FOOTBALL
NFL debuts kick-off rule
The NFL’s new one-year trial kick-off format was debuted on Thursday in a pre-season opener halted early by a storm. The Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, ended with the Chicago Bears 21-17 winners over the Houston Texans after play was suspended with 3 minutes, 31 seconds remaining in the third quarter and did not resume. Under the new rule, kickers struck the ball at their 35-yard line while the other players lined up on the opposition 40 and 35-yard lines except for two receiving players in the reception zone between the goal line and the 20-yard line. Players are not allowed to move until the ball is touched by a receiver. If the ball hits the ground or is downed in the end zone, the receiving team take possession at their own 30-yard line. As a result, kickers must now aim to put the ball in a 20-yard landing zone rather than smash it beyond the back of the end zone. In the first half, five kick-offs under the new rule saw an average return of 20 yards, with average starting position being just beyond the 25-yard line. Former Chicago star Devin Hester was shocked that the format did not produce breakaway runbacks. “I’m surprised we’re not seeing no big runs. It’s shocking,” Hester said. “This is the first season, first game, so I’m figuring a lot of coaches are going to evaluate this game and try to figure out what they can do to utilize and get some more big plays in there.”
Photo: AFP
TENNIS
Taiwan’s Wu makes semis
Wu Fang-hsien of Taiwan on Thursday won in the women’s doubles quarter-finals at the Washington Open. Wu and partner Jiang Xinyu of China defeated Yana Sizikova and Anastasia Potapova of Russia 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) on the hard courts at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center. The win earned them a match against Aldila Sutjiadi of Indonesia and Japan’s Miyu Kato at the US$2,100,230 event, with their semi-final to be played after press time last night.
RUGBY UNION
Perenara to go to Japan
All Blacks scrumhalf T.J. Perenara is to leave New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and the Wellington Hurricanes at the end of this year after signing a three-year deal with Japan League One side Black Rams Tokyo, NZR said yesterday. The 32-year-old debuted for the All Blacks in 2014 and lifted the Rugby World Cup a year later. Perenara has earned 81 Test caps over a decade and is set to play in the Rugby Championship for six Tests against Argentina, South Africa, and Australia. “I’m grateful for every opportunity in the black jersey and as long as I can I’ll keep competing and contributing to the All Blacks,” Perenara said in a statement. “It’s an exciting time to be involved with a new coaching group and the motivation to represent New Zealand is as strong now as it was when I made my debut.” New Zealand are to begin their Rugby Championship title defense with two matches against Argentina on Saturday next week and Aug. 17.
US President Donald Trump’s granddaughter, Kai Trump, is poised to make her LPGA Tour debut after receiving a sponsor invitation on Tuesday to the Nov. 13 to 16 tournament at Pelican Golf Club in Florida. “My dream has been to compete with the best in the world on the LPGA Tour,” Kai Trump said in a statement posted on the LPGA’s Web site. “This event will be an incredible experience,” she said. “I look forward [to] meeting and competing against so many of my heroes and mentors in golf as I make my LPGA Tour debut.” The 18-year-old high-school senior,
REACTION: Less than 24 hours after a 18-inning Game 3 loss, the Blue Jays’ win ensured that the best-of-seven series is to head back to Toronto for Game 6 tomorrow Vladimir Guerrero Jr on Tuesday blasted a two-run home run as the Toronto Blue Jays bounced back to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 and tie the MLB World Series at two games apiece. Less than 24 hours after a shattering 18-inning Game 3 loss, the Blue Jays climbed off the canvas to breathe new life into their hopes of a first MLB title in 32 years. Guerrero’s two-run blast off Dodgers starter Shohei Ohtani and a superb pitching performance from ace Shane Bieber laid the foundations for a gutsy victory that silenced Dodger Stadium. “I’m always trying to compete
Jannik Sinner on Thursday eased past Francisco Cerundolo 7-5, 6-1 at the Paris Masters to set up a quarter-final clash with Ben Shelton, while reigning champion Alexander Zverev earned a straight-sets win over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the third round. A maiden crown in the French capital would return Sinner to No. 1 in the world rankings after current incumbent Carlos Alcaraz suffered a shock early exit at the hands of Britain’s Cameron Norrie. The Italian four-time Grand Slam champion is yet to drop a set in the tournament as he hones in on what would be a fifth title of the
Retired defender Jerome Boateng on Saturday pulled out of a planned coaching internship at Bayern Munich after fans voiced their objection due to the FIFA 2014 World Cup winner being found guilty of assaulting a former girlfriend last year. The former Bayern and Germany defender, who played for the club between 2011 and 2021, had discussed a short internship with coach Vincent Kompany. “Following the recent discussion regarding myself, I have decided to focus on my issues such as the A training license.... That is where my focus is,” he said in a social media post addressed to Bayern and
RSS