SOCCER
FA slams radio remarks
Football Australia (FA) yesterday condemned “inappropriate and unacceptable” remarks by a radio host about their women’s team and urged more respectful commentary on women’s sports. Marty Sheargold was widely criticized after saying on nationwide radio station Triple M he “would rather hammer a nail” through his penis than watch the Matildas at next year’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup at home. “Got any men’s sport?” he added, to laughter from his cohosts. The FA said that “such remarks not only diminish the extraordinary achievements and contributions of our women’s national football team, but also fail to recognize the profound impact they have had on Australian sport and society.”
Photo: EPA-EFE
GOLF
No modeling plans, Ko says
Lydia Ko yesterday said she would rather grace the fairways on the golf course than strut down the catwalk after appearing on the cover of the latest edition of Vogue in South Korea. The Paris Olympics gold medalist and LPGA Hall of Famer was featured as one of the inspirational women who shared their stories of work and success. Speaking ahead of this week’s HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore, the Seoul-born New Zealander said she had a great time being in a fashion magazine outside of golf clothes, “but modeling is probably not what I’ll do in the near future.” “There are countless hours they [models] put in to do the perfect walk or shot or have their signature look,” the 27-year-old three-time major champion added. “I’m definitely not going to be walking down the hotel hallway trying to see what my walk is going to be like.”
Photo: AFP
BASEBALL
Harper gets Phanatic tattoo
Bryce Harper’s love for the Phillie Phanatic runs skin deep. The Philadelphia Phillies star arrived at spring training sporting a tattoo on his right arm of the team’s iconic mascot zooming around on an all-terrain vehicle. Harper worked with Utah-based tattoo artist Hannah Matthews on the fine-line design on the outside of his right arm just above the wrist. The two-time National League Most Valuable Player and eight-time All-Star has regularly yucked it up with the Phanatic since signing with the Phillies in 2019. Harper sported cleats and a headband featuring the large, furry, green bird-type creature and wielded a Phanatic-themed bat while facing the New York Mets in London last year. “I just love Philly,” Harper told MLB.com. “I love the Phanatic. It’s just fun.”
Photo: AP
BASKETBALL
Taurasi announces retirement
Six-time Olympic champion Diana Taurasi on Tuesday announced her retirement from the WNBA, closing the book on one of the most decorated careers in all of basketball. The league’s 42-year-old all-time leading scorer won three championships in her 20 years with the Phoenix Mercury. “Diana Taurasi is one of the greatest competitors to ever play the game of basketball on any stage,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement. “She has earned the unquestioned respect of players around the globe, delivered electrifying moments and captivated fans again and again.” The first basketball player to earn six Olympic golds, Taurasi’s 10,646 career points is nearly 3,000 clear of the next highest scorer, Tina Charles.
Photo: Reuters
DOMINATION: McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris took the first two spots as Mercedes’ George Russell and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen followed them Australian Oscar Piastri yesterday roared back from season-opening disappointment in his home race by winning the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix from pole position in a McLaren one-two with championship-leading teammate Lando Norris. George Russell finished third for Mercedes, ahead of Red Bull’s reigning champion Max Verstappen with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Saturday’s sprint winner Lewis Hamilton fifth and sixth respectively. Piastri’s win denied Norris a third victory in a row, including last year’s Abu Dhabi season-ender, but left champions McLaren unbeaten in two races so far this year. “Mega job guys. The car was very, very lovely,” Piastri said
TO FINAL FOUR: France had 22 chances and scored two goals, while Croatia could not manage a single shot on target in 120 minutes. Les Bleus won 5-4 on penalties France on Sunday overturned a two-goal deficit to qualify for the UEFA Nations League Final Four by eliminating Croatia 5-4 on penalties after a 2-0 victory in their quarter-final second leg at the Stade de France. Dayot Upamecano scored the winning spot kick in a nail-biting shootout in which France keeper Mike Maignan made two saves, sending Les Bleus into the semi-finals against Spain. Michael Olise opened the scoring and Ousmane Dembele doubled their lead 10 minutes from time to send the tie into extra time after their 2-0 loss in Split, Croatia, on Thursday. France had a total of
BRING THE NOISE: Brazil’s Fonseca attracted a boisterous crowd that brought such dominant soccer-style energy the referee switched to Portuguese to ask for quiet Australia’s Alex de Minaur on Monday put an end to Brazilian talent Joao Fonseca’s challenge at the Miami Open, outlasting the 18-year-old 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 in an enthralling contest. Attendance on stadium court had been sparse throughout the day, but the Hard Rock Stadium turned into a mini-Maracana Stadium for Fonseca’s match, complete with Brazilian flags and soccer-style chanting. Fonseca brought his energetic brand of ultra-attacking tennis, but De Minaur was up to the challenge, coping with blistering forehands and a partisan crowd. Such was the dominance of Fonseca’s raucous support that the referee switched to Portuguese for his appeals for quiet. However, De
The famously raucous Hong Kong Sevens are to start today in a big test for a shiny new stadium at the heart of a major US$3.85 billion sports park in the territory. Officials are keeping their fingers crossed that the premier event in Hong Kong’s sporting and social calendar goes off without a hitch at the 50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium. They hope to entice major European soccer teams to visit in the next few months, with reports in December last year saying that Liverpool were in talks about a pre-season tour. Coldplay are to perform there next month, all part of Hong Kong’s
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