■ATHLETICS
Jelimo causes stampede
Olympic 800m champion Pamela Jelimo late on Tuesday caused a big media stampede on arrival back home as the clamor to grab a piece of Kenya’s athletics millionaire nearly turned ugly. Local and foreign journalists pushed and shoved each other to get a shot of the teenage sensation, but were fought back by a team of police officers who had thrown a cordon around their fellow policewoman. Jelimo, who became the first Kenyan athlete to win the US$1 million Golden League jackpot, appeared shaken by the whole episode. “I am humbled by the reception,” said Jelimo after being allowed to get over the circus. “My performance should serve as a motivation for the youth. We need to do something to motivate them.”
■SWIMMING
Hansen’s medal returned
Olympic swimmer Brendan Hansen lost his gold medal from the Beijing Games during a flight in the US and got it back a day later. The American breaststroke specialist was returning to Austin, Texas, on Sunday after visiting his suburban Philadelphia hometown for a bachelor party, said his mother, Miriam Hansen. He was carrying the medal he won for the 4x100m medley relay, the race that gave Michael Phelps his record eighth gold. The medal fell out of a side pocket of Hansen’s backpack, which he kept between his legs during the flight. He realized the medal was gone when he was getting off the plane, his mother said on Tuesday. Hansen informed Southwest Airlines, Philadelphia police and USA Swimming. A woman who found the medal on the floor in the back of the plane saw that it was from the relay event and contacted police, Miriam Hansen said. Police advised her to contact the University of Texas, Hansen’s alma mater, on the belief that any swimming medalist in the area probably was affiliated with the school. The university called Hansen and asked: “Brendan, are you missing something shiny?”
■SOCCER
Schalke pair in hot water
Schalke 04 captain Marcelo Bordon and defender Mladen Krstajic could be in hot water with the German Football Federation (DFB) for comments made after last weekend’s 3-3 draw with Borussia Dortmund. Having led 3-0 after 65 minutes, Schalke had defender Christian Pander and midfielder Fabian Ernst sent off in the last 20 minutes as Dortmund fought back to seal a 3-3 draw. Pander was dismissed for a second yellow card on 73 minutes after a second heavy tackle, while Ernst was shown a straight red three minutes later for a dangerous tackle. Both players will be suspended for future league games. But the DFB have ordered an inquiry after Bordon is alleged to have sworn in Portuguese at referee Lutz Wagner in the tunnel after the game. And German tabloid Bild quoted Krstajic as having told journalists: “No one makes as many errors as German football officials. At the end of the game it was 14 against nine.”
■SOCCER
Barnes lands Jamaica job
Former England player John Barnes was named Jamaica’s new national soccer coach on Tuesday. Jamaican-born Barnes, 44, will take over the coaching of the Reggae Boyz from Nov. 1, Jamaica Football Federation president Horace Burrell said. Burrell did not immediately disclose specifics of Barnes’ contract. Barnes will succeed Rene Simoes, who was fired last week following Jamaica’s poor start to the semi-final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.
Tallon Griekspoor on Friday stunned top seed Alexander Zverev 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/4) in the second round at Indian Wells, avenging a devastating loss to the German at Roland Garros last year. Zverev, the world No. 2 who is heading the field of the prestigious ATP Masters event with No. 1 Jannik Sinner serving a three-month drugs ban, is the first Indian Wells men’s top seed to lose his opening match since Andy Murray in 2017. It was a cherished win for Griekspoor, who had lost five straight matches — including four last year — to the German. That included a five-setter
Donovan Mitchell on Wednesday scored 26 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers punched their ticket to the NBA playoffs with a hard-fought 112-107 victory over the Miami Heat. A seesaw battle in Cleveland saw the Heat threaten to end the Cavs’ 11-game unbeaten streak after opening up a seven-point lead late in the fourth quarter, but the Cavs clawed back the deficit in the closing minutes to seal their 12th straight victory and a place in the post-season. The Cavaliers improved to 52-10, maintaining their stranglehold on the Eastern Conference with 20 games of the regular season remaining. Mitchell was one of six Cleveland
Five-time champion Novak Djokovic on Saturday tumbled out of the Indian Wells ATP Masters, falling in his first match to lucky loser Botic van de Zandschulp as two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz advanced. “No excuses for a poor performance,” 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic said after 37 unforced errors in a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 defeat. “It doesn’t feel great when you play this way on the court,” he said. “But congratulations to my opponent — just a bad day in the office, I guess, for me.” Djokovic is just the latest in Van de Zandschulp’s string of superstar victims. He
Manchester United on Thursday settled for a 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad in the first leg of their Europa League round-of-16 tie. United led on Joshua Zirkzee’s goal in the 58th minute, but the hosts equalized 12 minutes later after Bruno Fernandes’ hand ball and Mikel Oyarzabal sent Andre Onana the wrong way from the penalty spot. The Europa League could be a way for United to finish the season with a trophy after crashing out of the FA Cup on Sunday. A spot in the quarter-finals is to be on the line at Old Trafford in the second leg on Thursday next
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