The Malaysian Insider :: Sports

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 ...

Scholes to play on another season

Mon, 14 May 2012 23:31:19 GMT

MANCHESTER, May 15 — Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes will play on for another season, the Premier League club's manager Alex Ferguson said on Monday. The 37-year-old former England international quit at the end of the 2010-11 campaign but came out of retirement in January and played a key role in helping United finish second in the ...

Aston Villa sack manager McLeish

Mon, 14 May 2012 15:10:04 GMT

LONDON, May 14 — Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish paid for a season of mediocrity with his job today as his disappointing season in charge of the Premier League club ended with his sacking. McLeish, who suffered relegation with Villa’s arch rivals Birmingham City last season, was never a popular choice with the fans and he struggled to win them ...

Neville joins England coaching staff

Mon, 14 May 2012 13:34:53 GMT

LONDON, May 14 — Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has been named as part of new England manager Roy Hodgson’s coaching staff, the Football Association said today. Neville, who has impressed as a TV analyst since hanging up his boots, will join Ray Lewington and goalkeeping coaches Ray Clemence and Dave Watson at the European ...

Malaga striker Van Nistelrooy retires aged 35

Mon, 14 May 2012 12:11:13 GMT

MADRID, May 14 — Malaga’s Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy announced his retirement today, saying at the age of 35 his body could take no more. “Yesterday was my last game as a professional player,” Van Nistelrooy told a news conference, referring to Malaga’s 1-0 win over Sporting Gijon that secured them fourth place in La Liga and a first ...

Chong Wei’s health won’t dampen Thomas Cup spirits, says Shabery

Mon, 14 May 2012 11:18:24 GMT

PUTRAJAYA, May 14 — Thomas Cup squad skipper Datuk Lee Chong Wei’s health will not dampen the spirits of the team heading to China for the Thomas & Uber Cup finals. Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said athletes or players falling ill is a common occurrence and cannot be avoided. “Athletes are also human. At times they can ...

Seven in hospital after Spanish GP fire

Mon, 14 May 2012 11:03:18 GMT

BARCELONA, May 14 — Seven Formula One personnel were taken to hospital, and 31 tended to by circuit doctors, after a fire gutted the Williams garage while the team were celebrating winning yesterday’s Spanish Grand Prix. The former champions had earlier gathered outside the Circuit de Catalunya garage for a team photograph to mark Venezuelan ...

Champions City must now live within their means

Mon, 14 May 2012 08:40:43 GMT

LONDON, May 14 — After winning the English league for the first time in 44 years, Abu Dhabi-owned Manchester City must build on their success while reining in the lavish spending that has made it possible. City, long the poor relations to local rivals Manchester United, have been transformed by an estimated £800 million (RM4 billion) pumped into ...

Athletes’ sudden deaths expose big knowledge gaps

Mon, 14 May 2012 08:27:48 GMT

LONDON, May 14 — When London marathon medical director Sanjay Sharma was called to attend someone who had collapsed with suspected cardiac arrest a mile from the finish line last month, he expected to find a man in his seventies. “I had to hide my horror as I saw a young, athletic woman,” he says. “I had to... compose myself for a few seconds ...

Del Piero on target as Juve finish unbeaten

Mon, 14 May 2012 06:28:38 GMT

MILAN, May 14 — Alessandro Del Piero, almost certainly playing his last home game for Juventus at the age of 37, celebrated with a goal as the Serie A champions beat Atalanta 3-1 yesterday to finish their campaign unbeaten. Udinese clinched a place in the playoff round of next season’s Champions League qualifying tournament by winning 2-0 at ...

Kuchar moves from consistency to victory

Mon, 14 May 2012 01:16:07 GMT

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida, May 14 — Matt Kuchar had already achieved his goal of becoming one of the most consistent players on the PGA Tour. Yesterday he achieved another goal when he won one of the toughest tournaments of the season, the Players Championship. Kuchar enjoyed a stellar amateur career before he burst on to the professional scene ...

Federer banishes clay blues to win Madrid Open

Sun, 13 May 2012 23:45:50 GMT

MADRID, May 14 — Roger Federer left a lasting impression on the Madrid Open’s controversial blue claycourt yesterday when the Swiss maestro ground out a thrilling 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 victory over Czech Tomas Berdych to match Rafa Nadal’s record of 20 Masters titles. Spaniard Nadal, who crashed out in the third round and will lose his No. 2 ranking to ...

Ferguson upbeat as United end empty-handed

Sun, 13 May 2012 23:28:31 GMT

LONDON, May 14 — Alex Ferguson remained defiantly upbeat after a 20th English title was snatched from Manchester United’s clutches yesterday but when the dust settles on a dramatic season the wily Scot will ponder long on where it went wrong. He talked up the experience gained by new signings such as Phil Jones and Ashley Young, whose first title ...

City clinch title in dramatic finale to season

Sun, 13 May 2012 16:08:35 GMT

LONDON, May 13 — Manchester City claimed their first English title in 44 years in barely believable circumstances today as stoppage time goals from Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero snatched a 3-2 home victory over Queens Park Rangers. With Manchester United’s players still on the pitch at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light after a 1-0 victory it looked as ...

Serena humbles Azarenka to win Madrid Open title

Sun, 13 May 2012 14:19:59 GMT

MADRID, May 13 — A fired-up Serena Williams sent out a warning to the young pretenders of women’s tennis when she powered to a crushing 6-1, 6-3 victory over world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka to win the Madrid Open today. The 30-year-old former No. 1, seeded ninth at the premier clay event in the Spanish capital, made the most of Azarenka’s nervous ...

Maldonado wins Spanish thriller for Williams

Sun, 13 May 2012 13:50:23 GMT

BARCELONA, May 13 — Pastor Maldonado grabbed an astonishing first Formula One victory today in a Spanish Grand Prix thriller that handed former champions Williams their first triumph in 132 races and nearly eight years. The first Venezuelan driver to stand on the F1 podium, let alone win, Maldonado became the fifth different winner from five races ...

Hamilton penalty puts Maldonado on pole

Sun, 13 May 2012 09:53:23 GMT

BARCELONA, May 13 — Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado will start today’s Spanish Grand Prix on pole position for Williams after Lewis Hamilton was sent to the back of the grid because McLaren failed to put enough fuel in his car. The four race stewards excluded Britain’s 2008 world champion from yesterday’s qualifying results at the Circuit de Catalunya ...

Battered Bayern seek quick fix for Champions League final

Sun, 13 May 2012 08:29:22 GMT

BERLIN, May 13 — Bayern Munich are all too aware they need to recover quickly from their 5-2 humiliation by Borussia Dortmund in the German Cup final yesterday if they are to have any chance of winning the Champions League decider next week. The Bundesliga runners-up suffered an embarrassingly heavy defeat at the hands of double-winning Dortmund, ...

Lakers oust Nuggets, Celtics hold off 76ers

Sun, 13 May 2012 06:52:13 GMT

LOS ANGELES, May 12 — The Los Angeles Lakers finally put away the Denver Nuggets while the Boston Celtics got their series with the Philadelphia 76ers off to a nervous but successful start yesterday. The Lakers, behind a busy Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, eliminated the Nuggets by winning the decisive Game Seven of their Western Conference ...

Miami’s LeBron James named MVP winner again

Sun, 13 May 2012 03:38:43 GMT

NEW YORK, May 13 — Miami Heat forward LeBron James was named on Saturday as the National Basketball Association's Most Valuable Player for the 2011-12 season, cementing his place among the game's greatest players. It was the third time in four years that "King" James has won the game's most prestigious individual award, elevating him alongside the ...

Premier League season reaches judgement day

Sun, 13 May 2012 02:48:00 GMT

LONDON, May 13 — A Premier League season full of twists and turns reaches a defining climax today with Manchester City poised to end a 44-year wait to become English champions. City, eight points behind holders Manchester United in early April, have reeled in their neighbours and head into their finale at home to Queens Park Rangers (1400) level ...

Midfielder Van Bommel leaving Milan to join PSV

Sun, 13 May 2012 02:36:14 GMT

ROTTERDAM, May 13 — Netherlands captain Mark van Bommel will leave AC Milan and return to former club PSV Eindhoven, the 35-year-old told the Italian club's TV channel. Van Bommel, who joined Milan from Bayern Munich in January 2011, becomes the fourth player to announce his departure from the club this week, following striker Filippo Inzaghi, ...

Hamilton stripped of Spanish pole position

Sun, 13 May 2012 01:54:31 GMT

BARCELONA, May 13 — Lewis Hamilton was stripped of pole position at the Spanish Grand Prix on Saturday and sent to the back of the starting grid after his McLaren team failed to put enough fuel in the Briton's car. The governing FIA said its four race stewards had excluded the 2008 Formula One world champion from the results of the qualifying ...

Maldonado hands Frank Williams a late birthday gift

Sat, 12 May 2012 23:39:19 GMT

BARCELONA, May 12 — Formula One wished Frank Williams a belated happy 70th birthday at the Spanish Grand Prix on Saturday but it was Pastor Maldonado who handed his team boss the best present of all with pole position. What had looked like a heroic effort became a sensational one when Briton Lewis Hamilton, the only man faster in qualifying, was ...

Mourinho raises prospect of Kaka leaving Real

Sat, 12 May 2012 16:00:03 GMT

MADRID, May 12 – Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has raised the prospect of underperforming Brazil playmaker Kaka leaving the Spanish champions in the close season. The 2007 World Player of the Year joined Real from AC Milan for a fee of around €65 million (RM258.68 million) three years ago but has mainly played second fiddle to German ...

Azarenka to meet Serena in Madrid Open final

Sat, 12 May 2012 14:29:38 GMT

MADRID, May 12 – Victoria Azarenka and Serena Williams will square off for the Madrid Open title after the current and former world number ones swept into the final with a minimum of fuss today. Australian Open champion Azarenka took a step closer to a fifth title of 2012 when she dispatched Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2 6-4, before Williams, seeded ...

Hamilton on pole for Spanish Grand Prix

Sat, 12 May 2012 13:12:54 GMT

BARCELONA, May 12 — McLaren's Lewis Hamilton will start the Spanish Grand Prix on pole position with Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado alongside for Williams. The Briton’s pole was McLaren’s 150th in Formula One and his third in five races this season. Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso secured third spot for his home race with Frenchman Romain Grosjean ...

Azarenka cruises past Radwanska into Madrid final

Sat, 12 May 2012 11:21:46 GMT

MADRID, May 12 – Victoria Azarenka took a step closer to a fifth title of 2012 when she dispatched Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2 6-4 to reach the final of the Madrid Open today. The Belarussian world number one, who has now beaten third-ranked Pole Radwanska six times in six meetings this year, battered 29 winners on the blue clay of the Manolo Santana ...

Vettel wraps up Spanish practice with top time

Sat, 12 May 2012 10:43:41 GMT

BARCELONA, May 12 – Red Bull’s Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel wrapped up practice for the Spanish Grand Prix in ominous form today with the fastest time of the final session. The 24-year-old German, winner at the Circuit de Catalunya last season, lapped in bright sunshine with a best time of one minute 23.168 after being second in ...

Rangers ride out storm to pour more misery on Angels

Sat, 12 May 2012 08:20:50 GMT

TORONTO, May 12 – Free-swinging Josh Hamilton provided the fireworks and pitcher Yu Darvish lit up the mound on a stormy evening in Texas as the Rangers thumped the Anaheim Angels 10-3 yesterday. While thunder echoed above the Rangers Ballpark, Hamilton’s booming bat made the most noise in the arena as the Texas slugger cracked a pair of home runs ...

Inzaghi and Gattuso quit AC Milan

Sat, 12 May 2012 05:17:55 GMT

ROME, May 12 — Filippo Inzaghi and Gennaro Gattuso both announced their departures from AC Milan yesterday, following in the footsteps of Alessandro Nesta, who revealed that he was leaving the Serie A club on Thursday. "The first and only thing that I want you to know forever is this: I played and won for us," striker Inzaghi, 38, wrote in an ...

Grizzlies claw back the Clippers to tie series at 3-3

Sat, 12 May 2012 05:07:19 GMT

LOS ANGELES, May 12 — The Memphis Grizzlies staved off playoff elimination by beating the Los Angeles Clippers 90-88 on the road in Game Six on Friday to level the best-of-seven series at 3-3. Trailing by eight points midway through the final quarter, the fourth-seeded Grizzlies fought back with an unbroken 10-0 run before regaining the lead when ...

Mcilroy misses players cut, Tiger survives

Sat, 12 May 2012 02:33:29 GMT

PONTE VEDRA BEACH (Florida), May 12 — World number one Rory McIlroy missed the cut at the Players Championship after shooting a four-over-par 76 in yesterday's second round which ended with a trio of Americans sharing the lead. Zach Johnson, Kevin Na and Matt Kuchar were knotted at eight-under 136, a shot clear of compatriot Harris English. But ...

Chelsea pushing defensive pair hard to be fit for final

Sat, 12 May 2012 01:48:25 GMT

LONDON, May 12 — Chelsea are still sweating on the fitness of central defenders David Luiz and Gary Cahill for next week's Champions League final against Bayern Munich. Both players have been sidelined by hamstring injuries in recent weeks and will again be missing for the club's final Premier League fixture of the season at home to relegated ...

Pardew and Kompany handed end-of-season awards

Fri, 11 May 2012 23:33:58 GMT

LONDON, May 12 — Newcastle United's Alan Pardew was named Premier League manager of the season yesterday to cap an impressive campaign in which he turned his unfancied side into contenders for Champions League qualification. Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany was named player of the season. Newcastle are fifth in the table with one game to ...