BADMINTON
Hsu Wen-chi ousted in India
Taiwan’s Hsu Wen-chi made it as far as the women’s singles semi-finals of the BWF Syed Modi India International in Lucknow yesterday, before losing 21-14, 17-21, 16-21 to world No. 21 Line Hojmark Kjaersfeldt of Denmark. The world No. 25 beat Malaysia’s Wong Ling-ching 19-21, 21-17, 21-15 in the quarter-finals on Friday. Taiwanese shuttler Chi Yu-jen, ranked 48th in the world, was later to compete against world No. 31 Priyanshu Rajawat of India in the men’s singles semi-finals, after beating compatriot Lee Chia-hao 21-12, 13-21, 21-13 on Friday.
SOCCER
Famous fan thanks Sinclair
International soccer’s all-time leading goalscorer, Christine Sinclair, who helped Canada to three Olympic medals, is calling time on a glittering career after a second friendly against Australia in Vancouver on Tuesday. The 40-year-old made her penultimate appearance for Canada in a 5-0 win over Australia at Langford on Friday. Sinclair has scored 190 goals for Canada over 23 years. As the 40-year-old prepares to take her final bow, tributes have been pouring in, including one from Canadian Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds, who joked that her next soccer job could be with Wrexham, the club he owns with fellow actor Rob McElhenney. “Moving on in your career to Wrexham, it’s huge for the town, the club,” said Reynolds, smiling in a video to Sinclair played during an interview with CBC. “I think that you are going to be probably the key difference maker going forward up there in North Wales.” Caught off guard, a wide-eyed Sinclair played along, saying: “For the right amount of money I could go.” Reynolds, who like Sinclair is from Vancouver, also had a serious message. “What I really wanted to do is thank you,” Reynolds said. “I wanted to thank you for inspiring me, my kids, kids all over Canada and the world, young, old, middle-aged... You’re incredible and you deserve all the applause that hands could possibly give.”
FORMULA ONE
Bottas’ backside sells out
Alfa Romeo driver Valtteri Bottas has raised US$150,000 for men’s health charity Movember after a “Bottass 2024” calendar featuring photographs of him baring his backside sped off the shelves. An initial run of 10,000, with 5 euros (US$5.45) from each going to prostate cancer research, swiftly sold out with more printed. “Thank you so much for all the support in November. With the donations and with the calendars we have together raised a substantial amount for @Movember,” Bottas said on social media on Thursday. “Final figures to be calculated in the next days, but we are talking around $150k of funds raised!” Bottas had the calendar idea with photographer Paul Ripke after his partner and Australian cyclist Tiffany Cromwell took a picture of Bottas lying naked in a stream in Aspen, Colorado. That shot proved a hit on Instagram and was sold for charity. Bottas told speedcafe.com at the Las Vegas Grand Prix this month that his mother had some initial reservations. “She doesn’t really understand English that well, and she had seen some videos I had posted. She was quite confused and protective, asking me: ‘Are you sure that’s the path you want to go?’ So I explained the charity thing, and it’s fine.”
SSC Napoli will have to wait one more week to seal the Serie A title after on Sunday being held to a goalless draw at Parma, while closest rivals Inter drew 2-2 in a dramatic game with SS Lazio. Antonio Conte’s team stayed one point ahead of Inter and were unfortunate not to win after twice striking the woodwork through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Matteo Politano, while Scott McTominay also had a free-kick tipped onto the crossbar. The away side thought they would be handed a chance to take the points from the penalty spot in the 96th minute when David Neres
Omar Marmoush’s stunning long-range strike on Tuesday upstaged Kevin de Bruyne on the Manchester City great’s Etihad farewell. Marmoush let fly from about 30m to put City ahead in their 3-1 win against AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. The victory moved Pep Guardiola’s team up to third in the standings and left qualification for the UEFA Champions League in their own hands heading into the last round of the season. “It’s really important. To be in the Champions League after what happened [this season] will be really nice,” the City manager said. De Bruyne was making his final home appearance for City before
TIGHT FINISH: Napoli only needed to do the same as or better than Inter, who won their game against Como 2-0 on the same day, leaving Napoli with a one-point lead The two players who Antonio Conte wanted more than any others secured Napoli their second Serie A title in three years on Friday. Scott McTominay scored with an acrobatic bicycle kick before halftime and Romelu Lukaku doubled the lead with a solo goal after the break in the decisive 2-0 home win over Cagliari. Conte became the first coach to win the Italian championship with three different teams. “Everyone contributed to this — but the coach most of all,” Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo said. “Napoli needed him to get back on top. He’s phenomenal.” Comparing it to his three Serie A titles won
Brighton & Hove Albion’s Jack Hinshelwood on Monday sealed a dramatic 3-2 victory against Liverpool to leave the English Premier League champions without a win since clinching the title. Arne Slot’s side took the lead through Harvey Elliott’s early opener before Yasin Ayari equalized at the American Express Stadium. Dominik Szoboszlai restored Liverpool’s advantage just before halftime, but Brighton staged a late fightback as Kaoru Mitoma leveled before Hinshelwood came off the bench to net with his first touch. Liverpool have taken just one point from their three matches following the title-clinching rout of Tottenham Hotspur on April 27. The Reds have lost at
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