BADMINTON
Malaysian ace quits team
Malaysian ace Lee Zii Jia, ranked seventh in the world, has quit his country’s national team to play as an independent, reports said yesterday. Lee has been held up as the heir to Malaysian legend Lee Chong Wei, rising rapidly up the rankings and scoring a breakthrough victory at the prestigious All England Open last year. After weeks of speculation, Badminton Association of Malaysia president Norza Zakaria confirmed that Lee Zii Jia had quit the body earlier this month. It was not clear why Lee cut ties with the body, and there was no immediate comment from the player, but he could face sanctions. World No. 1 Viktor Axelsen of Denmark voiced support for Lee’s decision. “If a player ... feels it’s best for him to follow another path where he is more independent as a player, then that is what he should do,” the Olympic gold medalist wrote on Twitter. “It’s his career and his life after all.”
ATHLETICS
University to pay US$490m
The University of Michigan has agreed to a US$490 million settlement with hundreds of students and athletes sexually abused by a long-time university doctor, the school and attorneys announced on Wednesday. “We hope this settlement will begin the healing process for survivors,” Jordan Acker, chair of the University of Michigan Board of Regents, said in a statement. Richard Anderson, who worked at the Ann Arbor-based university as a doctor from 1966 to 2003, is accused of sexually abusing hundreds of male students and athletes. Anderson died in 2008. The university said that US$460 million would be distributed to 1,050 victims of Anderson who have come forward and US$30 million would be set aside for future claimants. A 240-page report by the WilmerHale law firm released last year found that “Anderson engaged in sexual misconduct with patients on countless occasions.”
ATHLETICS
France nears veil ban
The French Senate late on Tuesday voted in favor of banning the wearing of headscarves in sports competitions, arguing that neutrality is a requirement on the field of play. The French upper legislative house voted in favor of amending a proposed law stipulating that the wearing “of conspicuous religious symbols is prohibited” to take part in events and competitions organized by sports federations. In their text, senators said that headscarves can put at risk the safety of athletes wearing them. The amendment proposed by right-wing group Les Republicains and opposed by the French government was adopted in a 160-143 vote. A commission is to review the text before it is published, meaning the amendment can still be erased. It is unclear whether the ban would be implemented for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
BASKETBALL
Embiid scores 50, Jokic 49
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid and Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic lit up the NBA on Wednesday, underscoring their Most Valuable Player credentials in leading their teams to victory. Embiid matched his career high with 50 points in a display of ruthless efficiency that fueled the 76ers’ 123-110 victory over the Orlando Magic. Jokic scored 49 points in a triple-double that also featured 14 rebounds and 10 assists, powering the Nuggets to a 130-128 overtime win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
SSC Napoli’s Italian Serie A title hopes suffered a late setback on Sunday when they were held to a 2-2 draw at home against Genoa, setting up a thrilling season finale with closest rivals Inter just one point behind. The hosts remain top with 78 points, holding a slim lead over Inter, who won 2-0 at Torino earlier on Sunday, with two rounds remaining. To make matters worse for Napoli, midfielder Stanislav Lobotka, struggling with an ankle injury, was forced off just minutes after the match began. Scott McTominay delivered a perfect pass into the box where Romelu Lukaku got
A stunning Lamine Yamal strike on Thursday helped crown Barcelona La Liga champions with a 2-0 win over local rivals RCD Espanyol, with victory ensuring Real Madrid cannot catch them at the top of the table. Yamal’s effort and Fermin Lopez’s goal took Hansi Flick’s side seven points clear of Los Blancos with two matches remaining, to clinch Barcelona’s 28th title and complete a superb domestic treble. Only the UEFA Champions League title escaped an exciting young Barca side this season, as they won the league for the second time in six years, at Espanyol’s ground again just as in 2022-2023. Back then,
Jannik Sinner on Thursday marched into the semi-finals of the Italian Open after destroying Casper Ruud in straight sets 6-0, 6-1, while Coco Gauff won a marathon three-set battle with China’s Zheng Qinwen to advance to the women’s singles final. American Gauff is to face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in today’s title match after pulling through 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) in a match that lasted over three-and-a-half hours. Ruud was supposed to be Sinner’s toughest test in Rome since he came back from his three-month doping ban, as the Norwegian came into the match in hot form on clay after winning in
Shohei Ohtani on Thursday delivered his first two-homer game of the season and had six RBIs as the Los Angeles Dodgers poured it on with five long balls in a 19-2 victory over the visiting Athletics. Max Muncy, Andy Pages and James Outman also hit home runs for the Dodgers, who left no doubt by taking a 13-2 lead following a seven-run third inning. Muncy and Kim Hye-seong each had three hits for Los Angeles. Dodgers right-hander Matt Sauer led off a bullpen game by allowing two runs in four innings. Left-hander Justin Wrobleski (1-1) finished with four scoreless innings after he
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