TENNIS
Players criticize FMT
A group of Mexico’s players decided not to take part in this weekend’s Davis Cup World Group playoff against Taiwan because they were not given enough notice about the date or venue by the Mexican Tennis Federation (FMT), they told reporters. In a joint statement released on Monday and signed by Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela and Manuel Sanchez, among other players, they said they would not participate in the Group I qualifier in Metepec. “They [the FMT] called us very late, less than three weeks [ago], we were all in [different] tournaments,” Reyes-Varela said told reporters, adding that they were also not given enough time to fit the tie into their playing schedules. “We have had different attempts to communicate with the federation, with the directors and the coaching staff. In this case it was no exception and after several years of trying we decided to unite to seek a change.” Sanchez said that players’ opinions were not taken into account. “There were only a few days left for the series and they did not even allow us to choose the captain, they did not ask us what surface and conditions would benefit us the most,” he said. Taiwan were to take to the court in Mexico yesterday in their World Group I first-round playoff at the Club Deportivo La Asuncion, with the first match in two days of competition to be between Tseng Chun-hsin and Cesar Ramirez before Hsu Yu-hsiou was to play Alan Fernando Rubio Fierros.
BOXING
Navarrete claims WBO title
Mexico’s Emanuel Navarrete on Friday survived a knockdown on the way to a ninth-round technical knockout of Australian Liam Wilson to claim the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) super featherweight world title. Navarrete, the WBO’s featherweight champ and a former super bantamweight world champion, claimed the title formerly held by Shakur Stevenson in a tense fight in Glendale, Arizona. Wilson gave the heavily favored champ a scare, knocking down Navarrete in the fourth round and hurting him again in the sixth. However, Navarrete, who improved to 37-1 with 31 wins inside the distance, turned the tables in the seventh and eighth with quick flurries that put Wilson on the defensive. Wilson, who fell to 11-2 with seven knockouts, rose from a knockdown in the ninth, but referee Chris Flores called a halt 1 minute, 57 seconds into the round with Wilson withering under Navarrete’s follow-up barrage.
SOCCER
Ronaldo scores for Al-Nassr
Cristiano Ronaldo on Friday scored his first goal for Al-Nassr with a last-gasp penalty to salvage a 2-2 draw against Al-Fateh in a thrilling Saudi Pro League match. The 37-year-old Portugal international converted from the spot three minutes into added time, having failed to score on his debut last month. “Happy to have scored my first goal in the Saudi league and great effort by whole team to achieve an important draw in a very difficult match!” Ronaldo wrote on Twitter after the game. Ronaldo signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Al-Nassr in December and was appointed captain shortly after his arrival. Al-Nassr now top the standings after 15 games, level on 34 points with second-placed Al-Shabab, but with a match in hand.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely