OLYMPICS
Russian jumper given nod
Russian long jumper Darya Klishina has been cleared to compete internationally as a neutral athlete after a successful appeal against a blanket ban on her country’s track and field athletes for systematic doping. “The IAAF [The International Association of Athletics Federations] Doping Review Board has agreed that Russian long jump athlete Darya Klishina meets the exceptional eligibility criteria to compete in international competition as a neutral athlete,” the IAAF said on its Web site. “Darya Klishina’s participation as a neutral athlete in international competition is still subject to acceptance by the organizer of the competition in question, in accordance with the rules of that competition,” it said.
OLYMPICS
Canadian sprinters qualify
Andre de Grasse ran his fastest 100m of the year to book his place at the Rio de Janeiro Games, while world champions Shawn Barber and Derek Drouin also won their events at the Canadian Olympic trials on Saturday. De Grasse, co-bronze medalist at last year’s World Championships, clocked 9.99 seconds to defeat Aaron Brown in the meeting in Edmonton, Alberta.
OLYMPICS
Serbia, Croatia book berths
Balkan rivals Serbia and Croatia booked two of the last three remaining Olympic basketball berths after contrasting wins over their respective rivals on Saturday. Serbia qualified for the first time as an independent nation with a 108-77 rout of Puerto Rico, while Croatia beat Italy 84-78 in an overtime thriller after the game was held up for 15 minutes when the electronic scoreboard malfunctioned. France were to play Canada in the final of the Manila tournament last night for the last remaining berth. Host nation Brazil, champions the US, Argentina, Australia, Venezuela, Nigeria, China, Spain and Lithuania qualified earlier.
GOLF
Riegger takes lead in NY
John Riegger followed his opening 66 with a five-under 67 on Saturday and was tied with Paul Goydos (66) for the lead at 11-under 133 at the second round of the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open in Endicott, New York. First-round leader Scott Dunlap (70) was third at 10-under. Wes Short Jr and Monday qualifier Neal Lancaster also shot 66 and shared fourth, another shot back at En-Joie Golf Club. Riegger thrived on the four par-fives on the narrow, tree-lined course. On Saturday, he birdied two of the three on the front side and eagled No. 12, the final par-five. This will be the first time Riegger has had the lead, or a share of it, entering the final round of a Champions Tour event.
SOCCER
Pele to marry again
Pele is to get married tomorrow for the third time, tying the knot with his girlfriend of six years, Marcia Cibele Aoki. Pele, 75, told O Estado de Sao Paulo newspaper that this time, he has found “love forever.” Pele and Aoki met in New York in the 1980s, but only started seeing each other in 2010, when they crossed paths in an elevator in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Aoki, a 42-year-old businesswoman, has been by the three-time world champion’s side for nearly all his public appearances since 2012, as well as during his repeated hospital visits in recent years. Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pele is held by many as being the greatest soccer player in history. He scored 1,281 goals in 1,363 matches, appeared 91 times for Brazil between 1957 and 1971.
Brazil has four teams, more than any other country, in the expanded Club World Cup that kicked off yesterday in the US, but for SE Palmeiras, the competition holds a special meaning: winning it would provide some redemption. Under coach Abel Ferreira since 2020, Palmeiras lifted two Copa Libertadores titles, plus Brazilian league, cup and state championships. Even before Ferreira, it boasted another South American crown and 11 league titles. The only major trophy missing is a world champions’ title. Other Brazilian clubs like Fluminense FC and Botafogo FR, also in the tournament, have never won it either, but the problem for Palmeiras
Lionel Messi drew vast crowds and showed flashes of his brilliance when his Inter Miami side were held to a goalless draw by African giants Al-Ahly as the revamped FIFA Club World Cup got off to a festive start on Saturday. Fans showed up en masse for the Group A clash at the Hard Rock Stadium, home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, but Messi could not fully deliver, his best chance coming through a last-second attempt that was deflected onto the crossbar. Inter Miami next face FC Porto on Thursday in Atlanta, while Al-Ahly, who benefited from raucous, massive support, are to
Sergio Ramos on Tuesday outfoxed two Inter players and artfully headed home the first goal for Monterrey at the FIFA Club World Cup. The 39-year-old Ramos slipped through the penalty area for the score just as he did for so many years in the shirts of Real Madrid and Spain’s national team, with whom he combined smarts, timing and physicality. Ramos’ clever goal and his overall defensive play at the Rose Bowl were major factors in Monterrey’s impressive 1-1 draw against the UEFA Champions League finalists in the clubs’ first match of the tournament. “There is always a joy to contribute to the
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani on Monday wobbled through a 28-pitch first inning at home against the San Diego Padres in his first appearance on the mound since August 2023. Scheduled to throw as many as two innings, Ohtani went a single frame while allowing one run on two hits. He did not issue a walk nor strike out a batter. “Not quite happy with the results overall, but the takeaway for me is that I feel good enough to be able to make the next outing,” Ohtani said of his pitching performance. Ohtani still wound up with a positive impact
RSS