GOLF
Feng grabs lead in Japan
Shanshan Feng yesterday put herself in a prime position for a successful title defense at the LPGA Toto Japan Classic after grabbing the sole lead with a stellar second round of nine-under-par 63. Feng came into the tournament with top-seven finishes in five of her last six starts and continued that imperious form to lead Japan’s Ai Suzuki by two shots after a bogey-free second round. Feng was part of a seven-way tie at the top after the opening round in Ibaraki Prefecture and broke loose early yesterday, birdying five of her opening seven holes in a spectacular front nine.
CRICKET
Man drives car onto pitch
A man drove his car onto the pitch on Friday during the ongoing Ranji Trophy match between Delhi and Uttar Pradesh in a major breach of security at the Air Force Sports Complex in Palam, New Delhi. About 20 minutes before scheduled close of play, the car entered the field through an unmanned gate and headed straight to the pitch, scaring away Delhi fielders and the two Uttar Pradesh batsmen. Former India players, including the Delhi duo of Gautam Gambhir and Ishant Sharma, looked in disbelief as the car was twice driven over the pitch. Match referee V Narayan Kutti examined the pitch after the incident and approved it for further play.
FOOTBALL
Buoniconti to donate brain
Professional football Hall of Fame linebacker Nick Buoniconti said he would donate his brain to Boston University to support research of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). In May, Buoniconti revealed he was diagnosed with dementia, and his doctors suspect CTE might contribute to his symptoms, which include impaired cognition, behavior and motor control. “My life, as I know it, has been taken away from me,” Buoniconti said in a statement Friday. Buoniconti, 76, helped the Miami Dolphins achieve the NFL’s only perfect season in 1972.
NASCAR
Kurt Busch averages 323kph
Kurt Busch on Friday earned the pole at Texas, going faster than anyone has ever gone in NASCAR Cup qualifying on a 2.4km track. Busch averaged 323kph on his only lap in the final round of qualifying. Five drivers surpassed the previous qualifying record at the track, Tony Stewart’s 322kph before the fall race three years ago. Denny Hamlin, one of the eight drivers still in contention for the season championship, qualified second. Kevin Harvick, Erik Jones and Kyle Busch also averaged laps of more than 322kph on the high-banked fast track.
Manchester United on Tuesday confirmed Michael Carrick as interim manager until the end of the season, tasking him with leading the Red Devils back into the UEFA Champions League. “Having the responsibility to lead Manchester United is an honor,” said Carrick, 44, who won 12 major trophies in his 12-year playing career at United. The former midfielder previously had an unbeaten three-game stint as caretaker boss at Old Trafford in 2021. Carrick then took on his first permanent managerial role at second-tier Middlesbrough in October 2022 and was sacked in June last year after the club finished 10th in the
Mohamed Salah’s Egypt knocked reigning champions Ivory Coast out of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a 3-2 win in the quarter-finals on Saturday, while Victor Osimhen starred as Nigeria beat Algeria 2-0 to set up a clash with hosts Morocco. In Agadir, Morocco, a thrilling last-eight tie saw Omar Marmoush and Ramy Rabia net in the first half for the Pharaohs before an own goal by Ahmed Aboul-Fetouh brought the Ivorians back into it. Salah then got Egypt’s third early in the second half and they held on after Guela Doue again reduced the deficit. Egypt is to face Senegal
AUSTRALIAN ADVENTURE: Sabalenka aims to follow up with a third Australian Open win, while Taiwanese Joanna Garland claimed a WTA 125 title in Canberra Aryna Sabalenka beat Karolina Muchova in straight sets to reach her third Brisbane International final in a row yesterday, a week ahead of the Australian Open. Sabalenka looked in great touch against the tricky Czech, who had won their last three meetings and went into the match as one of the few players with a winning record over the world No. 1. However, Sabalenka showed her class and power as she broke Muchova once in each set to take the semi-final 6-3, 6-4 in 89 minutes to face Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in the final. “I struggled against her a couple of times [in
Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Sunday sparked defending champions Oklahoma City to victory, while Anthony Edwards led Minnesota’s last-minute fightback to beat San Antonio. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points while adding eight assists and five rebounds in the Thunder’s 124-112 home victory over Miami, improving the NBA’s best record to 33-7 after outscoring the Heat 70-53 in the second half. “We locked in defensively. We were finally able to get some stops,” Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins said. “We were able to get out in transition a little bit, get going offensively and find the flow.” Jalen Williams scored 18 points, while
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