■ CRICKETT
Ashley Giles to coach spin
Former Test bowler Ashley Giles will join England's Performance Programme as spin coach, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Friday. The 34-year-old left-armer, part of the 2005 Ashes-winning side, will work with England's promising spin bowlers in India during the four-week training camp. "I'm really looking forward to the opportunity of working with the players involved in the EPP," Giles, who had to retire this year because of chronic hip problems, said in a statement. "It's exciting to be so hands-on in a coaching role."
■ Boxing
WBC plans Rocky statue
The World Boxing Council (WBC) said yesterday that it plans to set up a statue honoring late heavyweight boxing champion Rocky Marciano in his home state of Massachusetts. WBC secretary general Gabriel Penagaricano said the boxing organization approved the statue of Marciano, the "Brockton Blockbuster" during its annual convention in the Philippine capital. The WBC is now seeking the permission of US authorities to set up the statue either in Boston or in Brockton, the birthplace of Marciano, the only man to retire undefeated as heavyweight champion, Penagaricano said.
■ Volleyball
Simona Gioli made MVP
Italy's Simona Gioli received the most valuable player's award after leading her team to their first victory in the women's World Cup volleyball tournament in Nagoya, Japan, on Friday. It was the 30-year-old middle blocker's triple victory as she also won the best blocker's award with a total of 33 points. Katarzyna Skowronska-Dolata, of Poland, was the best scorer with a total of 182 points, including 154 points off her powerful shots in 11 games. Cuba's Yanelis Santos Allegne won the best server's award, hitting 21 aces, and her compatriot Nancy Carrillo de la Paz received the best spiker's award, with the best percentage of 52.53.
■ Boxing
Warrant issued for Eubank
A judge issued a warrant for the arrest of former world boxing champion Chris Eubank after he failed to appear in court on Friday over a solo anti-war truck protest. Eubank, who has a reputation as an eccentric, drives a huge truck and attempted to park it outside the entrance to Downing Street, the prime minister's residence in London, in May to protest about the war in Iraq. The 41-year-old was due to appear before City of Westminster Magistrates' Court in London over the protest involving the 7 tonne truck, which is 9.75m long. In his absence, a district judge fined Eubank ?500 (US$1,025), ordered him to pay ?365 costs and a ?15 victim surcharge. He has 14 days to pay.
■ Soccer
Ferreira back in action
Former Paraguay striker Julio Gonzalez Ferreira, who had his arm amputated after a car accident almost two years ago, is poised to make his comeback for first division Tacuary on Friday. Gonzalez was playing for Italy's Vicenza when he was involved in the accident on the way to Venice airport in December 2005. He is not in the team for Friday's league match against Olimpia but Tacuary's coach has promised to use him as a substitute. "I pray to God everything goes well today and I can continue training and playing at professional level," Gonzalez said.
SS Lazio on Monday fired the far-right sympathizer who handles their eagle mascot after he posted online a series of videos and pictures of his erect penis. Falconer Juan Bernabe, who has been present at Lazio home matches with Olimpia the eagle since the 2010-2011 season, posted the footage on social media after having surgery on Saturday to implant a penile prosthesis to improve his sexual performance. Lazio said that they had “terminated, with immediate effect” their relationship with Bernabe “due to the seriousness of his conduct,” adding that they were “shocked” by the images. The Serie A club added that Bernabe’s dismissal
‘TOUGH TO BREATHE’: Tunisian three-time Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur suffered an asthma attack in her 7-5, 6-3 victory over Colombia’s Camila Osorio Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei yesterday cruised into the second round of the women’s doubles at the Australian Open, while Iga Swiatek romped into a third-round women’s singles showdown with Emma Raducanu and Taylor Fritz was just as emphatic in his pursuit of a maiden Grand Slam title. Hsieh and Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia, the third seeds, defeated Slovakia’s Tereza Mihalikova and Olivia Nicholls of Britain 7-5, 6-2 in 90 minutes in Melbourne. Ostapenko and Hsieh — who won the women’s doubles and mixed doubles at the Australian Open last year — hit 25 winners and converted five of nine break points to set
Dubbed a “motorway for cyclists” where avid amateurs can chase Tadej Pogacar up mountains teeming with the highest concentration of professional cyclists per square kilometer in the world, Spain’s Costa Blanca has forged a new reputation for itself in the past few years. Long known as the ideal summer destination for those in search of sun, sea and sand, the stretch of coast between Valencia and Alicante now has a winter vocation too. During the season break in December and January, the region experiences an invasion of cyclists. Star names such as three-time Tour de France winner Pogacar, Remco Evenepoel and Julian Alaphilippe
AGING WELL: Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, 22, was sent packing after being dispatched by world No. 97, Laura Siegemund, the second-oldest player in the draw at 36 Novak Djokovic yesterday created a slice of Grand Slam history on his way into the Australian Open third round, but last year’s women’s finalist Zheng Qinwen was knocked out in the biggest shock so far. Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, in-form Coco Gauff, two-time Melbourne winner Naomi Osaka and a rampant Carlos Alcaraz were all victors on a rainy day four. Play was suspended on the outside courts for a couple of hours in the early evening because of the wet weather. That led to the rescheduling of a women’s doubles match between wild-cards Tsao Chia-yi of Taiwan and Thailand’s Peangtarn Plipuech and 11th
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