SOCCER
Czech player goal kicks butt
Who has soccer’s most famous bottom? A little-known Czech player is in with a fair chance after scoring an unlikely butt-kick goal that made him an online hit. David Hovorka, a reserve player for AC Sparta Prague, sent the ball spinning home with a decisive backside volley 25 minutes into a game against rivals Meteor. “I jumped for a volley kick, but I twisted my body a bit too far around, and so I used my bottom,” the 20-year-old defender told the Sport daily on Wednesday. Sparta Prague went on to win the third-division game 3-0. Footage of his anatomical feat has drawn about 700,000 views on YouTube. Hovorka said it was a “spontaneous gesture.” “I just burst out laughing. It’s true I’d never scored a goal like that before,” he said.
BOXING
Klitschko ready for Povetkin
Heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko is confident that he will put an end to Alexander Povetkin’s undefeated record when he defends his WBA and IBF belts against the Russian at the Olympic Stadium tomorrow. After open training sessions in front of media on Wednesday, Klitschko (60-3, 51 KO) said he came to Moscow to win any way he could. “That’s what I will do on Oct. 5,” Klitschko said. “Believe me, I will do everything for my victory.” However, Klitschko made it clear he would not underestimate Povetkin. “He hasn’t lost or drawn a fight and was never knocked down,” Klitschko said. Povetkin (26-0, 18 KO) avoided the usual pre-bout banter and said he was just preparing for the fight. “There’s no need for extra words,” the Russian said. “I could have said that I would bury him or something like this, but you will see it on Saturday.”
SOCCER
Napoli fans blamed for attack
SSC Napoli fans were blamed on Wednesday for an attack on a restaurant near Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium prior to Tuesday’s Champions League tie in London that the home side won 2-0. The London Metropolitan Police Service said the incident, which saw one man assaulted and the window of the Piebury Corner restaurant smashed, started when about 30 Napoli supporters became involved in a verbal exchange with Arsenal fans. Piebury Corner manager Paul Campbell said Arsenal fans had played no part in the build-up. The police statement added: “The Napoli fans then turned violent, smashing a window and throwing a number of chairs before moving on.” Arsenal supporters had to duck for cover and a 48-year-old man was taken to hospital with lacerations to his head, after witnesses reported that a group of Italian men had been swinging belts and throwing tables and chairs in the restaurant.
CRICKET
Afghanistan near World Cup
Afghanistan moved to within just one victory of a place in the World Cup 2015 after beating Kenya by eight wickets in the first of two one-day internationals (ODIs) in Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), on Wednesday. Kenya chose to bat, but were skittled out for 89 runs in 37.5 overs, with Hamid Hassan claiming 4-19. In reply, Nawroz Mangal hit three fours and four sixes in a 60-ball 52, and Mohammad Shahzad scored a 41-ball 33 as Afghanistan achieved victory for the loss of two wickets inside 18 overs. The two openers put on 79 runs for the first wicket in just more than 16 overs. The win has moved Afghanistan one point behind the UAE and the Netherlands. Should Afghanistan win the today’s ODI, they would climb to second position behind Ireland and qualify for their maiden ICC Cricket World Cup. If they lose, the UAE will qualify.
Hong Kong-based cricket team Hung See this weekend found success in their matches in Taiwan, even if none of the results went their way. Hung See played the Chairman’s XI on Saturday morning, the Daredevils that afternoon and PCCT yesterday, with all three home teams winning. The team for Chinese players at the Happy Valley-based Craigengower Cricket Club sends teams on tour to “spread the game of cricket.” This weekend was Hung See’s second trip to Taiwan after visiting Tainan in 2016. “The club has been traveling to all parts of the world since 1982 and the annual tradition continues [with the Taiwan
‘TOUGH TO BREATHE’: Tunisian three-time Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur suffered an asthma attack in her 7-5, 6-3 victory over Colombia’s Camila Osorio Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei yesterday cruised into the second round of the women’s doubles at the Australian Open, while Iga Swiatek romped into a third-round women’s singles showdown with Emma Raducanu and Taylor Fritz was just as emphatic in his pursuit of a maiden Grand Slam title. Hsieh and Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia, the third seeds, defeated Slovakia’s Tereza Mihalikova and Olivia Nicholls of Britain 7-5, 6-2 in 90 minutes in Melbourne. Ostapenko and Hsieh — who won the women’s doubles and mixed doubles at the Australian Open last year — hit 25 winners and converted five of nine break points to set
HARD TO SAY GOODBYE: After Coco Gauff dispatched Belinda Bencic in the fourth round, she wrote ‘RIP TikTok USA’ and drew a broken heart on a television camera lens Defending champion Hsieh Su-wei of Taiwan yesterday advanced to the quarter-finals of the women’s doubles at the Australian Open, while compatriot Chan Hao-ching on Saturday dominated her opponents in the second round, as world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka swept into the quarter-finals. Third seeds Hsieh and Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia toppled Hungary’s Timea Babos and Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the US 6-4, 6-3, hitting 24 winners and converting three of seven break points in 1 hour, 18 minutes at 1573 Arena. Although rivals at last year’s Australian Open — where Hsieh and Belgium’s Elise Mertens beat Ostapenko and Ukraine’s Lyudmyla Kichenok 6-1, 7-5
Dubbed a “motorway for cyclists” where avid amateurs can chase Tadej Pogacar up mountains teeming with the highest concentration of professional cyclists per square kilometer in the world, Spain’s Costa Blanca has forged a new reputation for itself in the past few years. Long known as the ideal summer destination for those in search of sun, sea and sand, the stretch of coast between Valencia and Alicante now has a winter vocation too. During the season break in December and January, the region experiences an invasion of cyclists. Star names such as three-time Tour de France winner Pogacar, Remco Evenepoel and Julian Alaphilippe
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