GOLF
Pan grabs third in Mexico
Taiwan’s C.T. Pan on Sunday overcame a slow start at the Mexico Open to tie for third place in Vallarta. The 32-year-old — who turned professional in 2015 and won his maiden, and only, PGA Tour title in 2019 — shot a six-under-par 65 in the fourth round to finish alongside Germany’s Stephan Jaeger and American Justin Lower with a 14-under 270. Pan had eight birdies in the final round, helping to make up for a level opener, which he followed with two four-under-par rounds to stay in contention. American rookie Jake Knapp won his first Tour title, finishing 19-under par, despite an even final round.
SOCCER
Shinji Okazaki to retire
Former Japan international Shinji Okazaki, who won the Premier League with Leicester City in 2016, yesterday announced that he would retire at the end of the season. The hard-working forward played a key role as the Foxes upset the odds to win their first league title, making 36 Premier League appearances and scoring five goals in the 2015-16 season. The 37-year-old also finished as Japan’s all-time third-highest scorer with 50 goals in 119 appearances. “I have decided to retire at the end of the season,” Okazaki wrote on Instagram. “I have given everything as a football player but I have realised that my body is worn out and I am reaching my physical limit.” He is currently at Belgian side Sint-Truiden, after playing for several Spanish clubs following his Leicester exit in 2019. He has struggled with injury this season and has not played since December last year.
SOCCER
Honduras striker in coma
Honduras striker Alberth Elis remained in an induced coma on Sunday after a serious head injury, with his French club FC Girondins de Bordeaux saying it was “impossible” to comment on his vital signs. Elis, 28, was knocked unconscious just 40 seconds into Saturday’s Ligue 2 game against En Avant Guingamp when he met a cross and collided with the head of defender Donatien Gomis. Although Gomis recovered quickly, Elis was treated for several minutes on the pitch before being sent to a hospital where he underwent surgery on Saturday evening. “Alberth Elis suffered a head trauma which led to him being placed in an induced coma,” Bordeaux said in a statement. “We will follow the evolution of his state of health in the hospital in the coming days.”
GOLF
Englishman’s fortunes turn
Only a week after he was delivering groceries to make ends meet, the 2,930th-ranked golfer Joe Dean on Sunday finished tied for second at the Kenya Open to earn himself more than US$200,000 and a huge shot of confidence for the future. “I don’t think it’s sunk in yet,” the Englishman said. “It’s what people dream of, it’s what I’ve been aiming to do for a long time.” Dean shot a four-under 67, including five birdies, to share second place with Spaniard Nacho Elvira, two shots behind tournament winner Darius Van Driel. The 29-year-old Dean had to go back to working for a British supermarket chain after he missed the cut in Doha earlier this month. “I’ve never been one of the most overconfident people. Coming into this week was a bit daunting,” he said. “Luckily, I managed to get over that quickly and figure out how to get around the golf course.”
Shohei Ohtani and Clayton Kershaw on Friday joined their Los Angeles Dodgers teammates in sticking their fists out to show off their glittering World Series rings at a ceremony. “There’s just a lot of excitement, probably more than I can ever recall with the Dodger fan base and our players,” manager Dave Roberts said before Los Angeles rallied to beat the Detroit Tigers 8-5 in 10 innings. “What a way to cap off the first two days of celebrations,” Roberts said afterward. “By far the best opening week I’ve ever experienced. I just couldn’t have scripted it any better.” A choir in the
After fleeing Sudan when civil war erupted, Al-Hilal captain Mohamed Abdelrahman and his teammates have defied the odds to reach the CAF Champions League quarter-finals. They are today to face title-holders Al-Ahly of Egypt in Cairo, with the return match in the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott, on Tuesday next week. Al-Hilal and biggest domestic rivals Al-Merrikh relocated to Mauritania after a power struggle broke out in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and a paramilitary force. The civil war has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced more than 12 million people, according to the UN. The Democratic Republic of the Congo-born Al-Hilal
Shohei Ohtani, Teoscar Hernandez and Tommy Edman on Thursday smashed home runs to give the reigning World Series champions the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-4 victory over Detroit on the MLB’s opening day in the US. The Dodgers, who won two season-opening games in Tokyo last week, raised their championship banner on a day when 28 clubs launched the season in the US. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shuffled his batting lineup with all four leadoff hitters finally healthy as Ohtani was followed by Mookie Betts, then Hernandez and Freddie Freeman in the cleanup spot, switching places with Hernandez. “There’s a Teoscar tax to
Matvei Michkov did not score on Monday, but the Philadelphia rookie had a hand in both goals as hosts the Flyers earned a 2-1 victory over the Nashville Predators. Ryan Poehling and Jamie Drysdale got the goals for the Flyers (31-36-9, 71 points), who won their third straight. Michkov and Travis Konecny assisted on both. Ivan Fedotov stopped 28 shots to earn his first win since March 1, ending a personal six-game losing streak. Zachary L’Heureux got the lone goal for Nashville. Michael McCarron and Brady Skjei got the assists for the Predators (27-39-8, 62 points), who have just four goals in their
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