BASEBALL
‘Shotime’ term highlighted
“Shotime,” as baseball star Shohei Ohtani is known in the US, yesterday was named the Japanese “buzzword of the year” after he won one of US baseball’s top awards and lit up his home country. Ohtani, often compared to baseball legend Babe Ruth because of his ability to pitch and hit at an elite level, last month won the Most Valuable Player award for MLB’s American League, becoming the second Japanese player to do so. The MVP award prompted newspapers in Japan to hand out extras and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to tell reporters he felt very proud of Ohtani’s accomplishment. The Japanese government floated the idea of presenting the People’s Honor Award to Ohtani after the baseball award, but the Los Angeles Angels player declined, saying it was still “too early.” Besides “Shotime,” “real two-way player,” used to describe his versatility, was also chosen as this year’s top buzzword by a committee of experts organized by Japanese publishing house Jiyukokuminsha.
SOCCER
Gabriel fights off attacker
Arsenal defender Gabriel fought off an attacker wielding a baseball bat during an attempted robbery at his north London home in August, the Daily Mail reported on Tuesday. Gabriel and a friend were followed home by two men wearing masks and hoods who tried to steal his car, phone and watch, the report said. A video appeared to show one of the attackers lunging at Gabriel with a bat before the Arsenal defender punched him in the face and grappled with him. The attacker, Abderaham Muse, was jailed for five years over one count of robbery and one of possession of an offensive weapon after police traced DNA from his hat, which fell off during the scuffle, the report said. Two accomplices have not been caught. “No injuries were suffered, but a great deal of shock was caused,” prosecutor Martin Lewis told the Harrow Crown Court, the Daily Mail reported. “They happened to pick on two victims who were very fit and able to look after themselves.”
SOCCER
Belarusian official detained
Czech police have detained Belarus Football Federation president Vladimir Bazanov and his wife on suspicion that they breached COVID-19 pandemic rules by not having applied for an exemption to travel restrictions, local media reported on Tuesday. Bazanov had been due to attend a women’s World Cup qualifier between the Czech Republic and Belarus, Denik N reported. The Belarusian Football Federation declined to comment. The game was eventually postponed due to COVID-19 cases identified among the visiting team. Czech police said they could not confirm that Bazanov and his wife had been detained, saying only: “Two foreign nationals were caught who are suspected of having entered the Czech Republic and stayed here in a breach of current safety measures of the Health Ministry.” A spokesman for the Czech Football Association said that its Belarusian counterpart and UEFA had turned to the Czech association for help. Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Eva Davidova said the ministry could not confirm that Bazanov was in the country or whether he had applied for a Czech visa.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care