BASEBALL
MLB cancels week of games
Major League Baseball on Friday canceled the first week of spring training games through March 4 amid a lockout by clubs. The announcement came with the work stoppage in its 79th day and a day after talks on economics between management and the Major League Baseball Players’ Association lasted just 15 minutes.
SOCCER
Lille held by Metz
Lille were held to a goalless draw by Metz in Ligue 1 on Friday. The game ended on a sour note with Lille substitute Edon Zhegrova sent off last in the match with his second yellow card, while Metz manager was Frederic Antonetti shown red for his part in an altercation with the Lille coaching staff.
SOCCER
Belotti stars for Torino
Andrea Belotti was the star for Torino with the leveler in Friday’s 1-1 draw against Juventus in Serie A. Belotti swept home Torino’s equalizer in the 62nd minute after Matthijs de Ligt thumped home a powerful header to open the scoring.
SOCCER
Leverkusen upset by Mainz
Bayer 04 Leverkusen on Friday were upset by FSV Mainz 05, who scored two late goals to snatch a 3-2 win in their Bundesliga encounter. Mainz equalized twice through Aaron Martin and Jean-Paul Boetius, while Marcus Ingvartsen hit the shock winner with two minutes left.
SOCCER
Elche score late to win
Elche on Friday scored two late goals secure a 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano in La Liga. The loss kept Rayo winless in six games as they tumbled down the standings following a fantastic first three months of the season.
MOTORSPORTS
Andretti seeks new F1 team
US motor racing entrepreneur Michael Andretti has applied to launch a new Formula One team starting from 2024, his father, Mario Andretti, said on Friday. “Michael has applied to the FIA [governing body] to field a new F1 team starting in 2024,” Mario Andretti wrote on Twitter. “His entry, Andretti Global, has the resources and checks every box. He is awaiting the FIA’s determination.”
CRICKET
Indian hits 341 on debut
Indian Sakibul Gani became the first batsman in world cricket to hit a triple century on his first-class debut when he made 341 in the Ranji Trophy. The 22-year-old walked out to the crease for Bihar against Mizoram in Kolkata on Thursday, the first day of their four-day match. By the time he was out 405 balls later on day 2, he had plundered 56 fours and two sixes. The right-hand batsman surpassed fellow Indian Ajay Rohera’s record of 267 not out for Madhya Pradesh in the 2018-2019 season. Another Indian Amol Mazumdar stands third with his 260 for Bombay, now Mumbai, in 1994. Former India wicketkeeper Saba Karim — who is from Bihar himself — lauded Gani’s effort. “Scoring a triple ton is always special. It becomes an extraordinary innings when someone gets it on debut,” Karim wrote on Twitter. Bihar declared on 686-5. In reply, Mizoram were 298-7 at stumps on day 3 yesterday.
Shohei Ohtani and Clayton Kershaw on Friday joined their Los Angeles Dodgers teammates in sticking their fists out to show off their glittering World Series rings at a ceremony. “There’s just a lot of excitement, probably more than I can ever recall with the Dodger fan base and our players,” manager Dave Roberts said before Los Angeles rallied to beat the Detroit Tigers 8-5 in 10 innings. “What a way to cap off the first two days of celebrations,” Roberts said afterward. “By far the best opening week I’ve ever experienced. I just couldn’t have scripted it any better.” A choir in the
The famously raucous Hong Kong Sevens are to start today in a big test for a shiny new stadium at the heart of a major US$3.85 billion sports park in the territory. Officials are keeping their fingers crossed that the premier event in Hong Kong’s sporting and social calendar goes off without a hitch at the 50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium. They hope to entice major European soccer teams to visit in the next few months, with reports in December last year saying that Liverpool were in talks about a pre-season tour. Coldplay are to perform there next month, all part of Hong Kong’s
Shohei Ohtani, Teoscar Hernandez and Tommy Edman on Thursday smashed home runs to give the reigning World Series champions the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-4 victory over Detroit on the MLB’s opening day in the US. The Dodgers, who won two season-opening games in Tokyo last week, raised their championship banner on a day when 28 clubs launched the season in the US. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shuffled his batting lineup with all four leadoff hitters finally healthy as Ohtani was followed by Mookie Betts, then Hernandez and Freddie Freeman in the cleanup spot, switching places with Hernandez. “There’s a Teoscar tax to
Marcus Rashford’s first goals for Aston Villa on Sunday inspired a 3-0 win against Preston North End that sent his side into the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time in 10 years. Rashford struck twice in the second half at Deepdale to end Preston’s stubborn resistance before Jacob Ramsey wrapped up Villa’s long-awaited return to the last four. Villa are to face Crystal Palace — 3-0 winners at Fulham on Saturday — in the semi-finals at Wembley Stadium in London. Revitalized since joining Villa on loan from Manchester United during the January transfer window, Rashford is beginning to show the form that
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