SWIMMING
Freestyle record smashed
Summer McIntosh smashed the women’s 400m freestyle world record in winning the title at the Canadian Swimming Trials in 3 minutes 54.18 seconds on Saturday, sending a signal for this year’s World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. McIntosh, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and former world record-holder in the event, sliced more than a second off the previous world record of 3:55.38 set by Australian Ariarne Titmus at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. “Going into tonight, I knew that my training has been really good these past few months, and I knew that I could do something special,” the 18-year-old said. “I didn’t think my training would be 54.1, but I’m really happy with that overall.” The world championships are to run from July 11 to Aug. 3.
Photo: AP
RUGBY UNION
Tigers triumph over Sharks
Leicester Tigers set up a Premiership Rugby final against Bath at Twickenham with a 21-16 semi-final victory over Sale Sharks on Saturday, boosted by winger Adam Radwan’s two first-half tries, which laid the platform for the win. Radwan showed extraordinary pace, quick feet and athleticism for his scores as Leicester also crossed the tryline through Izaia Perese, the latter’s game-breaking effort with the scores level at 16-16 was the winning moment in the match. The Sharks stayed in the game via the boot of George Ford, with Rob du Preez scoring their only try midway through the second half. Leicester are the record 11-time winners of the competition and last lifted the trophy in 2022.
RACING
Sovereignty tops Journalism
Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty won the 157th Belmont Stakes on Saturday, surging past favored Journalism just as he did at Churchill Downs to finish with two legs of this year’s Triple Crown. After sitting out the Preakness, which was won in scintillating fashion by Journalism, Sovereignty returned to win the anticipated rematch convincingly, pulling away in the final straight to relegate Journalism to second again. Baeza was third to complete the repeat of the Kentucky Derby one-two-three. Sovereignty, who had given the Godolphin stables a long-awaited first Kentucky Derby victory, became the first horse to win two legs of the Triple Crown since Justify became the 13th horse to sweep all three in 2018. For the second straight year, Journalism was the only horse to run in all three Triple Crown races this year.
The total purse for the race is US$2 million, with winner earning about US$1.2 million.
SOCCER
Enland overcome Andorra
A lackluster England laboured to a 1-0 away win against Andorra to maintain their 100 pecent start to FIFA World Cup qualification campaign with captain Harry Kane’s second-half goal sparing their blushes on Saturday. On a sultry afternoon in Barcelona, Kane’s scrambled effort shortly after the interval was all that separated Thomas Tuchel’s team of English Premier League household names from the side sitting 173rd in the world rankings. As expected, England dominated possession, but were short of the quality expected, with only Chelsea winger Noni Madueke managing to impress in an instantly forgettable match. England secured the win, however, and sit comfortably top of Group K with three wins from three.
The Greek basketball league finals between Panathinaikos and Olympiakos were suspended by the government on Monday following on-court scuffles involving rival security teams. The best-of-five series is at 1-1. The third game, scheduled for today, has been postponed. The owners of both clubs were summoned to meet with the country’s sports minister. They “will be asked to provide explicit guarantees that this situation will be brought to an end. If not, this year’s championship will be definitively canceled,” government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said. “There can be no tolerance for such pathological phenomena of violence and delinquency.” In online posts, the owners of Panathinaikos and
The Crusaders yesterday produced a clinical performance in difficult conditions to beat the Queensland Reds 32-12 and claim home advantage in next week’s Super Rugby semi-finals. Lock Scott Barrett and prop Tamaiti Williams scored first-half tries to reward an outstanding performance from the Crusaders’ forwards in wet, slippery conditions and bitterly cold temperatures. Scrumhalf Noah Hotham defied the conditions in the second half to score a superb solo try and, after kicking a conversion and penalty to make the score 22-0 at the hour mark, flyhalf Rivez Reihana scored a try which took the game beyond the Reds. “Typical Christchurch weather, cold, wet
Ryan Yarbrough picked up a dazzling World Series ring from his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers last season. Then he went out and beat them. The New York Yankees starter on Sunday pitched one-run ball over six innings, struck out a season-high five and blanked the Dodgers’ top four hitters in a 7-3 win. “I feel like I’m in a really good place right now and really trying to continue that,” Yarbrough said. “I’m having a lot of fun.” The 33-year-old left-hander made 44 relief appearances between the Dodgers and Blue Jays last season. The Dodgers designated him for assignment on July
Spain starlets Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams dazzled on Thursday as La Roja beat France 5-4 in a thriller in Stuttgart, Germany, to set up a UEFA Nations League final with Portugal. Yamal bagged a brace, while Williams scored and provided an assist as the two wingers cut France’s makeshift defense to ribbons. Mikel Merino and Pedri were also on the score sheet for the UEFA Euro 2024 champions. Kylian Mbappe netted a second-half penalty, but Spain were 5-1 up and cruising, before Les Bleus suddenly woke up as their opponents took their foot off the pedal. France’s three late goals — a
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