CHAMPIONSHIP
Snoop Dogg welcomed
Snoop Dogg on Tuesday was welcomed with a blaze of whirling white towels and a guard of honor in his first visit to Swansea since becoming a co-owner of the Welsh club. The American rapper became a minority shareholder in the Championship club last year alongside other celebrities such as former Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric and US television host Martha Stewart. The 54-year-old had jetted into south Wales fresh from his role as “honorary coach” for the US at the Winter Olympics in Italy. Dressed in the club’s all-white colors, with a Swansea crest on his jacket, dark glasses and a beanie hat, Snoop made a pre-match lap of honor as fans twirled their complimentary towels above their heads — copying a tradition at his favorite NFL franchise, the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, his presence was not enough to inspire the Swans to victory as they needed a stoppage-time equalizer from Liam Cullen to draw 1-1 against Preston North End.
Photo: Reuters
FRIENDLIES
Portugal wary of trip
The Portuguese federation on Tuesday said that it was monitoring the situation in Mexico amid a surge in violence ahead of its friendly against Mexico next month. The federation said it was “closely monitoring the delicate situation currently unfolding in Mexico” following the killing of a drug lord by the Mexican army on Sunday. The killing sparked a surge in violence and put the country on edge. The FIFA World Cup warmup match is scheduled for March 28 at the renovated Azteca Stadium, which is scheduled to host the opening match of the World Cup between Mexico and South Africa on June 11. Mexico was to play Iceland in a friendly yesterday in Queretaro, with the Icelandic soccer federation on Tuesday saying that it expected the game to go ahead as planned. The Portuguese federation said it was honored by the invitation to participate in the reopening of the renovated venue, but added that “the recent evolution of events requires continuous evaluation of the conditions” that the national team and its delegation will find.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Fans kept out of Italy
Borussia Dortmund said that some of their fans were not able to attend yesterday’s UEFA Champions League match against Atalanta BC after being denied entry to Italy, while others had been visited by police at their accommodation. “Borussia Dortmund are currently unaware of any detailed background information regarding the measures taken by the authorities,” the club said in a statement. “While Borussia Dortmund understand the need for security-based risk assessments for football matches, the club is more than surprised by the scope and scale of the police measures taken.” Dortmund were leading 2-0 heading into the second-leg match, which began after press time last night.
Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev was the only athlete to “beat” a world record on Sunday at the Enhanced Games, winning the men’s 50m freestyle at the divisive competition where athletes were free to take performance-enhancing substances. His time of 20.81 seconds — which is not considered official — came in the final event of the night in Las Vegas, sparing the blushes of organizers who made claims that multiple world records would be surpassed due to a sophisticated doping regime. Gkolomeev, who was wearing a synthetic “supersuit” long banned at events such as the Olympics, outpaced Australia’s Cameron McEvoy’s 20.88 set in
Fred Kerley is competing unaugmented against drug-fuelled athletes at this weekend’s Enhanced Games and still hopes to race in the 2028 Olympics, the suspended former 100m world champion said on Friday. Arguably the biggest name at the divisive event in Las Vegas, where doping is permitted, the US sprinter said he had chosen not to take any of the banned substances including testosterone and steroids that his competitors have been using. “I don’t need it. God gave me fast feet for a reason. And I’m here to showcase my talent,” Kerley said. Kerley last September became the first US competitor and first track
VICTORY ABROAD: The team took home a fistful of medals and secured spots for the autumn’s Asian Games, scheduled for September in Nagoya Taiwan’s women’s team captured the overall title at the Asian Taekwondo Championships in Mongolia on Sunday, finishing with two golds, one silver and one bronze medal. The strong showing, led by gold medalists Wang Chieh-ling and Chang Jui-en secured the full quota of available spots for Taiwan at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, in September. Wang opened Taiwan’s medal run by winning gold in the women’s under-46kg class on Thursday, the first day of competition. Liu Yu-yun later earned a silver in the under-49kg class. On the final day on Sunday, Chang won Taiwan’s second gold medal in the under-62kg event, and
The manager of the Yomiuri Giants, one of Japan’s most popular baseball teams, resigned yesterday after he was arrested for allegedly physically attacking his teenage daughter. Shinnosuke Abe allegedly grabbed the 18-year-old and forced her to the floor at their home in central Tokyo on Monday evening, reported national broadcaster NHK and Kyodo News, citing unnamed police sources. “Leaving like this really means I’m causing you a lot of trouble, and I feel truly sorry about that,” Abe told a hastily arranged news conference, his eyes red with tears. The former star catcher, who is among baseball-obsessed Japan’s most recognized sports figures,
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