Sun, Mar 02, 2025 page6

• SPORTS BRIEFS

  • Agencies
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  BASEBALL

  Ohtani homers after surgery

  Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Shohei Ohtani on Friday night looked a little rusty for a moment at Camelback Ranch, producing just one awkward swing and miss while working a full count against Los Angeles Angels pitcher Yusei Kikuchi in the first inning. The five-pitch warm-up was all he needed. Batting in the leadoff spot, Ohtani drove the next pitch high into the air to the opposite field, easily clearing the left field wall for a solo homer in his first spring training appearance following offseason shoulder surgery. “Regardless of the results, I think the biggest takeaway was that I got through my three at-bats without any issues,” Ohtani said through an interpreter. “Physically, I felt really good.”

  

  Photo: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / USA Today

  GOLF

  Ex-biker eyes first title

  Australian former biker club member Ryan Peake, who spent time in jail for assault, yesterday charged to within sight of a maiden golf title at the New Zealand Open. Peake is alone in second place after three rounds of the US$1.12 million tournament at the Millbrook Resort course near Queenstown, having overcome a disrupted buildup. The 31-year-old received a delayed clearance to travel to New Zealand because of his criminal record, only arriving at the South Island destination on Tuesday evening ahead of a Thursday morning tee-off. A member of outlawed motorcycle club the Rebels at the time, Peake was found guilty of serious assault as a 21-year-old and sentenced to five years in prison. He told journalists on Friday that golf became a focal point in a bid to turn his fortunes around and leave behind a “young and stupid” lifestyle. Asked yesterday to reflect on his past, the burly, tattooed golfer said the final round was the focus. “I’ll reflect on all that sort of stuff after the tournament, but in the meantime I’m mid-tournament going into a final round,” Peake said.

  

  Photo: AFP / Australian Golf & Photosport.NZ / Michael Thomas

  OLYMPICS

  Paris to replace medals

  The mint in France responsible for producing medals for the Paris Olympics and Paralympics has received 220 requests to replace ones won at the Games, it said on Friday. Some athletes have complained their medals have been discolored or chipped, sometimes within weeks of the Games ending last year. The Monnaie de Paris said the replacement medals would be identical to the originals, but a protective varnish would be added to increase their durability. It said in a statement it had “done everything possible, from August 2024, to ensure the replacement of the medals concerned.” The International Olympic Committee in January said it would systematically replace “defective” medals. The French mint prefers to call them “damaged.” Some Olympians from the Paris Games have taken to social media to share photos of the state of their medals. One of the first was American skateboarder Nyjah Huston, who won bronze in the street skateboarding competition on July 29. Ten days later he posted a picture of his medal, complaining about its quality. “These Olympic medals look great when they’re brand new, but after letting it sit on my skin with some sweat for a little bit and then letting my friends wear it over the weekend, they’re apparently not as high quality as you would think,” he said. “It’s looking rough. Even the front. It’s starting to chip off a little.”

  

  Photo: AFP
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