ATHLETICS
Second Taiwanese trap gold
Taiwanese Yang Kun-pi on Friday won a gold medal in the men’s trap event at the Summer Universiade in Naples, Italy. Yang, who scored 122 to finish first in the qualifying round, beat Slovakian Filip Marinov 45-44 to take the gold. The medal was the second win for Taiwan, after Liu Wan-yu took gold in the women’s trap event earlier that day. Yang was to partner with Liu in the mixed doubles yesterday. The 30th Summer Universiade started on Wednesday and is to run through Sunday next week.
BASKETBALL
Leonard picks Clippers
Kawhi Leonard is going home to play for the Los Angeles Clippers, reportedly agreeing to a multimillion-dollar deal less than a month after leading the Toronto Raptors to their first championship. Leonard is to be joined in Los Angeles by All-Star forward Paul George, who the Clippers are reported to be getting in a separate trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder, ESPN reported on Friday. The two-time NBA finals MVP Leonard is to join a young Clippers team that will give him a similar starring role to what he had with the Toronto Raptors. The Thunder is to receive Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari and a package of NBA draft picks in exchange for George, ESPN said.
OLYMPICS
Kuwait ban lifted for 2020
Kuwait has been cleared to compete in next year’s Olympics after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Friday announced that it was lifting the suspension it imposed on the Kuwait Olympic Committee (KOC) four years ago. In a statement, the IOC said the KOC had successfully implemented “a road map agreed between all parties.” The road map required revision and adoption of new statutes for sports clubs and federations, followed by elections. Kuwait was suspended in October 2015 following “undue government interference after a sports law that was not compatible with the basic principles that govern the Olympic movement was passed in the country.” The law had threatened the autonomy of the KOC and all other national federations, while also meaning the nation would no longer comply with the Court of Arbitration for Sport or the World Anti-Doping Agency. In August last year, the IOC acknowledged the progress made and provisionally lifted the suspension, which enabled athletes to compete in the Asian Games and the Youth Olympics.
CYCLING
Froome out of hospital
Four-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome on Friday returned home from the hospital more than three weeks after a high-speed crash ruled him out of this year’s race. Froome, 34, on June 12 struck a wall at 54kph while on a training ride during the Criterium du Dauphine, suffering multiple fractures. “It’s a huge disappointment not to be at the Tour but I’m relieved to finally be out of hospital and home,” he said on Twitter. “I’ll be following all the action from bed — so make it a good one.” Earlier, Team Ineos sporting director Dave Brailsford confirmed that Froome had left hospital. “It’s a big step for him. He’s managed to put his feet on the floor for the first time in quite a long time,” he said. Froome broke his neck, femur, elbow, hip and ribs in the accident that happened after he took his hands off the handlebar to blow his nose and was hit by a gust of wind.
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
Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg on Wednesday was ruled out for the second half of their 118-109 loss to the Denver Nuggets after the No. 1 pick sprained his left ankle in the first half. Flagg was called for a foul while defending against Peyton Watson and turned the ankle as he fell to the floor with 6 minutes, 1 second left in the second quarter. Flagg limped to the bench and continued to the locker room, but returned for the final 2 minutes, 35 seconds before the break. The 19-year-old did not come out for the second half before the announcement that
Yassine Bounou on Wednesday saved two penalties, while Youssef en-Nesyri netted the decisive spot-kick as hosts Morocco secured a 4-2 shoot-out victory over Nigeria following a 0-0 draw in a tense Africa Cup of Nations semi-final in Rabat. Morocco, seeking their first continental title in 50 years, are to face 2021 winners Senegal in Sunday’s decider in Rabat, while Nigeria take on Egypt in the third-place playoff tomorrow. The 120 minutes before the shoot-out had few clear-cut chances for either side, but it was Morocco who created more opportunities, although they were denied by some fine saves from Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. Nigeria
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
RSS