HOCKEY
Virus sidelines Islanders
The NHL on Saturday postponed the New York Islanders’ next two games due to a COVID-19 outbreak that hit the team. The Islanders said they potentially had eight unavailable players for yesterday’s road game against the New York Rangers. The NHL postponed the two games in consultation with the NHL Players Association and the Islanders’ medical personnel. The contest against the Rangers and a road game against the Philadelphia Flyers tomorrow would be rescheduled for later in the season, the NHL said. The Islanders are slated to host the San Jose Sharks on Thursday. The decision came after forward Casey Cizikas entered COVID-19 protocols on Saturday, which left the team with seven players in the protocol. Forward Josh Bailey was removed from protocol on Friday and was considered a game-time decision if yesterday’s contest had been played.
TENNIS
Serbia fall in shock defeat
Novak Djokovic and Nikola Cacic on Saturday lost a dramatic deciding tie-break in their doubles rubber as Serbia suffered a shock defeat by Germany in the Davis Cup Finals, while Daniil Medvedev helped the Russian Tennis Federation to an opening win. World No. 1 Djokovic had drawn Serbia level in their second group-stage tie by beating Jan-Lennard Struff after Filip Krajinovic’s loss to Dominik Koepfer. Germany would qualify for the quarter-finals from Group F if they beat Austria yesterday, which would leave Serbia waiting to see if they progress as one of the two best runners-up. The Russians, among the title favorites, made a perfect start to their campaign with a 3-0 victory over Ecuador. Italy became the first team to reach the last eight, backing up their win over the US by seeing off Colombia to wrap up the top spot in Group E.
ALPINE SKIING
Mayer wins at Lake Louise
Austrian double Olympic gold medalist Matthias Mayer on Saturday won the opening downhill race of the men’s World Cup season ahead of compatriot Vincent Kriechmayr and Switzerland’s Beat Feuz. It was a dominating start to the speed season by the Austrians, who placed three skiers in the first five and six in the top 16 at the iconic resort in the Canadian Rockies, signaling another fierce battle for coveted Olympic spots. Competing a day after the first downhill race of the week was called off because of too much snow, Mayer posted a time of 1 minute, 47.74 seconds to secure his 11th World Cup win. The 31-year-old Mayer has finished on the podium in each of his past six World Cup downhill appearances, a run that began with his triumph in Bormio in December last year.
BASKETBALL
Suns extend win streak to 16
Devin Booker on Saturday scored 30 points and the Phoenix Suns led wire-to-wire to easily beat the Brooklyn Nets 113-107 and extend their NBA winning streak to 16 games. The Suns have the second-longest winning streak in franchise history as they survived a late comeback by Brooklyn. They are trying to equal the 2006-2007 team, which holds the record of 17 straight wins. Booker did most of his damage in the first and third quarters, shooting nine of 18 from the floor overall and nailing four three-pointers in 32 minutes of playing time.
Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev was the only athlete to “beat” a world record on Sunday at the Enhanced Games, winning the men’s 50m freestyle at the divisive competition where athletes were free to take performance-enhancing substances. His time of 20.81 seconds — which is not considered official — came in the final event of the night in Las Vegas, sparing the blushes of organizers who made claims that multiple world records would be surpassed due to a sophisticated doping regime. Gkolomeev, who was wearing a synthetic “supersuit” long banned at events such as the Olympics, outpaced Australia’s Cameron McEvoy’s 20.88 set in
Fred Kerley is competing unaugmented against drug-fuelled athletes at this weekend’s Enhanced Games and still hopes to race in the 2028 Olympics, the suspended former 100m world champion said on Friday. Arguably the biggest name at the divisive event in Las Vegas, where doping is permitted, the US sprinter said he had chosen not to take any of the banned substances including testosterone and steroids that his competitors have been using. “I don’t need it. God gave me fast feet for a reason. And I’m here to showcase my talent,” Kerley said. Kerley last September became the first US competitor and first track
The manager of the Yomiuri Giants, one of Japan’s most popular baseball teams, resigned yesterday after he was arrested for allegedly physically attacking his teenage daughter. Shinnosuke Abe allegedly grabbed the 18-year-old and forced her to the floor at their home in central Tokyo on Monday evening, reported national broadcaster NHK and Kyodo News, citing unnamed police sources. “Leaving like this really means I’m causing you a lot of trouble, and I feel truly sorry about that,” Abe told a hastily arranged news conference, his eyes red with tears. The former star catcher, who is among baseball-obsessed Japan’s most recognized sports figures,
VICTORY ABROAD: The team took home a fistful of medals and secured spots for the autumn’s Asian Games, scheduled for September in Nagoya Taiwan’s women’s team captured the overall title at the Asian Taekwondo Championships in Mongolia on Sunday, finishing with two golds, one silver and one bronze medal. The strong showing, led by gold medalists Wang Chieh-ling and Chang Jui-en secured the full quota of available spots for Taiwan at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, in September. Wang opened Taiwan’s medal run by winning gold in the women’s under-46kg class on Thursday, the first day of competition. Liu Yu-yun later earned a silver in the under-49kg class. On the final day on Sunday, Chang won Taiwan’s second gold medal in the under-62kg event, and
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