FORMULA ONE
Russian GP to go ahead
Organizers insist Russia’s first Formula One Grand Prix will go ahead as planned, despite an airliner being shot down in the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine. Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur crashed on Thursday in eastern Ukraine. All 298 people on board are believed to have been killed. Ukraine accused pro-Russian separatists of shooting the plane down, something the rebels deny. The promoters of the Oct. 12 Russian Grand Prix in Sochi said in a statement on Friday that “all the preparations are on track and run according to the schedule,” and that “organizers are confident that the inaugural Russian Grand Prix will be comfortable for all.” Sochi’s Olympic Park circuit is located in southern Russia, about 540km from the crash site.
CRICKET
Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan
Sean Williams hit a half century, while skipper Brendan Taylor made a crucial 42 as Zimbabwe eased to a six-wicket win over Afghanistan in the first one-day international on Friday. Chasing 224 to win, the home side reached their target with more than four overs to spare in the first of a three-match series. Williams hit 70 off 65 balls with eight boundaries and a six, while rock-solid Taylor made 43 off 52 deliveries. Afghanistan, looking to build exposure and experience ahead of their maiden World Cup appearance next year, were put into bat and lost opener Usman Ghani for nought in the second over. Experienced Samiullah Shenwari, with 65 off 84 balls with three fours and a six, while skipper Mohammad Nabi, who made a brisk 54 off 32 balls helped by three huge sixes, helped Afghanistan to 223-9 in their 50 overs.Zimbabwe had opener Vusi Sibanda dismissed for just four in the third over, but Afghanistan were always destined to struggle defending such a modest total.The second and third games take place at the same venue on Sunday and Tuesday.
SOCCER
West Brom sign Ideye
West Bromwich Albion have signed Nigeria forward Brown Ideye from Ukrainian side Dynamo Kiev for a club-record transfer fee on a three-year deal, the Premier League team said on Friday. The fee was undisclosed, but the club said on their Web site (www.wba.co.uk) that it exceeds the amount they paid Sunderland for Stephane Sessegnon in September last year. The 25-year-old forward arrives at The Hawthorns with an impressive record having scored 74 goals in 182 career league appearances. Brown has scored five goals in 24 appearances for Nigeria and was called up to their 2010 World Cup squad in South Africa.
SOCCER
Juve to seal Morata move
Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata is poised to seal a move to Italian champions Juventus for a reported fee of 18 million euros (US$24.3 million). Morata, 21, arrived in Turin on Friday night and was to undergo a medical yesterday. “I am very happy to start a new adventure here. I am looking forward to starting right away,” he told reporters at Turin airport. According to Spanish newspaper As, Real retain the option to buy Morata back for 30 million euros (US$40.59 million) after the first season and 36 million euros after the following campaign. A highly rated product of the Real youth academy, Morata came to the fore in the 2012-2013 season, Jose Mourinho’s last at the club as coach, but he was not able to maintain that progress during the last campaign.
Shohei Ohtani and Clayton Kershaw on Friday joined their Los Angeles Dodgers teammates in sticking their fists out to show off their glittering World Series rings at a ceremony. “There’s just a lot of excitement, probably more than I can ever recall with the Dodger fan base and our players,” manager Dave Roberts said before Los Angeles rallied to beat the Detroit Tigers 8-5 in 10 innings. “What a way to cap off the first two days of celebrations,” Roberts said afterward. “By far the best opening week I’ve ever experienced. I just couldn’t have scripted it any better.” A choir in the
The famously raucous Hong Kong Sevens are to start today in a big test for a shiny new stadium at the heart of a major US$3.85 billion sports park in the territory. Officials are keeping their fingers crossed that the premier event in Hong Kong’s sporting and social calendar goes off without a hitch at the 50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium. They hope to entice major European soccer teams to visit in the next few months, with reports in December last year saying that Liverpool were in talks about a pre-season tour. Coldplay are to perform there next month, all part of Hong Kong’s
Shohei Ohtani, Teoscar Hernandez and Tommy Edman on Thursday smashed home runs to give the reigning World Series champions the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-4 victory over Detroit on the MLB’s opening day in the US. The Dodgers, who won two season-opening games in Tokyo last week, raised their championship banner on a day when 28 clubs launched the season in the US. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shuffled his batting lineup with all four leadoff hitters finally healthy as Ohtani was followed by Mookie Betts, then Hernandez and Freddie Freeman in the cleanup spot, switching places with Hernandez. “There’s a Teoscar tax to
Marcus Rashford’s first goals for Aston Villa on Sunday inspired a 3-0 win against Preston North End that sent his side into the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time in 10 years. Rashford struck twice in the second half at Deepdale to end Preston’s stubborn resistance before Jacob Ramsey wrapped up Villa’s long-awaited return to the last four. Villa are to face Crystal Palace — 3-0 winners at Fulham on Saturday — in the semi-finals at Wembley Stadium in London. Revitalized since joining Villa on loan from Manchester United during the January transfer window, Rashford is beginning to show the form that
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