Sports — International

Sharapova downs battling 39-year-old Schnyder at US Open

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Maria Sharapova shattered the fairytale return of 39-year-old Patty Schnyder at the US Open on Tuesday, winning a roller-coaster first round clash 6-2, 7-6 (8/6). Schnyder, the oldest ever player to make the main draw of a Grand Slam via qualifying, was outgunned by the five-time major champion in the first set and for the majority of the second. However, she bravely battled back from 1-5 down to 6-6, […]

Federer dominates Nishioka to reach US Open 2nd round

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Five-time champion Roger Federer eased into the second round of the US Open on Tuesday, beating Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka 6-2, 6-2, 6-4. The Swiss great, seeded second at Flushing Meadows behind defending champion and world number one Rafael Nadal, improved his perfect record in US Open first-round matches with his 18th win in 18 attempts. As the opening attraction of the night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Federer escaped […]

Bolt struggling with football pace, but working hard

GOSFORD, Australia (AFP) — Sprint superstar Usain Bolt admitted Tuesday he was struggling with the tempo of professional football but is working hard to raise his fitness levels ahead of his first trial match this week. The eight-time Olympic champion has been given an opportunity by Australia’s Central Coast Mariners to fulfil his dream of a soccer career and has stepped up his training regime since hooking up with the A-League club last week. He […]

Spurs ace Ginobili retires from NBA

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — San Antonio Spurs star Manu Ginobili confirmed his retirement from basketball on Monday, bringing down the curtain on a 23-year career that included four NBA Finals victories. The 41-year-old Argentine star, widely seen as the most successful foreign player in the history of the NBA, confirmed his retirement in a brief posting on social media. “Today, with a wide range of feelings, I’m announcing my retirement from basketball,” Ginobili […]

Nadal sends injured Ferrer into Grand Slam retirement

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — World number one and defending US Open champion Rafael Nadal sent his close friend David Ferrer into Grand Slam retirement on Monday when his veteran compatriot was forced to quit their first round match with an injury. Ferrer, a former world number three but now standing at a lowly 148, called it quits on a hot and humid night on Arthur Ashe Stadium when he led 4-3 with a break […]

Axemen dethrone Brooklyn in Championship, become new kings of USA Rugby

By Allen Poon EBC Florida Bureau JACKSONVILLE, Florida (Eagle News) — In a grudge match to determine USA Rugby League’s best team on the turf, the Jacksonville Axemen hosted the Brooklyn Kings in the USARL Championship. Both teams went undefeated in the regular season and playoffs prior to their match. The Axemen were first to land on the board with a try at the 12-minute mark. They continued to plow the Kings defense with four […]

Murray needs seven hours a day to keep hip in shape

  by Dave James Agence France-Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Former world number one Andy Murray won his first match at a Grand Slam for 14 months on Monday and then revealed he has to spend seven hours a day to keep his repaired hip from breaking down. Murray’s 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 7-5, 6-3 win over Australia’s James Duckworth at the US Open was his first at the majors since Wimbledon in 2017. He […]

PHL bows out of Asian Games basketball medal race after loss to South Korea

  (Eagle News) – The Philippines’ basketball team, Gilas Pilipinas, bowed out of the medal race Monday, August 27, after a reeling loss to South Korea, with a score of 91-82. The Philippine team, with Jordan Clarkson leading the points for the Philippines at 25 points, tried to keep up with South Korea in the first three quarters and even led by as much as six points halftime.  At the end of the third quarter, […]

No Bolt, no cry for Coe after Su wins Asia sprint crow

by Alastair HIMMER Agence France Presse JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — Su Bingtian’s Asian Games gold in the 100 metres came as little surprise to many, including athletics boss Sebastian Coe, long an admirer of the pint-sized Chinese sprinter. The 28-year-old streaked to victory in a competition record of 9.92 seconds in Jakarta at the weekend, missing the continental record by the tiniest of fractions. Su edged out Nigeria-born Qatari Tosin Ogunode — younger brother of […]

Jacksonville mass shooting turns esports tournament into tragedy

By Colleen Knight EBC Florida Bureau JACKSONVILLE, Florida (Eagle News Service) — A Sunday afternoon in the city of Jacksonville turned violent during an esports tournament when gunshots were fired at a pizza restaurant at the Jacksonville Landing. According to Sheriff Mike Williams of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the suspect opened fire on the attendees of the qualifiers for the Madden ‘19 Tournament, killing two people, and injuring nine others before turning the handgun on himself. […]

PHL now has 3 golds, 10 bronzes in Asian Games after 2-gold medal haul in women’s golf

  (Eagle New)—The Philippines now has three golds in the 2018 Asian Games, after the win by the Philippine women’s golf team led by 17-year old Philippine bet Yuka Saso who also won another gold for the individual competitions on Sunday, August 26. The two golds – one by the Philippine women’s golf team composed of Saso, Bianca Pagdanganan and Lois Kaye Go; and the other gold won by Saso in the individual event – […]

Japan’s Ikee wins record sixth Asian Games swim gold

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — Japan’s golden girl Rikako Ikee stormed to a record sixth Asian Games swimming title on Friday, marking a few other firsts for good measure. Ikee edged the 50m freestyle final by a fingertip in Jakarta from China’s Liu Xiang, clocking 24.53 seconds to become the first woman in any sport to scoop six gold medals at a single Games. The 18-year-old celebrated with a rare display of emotion, raising her fist […]