RUGBY UNION
Drua defeat Crusaders
The Canterbury Crusaders yesterday were stunned 20-10 by the Fijian Drua for a third straight defeat, equaling their worst start to a Super Rugby season. The seven-time defending champions fell away in the second half in Lautoka. The only other time the Crusaders have lost their three opening matches was the competition’s inaugural season in 1996. Captain Scott Barrett said the humid conditions in Fiji played a part in their error-ridden display. “You give the Fijian Drua a sniff and they will really punish you,” Barrett said. In other Super Rugby Pacific games yesterday, The ACT Brumbies beat the Western Force 22-19, the Wellington Hurricanes downed the Auckland Blues 29-21 and the Queensland Reds defeated the Waikato Chiefs 25-19.
BOXING
Joshua KOs Ngannou
Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua yesterday stopped Francis Ngannou in the second round, dominating his matchup with the ex-UFC heavyweight champ. Joshua floored Ngannou in the first round and again in the second with right hands at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh. He finished the fight with one punch immediately after the second 10-count, apparently knocking Ngannou out cold with an unblocked right hand. The 37-year-old Ngannou eventually got up to his stool, but he was dazed and clearly hurt after his encounter with Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) in only his second pro boxing match. Joshua and Ngannou embraced and talked afterward. “I told him he shouldn’t leave boxing,” Joshua said. “He can do well. Remember, he’s two fights in, and he’s fought the best. He can go a long way if he stays dedicated, but it’s up to him.”
CRICKET
Anderson’s feat soured
James Anderson yesterday became only the third bowler to reach 700 Test wickets, but his feat was soured as England lost by an innings and 64 runs against India in the fifth and final Test inside three days. India scored 477 runs in their first innings, while England made 218 and 195 in reply. Anderson joined the 700 club when he dismissed India’s Kuldeep Yadav at Dharamshala. The England veteran is the first pace bowler to reach the milestone and follows Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan (800 wickets) and Australia’s Shane Warne (708 wickets) to have achieved the mark.
CRICKET
Black Caps fight back
New Zealand opener Tom Latham yesterday hauled the Black Caps back into the second Test against Australia Saturday as they overhauled a 94-run deficit to lead by 40 at stumps. Latham was unbeaten on 65 in New Zealand’s second innings at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval after a partnership of 105 for the second wicket with Kane Williamson.
TENNIS
Swiatek thrashes Collins
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Friday moved on at the BNP Paribas Open with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over power-hitting Danielle Collins. Swiatek earned her fifth straight win over the 30-year-old American, who previously announced that she intends to retire after this season. On the men’s side, Andrey Rublev defeated Andy Murray 7-6 (7/3), 6-1, while Alejandro Tabilo, Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alex de Minaur also won in straight sets.
The former interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani on Thursday was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for bank and tax fraud after he stole nearly US$17 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers player’s bank account. Ippei Mizuhara, who was supposed to bridge the gap between the Japanese athlete and his English-speaking teammates and fans, was sentenced in federal court in Santa Ana to four years and nine months after pleading guilty last year. He was ordered to pay US$18 million in restitution, with nearly US$17 million going to Ohtani and the remainder to the US Internal Revenue Service. He was
Aaliyah Edwards on Monday pulled off the stunner of the opening round of the Unrivaled one-on-one tournament, beating top-seeded Breanna Stewart 12-0. The tournament to be played over three days featured 23 of the WNBA’s 36 players. A few had other commitments and a couple others were out with injuries. Stewart got the ball first against Edwards and missed a contested layup. Edwards then hit a three-pointer from the corner and a jumper from the elbow to go up 5-0. The player who scores keeps the basketball. Edwards hit two layups and a three-pointer to seal the win. Stewart, a two-time WNBA Most Valuable Player,
SPEEDSKATER: Her bronze medal ended Taiwan’s run at the Asian Winter Games without a medal since the nation first participated in the second iteration in 1990 Speedskater Chen Ying-chu yesterday made history as the first athlete representing Taiwan to secure a medal at the Asian Winter Games. Competing at the HIC Speedskating Oval in Harbin, China, Chen clocked 10.510 seconds in the women’s 100m event, finishing third behind South Koreans Lee Na-hyum and Kim Min-sun, who posted times of 10.501 and 10.505 seconds respectively. Her bronze medal ended Taiwan’s drought at the Asian Winter Games since the nation first participated in the second iteration in 1990. This year’s Games mark Chen’s debut at the event. Previously excelling in roller speedskating, she won six medals at world championships before transitioning
The 40-year-old LeBron James on Thursday became the oldest player to score 40 points in an NBA game, putting up a season-high 42 in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 120-112 victory over the Golden State Warriors. James passed the record held by Michael Jordan, his idol and the only other NBA player to score 40 after his 40th birthday. “I’m old, that’s my take,” James said when asked about his latest achievement. “I need a glass of wine and some sleep, that’s what I think.” Jordan did it for the Washington Wizards just three days after turning 40 in February 2003. James is 38
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