CYCLING
Gaudin wins prologue
Frenchman Damien Gaudin, riding for Europcar, won Sunday’s Paris-Nice prologue, a 2.9km time trial around Houilles west of Paris. Gaudin bagged the yellow jersey after seeing off compatriot Sylvain Chavanel and Dutchman Lieuwe Westra as the 26-year-old garnered his first career win five years after turning professional. Yesterday’s first stage proper was a 195km ride from Saint-Germain-en-Laye to Nemours.
RUGBY UNION
Sexton in, O’Gara dropped
Flyhalf Jonathan Sexton has been included in Ireland’s 32-man training squad for Saturday’s Six Nations game against France, but there was no place for Ronan O’Gara. Flyhalf O’Gara, Ireland’s most capped player and scorer of a record 1,083 points for his country, has struggled for form and was relegated to third-choice No. 10 for last month’s match against Scotland that Ireland lost 12-8. Sexton, who tore a hamstring during the 12-6 defeat by England on Feb. 10, Paddy Jackson, who made his debut against Scotland, and uncapped Ian Madigan were the three flyhalves named in the squad by the Irish RFU on Sunday. Locks Mike McCarthy and Donnacha Ryan and wing Craig Gilroy were named in the squad, despite nursing injuries. Ireland are fourth in the Six Nations table with one win from three matches.
FOOTBALL
Female kicker limps out
Lauren Silberman’s history-making NFL tryout ended quickly. Silberman, the first woman to take part in a regional scouting combine sponsored by the NFL, suffered a leg injury after two kickoffs on Sunday and had to bow out. According to a report, Silberman appeared to be in discomfort after her first kick, which went about 15 yards, at the New York Jets’ indoor training facility. She tried another kickoff and it traveled only 14 yards. Silberman, a 28-year-old New York City resident who played club soccer at the University of Wisconsin, said she aggravated an injury she suffered last week while training.
TENNIS
Gulbis captures title
Ernests Gulbis celebrated his second Delray Beach International title after edging French journeyman Edouard Roger-Vasselin 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 on Sunday. Latvian Gulbis, the 2010 champion, found himself in his first final since 2011 after the top seeds all crashed out and after weathering a stiff challenge in the first set, was too strong for the 105th-ranked Frenchman. “I’m really happy. I worked hard,” the 24-year-old told reporters. “I’m exhausted now. [This is] my favorite tournament. It’s the only tournament in the world I am winning.” The 67th-ranked Gulbis was understating his record, but only slightly, having sandwiched his Delray Beach wins with the Los Angeles trophy in 2011 for a career total of three ATP titles. The 29-year-old Roger-Vasselin was playing in his first final, however, and the gap in experience showed as Gulbis saved a set point before forcing a tiebreak which he comfortably won 7-3. Gulbis rode the momentum through the second set to quickly wrap up the match, but Roger-Vasselin was not too disconsolate with the loss, having previously held a 0-5 record in quarter-finals. “When you lose in a final, it’s tough, but it was a great week for me,” he said. “It will give me confidence for the next tournament.” US duo James Blake and Jack Sock defeated Max Mirnyi of Belarus and Horia Tecau of Romania 6-4, 6-4 to claim the doubles title.
MARRED FINAL: As most of Senegalese players walked off the pitch after a controversial decision, some supporters threw objects and attempted to get onto the pitch Senegal on Sunday won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as Pape Gueye’s extra-time winner sunk hosts Morocco 1-0 after a chaotic final that saw the eventual champions storm off the pitch late in the game. Brahim Diaz could have won the trophy for Morocco with a controversial spot-kick in the 24th minute of added time at the end of normal time as ugly scenes broke out in the stands. However, Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy easily saved the weak attempted “Panenka” chip by the Real Madrid winger, who was clearly distracted by the long delay that followed the penalty award.
The Philadelphia 76ers, fueled by 36 points from Tyrese Maxey and a triple-double from Joel Embiid, on Thursday beat the Houston Rockets 128-122 in an NBA overtime thriller. Cameroonian big man Embiid scored 32 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and handed out 10 assists, posting the ninth triple-double of his career to help the Sixers end the Rockets’ three-game winning streak. Rockets star Kevin Durant scored 36 points and Amen Thompson added 17, but Thompson was scoreless in the fourth quarter. Even so, the Rockets led by nine midway through the final frame, Maxey tying it at 115-115 with 40.1 seconds left. Durant missed a
Qatar’s Nasser al-Attiyah on Saturday secured his sixth Dakar Rally car title in Saudi Arabia with Luciano Benavides scraping home by two seconds to claim the motorbike title. “We’ve worked very hard since last year. I might not be showing much emotion yet, but it’s there, deep down. We are so happy to win,” al-Attiyah said at the finish. Al-Attiyah, at the wheel of a Dacia, only had to avoid a final day slip-up to top the podium after bringing his career tally of stage wins to 50 on Friday. The 55-year-old, who took clay pigeon shooting bronze at the
Tobias Harris on Monday scored 25 points as the Detroit Pistons held off the Boston Celtics to score a 104-103 victory in their top-of-the-table Eastern Conference showdown. Harris was one of four Detroit players to finish in double figures, with Jalen Duren adding 18 points and point guard Cade Cunningham scoring 16 points with 14 assists. The win sees Detroit extend their lead at the top of the Eastern Conference to 31-10, 5.5 games ahead of second-placed Boston, who fell to 26-16 with the defeat. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics scoring with 32 points and almost snatched victory in the
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