Classic in Auckland and the Hobart International, defeated Hsieh and Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia 6-2, 6-7 (3/7), 10-5 in 1 hour, 29 minutes on Grandstand Court 3 at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex. Wu and Jiang on Sunday advanced to the round-of-16 with a 7-6 (7/7),