SOCCER
Giggs denies assault
Wales manager and Manchester United great Ryan Giggs yesterday denied allegations of assault after British media on Monday reported that he had been arrested following a disturbance at his home. “Mr Giggs denies all allegations of assault made against him... He is cooperating with the police and will continue to assist them with their ongoing investigations,” representatives of the 46-year-old said. “Police were called at 10.05pm on Sunday to reports of a disturbance. A woman in her 30s sustained minor injuries, but did not require any treatment,” the Sun quoted Greater Manchester Police as saying. “A 46-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of section 47 assault and section 39 common assault,” police said. Giggs was released on bail pending inquiries, the newspaper said. Wales were yesterday due to name their squad for this month’s matches against the US, Ireland and Finland, but postponed the news conference.
CRICKET
Watson retires after IPL loss
Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has decided to retire from all cricket after the Chennai Super Kings failed to reach the Indian Premier League (IPL) playoffs, a team member said yesterday. The 39-year-old has made nothing public, but told his Chennai teammates of his decision in an “emotional” speech after their last IPL game on Sunday. Tributes have already been made to the former stalwart of the Australian Test side. “The curtain closes on a remarkable IPL career. Congratulations mate you’ve done yourself proud and made every team you’ve played in so complete,” former Australia all-rounder Tom Moody wrote on Twitter. In Monday’s IPL match, pacemen Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada combined to help the Delhi Capitals take second spot in the playoffs with a win over Royal Challengers Bangalore. Bangalore, who are chasing their maiden IPL title along with Delhi, also made the playoffs despite their six-wicket loss in Abu Dhabi. The South African bowling duo of Nortje and Rabada shared five wickets between them as Delhi restricted Bangalore to 152 for seven.
FOOTBALL
Brady reclaims No. 1 spot
Tom Brady has felt uncomfortable against the New York Giants before. Most notably in a couple of Super Bowl losses. He recognized Monday night’s 25-23 victory by his Tampa Bay Buccaneers was not very artistic. At least, for the star quarterback, it had a better ending. “We obviously didn’t play the way we’re capable of, but it was good to get a win,” Brady said. Lackluster for much of the game, Brady did what he does best in the second half. He threw touchdowns passes to Rob Gronkowski and Mike Evans, to reclaim top spot as the NFL’s all-time touchdown pass leader. Brady had on Sunday been knocked out of first place in the touchdown standings, when New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees threw for two touchdowns in his team’s win over the Chicago Bears. The Tampa Bay win improved the Buccaneers to 6-2 in the National Football Conference South, while the Giants remain rooted to the foot of the National Football Conference East at 1-7.
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was