GOLF
Levy grabs four-shot lead
France’s Alexander Levy closed in on a third career European Tour triumph on Saturday when he stormed to a four-shot lead at the fog-hit European Open in Bad Griesbach, Germany. After being badly affected by the weather on Thursday and Friday last week when seven hours were lost, the tournament suffered three more hours of delays on Saturday, forcing organizers to declare a 54-hole event. The third and final round was to be played yesterday. Levy, who won two titles in 2014, went into Saturday with just one hole of his delayed second round to complete. He made par on the ninth to stay at 17-under. Ross Fisher made a birdie on the seventh in his final three holes to cut the Frenchman’s overnight lead to five shots, but it was Swede Michael Jonzon who surged through the field, shooting a 63 to get to 13-under. Jonzon only found out he was playing on Wednesday afternoon after being fourth reserve for the event, but he had the chance to win his third European Tour title, 19 years after claiming his first at the Portuguese Masters. “I always said I function well under these circumstances,” 44-year-old Jonzon said. “I’m just going to go out tomorrow [Sunday] and try to shoot as good as I can, whatever happens after that is not in my control.”
CYCLING
Pibernik claims stage win
Slovenia’s Luka Pibernik of Lampre-Merida won the sixth stage of the Eneco Tour on Saturday, beating Englishman Mark McNally of Wanty-Groupe Gobert and Belgian rider Bert van Lerberghe of Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise in a sprint in Lanaken, Belgium. Australian Rohan Dennis of BMC Racing was leading in the overall standings, his advantage 16 seconds from teammate Taylor Phinney of the US and 24 seconds over Germany’s Tony Martin of Etixx-QuickStep ahead of yesterday’s final stage, a 197.8km ride from Bornem to Grammont which included climbs that feature on the Tour des Flandres. “I have a strong team and I feel good, but it could rain and that would make the cobbles very slippery. I’ve not won the race yet,” Dennis said.
BOXING
Linares wins fourth title
Jorge Linares defeated Anthony Crolla by unanimous decision at the Manchester Arena in England on Saturday to take the WBA lightweight belt. Linares, the Tokyo-based Venezuelan, hurt a knuckle in his right hand in the sixth round, but was not being hurt by Crolla and he finished stronger to earn his fourth world title. It was the same hand that Linares hurt previously and which forced him to give up the WBC belt after his second defense almost a year ago. The three-weight champion improved his record to 41-3 and said he would be happy to have a rematch with Crolla (31-5-1). Crolla, in his hometown, lost his second defense of the WBA belt and while dogged to the end, he was outsmarted.
BOXING
Amateur boxer dies in ring
An amateur boxer has died after collapsing during a charity bout on Saturday, police said. Witnesses said 49-year-old Neville Knight slumped onto the ropes then fell to the canvas midway through his bout at a corporate fundraising event at Te Rapa, near Hamilton, New Zealand. Paramedics tried to resuscitate Knight, but he could not be revived and died at the scene, police said. Acting Inspector Andrew Mortimore said “medical staff tried for in excess of 30 minutes to resuscitate the man, but were unsuccessful.” Police are speaking to witnesses and family, and will be referring the death to the coroner.”
Soccer officials yesterday offered “full support and assistance” to the Iranian team in Australia for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup after the US and Israel launched massive attacks on their homeland. Iran’s 26-strong squad arrived on the Gold Coast days before the strikes on Saturday killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as Washington and Tel Aviv seek to topple the Islamic republic. They are due to open their tournament today against South Korea. The AFC in a statement said it “continues to closely monitor the recent developments in the Middle East during this challenging period.” “The AFC’s foremost priority remains the welfare, safety and
ROAD RASH: Marc Marquez retired after a crash, marking the first time after 88 consecutive races stretching back to 2021 that a Ducati bike failed to make the podium Marco Bezzecchi yesterday won the MotoGP season-opening grand prix in Thailand from pole position as defending world champion Marc Marquez retired late with a buckled wheel. Aprilia’s Bezzecchi led from start to finish to top the podium in Buriram, with KTM’s Pedro Acosta second and Trackhouse’s Raul Fernandez third. Ducati’s Marquez is chasing a record-equaling eighth world title this season, but he exited the race in dramatic fashion while in fourth place with five laps to go. The Spaniard, who started from second on the grid, took a corner wide, with the jolt to his bike dislodging the rear tire, badly damaging his
EVERY DAY A VICTORY: Players on the women’s team faced pressure from society just getting out onto the field as they prepare for their first Women’s Asian Cup game today Bangladesh’s national soccer team face daunting odds at their first-ever Women’s Asian Cup, but have already scored a major victory by qualifying. In the South Asian nation of 170 million, social stigma, family expectations, poverty and religious hardliners have long relegated women and girls to sports sidelines. The first women’s soccer league matches took place in 2011 and the squad, known to fans as the Red and Green, have kept pressing forward despite deeply embedded prejudices. “Many more girls would have joined us if the community had been even slightly supportive,” captain Afeida Khandaker told AFP ahead of her side’s March 3
Liverpool on Tuesday suffered an embarrassing 2-1 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers as Andre’s stoppage-time strike sealed a dramatic victory for the English Premier League’s bottom club. Arne Slot’s side fell behind to Rodrigo Gomes’ strike in the closing stages at Molineux. Mohamed Salah hauled Liverpool level with his first goal in 11 top-flight games dating back to November last year. However, Andre’s first goal for Wolves inflicted the latest humbling loss in a chastening season for Liverpool. It was the first time the Premier League’s bottom club had beaten the reigning champions since Crystal Palace defeated Chelsea in 2017. Liverpool
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