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.
A sumo star was born in Japan on Sunday when 24-year-old Takerufuji became the first wrestler in 110 years to win a top-division tournament on his debut, triumphing at the 15-day Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka despite injuring his ankle on the penultimate day. Takerufuji, whose injury had left him in a wheelchair outside the ring, shoved out the higher-ranked Gonoyama at the Edion Arena Osaka to the delight of the crowd, giving him an unassailable record of 13 wins and two losses to claim the Emperor’s Cup. “I did it just through willpower. I didn’t really know what was going
The US’ Ilia Malinin on Saturday produced six scintillating quadruple jumps, including a quadruple Axel, in the men’s free skate to capture his first figure skating world title. The 19-year-old nicknamed the “Quad god,” who is the only skater to land a quadruple Axel in competition, dazzled with an array of breathtakingly executed jumps starting with his quad Axel and including a quadruple Lutz in combination with a triple flip and a quadruple toe loop in combination with a triple toe. He added an unexpected triple-triple combination at the end to earn a world-record 227.79 in the free program for a championship
Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter is being criminally investigated by the IRS, and the attorney for his alleged bookmaker said Thursday that the ex-Los Angeles Dodgers employee placed bets on international soccer — but not baseball. The IRS confirmed Thursday that interpreter Ippei Mizuhara and Mathew Bowyer, the alleged illegal bookmaker, are under criminal investigation through the agency’s Los Angeles Field Office. IRS Criminal Investigation spokesperson Scott Villiard said he could not provide additional details. Mizuhara, 39, was fired by the Dodgers on Wednesday following reports from the Los Angeles Times and ESPN about his alleged ties to an illegal bookmaker and debts well
MLB on Friday announced a formal investigation into the scandal swirling around Shohei Ohtani and his former interpreter amid charges that the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar was the victim of “massive theft.” The Dodgers on Wednesday fired Ippei Mizuhara, Ohtani’s long-time interpreter and close friend, after Ohtani’s representatives alleged that the Japanese two-way star had been the victim of theft, which was reported to involve millions of dollars and link Mizuhara to a suspected illegal bookmaker in California. “Major League Baseball has been gathering information since we learned about the allegations involving Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhara from the news media,” MLB