BADMINTON
Tai wins Hong Kong opener
World No. 4 Tai Tzu-ying yesterday launched her Li-Ning Hong Kong Open campaign with a swift victory over Isabelle Rusli. The top seed took just 24 minutes to beat Rusli 21-10, 21-12. If Tai wins a fourth title at this year’s tournament, she would become the most successful women’s singles player, BWF’s Web site said. She is the only former winner competing in this year’s edition. She next faces world No. 31 Putri Kusuma Wardani of Indonesia, who advanced after beating Taiwan’s Sung Shou-yun. In men’s singles, Taiwanese world No. 9 Chou Tien-chen was last night to play Canada’s Sheng Xiaodong after press time, while compatriot Chi Yu-jen defeated Japan’s Yushi Tanaka 21-18, 21-11. In men’s doubles, Taiwanese two-time Olympic champion Wang Chi-lin and new partner Chiu Hsiang-chieh beat Hong Kong’s Hung Kuei Chun and Lui Chun Wai 24-22, 21-8, while Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan defeated compatriots Chiang Chien-wei and Wu Hsuan-yi 21-18, 21-16. In mixed doubles, Taiwan’s Lu Ming-che and Hung En-tzu beat India’s Ashith Surya and Amrutha Pramuthesh 21-16, 22-20.
FIELD HOCKEY
Player banned for cocaine
Australian player Tom Craig has been banned for 12 months following his arrest during the Paris Olympics last month on suspicion of buying cocaine, Hockey Australia said yesterday. Craig would serve at least half of the ban, which began on Monday, with the remaining six months to be suspended if he met conduct requirements, a Hockey Australia statement said. The 29-year-old was released without charge, but was given a warning by a judge after French police detained him for allegedly trying to buy cocaine in Paris days after Australia lost their hockey quarter-final at the Games. “Craig is required to complete mandatory training and education programs as part of his sanction,” the statement said. Craig admitted that he had “made a terrible mistake” following his release from custody and apologized to his family, friends, teammates and the Australia Olympic team. “I have embarrassed you all and am truly sorry,” he said.
CRICKET
NZ-Afghan Test called off
Play in Afghanistan’s one-off Test against New Zealand was yesterday called off without a ball being bowled for a third consecutive day due to rain in India’s Greater Noida region. The area has been deluged by steady rain over the past two weeks and fresh showers early yesterday prompted match officials to abandon play with the toss yet to take place. The match is the first Test to be played at the Shahid Vijay Singh Pathik Sport Complex, which has only basic drainage systems, although it has hosted 11 “home” limited-overs matches for the Afghans. Afghanistan play their “home” matches abroad due to security concerns for touring teams. In response to criticism about the choice of venue, an Afghanistan Cricket Board official told local media it chose Greater Noida ahead of two other options in India because of its proximity to Delhi, which made traveling from Kabul easier. It said in a statement that it had ruled out playing in the United Arab Emirates due to the extreme heat there. “It’s important to understand that the Future Tours Program is typically planned five years in advance, which makes it nearly impossible to predict future circumstances with complete certainty,” the board said.
Freddie Freeman homered and drove in four runs, Shohei Ohtani also went deep and Roki Sasaki earned his first major league win as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 10-3 on Saturday night for their seventh straight victory. The Dodgers have won the first two games of the series to improve to 5-0 against Atlanta this year. Los Angeles’ three-game sweep at home early in the season left the Braves 0-7. Sasaki allowed three runs and six hits over five innings. The 23-year-old right-hander gave up a home run to Ozzie Albies, but received plenty of offensive support in his
INTER AWAIT: Superb saves by PSG ’keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma inspired the victory, as Arsenal were punished for misses, including one by Bukayo Saka Arsenal on Wednesday fell short on the big stage again as their painful UEFA Champions League semi-final exit against Paris Saint-Germain left Mikel Arteta to rue his club’s failure to provide him with enough attacking options. Arteta’s side were unable to reach the Champions League final for the first time in 19 years as PSG clinched a tense 2-1 win at Parc des Princes. Trailing 1-0 from last week’s first leg in London, the Gunners made a blistering start to the second leg, but could not convert their chances as Gianluigi Donnarumma’s superb saves inspired PSG’s 3-1 aggregate victory. Arsenal were punished for
Bayern Munich on Sunday were crowned German champions for the 34th time, giving striker Harry Kane his first major trophy, after second-placed Bayer 04 Leverkusen drew 2-2 at SC Freiburg. Bayern’s 3-3 draw at RB Leipzig on Saturday, when the Bavarians came from two goals down to take the lead before conceding a stoppage-time equalizer, meant defending Bundesliga champions Leverkusen needed to win at Freiburg to delay the title party. Leverkusen were two goals down before scoring twice in the final 10 minutes, but Xabi Alonso’s side could not find a third, as Bayern reclaimed the title at the first attempt after
THRILLER: Raphinha gave Barca a 3-2 lead with two minutes remaining of regular time, but Francesco Acerbi equalized the game in the second minute of added time Davide Frattesi on Tuesday fired Inter into the UEFA Champions League final with an extra-time winner that gave the Italians a stunning 4-3 triumph over Barcelona, 7-6 on aggregate. Italy midfielder Frattesi won a tie for the ages under a downpour in Milan when he lashed home in the 99th minute, sending a packed and rocking San Siro wild with joy. Simone Inzaghi’s team will face either Arsenal or Paris Saint-Germain at the end of this month in Munich, Germany, where they would feel they have a great chance to be crowned kings of Europe for a fourth time after
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