CYCLING
Contador takes firm grip
Alberto Contador took a firm grip of the Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista Del Sol in Spain after claiming victory on the third stage on Friday to extend his overall lead over Chris Froome to 27 seconds. The 157.6km stage from Motril to Alto de Hazallanas was the first summit finish for either Contador or Froome this season and just like in the Vuelta a Espana in September last year, the Spaniard was too strong for the 2013 Tour de France winner. Froome was not even in the initial chasing group when Contador attacked, but got stronger as the climb went on to finish 19 seconds behind in second place. France’s Romain Bardet was third, a further 1 minute, 22 seconds back. Second place was also enough to move Froome up to second in the general classification, 1 minute, 32 seconds ahead of Benat Intxausti.
CYCLING
Rafael Valls wins stage
Spain’s Rafael Valls won Friday’s tough Tour of Oman fourth stage with a summit finish on Green Mountain to take the overall lead. Tejay van Garderen of the US came home second 5 seconds adrift, with Spaniard Alejandro Valverde at 19 seconds completing the podium. Valls prised the leader’s red jersey from Fabian Cancellara with Van Garderen moving second overall 19 seconds behind, with two stages remaining. “I am the first one to be surprised,” Valls said. “I didn’t expect to win at all, especially with the riders left in the final group,” added Valls, who picked up only his second career stage win and the first since the Tour of San Luis five years ago.
GOLF
Goosen grabs one-shot lead
South African veteran Retief Goosen, a two-time US Open winner, seized a one-shot lead at the Northern Trust Open in Pacific Palisades, California, on Friday in tough conditions more reminiscent of a major championship. On a firm and fast-running Riviera Country Club layout where most players struggled to get the ball close, Goosen scrambled well as he eked out a one-under 70 in the second round. That gave Goosen, who is seeking his first PGA Tour victory since 2009, a slender one-shot advantage over Americans Ryan Moore (68) and Justin Thomas (69), as well as Canadian Graham DeLaet (67).
GOLF
Chawrasia leads at halfway
Local favorite S.S.P. Chawrasia’s 36-hole bogey-free run at his happy hunting ground earned a one-shot halfway lead over holder Siddikur Rahman at the Delhi Golf Course on Friday. The ever-smiling Indian birdied the opening hole and picked up three more shots on the back nine for a two-day total of 10-under 132 at the course where he has won twice. Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat was a further three shots behind after an even-par round.
GOLF
Ko, Ariya share Open lead
World No. 1 Lydia Ko and Thai teenager Ariya Jutanugarn shared the lead after the third round of the Women’s Australian Open at Royal Melbourne yesterday. The New Zealand teenager’s usual birdie haul eluded her, with searing temperatures baking the greens. She collected three birdies against two bogeys in a round of one-under 72 to move to seven-under. Ariya had three birdies and two bogeys to stay with Ko in what is shaping up as a titanic battle. South Korea’s Amy Yang also laid down a challenge after a three-under 70 to be a shot back. Chen Ssu-chia (77) was the highest-ranked Taiwanese on seven-over 226, while Hsu Wei-ling (80) and Min Lee (81) were another five shots back.
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was