■ CRICKET
ICC error saved Harbhajan
An administrative mistake by the International Cricket Council (ICC) saved Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh from a possible suspension, the judge who heard his case said yesterday. Harbhajan was fined half his match fee after pleading guilty to using offensive language against Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds during the second Test in Sydney earlier this month. However, New Zealand High Court judge John Hansen said Harbhajan might have received a tougher penalty had the ICC correctly informed him about all his prior convictions. Hansen said the ICC told him Harbhajan had only one prior offense, but after he had handed down his penalty, he discovered the Indian spinner had four previous offenses. The most serious of these occurred in South Africa in 2001 when Harbhajan was given a suspended sentence for showing dissent and trying to influence an umpire. "If I had been aware of the serious transgression in November 2001 I would have required more extensive submissions as to the offense in mitigation which could have led to a different penalty," Hansen wrote in his 49-page judgment released yesterday.
■ BASEBALL
Exhibition game to be last
The US Baseball Hall of Fame Game, an annual tradition in Cooperstown for more than six decades, will end after this year's contest between the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres. Hall of Fame officials say Major League Baseball decided keeping the game was too difficult because of the complexities of the major league schedule and "all its inherent challenges." The first Hall of Fame Game was in 1940, and its the last surviving in-season exhibition game on the major league schedule. This year's game is slated for June 16.
■ RUGBY UNION
All Blacks to support US
The US rugby team will get help from one of the best and well-organized outfits in the sport, the New Zealand All Blacks. The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) said yesterday it had signed a five-year memorandum of agreement with USA Rugby to promote rugby in the US and look into joint sponsorships and merchandising agreements. "The rugby world wants to see the game grow in the United States and we're taking concrete steps to help USA Rugby," NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said in a statement. Tew said as a first step, the NZRU will give coaching background and other resources to USA Rugby at no charge, supporting the US union's youth, referee and coaching development programs. The two groups also plan to "explore opportunities for high-profile matches" in the US as well as age-grade competition between the two countries. No further details on where or when the matches would be played was provided.
■ SOCCER
Galaxyto visit Asia
David Beckham will lead the Los Angeles Galaxy into South Korea and China in March as part of a pre-season Asia tour announced on Tuesday by the Major League Soccer club. Galaxy will meet FC Seoul on March 1 at the World Cup stadium and visit Shanghai on March 5 to face a China All-Star Union side of young talents, each stop capitalizing on Beckham's incredible popularity in Asia. Manchester United and Real Madrid also made several Asian tours with Beckham in the line-up. "These are important games in our club's preparation for the MLS season and I expect fans in Seoul and Shanghai will remember the LA Galaxy visiting their cities for a very long time," Galaxy assistant general manager Tom Payne said.
Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen yesterday exited at the BWF World Tour Finals in China, losing in the semi-finals to China’s world No. 1 Shi Yuqi. Shi, who was named the BWF Men’s Singles Player of the Year, had a 9-4 record against Chou going into the match. He extended that record to 9-5 with a 21-14, 21-18 victory. Chou advanced to the men’s singles semi-finals on Friday by upsetting top-seeded Anders Antonsen of Denmark in a must-win match at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium. The 16-21, 21-18, 21-15 victory saw Chou secure his second semi-finals appearance at the tournament, despite his relatively older
‘REMARKABLE’: Gaelic football is a traditional Irish sport that blends the skills of soccer and rugby, and hurling is an ancient sport played with a wooden stick and ‘sliotar’ The Taiwan Celts Gaelic Football Club marked a milestone achievement at the Asian Gaelic Games in Bangkok on Nov. 23 and 24, with two sides advancing to the knockout stages and competing at hurling for the first time. The event brought together 68 teams from 16 clubs across Asia, with more than 800 players in men’s and women’s tournaments. Gaelic football is a traditional Irish team sport that blends the skills of soccer, rugby union and basketball. Hurling is an ancient Irish sport played with a wooden stick, called a hurley, and a small ball, or sliotar. The Taiwan Celts’ women’s team reached
India’s chess star Gukesh Dommaraju returned to a hero’s welcome in his home city yesterday after becoming the youngest world champion aged only 18. Hundreds of fans crowded the arrivals area of Chennai International Airport, cheering alongside banks of television cameras as Gukesh made his way out of the airport after victory in taking the World Chess Championship title. “It means a lot to bring back the trophy to India,” Gukesh told reporters, with garlands of flowers draped around his neck, brandishing the glittering trophy in his hand. “I can see the support and what it means to India, I
LIVERPOOL WIN: The 50th Champions League goal by Mohamed Salah helped the leaders of the Premier League to keep their perfect record intact Real Madrid’s big stars on Tuesday turned on the style to revive the Spanish giant’s faltering UEFA Champions League title defense. Galacticos Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham all scored in a thrilling 3-2 win against Serie A leaders Atalanta BC. However, Madrid still had to ride their luck as Mateo Retegui fired over from in front of goal in stoppage-time when handed a golden chance to level the game. It was only Madrid’s third win in the competition’s revamped league phase and leaves the 15-time champions in the unseeded playoff positions in 18th place. “It’s a very important win. Not everyone wins
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