RUGBY UNION
Ioane in doubt for first Test
Australia winger Digby Ioane is in doubt for the first Test against the British and Irish Lions next month after having a minor knee operation yesterday. Ioane had arthroscopic surgery to work on cartilage in his left knee after returning early from the Queensland Reds’ two-match Super Rugby tour to South Africa. The Reds said Ioane will miss two Super Rugby games, and the Wallabies reported on Twitter that the blockbusting winger was “touch and go” to be fit for the June 22 first Test in Brisbane. Ioane was included in Australia’s preliminary 25-man squad to go into camp on June 2 for the three-Test Lions series. Six more players will be added to the squad.
TENNIS
Hsieh advances, Bartoli out
Top-seeded Marion Bartoli and No. 2 Tamira Paszek were beaten on Tuesday in the first round of the Strasbourg International, while fourth-seeded Taiwanese Hsieh Su-wei rallied to beat Annika Beck 6-7 (6/8), 7-5, 6-1. Bartoli, the 2007 Wimbledon finalist, lost 6-3, 6-2 to the 88th-ranked Camila Giorgi after dropping serve six times. Paszek was beaten 6-1, 6-4 by wild-card entry Virgine Razzano. Lauren Davis upset sixth-seeded Christina McHale 7-5, 6-3, while Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor downed No. 8 Daniela Hantuchova 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4). Third-seeded Alize Cornet converted all four breakpoints to win 6-3, 6-2 against Mathilde Johansson and No. 5 Monica Niculescu of Romania rallied past Marina Erakovic 6-7 (7/9), 6-3, 7-5 (7/5). No. 7 Chanelle Scheepers topped Claire Feuerstein 7-5, 6-4. Flavia Pannetta, Misaki Doi, Anna Tatishvili, Eugenie Bouchard, Johanna Larsson, Lucie Hradecka, Magda Linette and Shelby Rogers also advanced.
GOLF
Teenager to skip US Open
Guan Tianlang has decided not to try to play in the US Open. The US Golf Association (USGA) said on Tuesday that the 14-year-old from China has withdrawn from sectional qualifying in Dallas on June 3. Guan informed the USGA shortly after he received a sponsor’s exemption to play in the Memorial, which ends on June 2. The USGA offered to move Guan’s qualifier from Texas to Ohio to help with travel, but the teen declined. Guan was exempt from the first stage of US Open qualifying by winning the Asia-Pacific Amateur. That also got him into the Masters, where he became the youngest player in history to make the cut in a 72-hole major. Guan made the cut in New Orleans, and then missed the cut last week in the Byron Nelson Championship.
BASKETBALL
Threatening 911 call probed
Authorities in San Antonio are investigating a 911 emergency call threatening Spurs point guard Tony Parker during an NBA playoff game on Sunday, local media reported. Local television station KSAT reported on its Web site that Parker’s life was threatened, although a spokesman for the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office declined to specify the nature of the threat in speaking with the San Antonio Express newspaper. The caller telephoned 911 with about five minutes left in Sunday’s Western Conference championship game against Memphis and threatened the French player. San Antonio police received the call and passed the information to the sheriff’s office, which handles security at the Spurs’ arena. Security was increased and Parker was escorted home by officers, although sherrif’s office spokesman Paul Berry told the Express that authorities determined “there was no danger.”
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and