GOLF
Hsu wins Charity Classic
Taiwan’s Hsu Wei-ling won the Symetra Tour’s Self Regional Healthcare Foundation Women’s Health Charity Classic on Sunday, closing with an eagle for a four-under 68 and a five-stroke victory. The 19-year-old Hsu had an eight-under 280 total at The Links at Stoney Point in Greenwood, South Carolina, and won US$30,000 to jump from 81st to fourth on the money list with US$31,810. The final top 10 will earn LPGA Tour cards for next year. Hsu won the Credit Union Challenge last year in Albany, New York, and finished 15th on the money list. Spain’s Marta Silva, France’s Joanna Klatten and South Korea’s Kwak Min-seo tied for second on Sunday. Silva and Klatten shot 71, while Kwak had a 72.
GOLF
Caddie dies in Madeira Open
Zimbabwean caddie Iain McGregor died of a heart attack in the final round of the Madeira Open on Sunday, the European Tour said in a statement. McGregor, 52, was working for Scotland’s Alastair Forsyth at the tournament when he collapsed on the ninth hole The event was halted, but resumed after consultation with the players and caddies. “Everybody is in shock,” Forsyth said. “To see that happen to someone in front of your eyes — I don’t know how or when you get over that. We spoke to [PGA Tour chief] George O’Grady on the phone before taking the decision to play on because we felt that was what Mac would have wanted. He was far too young for this to happen. He was the life and soul of the caddies’ lounge and a nice guy who will be sorely missed. I’m absolutely numb.” England’s Daniel Brooks went on to win the event.
TENNIS
Isner upset at Italian Open
Ninth seed John Isner was upset by the 64th-ranked Jurgen Melzer 7-6 (7), 6-3 in the first round of the Italian Open on Sunday, eliminating the lone American in the men’s event. Also on the day, 16th-seeded Spain’s Tommy Robredo held off Juan Monaco of Argentina 7-6 (3), 6-4, while Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany outlasted the big-hitting Pole Jerzy Janowicz 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-2 and Jeremy Chardy of France beat Robin Haase of the Netherlands 6-4, 6-4 to set up a clash with Switzerland’s Roger Federer, who is expected back on tour following the birth of twin sons. Second-seeded Novak Djokovic of Serbia is to meet Radek Stepanek, the Czech veteran who rallied past Pablo Andujar of Spain 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. The women’s tournament began yesterday, with the US’ Serena Williams set to defend her title and Dane Caroline Wozniacki withdrawing due to a knee injury.
BASKETBALL
NBA denies Sterling’s wife
The NBA said that if Donald Sterling’s ownership of the Los Angeles Clippers is terminated, so is his wife’s. Hours after Shelly Sterling said she would fight to keep her part of the franchise even if her estranged husband cannot, the league said that would be impossible. “Under the NBA constitution, if a controlling owner’s interest is terminated by a three-quarter vote, all other team owners’ interests are automatically terminated as well,” NBA spokesman Mike Shelly said. Sterling’s attorney, Pierce O’Donnell, responded by saying: “We do not agree with the league’s self-serving interpretation of its constitution, its application to Shelly Sterling or its validity under these unique circumstances. We live in a nation of laws. California law and the United States Constitution trump any such interpretation.” The league banned Donald Sterling for life over racist comments and NBA commissioner Adam Silver is urging owners to force him out.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
Taiwanese badminton superstar Lee Yang broke down in tears after publicly retiring from the sport on Sunday. The two-time Olympic gold medalist held a retirement ceremony at the Taipei Arena after the final matches of the Taipei Open. Accompanied by friends, family and former badminton partners, Lee burst into tears while watching a video celebrating key moments in his professional sporting career that also featured messages from international players such as Malaysia’s Teo Ee Yi, Hong Kong’s Tang Chun-man, and Indonesia’s Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan. “I hope that in the future when the world thinks about me, they will
Former Formosa Dreamers player Ilkan Karaman was killed in a traffic accident in Datca, Turkey, Turkish media reported yesterday. He was 34. The former Turkish national team player was reportedly hit by a car, the driver of which was allegedly drunk, while he was standing on a sidewalk, Turkish newspaper Sozcu reported. Karaman and his friends were on their way to the beach town of Dalaman to go scuba diving when they stopped at a gas station to buy gasoline, it reported. Karaman was hit by the car while waiting on a sidewalk as his friends were buying gasoline, it
When details from a scientific experiment that could have helped clear Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva landed at the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the leader of the organization’s reaction was unequivocal: “We have to stop that urgently,” he wrote. No mention of the test ever became public and Valieva’s defense at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) went on without it. What effect the information could have had on Valieva’s case is unclear, but without it, the skater, then 15 years old, was eventually disqualified from the 2022 Winter Olympics after testing positive for a banned heart medication that would later
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