CRICKET
Sun Group buys team
The owners of Indian Premier League (IPL) side Sunrisers Hyderabad have paid just over ￡100 million (US$124 million) for full control of the Yorkshire franchise in English cricket’s Hundred competition, the BBC reported on Wednesday. The Sun Group are the third investors into the Hundred from the IPL, but the BBC said it was the first to buy a 100 percent stake in one of the eight franchises with their acquisition of the Northern Superchargers.
Photo: EPA-EFE
TENNIS
Bellucci beats Medvedev
Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci on Wednesday stunned former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev in three tough sets to reach the Rotterdam ATP quarter-finals. The 23-year-old left-hander, playing on a career-high ranking of 92, came through 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 6-3 to record a first win over a top-10 opponent. “It was a three-hour match and I really enjoyed every moment of it,” Bellucci said. “I really tried to do the best I could. I’m pretty tired, but I’m happy.” He next faces Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece or Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor, who were to play after press time last night.
Photo: EPA-EFE
SOCCER
Neymar returns for Santos
Neymar on Wednesday took powerful shots from the edge of the box and ran above his own expectations in 52 minutes on the pitch for Santos in his first game for the Brazilian club since his return last week. Then he hit back at his former Al-Hilal coach, Jorge Jesus, who had cast doubts over Neymar’s form. The 33-year-old striker was not able to cap his night at Vila Belmiro Stadium with a win on his birthday — Santos drew 1-1 with Botafogo Ribeirao Preto, a team fighting relegation in the Sao Paulo state championship. “I need more minutes, more matches. I am not 100 percent, but I didn’t expect to run as much as I did tonight,” said Neymar, who is still recovering from ACL surgery. “I will be much better three, four games from now.” Neymar said his performance was also a response to the negative comments of his former coach. “I knew that I was going to show something different on the pitch,” he told Brazilian channel CazeTV at Vila Belmiro Stadium. “The pitch is the only place where I can defend myself from that criticism, those comments.”
SOCCER
NWSL creates US$5m fund
The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) on Wednesday agreed to create a US$5 million fund to compensate players who experienced abuse and continue implementing reforms to resolve investigations launched by attorneys general for New York, Illinois and Washington after players came forward with allegations of harassment and sexual misconduct. Players from across the US top-flight league went public in 2021 with allegations of misconduct by coaches and officials dating back more than 10 years. The attorneys general launched a joint investigation into the allegations in 2022, which they said revealed that the NWSL was “permeated by a culture of abuse.” It also showed some teams did not conduct background checks, which allowed coaches previously terminated for misconduct to be rehired by other teams. “Today is about righting these wrongs and protecting women in sports,” New York Attorney General Letitia James told a news conference.
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