CRICKET
Maxwell under investigation
Cricket Australia is investigating Glenn Maxwell, a spokesperson said yesterday, after the star all-rounder was reportedly hospitalized following a night out. The governing body wants to quiz the 35-year-old about a recent incident in Adelaide. Australian media outlets reported that Maxwell was taken to a hospital, after attending a concert on Friday of the band Six & Out, made up of former cricket greats including Brett Lee. “Cricket Australia is aware of an incident involving Glenn Maxwell in Adelaide at the weekend and is seeking further information,” a spokesperson said. Maxwell has been stood down for the upcoming 50-overs series against the West Indies early next month, but Cricket Australia said the decision is not linked to the incident in Adelaide. Maxwell missed a World Cup match in India after he was injured falling off a golf cart. He also broke his leg in November 2022 when he slipped at a friend’s birthday party.
SOCCER
Italian legend Riva dies
Italian soccer mourned one of its most important ever players on Monday after iconic striker Luigi “Gigi” Riva died aged 79. Nicknamed “Roar of Thunder,” Riva is Italy’s all-time top goalscorer and famous in the Mediterranean nation for firing Cagliari Calcio to their only league title in 1970. “Forever GIGI RIVA,” Cagliari wrote on X, accompanied by a picture of their hero in the prime of his career. “Italian football is in mourning because a genuine national monument has left us today,” Italian Football Federation president Gabriele Gravina said. Riva’s death is of such significance that a minute’s silence was held before the start of the second half of the Italian Super Cup final, played on Monday in Riyadh. “Ciao Gigi” was displayed on the screens at al-Awwal Park in the Saudi Arabian capital, alongside a picture of Riva. He had been hospitalized in Cagliari, where he stayed after the end of his playing career, reportedly after sustaining a heart attack over the weekend. Riva scored 35 times in just 42 appearances for his country, with whom he won the 1968 European Championship and reached the World Cup final two years later.
SOCCER
Udinese ban fan for abuse
Udinese are to ban for life a man found to have racially abused France goalkeeper Mike Maignan, the Serie A club announced on Monday. Maignan was abused during Udinese’s 3-2 defeat to AC Milan on Saturday, which was halted for five minutes in the first half after repeated offensive remarks from behind the goal he was defending. “Udinese Calcio has identified the first individual responsible for discriminatory behavior towards AC Milan player Mike Maignan,” the club said in a statement. “This person will face a lifetime ban from attending any Udinese Calcio matches. This ban is effective immediately.” Earlier on Monday, Italian media reported a 46-year-old man from near Udine had been identified, and he is believe to be the same man in a video which circulated widely on social media. In that video someone off camera can clearly be heard shouting the same racist insult at Maignan multiple times after Lazar Samardzic scored Udinese’s first-half equalizer, netted after play had resumed.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care