Sports

Chechen arrested over Paris Olympics attack plot: ministry

By Shahzad ABDUL and Adam PLOWRIGHT PARIS, May 31, 2024 (AFP) – French security services have arrested a Chechen teenager suspected of plotting an “Islamist-inspired” attack on a football game during the Paris Olympic Games in July and August, the interior ministry said Friday. The DGSI domestic intelligence agency “arrested a 18-year-old of Chechen origin in Saint-Etienne” in southeast France on May 22, the ministry said, calling it the “first foiled attack against the Olympic […]

Amateur, 22, is first Singaporean golfer to qualify for Masters

LOS ANGELES, May 29, 2024 (AFP) – Young amateur golfer Hiroshi Tai will be the first Singaporean to play in the US Masters after he won the prestigious national college championship in the United States. The 22-year-old, who studies at Georgia Tech, won the NCAA Individual Men’s Championship in California on Monday by one stroke to earn a place at Augusta in April 2025 and a major debut at next month’s US Open at Pinehurst. […]

Edwards, Towns keep Timberwolves alive as Mavs downed

  LOS ANGELES, May 29, 2024 (AFP) – Anthony Edwards scored 29 points and Karl-Anthony Towns produced a crucial late burst of long-range shooting as the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Dallas Mavericks 105-100 On Tuesday to keep their NBA Western Conference finals series alive. Minnesota, trailing 3-0 in the best-of-seven series heading into game four, held off a furious late rally to close out a battling victory at the Mavericks’ home arena. Edwards led the […]

Celtics sweep Pacers to reach NBA Finals

WASHINGTON, May 28, 2024 (AFP) – The Boston Celtics clinched the Eastern Conference championship on Monday with a 105-102 win over the Indiana Pacers, sweeping the series 4-0 and booking a spot in the NBA Finals. The Celtics will face the winner of the Western Conference Finals, where the Dallas Mavericks hold a 3-0 lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves ahead of Tuesday’s game four. The Celtics win in Indianapolis was their seventh straight in the […]

Tributes pour in for ex-NBA MVP Walton

MIAMI, May 28, 2024 (AFP) – Bill Walton, the former NBA Most Valuable Player, two-time champion and popular television commentator, died on Monday after a lengthy battle with cancer. After a stellar college career with UCLA, Walton won his first NBA championship with the Portland Trail Blazers in 1977 and he was named the league’s MVP the following year. He did a spell with the Clippers, in San Diego and Los Angeles, then moved to […]

Dallas rally to down Thunder, reach NBA Western Conference finals

LOS ANGELES, May 19, 2024 (AFP) – Luka Doncic posted a triple-double and P.J. Washington drilled the deciding free-throws as the Dallas Mavericks erased a 17-point deficit to beat Oklahoma City 117-116 to reach the NBA Western Conference finals on Saturday. The Mavericks beat the top-seeded Thunder 4-2 in the best-of-seven conference semi-final series to reach the conference finals for the second time in three years. They’ll face either the defending champion Denver Nuggets or […]

Scheffler shaken, shocked and quivering after arrest and jail

By Jim SLATER LOUISVILLE, United States, May 17, 2024 (AFP) – Top-ranked golfer Scottie Scheffler, known for his stoic shotmaking under pressure, was shaken to his core on Friday after being arrested before his second round of the PGA Championship. The two-time Masters champion was handcuffed and taken into custody after trying to get around an accident and enter Valhalla Golf Club while the entrance was blocked by police after an accident in which a […]

Malaysia footballer leaves intensive care after acid-attack: official

KUALA LUMPUR, May 14, 2024 (AFP) – A Malaysian national team footballer who was the victim of an acid-attack has left intensive care following multiple surgeries, a football official said Tuesday. Faisal Halim suffered burns on the neck, shoulder, hands and chest in Petaling Jaya district outside the capital Kuala Lumpur two weeks ago. Nicknamed “Mickey”, the 26-year-old plays on the right wing for Selangor Football Club and Malaysia. “Today, Faisal has been moved to […]

Pacers thrash Bucks to clinch NBA playoff series

LOS ANGELES, May 3, 2024 (AFP) – The Indiana Pacers powered into the second round of the NBA playoffs on Thursday, thrashing the depleted Milwaukee Bucks 120-98 to win their Eastern Conference series 4-2. Unable to close out the Bucks on Tuesday, the Pacers got their uptempo offense flowing again, relentlessly pulling away after trailing by seven in the opening minutes. All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton delivered a double-double of 17 points and 10 assists, but […]

No place like Dome: Boxing back at Tyson-Douglas Tokyo upset venue

By Andrew MCKIRDY TOKYO, May 2, 2024 (AFP) – When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated around the world. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time […]

Thunder seal Pelicans sweep to advance as Celtics on brink

MIAMI, April 30, 2024 (AFP) – The Oklahoma City Thunder sealed a 4-0 series sweep of the New Orleans Pelicans to book their place in the NBA playoffs second round Monday as Boston dominated Miami to move to the brink of the conference semi-finals. Western Conference top seeds Oklahoma City finally got the better of New Orleans with a late scoring burst in the fourth quarter to complete a 97-89 road victory in Louisiana. The […]

Timberwolves sweep Suns out of NBA playoffs as Clippers, Knicks win

WASHINGTON, April 29, 2024 (AFP) – The Minnesota Timberwolves, powered by 40 points from Anthony Edwards, swept Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns out of the NBA playoffs on Sunday, reaching the second round for the first time in 20 years with a 122-116 game-four victory. The Timberwolves withstood a combined 72 points from Devin Booker and Durant to become the first team to reach the second round. They will face either the Denver Nuggets […]