OLYMPICS
Cue sports bid for Paris
Billiards and snooker continued their bid to get included in the 2024 Paris Olympics with an exhibition to showcase their sports at the Eiffel Tower on Friday. Leading cue sports players traveled to Paris to press their case to the International Olympic Committee. “Billiards sports are, I believe, the most difficult range of sport in the entire world,” former world snooker champion Shaun Murphy said. The admission process usually takes years and involves massive lobbying to convince committee delegates, and cue sports face an uphill battle, as many believe they do not require enough physical effort. However, supporters believe they have a trump card to play given rising concerns over gender equality, because their sports are among the few that allow men and women to compete against each other. “It’s not about are you a man, are you a woman, are you a young person, are you a senior — we are complete level sports,” Murphy said.
SKIING
Vonn to return for Louise
Lindsey Vonn is probably to delay her retirement to compete at next year’s World Cup stop at Lake Louise in Canada, Vonn said on Friday. She had planned to retire at the end of this season, but her plans have changed after she injured herself in a crash last week. The fall has kept the American out of the season-opening downhill at Lake Louise this weekend. “To miss my favorite stop on the tour is devastating,” she said in a YouTube video. “I’m probably going to have to come back next year and just race Lake Louise.” Vonn, 34, said she hyper-extended a knee, sprained a ligament and sustained a bone bruise, and would probably be able to race in a few weeks.
SOCCER
Villa to join Vissel Kobe
Former Spain and Barcelona striker David Villa yesterday announced that he has signed with the J-League’s Vissel Kobe, joining former teammate Andres Iniesta. Villa tweeted a video showing his successful work with New York City FC before receiving a telephone call that took him to Japan. The 36-year-old forward is the latest high-profile acquisition by Vissel. The outfit acquired Iniesta earlier this year after signing former Arsenal striker Lukas Podolski last year. Villa, the all-time leading goal-scorer in Spanish national team history, joined New York City in 2014 from Atletico Madrid following successful seasons with Barcelona and Valencia.
SOCCER
Fan sparks team punishment
Spartak Moscow is facing punishment from UEFA after a fan ran onto the field during a Europa League game to confront the team captain. The fan ran up to midfielder Denis Glushakov in the 70th minute of Spartak’s game against Rapid Vienna. Glushakov shoved him away before other players and security took the fan off the field. Russian state news agencies have reported the fan was later arrested. UEFA has charged Spartak over the field invasion.
SOCCER
UEFA raises charity funding
UEFA has increased annual funding by more than US$4 million for its children’s charity, and added former world heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko as a trustee. The group on Friday said it more than doubled funding for the UEFA Foundation for Children to 6.8 million euros (US$7.7 million) per year. The foundation has picked 45 new projects to get funding to lift its involvement to more than 100 worldwide. The projects include one in Ukrainian schools with the Klitschko Foundation.
NO HARD FEELINGS: Taiwan’s Lin Hsiang-ti and Indonesia’s Dhinda Amartya Pratiwi embraced after fighting to a tense and rare 30-29 final game in their Uber Cup match The Taiwanese men’s team on Wednesday fought back from the brink of elimination to defeat Denmark in Group C and advance to the quarter-finals of the Thomas Cup, while the women’s team were to face South Korea after press time last night in the Uber Cup quarter-finals in Horsens, Denmark. In the first match, Taiwan’s top shuttler Chou Tien-chen faced a familiar opponent in world No. 3 Anders Antonsen. It was their 16th head-to-head matchup, with the Dane taking his fourth victory in a row against former world No. 2 Chou, winning 21-14, 13-21, 21-15 in 1 hour, 22 minutes. The
Jannik Sinner continued his quest to become the first man in history to win five Masters 1000 tournaments in a row with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Danish qualifier Elmer Moller at the Madrid Open on Sunday. The world leader extended his winning streak to 19 matches, a run that began early March in Indian Wells, and he has captured 24 consecutive victories at the Masters 1000 level, dating back to the Paris Masters last October. Searching for a maiden title at this level on clay, Sinner advanced to the round of 16 at the Caja Magica with a 77-minute performance against
Marta Kostyuk’s maiden WTA 1000 title in Madrid came on Saturday thanks to her power, poise and a pair of unexpected lucky shorts. The world No. 23 beat eighth-ranked Mirra Andreeva 6-3, 7-5 in under 90 minutes to secure the most prestigious trophy of her career, her third professional singles title and second in less than a month after Rouen. Yet as the 23-year-old Ukrainian posed for photographs at the Caja Magica, it was not just the silverware that caught the eye. Held alongside her team and her two dogs, Kostyuk showed off a piece of black men’s underwear, prompting
Tennis players are facing an unexpected opponent at the Madrid Open. A stomach virus or food poisoning has affected Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Marin Cilic and others, raising concerns. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka avoided an upset by Naomi Osaka on the court on Monday and said she is trying to avoid illness by sticking to a diet of chicken breasts, rice and salad. The rumor among the players was bad shrimp tacos were to blame. Sabalenka knocked on wood for luck and said, “So far, so good. I heard that I have to avoid those tacos,” she laughed, adding “I stick to the
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