The Malaysian Insider :: Sports

Drogba reported to leave Chelsea

Mon, 21 May 2012 23:42:23 GMT

PARIS, May 22 — Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba is leaving Chelsea after playing a leading role in their Champions League triumph, according to a report to be published today in French magazine France Football. Drogba, who scored the winning penalty in the shootout against Bayern Munich on Saturday after cancelling out Thomas Mueller’s opener, ...

Nadal beats Djokovic to regain Rome title

Mon, 21 May 2012 13:00:09 GMT

ROME, May 21 – Rafa Nadal enjoyed the perfect fillip ahead of his French Open defence with a commanding 7-5 6-3 victory over world number one Novak Djokovic in the delayed Rome Masters final today. Beaten surprisingly early on Madrid’s blue clay earlier this month, the 25-year-old Mallorcan was at his destructive best to claim the title in the ...

Grappling with gender bias, London beckons Geeta

Mon, 21 May 2012 07:02:06 GMT

PATIALA, India, May 21 — As Geeta Phogat completes her sprint at a sprawling sports campus in Punjab state, one of her coaches nods approvingly at her stopwatch, another rushes to check her pulse, and a third ushers her towards the gym for a bout of wrestling. Such attention and encouragement is routine for a top athlete, but it is unusual for ...

Sparkling Spurs sweep Clippers to advance to finals

Mon, 21 May 2012 06:23:56 GMT

LOS ANGELES, May 21 — The red-hot San Antonio Spurs steamrolled their way into the Western Conference finals by beating the Los Angeles Clippers 102-99 yesterday to complete another series sweep. Tony Parker was the difference for the Spurs, landing two key baskets in the final two-and-a-half minutes to overturn a one-point deficit and seal an ...

Heat overpower Pacers to tie playoff series

Mon, 21 May 2012 01:35:19 GMT

NEW YORK, May 21 — The Miami Heat bounced back yesterday from their back-to-back defeats to the Indiana Pacers to win Game Four of their Eastern Conference semi-final and tie their best-of-seven series at 2-2. LeBron James scored 40 points and had 18 rebounds and nine assists in Miami’s 101-93 victory away from home. Dywane Wade, who struggled in ...

Fingers of blame wag as Lakers on brink of playoff exit

Sun, 20 May 2012 23:36:03 GMT

LOS ANGELES, May 21 — With the Los Angeles Lakers’ NBA playoff season seemingly crumbling around them, team unity is showing signs of cracking as they prepare for today’s crucial Game Five in Oklahoma City. The Lakers blew a 13-point lead over the Thunder at home on Saturday, a heart-breaking 103-100 loss putting them on the brink of elimination ...

Chelsea’s triumph at Camp David summit

Sun, 20 May 2012 23:13:29 GMT

CHICAGO, May 21 — Prime Minister David Cameron yesterday savoured Chelsea’s win over German club Bayern Munich in the Champions League final after watching the deciding penalty shootout with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at a summit in the United States. “It’s not often you get the opportunity to watch a penalty shootout between an English team ...

Squash ace David saunters to fourth British Open crown

Sun, 20 May 2012 15:25:56 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 — Malaysian squash queen Datuk Nicol David swept aside Egyptian teenager Nour El Sherbini in the final today to win her fourth British Open squash championship. In the competition held at the glass court mounted at the O2 Arena, London at 1400 GMT the 28-year-old world number one defeated her challenger in straight sets 11-6, ...

Champions League is all Cech wanted for his birthday

Sun, 20 May 2012 15:12:04 GMT

MUNICH, May 20 — Petr Cech celebrated a perfect 30th birthday today after producing another exceptional goalkeeping performance to help Chelsea land their first Champions League trophy. The Czech had a shaky first half of the season but his revival in form has run parallel with the club’s overall resurgence since Roberto Di Matteo took over as ...

Chelsea and City triumphs could signal new era

Sun, 20 May 2012 12:49:56 GMT

MUNICH, May 20 — Chelsea’s late surge to glory, which saw them crowned European champions yesterday, means that two of the richest clubs in England achieved breakthrough triumphs within a week of each other, suggesting football’s balance of power could well be shifting. The weekend after Manchester City, enriched by Arab oil money since 2009, took ...

Bayern still waiting to crown ‘golden generation’

Sun, 20 May 2012 09:09:39 GMT

MUNICH, May 20 — Another Champions League final another defeat, time is running out for Bayern Munich’s home-grown talent to claim the top prize in European club football and cement their status as a golden generation. Bayern had set their sights on the Champions League in December 2010 when club president Uli Hoeness mapped out their target of ...

Thunder silence Lakers to take 3-1 series lead

Sun, 20 May 2012 06:38:45 GMT

LOS ANGELES, May 20 — A late three-pointer by Kevin Durant capped a dramatic fightback by the Oklahoma City Thunder as they pushed the Los Angeles Lakers to the brink of playoff elimination with a 103-100 win in Game Four on Saturday. The second-seeded Thunder stormed from 11 points behind early in the final quarter to take a commanding 3-1 lead ...

Best moment of my career, says banned Terry

Sun, 20 May 2012 03:40:20 GMT

MUNICH, May 20 — Chelsea's suspended captain John Terry missed the club's penalty shootout victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League final on Saturday but still described the win as the best moment of his career. The central defender was ruled out of the match at the Allianz Arena after being sent off in the semi-final second leg in ...

Chelsea storm final frontier to win Champions League

Sun, 20 May 2012 00:26:39 GMT

MUNICH, May 20 — Chelsea cleared the final hurdle in a season of never-ending challenges when they beat Bayern Munich 4-3 on penalties in the German team's Allianz Arena stadium to be crowned European Champions for the first time on Saturday. In what may be the final act of his Chelsea career, Didier Drogba sealed victory in a tension-packed ...

Injured Williams confident for French Open

Sat, 19 May 2012 16:08:11 GMT

ROME, May 19 — Serena Williams said she expected to be 100 per cent fit for next week’s French Open despite withdrawing from the Italian Open today because of a back injury. The American had been due to play China’s Li Na in the first semi-final but told a news conference she was pulling out as a precaution. “On Friday morning I felt a bit of pain ...

Bayern aiming for rare home final success

Sat, 19 May 2012 10:57:49 GMT

MUNICH, May 19 — Bayern Munich take on Chelsea in the Champions League final later today, with the Germans hoping to become European kings for the fifth time and the English attempting to reach the pinnacle of the game for the first time ever. Both teams have a string of suspensions, with Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes missing three key players and ...

Georges wins Californian stage six

Sat, 19 May 2012 01:12:13 GMT

BIG BEAR LAKE (California), May 19 — Sylvain Georges won the sixth stage of the Tour of California yesterday after a daring solo ride through the mountains. The Frenchman found himself out alone in front for the last quarter of the 186.3km stage from Palmdale to Big Bear Lake after leading a seven-man breakaway. “For me it’s the most beautiful ...

Chelsea want to win the final for Di Matteo, says Lampard

Sat, 19 May 2012 00:11:47 GMT

MUNICH, May 19 — Roberto Di Matteo has been faultless in his three months as temporary coach of Chelsea and the players will go all out to give him the Champions League trophy his efforts deserve, midfielder Frank Lampard said yesterday. Di Matteo took over when an underachieving Andre Villas-Boas was sacked in March and has sparked a remarkable ...

Flame for London Games arrives in Britain

Fri, 18 May 2012 22:59:29 GMT

CULDROSE,May 19 — The flame for the London Olympics arrived on British soil yesterday on board a special golden-liveried British Airways flight from Athens. The Airbus plane ‘Firefly’, Flight 2012, landed at the Culdrose naval air station with Britain’s Princess Anne, Games chairman Seb Coe, London Mayor Boris Johnson and former England soccer ...

Olympics: London flame bound for Britain

Fri, 18 May 2012 13:03:26 GMT

ATHENS, May 18 — The Olympic flame was heading to Britain from a rainswept Athens today to light a 70-day torch relay leading to the opening of the Games in London on July 27. Former England football captain David Beckham, Princess Anne and London Games chairman Seb Coe were among its flying companions on a golden-liveried Airbus — the ‘Firefly’ — ...

Beckham wants to be picked for football team on merit

Fri, 18 May 2012 11:13:38 GMT

ATHENS, May 18 — David Beckham hit back today at suggestions that he might be selected for the British Olympic football side at the London Games because of his celebrity status rather than on merit alone. ‘I’ve never said it’s disrespectful but it’s kind of a question I’ve always felt is,’ the former England captain told reporters on a visit to ...

Liu assumes Olympic burden in home stop

Fri, 18 May 2012 09:19:29 GMT

SHANHGAI, May 18 — High hurdler Liu Xiang takes centre stage in his home town of Shanghai tomorrow, ready once again to assume the burden of China’s heavy Olympic expectations. The former Olympic and world champion will compete in a quality 110m field at the Diamond League meeting as he continues preparations for his bid to regain the Olympic ...

Pacers take fire out of Heat, Spurs clip LA

Fri, 18 May 2012 07:13:47 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS, May 18 — The Indiana Pacers left no doubt which was the team on a mission as they routed the cold shooting Miami Heat 94-75 yesterday to take a surprising 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semi-final series. Out West, the San Antonio Spurs continued their dominant ways, defeating the Los Angeles Clippers 105-88 for a ...

Murray suffers setback, Williams sisters win

Fri, 18 May 2012 02:20:19 GMT

ROME, May 18 — Ailing Briton Andy Murray suffered another setback to his French Open preparations as he was ousted 6-7, 6-3, 6-2 by Richard Gasquet in the third round of the Rome Masters yesterday. The world No. 4, who continues to be troubled by a long-term back injury, dominated the first-set tiebreak, but was made to pay for missing 15 of 17 ...

Wigan manager Martinez to hold talks with Liverpool

Thu, 17 May 2012 23:35:27 GMT

LONDON, May 18 — Liverpool have been granted permission to speak to Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez about taking over from Kenny Dalglish, who was sacked on Wednesday. Wigan chairman Dave Whelan told Sky Sports: “I’ve always said that when a big club comes he (Martinez) will have permission to talk to them and... they don’t come any bigger ...

Greece hands over Olympic flame to London

Thu, 17 May 2012 15:47:07 GMT

ATHENS, May 17 – Greece formally hands over the Olympic flame to a London delegation led by Princess Anne and including David Beckham today at the Panathenaic stadium where the first modern Games were held in 1896. Seb Coe, chairman of the London organising committee LOCOG, spoke of a ‘massive, massive moment’ as the clock ticks down to the Games ...

Man City to make more top signings, says Mancini

Thu, 17 May 2012 14:18:02 GMT

DUBAI, May 17 – Newly-crowned Premier League champions Manchester City will strengthen their squad in the close season as the club target European glory next year, manager Roberto Mancini said today. The Italian led City to their first domestic title in 44 years on Sunday as a stoppage-time goal from Sergio Aguero sealed a 3-2 win over Queens Park ...

Liverpool will not be rushed into naming Dalglish successor

Thu, 17 May 2012 10:41:53 GMT

LONDON, May 17 – Liverpool’s managing director Ian Ayre has said the club will not be rushed into naming Kenny Dalglish’s successor with potential candidates facing the tricky prospect of replacing a terrace hero who many feel was harshly treated. Former Chelsea boss Andre-Villas Boas, Borussia Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp and Wigan Athletic’s ...

Owen leaves Manchester United after injury-hit spell

Thu, 17 May 2012 10:24:14 GMT

LONDON, May 17 – Former England forward Michael Owen has left Manchester United after a frustrating three years at the club where he barely featured and his injury curse continued to strike. “The manager informed me after our testimonial match on Tuesday that the club would not be offering me a new contract,” Owen (picture) wrote on his Twitter ...

Lippi takes charge of China’s Guangzhou Evergrande

Thu, 17 May 2012 08:48:58 GMT

BEIJING, May 17 – Italy’s World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi has been appointed head coach of the Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande, the club said today. Lippi (picture), who led the Azzurri to the 2006 World Cup, replaces South Korea’s Lee Jang-soo at the big-spending Chinese club. “According to the club’s strategic ...

QPR’s Barton accepts one violence charge, denies another

Thu, 17 May 2012 02:51:50 GMT

LONDON, May 17 — Joey Barton has accepted an FA charge against him for violent conduct against Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero in Sunday’s clash that clinched the English Premier League title for City. However, the Queens Park Rangers midfielder has denied a second charge of alleged violent conduct against City’s Vincent Kompany, the English FA ...

Chelsea, Bayern bid for glory in unexpected final

Thu, 17 May 2012 02:09:13 GMT

LONDON, May 17 — When the draw for the later stages of the Champions League opened the way for Barcelona and Real Madrid to meet in the final in Munich, not many people would have placed their bets on one involving Bayern Munich and Chelsea. The prospect of a dream El Clasico played out between the Spanish giants in Munich seemed highly likely, if ...

Dalglish departs with Liverpool still in a flux

Wed, 16 May 2012 23:24:28 GMT

LONDON, May 17 — As Liverpool begin their search for a successor to Kenny Dalglish, the burning question is how the once dominant force in English football can become top dogs again? Dalglish, who had his contract terminated yesterday after the club’s worst English Premier League finish for almost 20 years, was part of the great Liverpool sides of ...

Liverpool give King Kenny the boot

Wed, 16 May 2012 23:16:59 GMT

LIVERPOOL, May 17 — Kenny Dalglish’s second stint in charge of Liverpool was ended by the club’s American owners yesterday as the Anfield great paid the price for his side’s worst English Premier League finish for almost 20 years. Once the dominant force in English football, Liverpool have not won the championship since 1990 and the club’s ...

Barcelona’s Alves to have surgery on fractured collarbone

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:33:03 GMT

MADRID, May 16 – Barcelona defender Dani Alves fractured his right collarbone during training today and is due to have surgery later in the afternoon, the Spanish club said in statement. A news conference will be held at 1800 GMT when the club doctors will give further details. The Brazil international is set to miss Barcelona’s last game of the ...

Sauber gives CEO Kaltenborn a stake in F1 team

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:18:59 GMT

LONDON, May 16 – The Swiss founder and owner of Sauber has given the Formula One team’s chief executive a third of the company to ensure she stays on to lead it after he retires. Peter Sauber, 68, transferred the stake to Indian-born CEO Monisha Kaltenborn at the end of last year but the agreement was only made public today. Sauber has designated ...

Terry named in England squad, Gerrard captain

Wed, 16 May 2012 14:10:05 GMT

LONDON, May 16 – England manager Roy Hodgson included Chelsea’s John Terry, Liverpool striker Andy Carroll and Norwich City goalkeeper John Ruddy in a 23-man squad with Steven Gerrard named as captain today for next month’s European Championship. Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand was left out but his club team mate Wayne Rooney was included ...

Bayern to use home changing room in Champions League final

Wed, 16 May 2012 10:46:08 GMT

BERLIN, May 16 – Bayern Munich have been given the go-ahead by European soccer’s governing body UEFA to use their home changing room at the Allianz Arena for Saturday’s Champions League final against Chelsea, a club official said today. Bayern, aiming to become the first team of the host city to win a Champions League final on home soil, are ...

Dortmund’s Kagawa wants Premier League move

Wed, 16 May 2012 10:35:52 GMT

SINGAPORE, May 16 – Borussia Dortmund midfielder Shinji Kagawa has spoken to Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson and would like to move to an English Premier League club, the Japanese international said today. “It was good to meet and actually talk to him. He had some nice things to say to me,” the 23-year-old told reporters. Kagawa (picture) ...

Heat look vulnerable, Spurs still sharp

Wed, 16 May 2012 06:14:29 GMT

MIAMI, May 16 — Without Chris Bosh, championship favourites Miami suddenly looked vulnerable as they suffered an upset defeat to the Indiana Pacers, while the West's top seeds San Antonio look to have hit peak form with a victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in their second-round opener on Tuesday. In Miami, the Heat's 78-75 loss left their ...

Ferdinand to be left out of England squad, say reports

Wed, 16 May 2012 02:11:28 GMT

LONDON, May 16 — Defender Rio Ferdinand will be omitted from England's Euro 2012 squad which is due to be announced by new national team manager Roy Hodgson later on Wednesday, according to British media. The Times reported that when asked on Tuesday night, after Manchester United's 4-1 friendly win over an Irish Premier League Select XI in ...

Chelsea boosted as Luiz and Cahill start training

Tue, 15 May 2012 23:53:24 GMT

LONDON, May 16 — Chelsea central defenders David Luiz and Gary Cahill are hopeful they will be fit for Saturday's Champions League final against Bayern Munich after completing their first training session following hamstring injuries. "I'm so happy that I come back to training today," Luiz told reporters after playing a full part yesterday. "I did ...

Di Matteo hoping to avoid worst-case scenario in Munich

Tue, 15 May 2012 15:21:49 GMT

COBHAM, May 15 – Chelsea’s caretaker manager Roberto Di Matteo is hoping to avoid what he described today as the “worst-case scenario” with reserves and youngsters on the bench for the Champions League final against Bayern Munich on Saturday. Di Matteo (picture), whose future whether Chelsea win or lose the game at Bayern’s Allianz Arena is far ...

Stoke winger Pennant handed suspended jail term

Tue, 15 May 2012 14:44:40 GMT

LONDON, May 15 – Stoke City winger Jermaine Pennant was handed an eight-week jail sentence, suspended for one year, after he admitted drink-driving and driving while disqualified, the Press Association reported today. The former Arsenal and Liverpool winger (picture) was more than twice over the limit when he got behind the wheel of his BMW to ...

Georgia and Celtic trio mull Euro 2020 bids

Tue, 15 May 2012 13:43:37 GMT

DUBLIN, May 15 – Georgia and a combination of Scotland, Wales and Ireland declared their interest today in hosting the European Championship in 2020, joining Turkey in the race to stage the event for the first time. The Football Association of Ireland (FAI), which previously considered a bid with their Scottish counterparts to host Euro 2008, said ...

Australia coach slams FIFA over Oman qualifier kick-off

Tue, 15 May 2012 12:01:06 GMT

SYDNEY, May 15 – Australia coach Holger Osieck has slammed global soccer governing body FIFA for scheduling the Socceroos’ away World Cup qualifier against Oman in the late afternoon, fearing the effects of extreme heat on his players. FIFA has listed the kickoff for the June 8 qualifier at 5pm local time (1300 GMT) in Muscat, where day-time ...

Olympics: Pacquiao’s success foiling Filipino hopes

Tue, 15 May 2012 11:32:50 GMT

SINGAPORE, May 15 – The success of Manny Pacquiao is delivering a knockout blow to Filipino dreams of a first Olympic gold medal, with young boxers fast-tracking to the professional ranks in a desperate bid to escape poverty and emulate the success of their hero. Manny Pinol, a former governor of North Cotabato and current manager of boxers ...

Paraguay plagued by injuries for World Cup qualifier

Tue, 15 May 2012 08:29:40 GMT

ASUNCION, May 15 – Paraguay have been forced to name an injury-weakened side for their 2014 World Cup qualifier at Bolivia next month. Benfica striker Oscar Cardozo, the joint leading scorer in the Portuguese league this season, was the most notable absentee along with Roque Santa Cruz. Midfielders Edgar Barreto and Dario Veron and defender ...

World champions Japan turn to tall ‘supergirl’

Tue, 15 May 2012 06:22:25 GMT

TOKYO, May 15 — World champions Japan have called up a towering goalkeeper to help them in their bid to win the women's soccer title at this year's London Olympics. Erina Yamane, who at 187 centimetres (6 feet, two inches) looks down on Japan's senior men's goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima, has made the cut for London, local media reported on Tuesday. "I ...

Sun shines on joyful City parade

Tue, 15 May 2012 06:08:41 GMT

MANCHESTER, May 15 — Even the sun shone for Manchester City as the Premier League champions celebrated their long-awaited and dramatic title win with a euphoric victory parade yesterday. Twelve months ago Manchester United's players needed umbrellas after it rained on their celebrations following a record 19th English championship. But under clear ...