ASIAN GAMES
Japan name woman captain
Japan named weightlifter Hiromi Miyake as team captain and archer Kaori Kawanaka as flag bearer for next month’s Asian Games in South Korea, the first time the country has selected women for both roles. The duo are to lead Japan’s team of 716 athletes for the Sept. 19 to Oct. 4 Games in Incheon, where they will look to improve on the third-place showing in the medals table at the previous Asian Games in Guangzhou, China. Miyake, 28, won a silver medal in the 48kg category at the 2012 Olympics and also a bronze at the 2006 world championships, while the 23-year-old Kawanaka took bronze in the team competition at the London Games.
MOTOR RACING
Toro Rosso sign teen
Max Verstappen is set to become the youngest-ever driver in Formula 1 after Toro Rosso announced that the 16-year-old Dutchman will join the team next season. Verstappen has been racing in the Formula 3 European Championship this year, winning eight of 27 races, and joined the Red Bull Junior Team this month. Toro Rosso, Red Bull’s sister team, said on Monday that Verstappen would race alongside Daniil Kvyat next year, replacing Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne. “Ever since I was 7 years old, Formula 1 has been my career goal, so this opportunity is truly a dream come true,” Verstappen said in a statement. The teenager, who is to turn 17 next month, is the son of former Formula 1 driver Jos Verstappen. He would shatter the record for the youngest person to drive in Formula 1, with Jaime Alguersuari holding the current mark of 19 years, 125 days. The 20-year-old Kvyat is the youngest driver on this year’s Formula 1 grid.
CYCLING
Reijnen wins USA stage 1
The US’ Kiel Reijnen powered his way to victory after an aggressive day of racing in the opening stage of the fourth annual USA Pro Challenge on Monday. Reijnen, of the United Healthcare team, completed the 98km stage in 2 hours, 26 minutes, 35 seconds, finishing just ahead of fellow American Alex Howes. Reijnen and Howes (Garmin-Sharp) overtook leader Spain’s Javier Megias during the final stretch of the race. Reijnen then edged out Howes at the finish, while Belgian rider Ben Hermans finished third. Megias finished in sixth place. American Carter Jones placed fourth, while Matthew Busche of the US rounded out the top five. The race started and ended in Aspen, Colorado, and took the riders through Snowmass Village and McLain Flats. Yesterday’s 168km second stage was to start in Aspen and finish with a sprint through the town of Crested Butte, and then a steep climb up to Mount Crested Butte.
RUGBY UNION
Australia remain unchanged
Kurtley Beale has kept his place as the starting flyhalf for the return Bledisloe Cup Test against New Zealand, with Australia coach Ewen McKenzie retaining the 23-man squad who held the All Blacks to a 12-12 draw in the series-opening match on Saturday. McKenzie said that despite some errors in the Sydney Test, “we were impressed with the pressure we were able to apply [and] were pleased with the intent of the group to continue attacking despite the poor weather conditions.” Australia are expecting dry conditions in Auckland and are increasingly confident of ending the All Blacks’ 32-Test winning streak at Eden Park. Australia, who have not won at Auckland since 1986, ended New Zealand’s 17-Test winning streak with the draw in Sydney.
Doping fears prevented former US Open champion Emma Raducanu from treating insect bites on the eve of the Australian Open, she said, with players increasingly wary about ingesting contaminated substances. The British player was speaking in the wake of high-profile doping cases involving Iga Swiatak and Jannik Sinner. “I would say all of us are probably quite sensitive to what we take on board, what we use,” the 22-year-old said, recalling an incident on Friday. “I got really badly bitten by, I don’t know what, like ants, mosquitoes, something. I’m allergic, I guess,” she added. The bites “flared up and swelled up really a
The NHL postponed the Los Angeles Kings’ home game against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday with several massive wildfires burning across the greater Los Angeles area. The Kings and Flames were scheduled to play on Wednesday night at the Kings’ downtown arena. The NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers were scheduled to host the Charlotte Hornets in the same arena last night. “Our hearts are with our entire Los Angeles community,” the Kings said in a statement. “We appreciate the hard working first responders who are diligently working to contain the fire and protect our community. We appreciate the league’s support in keeping our
TWO IN A WEEK: Despite an undefeated start to the year playing alongside Jiang Xinyu of China, Wu Fang-hsien is to play the Australian Open with a Russian partner Taiwan’s Wu Fang-hsien yesterday triumphed at the Hobart International, winning the women’s doubles title at the US$275,094 outdoor hard-court tournament, while McCartney Kessler lifted the trophy in the women’s singles. Fourth-ranked Wu and partner Jiang Xinyu of China took 1 hour, 15 minutes to defeat Romania’s Monica Niculescu and Fanny Stollar of Hungary, 6-1, 7-6 (8/6) at the Hobart International Tennis Centre, their second title in a week. Wu and Jiang on Sunday won the women’s doubles title at the ASB Classic in Auckland, beating Serbia’s Aleksandra Krunic and Sabrina Santamaria of the US. Their winning ways continued in Australia as they stretched
EL CLASSICO: La Liga champions Real Madrid would face Barcelona in the Super Cup final tomorrow. Barca secured their final spot after a 2-0 win over Bilbao on Wednesday Real Madrid would chase a record-equaling 14th Spanish Super Cup title in the final against Barcelona after second-half goals by Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo helped them to a 3-0 win over Mallorca in the semi-finals on Thursday. England midfielder Bellingham broke the deadlock after the hour mark with a low shot into the middle of the goal before Mallorca defender Martin Valjent’s own goal doubled the lead in stoppage time followed by a Rodrygo strike from close range. Spanish champions Real are to play Barcelona for the trophy tomorrow after goals by Gavi and Lamine Yamal earned Barca a 2-0 win over
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