■ 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.
Shohei Ohtani and Clayton Kershaw on Friday joined their Los Angeles Dodgers teammates in sticking their fists out to show off their glittering World Series rings at a ceremony. “There’s just a lot of excitement, probably more than I can ever recall with the Dodger fan base and our players,” manager Dave Roberts said before Los Angeles rallied to beat the Detroit Tigers 8-5 in 10 innings. “What a way to cap off the first two days of celebrations,” Roberts said afterward. “By far the best opening week I’ve ever experienced. I just couldn’t have scripted it any better.” A choir in the
After fleeing Sudan when civil war erupted, Al-Hilal captain Mohamed Abdelrahman and his teammates have defied the odds to reach the CAF Champions League quarter-finals. They are today to face title-holders Al-Ahly of Egypt in Cairo, with the return match in the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott, on Tuesday next week. Al-Hilal and biggest domestic rivals Al-Merrikh relocated to Mauritania after a power struggle broke out in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and a paramilitary force. The civil war has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced more than 12 million people, according to the UN. The Democratic Republic of the Congo-born Al-Hilal
Shohei Ohtani, Teoscar Hernandez and Tommy Edman on Thursday smashed home runs to give the reigning World Series champions the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-4 victory over Detroit on the MLB’s opening day in the US. The Dodgers, who won two season-opening games in Tokyo last week, raised their championship banner on a day when 28 clubs launched the season in the US. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shuffled his batting lineup with all four leadoff hitters finally healthy as Ohtani was followed by Mookie Betts, then Hernandez and Freddie Freeman in the cleanup spot, switching places with Hernandez. “There’s a Teoscar tax to
Matvei Michkov did not score on Monday, but the Philadelphia rookie had a hand in both goals as hosts the Flyers earned a 2-1 victory over the Nashville Predators. Ryan Poehling and Jamie Drysdale got the goals for the Flyers (31-36-9, 71 points), who won their third straight. Michkov and Travis Konecny assisted on both. Ivan Fedotov stopped 28 shots to earn his first win since March 1, ending a personal six-game losing streak. Zachary L’Heureux got the lone goal for Nashville. Michael McCarron and Brady Skjei got the assists for the Predators (27-39-8, 62 points), who have just four goals in their
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