GOLF
Harding leads in England
South African Justin Harding and South Korean teenager Kim Joo-hyung were joint leaders after the second round of the Asian Tour’s International Series England, while overnight leader Chang Wei-lun of Taiwan was among a pack one shot back. Harding climbed to six-under-par for the tournament to bury the frustrations of a bogey-bogey finish to his opening round. “I’m in a good spot. I was a bit grumpy after yesterday’s [Thursday’s] finish — I felt like if I’d got in at three-under-par I would’ve been happy,” the 36-year-old said. “I hit a lot of good shots today. I made a couple of putts, but felt like I gave myself a bucket-load of chances. It could’ve been a little bit better had a few gone in, but I’m happy where I’m at tournament-wise.” Harding was joined on six-under by Kim, last season’s Asian Tour No. 1, who tagged a 69 to his opening effort of 67. Hot on their heels one behind were Kosuke Hamamoto (who shot a 65) and Kasidit Lepkurte (70), Scott Vincent (68), Neil Schietekat (68), Shiv Kapur (70) and Chang (72). The other Taiwanese at the tournament — Lu Wei-chih, Hung Chien-yao, K.P. Lin and Chan Shih-chang — missed the cut.
SOCCER
Denmark stun France
Denmark stunned titleholders France 2-1 in their opening UEFA Nations League match at the Stade de France on Friday, ending the world champions’ seven-match winning streak. After Karim Benzema put the hosts in front, substitute Andreas Cornelius scored twice to earn Denmark their first win over France since the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Cornelius leveled with a fine volley then hit the winner in the 88th minute. France were unbeaten in their past 20 matches. They next face Croatia away, who lost to Austria 3-0 at home in League A, Group 1. Elsewhere, Memphis Depay scored twice as the Netherlands beat Belgium 4-1 in Brussels in League A Group 4; Belarus went down 1-0 against Slovakia in League C, Group 3; Latvia beat Andorra 3-0 in League D, Group 1; and Liechtenstein were defeated by Moldova 2-0 in League D, Group 1.
CRICKET
England chase on day 3
England were chasing 277 to win the first Test yesterday on day 3 of the Lord’s match against New Zealand. The hosts had reached 47-3 shortly after lunch at press time last night, needing a further 230 to go 1-0 up in the three-Test series. Stuart Broad sparked a New Zealand collapse after Daryl Mitchell made a hundred, with the world Test champions at one point 251-4. They lost their last six wickets for 34 runs on the third morning as they were dismissed for 285. Mitchell was 97 not out overnight and Tom Blundell (96) was unbeaten on 90 after they had come together on Friday with the Black Caps in trouble at 56-4. The 31-year-old son of former All Blacks coach John Mitchell wasted no time in reaching his second century in 10 career Tests, off-driving Broad for three from his first ball of play yesterday. For England, opener Alex Lees (20) was bowled leaving a Kyle Jamieson delivery that came back into the left-hander, with England 31-1 at lunch. After the break, Zak Crawley (9) was caught off Jamieson’s bowling and Ollie Pope (10) was castled by Trent Boult.
Japan’s Shohei Ohtani is the record-breaking baseball “superhuman” following in the footsteps of the legendary Babe Ruth who has also earned comparisons to US sporting greats Michael Jordan and Tom Brady. Not since Ruth a century ago has there been a baseball player capable of both pitching and hitting at the top level. The 30-year-old’s performances with the Los Angeles Dodgers have consolidated his position as a baseball legend in the making, and a national icon in his native Japan. He continues to find new ways to amaze, this year becoming the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases
More than 180 years of horse racing came to an end in Singapore on Saturday, as the Singapore Turf Club hosted its final race day before its track is handed back to the Singaporean government to provide land for new homes. Under an overcast sky, the air-conditioned VIP boxes were full of enthusiasts, socialites and expats, while the grounds and betting halls below hosted mostly older-generation punters. The sun broke through for the last race, the last-ever Grand Singapore Gold Cup. The winner, South African jockey Muzi Yeni, echoed a feeling of loss shared by many on the day. “I’d
PREDICTION: Last week, when Yu’s father made a wrong turn to the former champions’ parking lot, he said that his son could park there after this year With back-to-back birdies on the 18th hole, Kevin Yu fulfilled his driving range-owning dad’s prediction that he would win the Sanderson Farms Championship and become Taiwan’s third golfer to claim a US PGA Tour title. The Taoyuan-born 26-year-old, who represented Taiwan in the Olympic golf at Paris, saw off Californian Beau Hossler in a playoff at the Country Club of Jackson, Mississippi, on Sunday. Having drained a 15-foot putt to claw his way into the playoff, Yu rolled in from five feet on the first extra hole, ensuring he joined Chen Tze-chung (LA Open in 1987) and Pan Cheng-tsung (RBC
LeBron James and eldest son Bronny James claimed a piece of NBA history on Sunday after making their long-awaited first appearance alongside each other for the Los Angeles Lakers. The duo appeared together at the start of the second quarter in the Lakers’ 118-114 preseason defeat to the Phoenix Suns in Palm Desert, east of Los Angeles. While LeBron James impressed with 19 points in just 16 minutes and 20 seconds on court before sitting out the second half, Bronny found the going harder with zero points in just over 13 minutes on court. The younger James attempted just one
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