RUGBY UNION
Wallabies’ pay restored
The Wallabies marked their first day in isolation in New Zealand with news that they would return to full pay for the rest of the year according to an agreement between Rugby Australia (RA) and the Rugby Players Union Association. Dave Rennie’s team arrived in New Zealand on Friday and were immediately placed in isolation for 14 days ahead of their Bledisloe Cup Tests with the All Blacks next month. RA was forced to enact pay cuts earlier this year due to financial uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic, with players in April accepting a 60 percent pay cut. They had their salaries reinstated to 70 percent in July and would return to 100 percent on Oct. 1 ahead of their international program, which also includes the southern hemisphere’s Rugby Championship. Super Rugby players’ salaries would remain at 70 percent, RA and the union said in a statement yesterday. “We are obviously not alone in the financial challenges that we are facing, but our playing group have stood up and acknowledged their role to play in securing the game’s future in Australia,” RA interim chief executive Rob Clarke said.
BADMINTON
Tour’s Asian leg moved
The Asian leg of the Badminton World Tour scheduled for November has been moved to next year in Bangkok, officials said on Friday, in the latest disruption to the sport due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The sport has seen international matches called off throughout the year as authorities around the world restrict movement and public gatherings in an effort to prevent the spread of the virus. The Badminton World Federation said three tournaments under the tour were now scheduled to be played back-to-back in the middle of January, with the finals at the end of the month. The Asian leg of the games originally planned for November were no longer “viable” and the Asian leg of the tour would be played in Thailand, it said. “The January dates provide BWF with the best possible opportunity to resume and complete the HSBC BWF World Tour for 2020 as part of our return to international badminton,” it said in a statement.
OLYMPICS
Suga vows Games success
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga yesterday said that he is determined to host the Tokyo Olympic Games next summer as “proof that humanity has defeated the pandemic.” The Games were postponed as COVID-19 spread worldwide and there has been widespread doubt about their future. Suga said in a prerecorded speech at the UN General Assembly that he would “spare no effort in order to welcome you to Games that are safe and secure.”
ATHLETICS
Russia granted extension
Russia’s suspended athletics federation (RusAF) has been granted a six-month extension to finalize its reinstatement plan before World Athletics decides on potential fresh sanctions or even expulsion, the sport’s global governing body said yesterday. RusAF was suspended in 2015 after a report commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) found evidence of mass doping among track and field athletes. The World Athletics Council said it had approved a recommendation from its Russia Taskforce to extend the deadline for the federation to produce an appropriate reinstatement plan by March 1 next year. The taskforce said that the missed deadline “appears to be due not to a lack of willingness, but rather a lack of know-how and resources.”
ADVANTAGE ATLETICO: Well off the pace in La Liga, the Copa del Rey represents Atletico Madrid’s best chance of silverware this season Atletico Madrid on Thursday hammered Copa del Rey holders Barcelona 4-0 in the first leg of their semi-final. After an Eric Garcia own-goal sent Diego Simeone’s side ahead early on, Antoine Griezmann, Ademola Lookman and Julian Alvarez struck to give Atletico a landslide lead by halftime. Barca defender Garcia was sent off in the final stages, with Atletico maintaining their significant advantage on the record 32-time winners, which they take into the second leg at the Camp Nou on March 3. Both sides missed good chances in the second half, with Barca’s Pau Cubarsi having a goal disallowed before Garcia was sent off
Dasun Shanaka hammered the fastest half-century by a Sri Lankan in T20Is as the cohosts thrashed Oman by 105 runs at the World Cup yesterday in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, for their second win in Group B. The 2014 champions piled up 225-5, the highest total of the tournament, before restricting an outclassed Oman to 120-9. The 43-year-old Mohammad Nadeem waged a lone battle for Oman, compiling an unbeaten 53 to become the oldest player to score a 50 in T20 World Cups. Having promoted himself up the order and under pressure to deliver, Sri Lanka skipper Shanaka smashed a 19-ball half-century. It has been
Kawhi Leonard on Sunday scored 41 points, grabbed eight rebounds and made four steals to lead the Los Angeles Clippers in a lopsided 115-96 victory at Minnesota. The 34-year-old forward, a two-time NBA champion, matched the second-best road scoring effort of his career as the Clippers improved to 25-27. “Just being aggressive. My teammates trust me,” Leonard said. “Every moment when I touch the ball — assist, shooting the basketball or getting a rebound — I’m just trying to help the team win.” Leonard made three steals in a row at the start of the contest. “Just wanted to come out early in the
FLOP TO CONQUEROR: It was sweet vindication for Sam Darnold, who played for four NFL teams before his debut season in Seattle ended in the ultimate win The Seattle Seahawks on Sunday coasted to Super Bowl glory, routing the New England Patriots 29-13 as Sam Darnold sealed his journey from flop quarterback to conqueror of the NFL’s biggest prize. Brushing off a reputation for wilting in big games, journeyman quarterback Darnold threw for a touchdown and 200 yards on the grandest stage of all to give the Seahawks their second-ever Lombardi Trophy. “It’s unbelievable. Everything that has happened in my career, but to do it with this team, I wouldn’t want it any other way,” Darnold said. The victory was buoyed by a dominant defensive display and kicker Jason Myers’
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