ICE HOCKEY
Canucks name new coach
Willie Desjardins, who guided the Dallas Stars’ top developmental club to a championship last week, was named on Monday as the new coach of the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks. Desjardins coached the Texas Stars for the past two seasons, guiding the Austin-based club to the American Hockey League crown earlier this month. He was previously coach of the Medicine Hat Tigers, a Canadian junior club, for eight seasons, including a stint as general manager as well from 2005 to 2010. “Willie Desjardins has won at every level and we believe he’ll be an excellent fit as we strive to return to the playoffs and build with youth for long-term success,” Canucks general manager Jim Benning said. “Willie is a great teacher, motivator and communicator. His teams have competed with a style of play we believe will help us compete in our division and in the playoffs.”
FORMULA ONE
Schumacher records stolen
Michael Schumacher’s management has warned that someone is trying to sell documents that may be the medical files of the seven-time Formula One world champion. Nearly six months after sustaining serious head injuries in a skiing accident, the 45-year-old Schumacher left a French hospital last week and was transferred to neighboring Switzerland. He is no longer in a drug-induced coma. Schumacher’s manager, Sabine Kehm, said in a statement on Monday that notes made about the German’s case have been stolen, and threatened to sue any publication willing to use them. “We cannot judge if these documents are authentic. However, the documents are clearly stolen. The theft has been reported,” Kehm said.
SOCCER
Costa turns down Clermont
Portugal’s Helena Costa will not be taking over as the new coach of French side Clermont Foot Auvergne 63, a decision described by the club president as “sudden and surprising.” The 36-year-old Costa made global headlines as the first woman to take charge of a men’s professional team in a leading European nation after being named in May to coach Clermont, who play in France’s second tier. “This decision is sudden and surprising. I deeply regret this situation,” Clermont president Claude Michy said on Monday. Clermont are a modest club from a city where rugby dominates, and they came 14th in Ligue 2 last season, while playing to average crowds of less than 4,000. When announcing her appointment last month, Michy dismissed suggestions that his move for Costa, who has a UEFA A coaching licence and a master’s degree in sports science, was a publicity stunt.
SOCCER
Hertha sign Heitinga
Hertha Berlin have signed Dutch center-back John Heitinga on a free transfer from Fulham, the Bundesliga club said on Monday. Heitinga, who has won 87 caps for his country, agreed a two-year deal. “I was desperate to play in the Bundesliga; that’s why I’m really looking forward to playing for Hertha,” the 30-year-old said on the Bundlesliga Web site (www.bundesliga.com). Sporting director Michael Preetz said: “John Heitinga is a defender with international experience, from whom our younger players in particular will learn a lot.” Heitinga began his career with Ajax in 2001, before moves to Atletico Madrid and Everton. He joined Fulham on a free transfer in January this year and played 14 times for the Cottagers before they were relegated to the Championship.
Former world No. 2 Paula Badosa has withdrawn from this week’s Wuhan Open, organizers said on Tuesday, amid a racism row over an online photograph. Tournament organizers said the Spaniard had pulled out of the WTA 1000 tournament, citing a gastrointestinal illness, hours before her first-round match against Australian Ajla Tomljanovic. News outlets including Britain’s the Telegraph earlier reported that Badosa had posted a photo on Instagram in which she appeared to imitate a Chinese face by placing chopsticks on the corners of her eyes. The photo was taken last week in a restaurant in Beijing, where she reached the semi-finals of the
More than 180 years of horse racing came to an end in Singapore on Saturday, as the Singapore Turf Club hosted its final race day before its track is handed back to the Singaporean government to provide land for new homes. Under an overcast sky, the air-conditioned VIP boxes were full of enthusiasts, socialites and expats, while the grounds and betting halls below hosted mostly older-generation punters. The sun broke through for the last race, the last-ever Grand Singapore Gold Cup. The winner, South African jockey Muzi Yeni, echoed a feeling of loss shared by many on the day. “I’d
PREDICTION: Last week, when Yu’s father made a wrong turn to the former champions’ parking lot, he said that his son could park there after this year With back-to-back birdies on the 18th hole, Kevin Yu fulfilled his driving range-owning dad’s prediction that he would win the Sanderson Farms Championship and become Taiwan’s third golfer to claim a US PGA Tour title. The Taoyuan-born 26-year-old, who represented Taiwan in the Olympic golf at Paris, saw off Californian Beau Hossler in a playoff at the Country Club of Jackson, Mississippi, on Sunday. Having drained a 15-foot putt to claw his way into the playoff, Yu rolled in from five feet on the first extra hole, ensuring he joined Chen Tze-chung (LA Open in 1987) and Pan Cheng-tsung (RBC
LeBron James and eldest son Bronny James claimed a piece of NBA history on Sunday after making their long-awaited first appearance alongside each other for the Los Angeles Lakers. The duo appeared together at the start of the second quarter in the Lakers’ 118-114 preseason defeat to the Phoenix Suns in Palm Desert, east of Los Angeles. While LeBron James impressed with 19 points in just 16 minutes and 20 seconds on court before sitting out the second half, Bronny found the going harder with zero points in just over 13 minutes on court. The younger James attempted just one
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