CYCLING
Gesink pulls out of Giro
Dutch rider Robert Gesink, who began the Giro d’Italia hoping for a podium finish, dropped out of the race on Friday after consulting doctors, his Blanco Pro Cycling announced. Blanco said Gesink, a climbing specialist, had felt unwell since completing a tough 20.6km uphill time trial on Thursday, which had left him in 12th place overall, more than 10 minutes behind leader Vincenzo Nibali. “Robert Gesink didn’t feel well during and after the time trial on Thursday. After consulting with the team’s medical staff, he has pulled out,” the Dutch team said. The news would have come as a blow to the team, who had been counting on stage wins and a top finish for Gesink to help boost their bid to attract a major sponsor. Currently, Blanco has no major sponsor. The race ends today in Brescia, but is set for a chaotic finish. Friday’s 19th stage was canceled due to freezing temperatures in the Dolomites and major changes also had to be made to yesterday’s 20th stage for the same reason.
BASKETBALL
Allen fined for flopping
Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen has been fined US$5,000 for violating the NBA’s rule against flopping, the league said on Friday. The infraction occurred late in the fourth quarter of Game 2 of the Western Conference finals, when Allen was fouled by San Antonio’s Manu Ginobili while trying to complete a fast-break layup. Ginobili was whistled for a flagrant foul on the play, in which Allen fell hard, then clutched his head, although replays showed he had not hit his head. The play helped the Grizzlies send the game into overtime, but San Antonio went on to win 93-89 and take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
SOCCER
Gibraltar admitted to UEFA
Gibraltar became the smallest European soccer nation on Friday after the British colony’s lengthy push to join UEFA was completed by gaining full membership. The campaign for recognition has long been resisted by Spain, which wanted to stop the tiny territory on its southern tip from joining UEFA and being able to play in its competitions. Gibraltar has been a frequent source of tension between Britain and Spain, which claims sovereignty over the territory that was ceded to Britain in 1713. The path to becoming UEFA’s 54th member, which started in 1999, became clearer after a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling in Gibraltar’s favor in 2006. “This is a momentous occasion for football in Gibraltar,” Gibraltar Football Association president Gareth Latin said. “UEFA membership means we can begin the next chapter of Gibraltarian football.” Gibraltar can now enter into the qualifying competition for Euro 2016. UEFA president Michel Platini said Spain would be kept apart in qualifying in a bid to avoid inflaming political tensions, as happens with Armenia and Azerbaijan.
SOCCER
Elie Baup extends contract
Olympique de Marseille coach Elie Baup has reached an agreement with the club to extend his contract for an extra year through to the end of the 2014-2015 season, the Ligue 1 side announced on Friday on its Web site. “It’s on track to be done, but there aren’t any questions, we’ll continue for an additional year,” Baup told a press conference. The 58-year-old took over at the Stade Velodrome at the start of this season initially on a two-year contract following the appointment of former Marseille coach Didier Deschamps as France national coach. Baup subsequently steered Marseille to second place in his first season in charge.
The next generation of running talent takes center stage at today’s Berlin Marathon, in the absence of stars including Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge and Ethiopian world record holder Tigist Assefa. With most of the major marathon stars skipping the event in the wake of the Paris Olympics just more than a month ago, the field is wide open in the men’s and women’s races. Since 2015, Kipchoge has won five times in Berlin, Kenenisa Bekele has won twice and Guye Adola once — with all three missing today. Kenyan Kibiwott Kandie and Ethiopian Tadese Takele are among the favourites for the men, while
Japan’s Shohei Ohtani is the record-breaking baseball “superhuman” following in the footsteps of the legendary Babe Ruth who has also earned comparisons to US sporting greats Michael Jordan and Tom Brady. Not since Ruth a century ago has there been a baseball player capable of both pitching and hitting at the top level. The 30-year-old’s performances with the Los Angeles Dodgers have consolidated his position as a baseball legend in the making, and a national icon in his native Japan. He continues to find new ways to amaze, this year becoming the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases
Zhang Shuai yesterday said that she nearly quit after losing 24 matches in a row — now the world No. 595 is into the quarter-finals of her home China Open. The 35-year-old is to face Spain’s Paula Badosa as the lowest-ranked player to reach this stage in the history of the tournament after Badosa reeled off 11 of the last 12 games in a 6-4, 6-0 victory over US Open finalist Jessica Pegula. Zhang went into Beijing on a barren run lasting more than 600 days and her string of singles defeats was the second-longest on the WTA Tour Open era, which
Taiwan’s Tony Wu yesterday beat Mackenzie McDonald of the US to win the Nonthaburi Challenger IV in Thailand, his first challenger victory since 2022. The 26-year-old world No. 315, who won both his qualifiers to advance to the main draw, has been on a hot streak this month, winning his past nine matches, including two that ensured Taiwan’s victory in their Davis Cup World Group I tie. Wu took just more than two hours to top world No. 172 McDonald 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) to win his second challenger tournament since the Tallahassee Tennis Challenger in 2022. Wu’s Tallahassee win followed two years of
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