BADMINTON
Tai advances at China Open
Taiwanese star Tai Tzu-ying yesterday beat compatriot Pai Yu-po 21-13, 21-17 to advance to the second round of the Victor China Open in Changzhou. World No. 4 Tai is next to play world No. 19 Zhan Yi Man of China, who beat Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan 21-18, 21-14. In the men’s doubles, Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan yesterday upset compatriots Lu Ching-yao and Yang Po-han 22-20, 21-13. Taiwanese men’s singles star Chou Tien-chen starts his campaign today when he faces world No. 7 Li Shi Feng of China.
BASEBALL
Dodgers’ Urias arrested
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias was arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence, Los Angeles police said on Monday after the second such incident of his MLB career. The 27-year-old Mexican left-hander was apprehended on Sunday and released on Monday on a US$50,000 bond, police said. Urias was involved in a May 2019 incident at a mall parking lot in Beverly Hills where he was accused of shoving a woman to the ground. While he was not prosecuted, Urias was suspended for 20 games for contravening the MLB’s domestic violence policy. Urias helped the Dodgers win the 2020 World Series. “While we attempt to learn all the facts, he will not be traveling with the team. The organization has no further comment at this time,” the Dodgers wrote on social media.
SOCCER
Brazil drop Antony
Manchester United winger Antony was dropped from Brazil’s squad for upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifying games on Monday following allegations of assault made by an ex-girlfriend against him. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said in a statement that Antony had been stood down to “preserve the alleged victim, the player, the Brazil team and the CBF.” Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus is to replace Antony in the squad for the games against Bolivia on Friday and Peru on Tuesday next week. Antony, 23, on Monday denied physically assaulting ex-girlfriend Gabriela Cavallin in a statement on Instagram, writing that he was the “victim of false accusations.” The denial came after Brazilian press reports published WhatsApp messages reputedly between Antony and Cavallin in which the player allegedly threatens his ex-partner. In one of the conversations cited by local media, Cavallin says he must apologize for “kicks and assaults.” Antony then appears to reply “sorry” in response. Cavallin is also shown in one photo with an apparent head wound. Antony said in his Instagram post that his relationship with Cavallin was “tumultuous, with verbal abuse on both sides.”
CYCLING
Kooij wins again in Britain
Dutch rider Olav Kooij on Monday made it back-to-back wins at the start of the Tour of Britain by edging a dramatic sprint finish on stage two in Wrexham. Kooij, who triumphed in the opener in Manchester on Sunday, was led home at the end of a winding, undulating final few kilometers by Team Jumbo-Visma teammate Wout van Aert, who finished third behind Danny van Poppel. However, the 110km ride was marred by Tobias Lund Andresen’s heavy fall as the leaders wound it up for the finish. The Danish rider crashed to the ground as he tried to get on the outside of Kooij, who held his line and went on to win.
BACK-TO-BACK: The League One club, which is owned by stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, is sparing no expense to clinch promotion to the Championship Hollywood endings are pricey, even in England’s third division. In pursuit of their third straight promotion, Wrexham AFC splashed some cash at League One rival Reading to secure the services of striker Sam Smith. The Welsh club owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney confirmed the signing of the 26-year-old Smith on Friday. He is one of the top scorers in the third division. The transfer fee was not disclosed, but British media widely reported it to be about ￡2 million (US$2.48 million) — not extravagant, but a hefty price at this level and it would be about the same figure that
Manchester City have reached do-or-die territory in the UEFA Champions League earlier than expected ahead of what Pep Guardiola has described as a “final” against Club Brugge today. City have disproved the suggestion a new format to Europe’s top club competition would remove any jeopardy for the top clubs as Guardiola stares down the barrel of failing to make the Champions League knockout stages for the first time in his career. The English champions have endured a torrid season both in their English Premier League title defense and on the continent. A run of one win in 13 games, which included Champions League
The Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets on Saturday did not disappoint in a thrilling midseason matchup in front of a fired-up sellout crowd of more than 18,500 fans. The top two teams in the NHL delivered with a combined nine goals, including the 877th of Alex Ovechkin’s career to put him 18 back of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record. That tied the score, the Jets pulled it out in overtime and just about everyone involved got their money’s worth out of the 5-4 game. “We knew how we were both sitting in the standings and both having real good years,” Winnipeg coach Scott
Less than a week after splashing out a world-record fee for Naomi Girma, Chelsea has spent big again to bring England midfielder Keira Walsh back to the English Women’s Super League. Walsh left European champions Barcelona after more than two years to join Chelsea for a reported ￡400,000 (US$496,000) on Friday. Walsh was the world’s most expensive player for two years after moving to Barcelona from Manchester City for a reported ￡400,000 in 2022. That status now belongs to Girma, the US defender who cost Chelsea a reported ￡900,000 to sign from the San Diego Wave. Still, it means 27-year-old Walsh — a technically
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