GOLF
Schauffele retains lead
Xander Schauffele finished stronger than everyone around him on Saturday and it was good enough to keep a one-shot lead going into the final round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions. Schauffele closed with three pars for a two-under 71 at the winners-only event at Kapalua. Justin Thomas ran off five birdies on the front nine to take the lead until his first three-putt bogey of the week on the 12th hole as he made 38 on the back nine to finish with a 69 to be a shot off the lead.
BASKETBALL
Carter sets longevity record
Vince Carter made NBA history in Atlanta on Saturday, becoming the first player to compete in the league in four different decades in the Hawks’ 116-111 victory over the Indiana Pacers. Carter received a standing ovation when he checked into the contest 6 minutes, 30 seconds into the first quarter. Drafted in 1998, Carter brought “Vinsanity” to Toronto with his high-flying exploits, earning eight All-Star appearances along with an Olympic gold medal. The 42-year-old, who in August last year agreed to a one-year contract to play in his 22nd NBA season, scored three points and grabbed three rebounds for Atlanta, who were led by the 41 points of Trae Young — a 21-year-old who was born the year Carter was drafted.
CRICKET
Hathurusingha seeks US$5m
Sacked Sri Lanka coach Chandika Hathurusingha is seeking US$5 million in compensation from Sri Lanka Cricket over the premature termination of his contract, an official said yesterday. The former Sri Lanka Test star and coach made the claim after the two sides failed to agree the terms of his termination last summer. “He has sent a letter of demand asking for $5 million,” board secretary Mohan de Silva told reporters. Details were not immediately available, but the Sunday Island newspaper said that Hathurusingha had sought his full salary for the remaining 18 months of his contract, which amounted to just over US$1 million. He has also claimed that his reputation as an international coach suffered as a result of what he called the wrongful termination.
CRICKET
Kiwi hits 36 in over
Leo Carter made Super Smash history at Hagley Oval in Christchurch yesterday, clouting six sixes from an Anton Devcich over as the Canterbury Kings surged to victory against the Northern Knights. Chasing 220 to win, the Kings won in the 18th over, with Carter making 70. In the 16th over, when they needed 64 from 30 balls, he matched Tim Seifert, who hit four consecutive sixes in his innings of 79 for the Knights, raising the possibility of six in six from a Blake Coburn over. Carter went two better in the record chase for the New Zealand domestic Twenty20 competition, marking the first time the feat has been achieved in it and a first for a New Zealander. It is just the fourth time in the history of top-level Twenty20 cricket that the feat has been achieved. Carter did not have a record to suggest he might add his name to the list, coming into the match with an average of 13 and a strike rate of 105. “I basically just stepped across and swung as hard as I could,” he told Sky TV. “I’m not so sure I got many off the middle, but pretty short boundary there, so they just carried over, I was pretty thankful for that.”
Inter on Sunday were given a letoff when they snatched a late 1-1 derby draw with AC Milan, while league leaders SSC Napoli were held by a late goal at AS Roma. Reigning champions Inter remain three points behind Napoli, who looked to be heading five clear as they led in Rome until Angelino volleyed in a stunning leveler in the first minute of stoppage-time. Angelino’s strike gave even more significance to Stefan de Vrij’s last-gasp equalizer at the San Siro. The defender forced home Nicola Zalewski’s knockdown just as it looked like Tijjani Reijnders’ opener would be enough for Milan. “I can
Santiago Castro on Tuesday had an immediate impact off the bench as he scored the goal to send Bologna into the Coppa Italia semi-finals for the first time in 26 years. Bologna won 1-0 against last year’s runners-up, Atalanta BC, and are to play either holders Juventus or Empoli in the final four. Juventus are to host Empoli in their quarter-final on Feb. 26. The last time Bologna reached the semi-finals was in 1999, when they lost 4-2 to ACF Fiorentina. There were chances for both sides in a high-tempo match in Bergamo, but it was Bologna who broke the deadlock 10 minutes from
After nearly six years away from the NBA, New Taipei Kings player Jeremy Lin (林書豪) is set to participate in the 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend’s Rising Stars mini-tournament as the coach of Team G League. The NBA announced Monday (U.S. time) that the Taiwanese-American player will join a trio of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers – Tim Hardaway Sr., Chris Mullin, and Mitch Richmond – as honorary coaches for four teams featuring 28 rising talents. "See you soon in the Bay," Lin wrote in an Instagram story sharing the news. As the All-Star Weekend will take place at
The former interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani on Thursday was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for bank and tax fraud after he stole nearly US$17 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers player’s bank account. Ippei Mizuhara, who was supposed to bridge the gap between the Japanese athlete and his English-speaking teammates and fans, was sentenced in federal court in Santa Ana to four years and nine months after pleading guilty last year. He was ordered to pay US$18 million in restitution, with nearly US$17 million going to Ohtani and the remainder to the US Internal Revenue Service. He was