Canada's Vallieres claims shock women's road race world title
KIGALI :Canada's Magdeleine Vallieres took a surprise gold in the women's road race at the UCI road world championships after a decisive attack on the final climb on Saturday.
Alcaraz dispels injury fears to reach Tokyo quarter-finals
TOKYO: Carlos Alcaraz admitted his ankle injury had worried him and was on his mind as he beat Belgium’s Zizou Bergs 6-4, 6-3 at the Japan Open on Saturday. The world number one hurt himself two days earlier in his opening match in Tokyo, crumpling to the ground before playing on with his ankle heavily strapped. The Spaniard was left sweating on his fitness but he showed no evidence of discomfort as he returned to the court to beat world number 45 Bergs in front of an adoring Japanese crowd. Alcaraz got the job done in an hour and 20 minutes and will face American Brandon Nakashima in the quarter-finals on Sunday. “I was a bit worried before the match so I just wanted to warm up and let’s see how it’s going to feel,” Alcaraz said. “I didn’t feel anything in the ankle, so after the warm-up I decided I can go and I can play.” Alcaraz took to the court with white strapping visible underneath the sock on his left ankle. He did not appear to be restricted in his movement but he limped briefly after chasing a shot that won Bergs a break early in the first set. “In some movements I’m scared about going crazy so most of the time I take it a little easy,” he said. “Sometimes I feel a little bit the ankle, which I would say is normal.” Alcaraz is playing in Japan for the first time and delighted the crowd with a series of leaping forehand winners, claiming the first set despite having his service broken twice. His service was broken three times overall and he blamed his injury for his lack of accuracy. “I think because my thoughts were on the ankle, I forgot about doing a smooth movement, smooth serve,” he said. Alcaraz raced into an early lead in the second set but Bergs made him work hard for the victory with a gritty
Indonesian gymnast dies after training accident in Russia
JAKARTA: A 19-year-old Indonesian gymnast and Olympic hopeful died in Russia nearly two weeks after suffering an accident during training, the local federation said. Naufal Takdir Al Bari had been training in the western city of Penza since early September to prepare for the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Jakarta next month. Naufal suffered a serious neck injury after falling awkwardly into a foam-filled pit while performing a bar exercise, Oleg Minkarsky, director of the sports hall in Penza, told Russian news agency TASS. The gymnast spent 12 days in intensive care but died this week. “Indonesian gymnastics has lost one of its finest sons. This is a deep blow and sorrow for us,” Ita Yuliati, chairperson of Indonesia’s gymnastics federation, said in a statement Friday. “We are currently communicating with his family...
Roger Goodell: Easier to get NFL teams to play internationally - ESPN
DUBLIN — Convincing NFL teams to play international games isn't the task it used to be, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in Dublin ahead of the first regular-season NFL game in Ireland.
West Ham appoint Espirito Santo as manager after sacking Potter
West Ham United have appointed former Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo as head coach on a three-year contract, replacing Graham Potter who was sacked on Saturday following a dismal start to the Premier League season.
Fernandes misses penalty as Man United slump to defeat at Brentford
LONDON :Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes had a penalty saved as his team slipped to a 3-1 defeat at Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday, Igor Thiago scoring twice for the hosts.
Top-seeded Iga Swiatek advances to 3rd round at China Open
Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek defeated Yuan Yue 6-0, 6-3 on Saturday to advance to the third round at the China Open in Beijing and create some WTA Tour history.