■ SOCCER
Morales slams FIFA ruling
Bolivian President Evo Morales followed up his goal during a soccer match in Peru’s capital on Thursday by slamming FIFA for imposing “a soccer apartheid” on teams that play at high altitudes. Shortly after arriving in Lima on Thursday afternoon, Morales threw on Bolivia’s green soccer jersey and headed to the “People’s Summit,” an alternative forum to a reunion of Latin American and European heads of state. Morales scored a goal to lead a squad of Bolivian expatriates to a 2-2 tie against members of Peru’s 1970 World Cup team. In a news conference following the game, Morales said FIFA’s ban on international games at stadiums 2,750m above sea level amounted to “discrimination” of teams and communities living at such heights.
■ SOCCER
Ronaldo mulling transfer
Manchester United suffered a major blow to morale ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League final when it emerged yesterday that Cristiano Ronaldo is considering quitting the club in the summer. “I am happy here but let’s see what happens after the Champions League final,” the Portugal international told a Spanish television station. “I am feeling calm here. I’m happy, but in the future I don’t know. I know Real Madrid like how I play and I know that other teams in Spain like my game as well, so that’s good. It is good to know that other clubs are interested in you. I have said millions of times that I would love to play in Spain.” Madrid have made little secret of their interest and may be prepared to pay a world record fee for the 23-year-old, who has hit an astonishing 41 goals in all competitions this season.
■ CYCLING
Priamo takes breakaway win
Italian Matteo Priamo, riding for the CSF team, broke away to win the sixth stage of the Tour of Italy on Thursday. Priamo’s compatriot Giovanni Visconti, who rides for Quick Step, took the leader’s pink jersey. Priamo built up a decisive lead over the final run-in of the 232km stage from Potenza to Peschici after a breakaway of more than 160km. “My sole chance was to surprise my rivals,” Priamo said. “If I waited until the last kilometer, I was going to be beaten. After my attack 11km from the finish, I was confident. I knew I could beat Perez.” Priamo dedicated his stage win to Argentine teammate Ariel Maximiliano Richeze, who tested positive for doping last month and was withdrawn from the Giro on the eve of the race. “I dedicate this success to all the team, to Richeze, who is a friend, and my family,” he said. Visconti said he aimed to retain the leader’s jersey at least for another few days and was dreaming of a stage win whilst wearing it. “I want to keep this pink jersey until the individual time trial at Urbino” on May 20, he said, adding: “To win a stage with the pink jersey on my back would be a dream.”
■ CRICKET
Harbhajan given advice
Renowned sports psychologist Rudi Webster has advised banned India spinner Harbhajan Singh to seek professional help to cope with the emotional demands of competitive cricket. Harbhajan was banned for five one-day internationals this week for a slapping incident involving Shanthakumaran Sreesanth during a domestic Twenty20 league match last month. “Harbhajan must now learn to control his thinking and emotions and to keep his concentration focused and locked into the task at hand, particularly when he is under pressure,” Webster told the Asian Age newspaper. “I am sure there are many professionals in India who can help Harbhajan in those areas,” Webster said.
‘SOURCE OF PRIDE’: Newspapers rushed out special editions and the government sent their congratulations as Shohei Ohtani became the first player to enter the 50-50 club Japan reacted with incredulity and pride yesterday after Shohei Ohtani became the first player in Major League Baseball to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season. The Los Angeles Dodgers star from Japan made history with a seventh-inning homer in a 20-4 victory over the Marlins in Miami. “We would like to congratulate him from the bottom of our heart,” top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters in Tokyo. “We sincerely hope Mr Ohtani, who has already accomplished feat after feat and carved out a new era, will thrive further,” he added. The landmark achievement dominated Japanese morning news
When Wang Tao ran away from home aged 17 to become a professional wrestler, he knew it would be a hard slog to succeed in China’s passionate but underdeveloped scene. Years later, he has endured family disapproval, countless side gigs and thousands of hours of brutal training to become China’s “Belt and Road Champion” — but the struggle is far from over. Despite a promising potential domestic market, the Chinese pro wrestling community has been battling for recognition and financial stability for decades. “I have done all kinds of jobs [on the side]... Because in the end, it is very
No team in the CPBL can surpass the Taipei Dome attendance record set by the CTBC Brothers, except when the Brothers team up with Taiwanese rock band Mayday. A record-high 40,000 fans turned out at the indoor baseball venue on Saturday for Brothers veteran Chou Szu-chi’s first farewell game, which was followed by a mini post-game concert featuring Mayday. This broke the previous CPBL record of 34,506 set by the Brothers in early last month, when K-pop singer Hyuna performed after the game, and the dome’s overall record of 37,890 set in early March, which featured the Brothers and the
With a quivering finger, England Subbuteo veteran Rudi Peterschinigg conceded the free-kick that sent his country’s World Cup quarter-final into extra-time before smashing his plastic goalkeeper on the floor in frustration. In the genteel southern English town of Tunbridge Wells, 300 elite players have gathered to play the game they love. “I won’t say this is the best weekend I’ve ever had in my life, but it’s certainly in the top two,” said Hughie Best, 58, who flew in from Perth, Australia, to compete and commentate at the event. Tunbridge Wells is the “spiritual home” of Subbuteo, which was invented there in 1946