ATHLETICS
Coleman to run only 100m
American Christian Coleman is to run only the 100m at the world championships in London next month, his management company said on Friday. Coleman had qualified for the 100m and 200m with runner-up finishes at last month’s US championships. The 21-year-old, who last month set the fastest time of the year in the 100m by running 9.82 seconds, and his coach decided to concentrate on the shorter race after a lengthy collegiate season. With 48 races indoors and out, Coleman has run more often this year than Usain Bolt, Justin Gatlin and Andre De Grasse combined, HSI Sports Management’s Emanuel Hudson told reporters. Coleman, who has not competed since the US championships, wants to make his European professional debut in the 100m at the Monaco Diamond League’s meeting on July 21, Hudson said. “We have requested a lane for him in the men’s 100m, but as of today have not been given a spot,” Hudson said by telephone.
MOTORSPORTS
Governor wins stock car race
Vermont’s stock car-racing governor is back in victory lane. Vermont Governor Phil Scott on Thursday won the 50-lap feature at Barre’s Thunder Road, taking home a total of US$1,200. Scott, a part-time race car driver, has the most all-time wins in the top division at Thunder Road. The win was his 30th and his first since becoming governor in January. He can now add to his list of accomplishments that he is the first sitting governor to win a Vermont stock car race. Scott easily won two preliminary heats on Thursday before starting the feature in the pole position at the head of the pack. He led for the entire race.
SOCCER
Bilbao shave heads in unity
The entire Athletic Bilbao squad have shaved their heads in solidarity with teammate Yeray Alvarez, who is undergoing chemotherapy for testicular cancer. The team surprised the 22-year-old midfielder, who was last month forced to withdraw from the Spain Under-21 side after suffering a relapse, with their new look as he arrived at the club’s dressing room for a visit. The club posted a photograph on Twitter of the entire squad arm-in-arm. Alvarez thanked his teammates in a message posted on Instagram that said: “What happens in this family is crazy.” He was diagnosed with a tumor on his right testicle and had the organ removed in December last year. A routine medical examination last month revealed an anomaly that doctors decided required chemotherapy.
SOCCER
Mascot Lowery dies aged six
Bradley Lowery, a soccer mascot who struck up a close friendship with England striker Jermain Defoe after being diagnosed with a rare cancer and gained fans across the sport, has died. He was six. Lowery’s family on Friday said in a statement on Facebook that he died in the arms of his mother and father. “He was our little superhero and put the biggest fight up, but he was needed elsewhere,” the statement said. Lowery, who had neuroblastoma, was a mascot for then-English Premier League team Sunderland several times last season and formed a bond with Defoe, who now plays for AFC Bournemouth. Lowery was also a mascot for an England game at Wembley Stadium in March, and supporters of different clubs made banners and chanted his name at games. “Today, the football world lost one of its bravest fans,” World soccer governing body FIFA said on Twitter.
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
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
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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