BOXING
Ferdinand to train to box
Former England and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand is looking to become a professional boxer. The 38-year-old is to be trained by former World Boxing Council super middleweight champion Richie Woodhall, who has worked with Britain’s Olympic team. “I have always had a passion for it and this challenge is the perfect opportunity to show people what’s possible,” Ferdinand said in a statement yesterday. “It’s a challenge I’m not taking lightly — clearly not everyone can become a professional boxer — but with the team of experts ... and the drive I have to succeed, anything is possible.” Ferdinand retired from soccer in 2015 after a season at Queens Park Rangers, who he joined following 12 trophy-filled years at United.
CYCLING
Beaumont sets world record
A British endurance cyclist has smashed the Guinness World Record for the fastest circumnavigation of the planet on a bicycle, riding 29,000km in less than 80 days. Mark Beaumont cycled for 18 hours per day and burned more than 9,000 calories every 24 hours as he crossed Poland, Russia, Mongolia, China, Australia and the US. A crash in Russia on the ninth day, in which he broke a tooth and injured his elbow, nearly ended a ride that he said had taken him to a “mental depth” he had never before experienced. “It’s just the sleep deprivation. It’s after weeks and weeks and weeks, it’s just the long, long hours you spend in your head, you know, really battling,” he said. He completed the ride in 78 days, 14 hours and 40 minutes. The record was previously held by New Zealand’s Andrew Nicholson, who in 2015 managed the feat in 123 days. A Guinness World Record adjudicator handed the cyclist two world record certificates — one for the round-the-world record, the other for the furthest distance cycled in a single month.
MOTORCYCLING
Rossi returns to training
Italian motorcycling ace Valentino Rossi has returned to training just 18 days after suffering a double leg fracture, his Movistar Yamaha team confirmed. Rossi underwent surgery in Ancona, Italy, on Sept. 1, a day after a crash in training, discharging himself from the hospital the following day. The 38-year-old on Monday rode his first couple of laps around the Misano circuit before the session was cut short by rain, his team said. Rossi missed the San Marino Grand Prix, but remains fourth in the standings, 42 points behind world champion Marc Marquez of Spain and Italy’s Andrea Dovizioso, with five rounds to go.
TENNIS
Blake to testify over arrest
Former professional tennis star James Blake’s mistaken arrest in New York City has become the subject of a disciplinary trial for the arresting officer, who is accused of using excessive force. Blake is expected to testify about the 2015 arrest at a proceeding starting yesterday. His arrest stirred controversy after a security video showed the officer slamming him down and handcuffing him outside a Manhattan hotel. Officer James Frascatore this year rejected an offer to resolve police department internal charges forfeiting vacation days. A police administrative judge is to hear the case and recommend a potentially more severe punishment, including dismissal. Frascatore denies any wrongdoing.
Freddie Freeman homered and drove in four runs, Shohei Ohtani also went deep and Roki Sasaki earned his first major league win as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 10-3 on Saturday night for their seventh straight victory. The Dodgers have won the first two games of the series to improve to 5-0 against Atlanta this year. Los Angeles’ three-game sweep at home early in the season left the Braves 0-7. Sasaki allowed three runs and six hits over five innings. The 23-year-old right-hander gave up a home run to Ozzie Albies, but received plenty of offensive support in his
INTER AWAIT: Superb saves by PSG ’keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma inspired the victory, as Arsenal were punished for misses, including one by Bukayo Saka Arsenal on Wednesday fell short on the big stage again as their painful UEFA Champions League semi-final exit against Paris Saint-Germain left Mikel Arteta to rue his club’s failure to provide him with enough attacking options. Arteta’s side were unable to reach the Champions League final for the first time in 19 years as PSG clinched a tense 2-1 win at Parc des Princes. Trailing 1-0 from last week’s first leg in London, the Gunners made a blistering start to the second leg, but could not convert their chances as Gianluigi Donnarumma’s superb saves inspired PSG’s 3-1 aggregate victory. Arsenal were punished for
Bayern Munich on Sunday were crowned German champions for the 34th time, giving striker Harry Kane his first major trophy, after second-placed Bayer 04 Leverkusen drew 2-2 at SC Freiburg. Bayern’s 3-3 draw at RB Leipzig on Saturday, when the Bavarians came from two goals down to take the lead before conceding a stoppage-time equalizer, meant defending Bundesliga champions Leverkusen needed to win at Freiburg to delay the title party. Leverkusen were two goals down before scoring twice in the final 10 minutes, but Xabi Alonso’s side could not find a third, as Bayern reclaimed the title at the first attempt after
THRILLER: Raphinha gave Barca a 3-2 lead with two minutes remaining of regular time, but Francesco Acerbi equalized the game in the second minute of added time Davide Frattesi on Tuesday fired Inter into the UEFA Champions League final with an extra-time winner that gave the Italians a stunning 4-3 triumph over Barcelona, 7-6 on aggregate. Italy midfielder Frattesi won a tie for the ages under a downpour in Milan when he lashed home in the 99th minute, sending a packed and rocking San Siro wild with joy. Simone Inzaghi’s team will face either Arsenal or Paris Saint-Germain at the end of this month in Munich, Germany, where they would feel they have a great chance to be crowned kings of Europe for a fourth time after
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