BODYBUILDING
Taiwanese wins in China
Chen Hsueh-lin this week won a gold medal at Mr Universe China, emerging as the best-performing Taiwanese in the three-day tournament. Chen triumphed in the men’s masters category, which features competitors older than 40, while compatriot Wu Chin-lung placed third. Chen also won bronze in men’s bodybuilding, while Hsu Feng-shuo, who finished fourth in that category, was also the runner-up in men’s classic bodybuilding. The international championship, organized by the International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation, was held at the Western China International Expo City in Chengdu from Wednesday to Friday.
SOCCER
Acid attack victim discharged
A top Malaysian soccer player who sustained severe burns in an acid attack was discharged yesterday from a hospital where he had undergone multiple surgeries, the CEO of his club said. Selangor FC and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim sustained burns on the neck, shoulder, hands and chest in the assault at a shopping mall outside the capital, Kuala Lumpur, on May 5. Faisal’s case was the most high-profile of separate crimes committed against four top-flight Malaysian players this month, which are not believed to be linked but have nonetheless shocked and angered the nation.
BASKETBALL
Clark wins first WNBA game
Women’s basketball sensation Caitlin Clark on Friday drilled a dagger three-pointer to help the Indiana Fever notch their first win of her debut WNBA season, 78-73 over the Los Angeles Sparks. Clark, whose record-setting exploits in collegiate basketball brought unprecedented attention to the women’s game, has struggled since Indiana made her the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft. She endured another tough shooting night on Friday, but finished with her first WNBA double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
SOCCER
Barcelona fires Xavi
Barcelona on Friday sacked coach Xavi Hernandez after the Catalan giants failed to win a trophy this season, but just weeks after he and club president Joan Laporta agreed he would stay in the post. Xavi would take charge of the team’s final La Liga match today at Sevilla before departing. Former Bayern Munich and Germany coach Hansi Flick is heavily tipped to replace Xavi. “It’s never easy to leave the club of your life, but I am very proud,” Xavi wrote in an open letter published on social media. “From Sunday I will be just one more Barca fan, in the stands, whether it’s the Olympic Stadium or in a few months in the new Camp Nou. Because before being a player or a coach, I am a fan of Barcelona and I only want the best for the club, who will always have me at their disposal.”
SIBLING RIVALRY: Marc Marquez was locked in a duel with his little brother, falling behind at one point before recovering for his first season-opening victory since 2014 Six-time world champion Marc Marquez yesterday won the MotoGP season-opening Thailand Grand Prix to complete a dominant debut weekend at his new Ducati Lenovo Team, having also romped to Saturday’s sprint. The Spanish great took the 26-lap grand prix by 1.732 seconds for his 63rd MotoGP victory from younger brother Alex Marquez, who is still seeking a first checkered flag, with Francesco Bagnaia third to complete an all-Ducati podium. It completed a perfect weekend for Marc Marquez, who took pole position, the sprint victory and the grand prix win for a maximum 37 points to open the 22-leg 2025 campaign. He led from
AC Milan’s slender hopes of reaching next season’s UEFA Champions League took another hit on Thursday with a 2-1 defeat at Bologna which left them eight points from Serie A’s top four. Sergio Conceicao’s team sit eighth, some way behind fourth-placed Juventus after losing an entertaining contest at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, a match which was rescheduled from October last year due to torrential rain and flooding. Swathes of the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy, much of which is fertile agricultural land, had been left under water following a massive autumn downpour. Dan Ndoye prodded home the decisive goal in the 82nd minute
VALUABLE POINT: Relegation-threatened Valencia snatched a thrilling 3-3 draw at CA Osasuna thanks to a remarkable backheel volley by Umar Sadiq Barcelona on Sunday secured a comfortable 4-0 win over Real Sociedad to move back top of La Liga. Aritz Elustondo’s early red card gave Hansi Flick’s side a comfortable afternoon, with Gerard Martin, Marc Casado, Ronald Araujo and Robert Lewandowski on the score sheet. Atletico Madrid beat Athletic Bilbao on Saturday to temporarily knock the Catalans from their perch, while Real Madrid, third, lost at Real Betis Balompie. Flick was able to rotate his side a little ahead of the UEFA Champions League round-of-16 visit to face SL Benfica tomorrow and still move one point above Atletico. “There were a lot of things that
Former Australian motorcycle gang member-turned-golfer Ryan Peake, who served a lengthy jail term for assault, yesterday produced a “life-changing” maiden win to qualify for The Open Championship. Peake held his nerve for a one-stroke victory at the New Zealand Open, earning him a berth at the major in Portrush, Northern Ireland, in July, pending clearance to travel as a convicted criminal. The 31-year-old from Perth celebrated animatedly and was showered with champagne by friends on the 18th green of the Millbrook Resort course near Queenstown after a redemption story rarely seen in the refined sport of golf. Peake held back tears as he
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