RUGBY UNION
Ex-Wallaby wounded
Former Wallabies rugby player Toutai Kefu has undergone surgery after being seriously injured during an alleged home invasion in a Brisbane suburb yesterday morning. Stabbed while trying to defend his family, he underwent surgery at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Seven’s Sunrise reported. Two men were in custody while others fled the scene after the incident at about 3am in the suburb of Coorparoo, Queensland police said. They described the incident as a “burglary and wounding.” Kefu played 60 Tests for Australia over a seven-year career.
AUTO RACING
Race circuit head shot dead
The director of Belgium’s Spa Francorchamps Grand Prix racetrack was found shot dead at her home on Sunday, the last day of the Rally of Belgium, media reported. “It is with great sadness that the team of the Spa Francorchamps circuit have been informed of the death of Nathalie Maillet, CEO,” a statement from the race circuit said. Media reports quoted police as saying that a search at her home in eastern Belgium found that Maillet and a close friend had been shot dead in a domestic double murder, followed by the suicide of the suspected perpetrator, who some outlets said was her husband. The alarm was reportedly raised after Maillet failed to appear for the finale of the rally.
PARALYMPICS
Limb repair center opens
Tokyo Paralympics organizers on Sunday opened a repair center for prosthetic limbs, wheelchairs and other equipment in the Athletes’ Village ahead of next week’s start of the Games. The service team includes three technicians from German artificial limb maker Ottobock, which is operating the repair and maintenance center in the Paralympic village.
Heinrich Popow, a German Paralympic gold medalist who is affiliated with Ottobock, said the center provides Paralympic athletes with technical as well as mental support. “Friendships develop from the close cooperation between technicians and athletes, which inspires courage during the competitions,” said Popow, who won gold in the 2012 men’s 100m T42 and the 2016 men’s long jump T42. T42 is a classification for athletes who have an above-the-knee amputation or comparable impairment.
SOCCER
‘Der Bomber’ dies at 75
Gerd Muller, the Bayern Munich and former West Germany soccer great known as “Der Bomber” for his scoring prowess, has died. He was 75. The club announced his death on Sunday, with club president Herbert Hainer saying that it was “a sad, dark day for FC Bayern and all its fans.” Muller scored 566 goals for Bayern from 1964 to 1979, helping the team to four German titles, four DFB-Pokal wins and three European Cup victories in that time. He still holds the record for the most goals scored in the Bundesliga, with 365 goals scored in 427 league games. “Gerd Muller was the greatest striker there’s ever been, and a fine person and character of world football,” Hainer said in a statement posted on the club’s Web site. “We’re all united in deep mourning with his wife, Uschi, as well as his family,” he added. Former West Germany forward Rudi Voller said that it was “a sad day for soccer. Gerd’s performances will stay unforgettable.”
Freddie Freeman homered and drove in four runs, Shohei Ohtani also went deep and Roki Sasaki earned his first major league win as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 10-3 on Saturday night for their seventh straight victory. The Dodgers have won the first two games of the series to improve to 5-0 against Atlanta this year. Los Angeles’ three-game sweep at home early in the season left the Braves 0-7. Sasaki allowed three runs and six hits over five innings. The 23-year-old right-hander gave up a home run to Ozzie Albies, but received plenty of offensive support in his
Bayern Munich on Sunday were crowned German champions for the 34th time, giving striker Harry Kane his first major trophy, after second-placed Bayer 04 Leverkusen drew 2-2 at SC Freiburg. Bayern’s 3-3 draw at RB Leipzig on Saturday, when the Bavarians came from two goals down to take the lead before conceding a stoppage-time equalizer, meant defending Bundesliga champions Leverkusen needed to win at Freiburg to delay the title party. Leverkusen were two goals down before scoring twice in the final 10 minutes, but Xabi Alonso’s side could not find a third, as Bayern reclaimed the title at the first attempt after
THRILLER: Raphinha gave Barca a 3-2 lead with two minutes remaining of regular time, but Francesco Acerbi equalized the game in the second minute of added time Davide Frattesi on Tuesday fired Inter into the UEFA Champions League final with an extra-time winner that gave the Italians a stunning 4-3 triumph over Barcelona, 7-6 on aggregate. Italy midfielder Frattesi won a tie for the ages under a downpour in Milan when he lashed home in the 99th minute, sending a packed and rocking San Siro wild with joy. Simone Inzaghi’s team will face either Arsenal or Paris Saint-Germain at the end of this month in Munich, Germany, where they would feel they have a great chance to be crowned kings of Europe for a fourth time after
PAINFUL VICTORY: Ruud said that felt pain in his rib during the warmup and was put on painkillers so that he could finish the match against Argentine Francisco Cerundolo With the help of painkillers, Casper Ruud overcame a rib ailment to defeat Francisco Cerundolo in straight sets and reach the Madrid Open final on Friday. Ruud is to face Jack Draper, who beat Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 7-6 (4) in the other semi-final to make his third final of the year. Ruud received treatment on his rib three games into the match and went on to win 6-4, 7-5 on the Caja Magica center court. The 15th-ranked Norwegian saved 15 of the 18 break points he faced against the 21st-ranked Argentine. Ruud said he felt something in his rib during the warmup, just before
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