MARSEILLE, France: The first medal races for sailing at the Paris Olympics were postponed on Thursday because of a lack of wind, leaving athletes broiling in the heat on the water for more than two hours before sending them back to the marina in Marseille.
“It was an emotional roller coaster,” said Isaac McHardie of New Zealand, which was third entering the medal race for the men’s skiffs called 49ers. He added that the heat was so intense he and boatmate Will McKenzie started running out of drinking water and ice while waiting.
Both the men’s and women’s skiffs, known as 49erFX — powerful, bird-like two-person boats — were scheduled to hold their finals Thursday, but they were called off after 5 p.m. local time.
The men’s team from Spain and the women’s team from France were in the lead after 12 regattas since Sunday, but no team started the day with a clear grasp on the podium.
Instead of a thrilling neck-and-neck competition among the top sailors, the men started the regattas twice before the wind dropped so low that the races were scrapped by officials. The women were out on the water too, for about an hour, but their race didn’t even start.
All waited in the water in their protective gear under a punishing sun with temperatures pushing 35 degrees Celsius (low 90s).
“We have always known that you can get a day like this,” said Spain’s Diego Botín, who is sailing in his third Olympics. He said that with crew Florian Trittel, they concentrated on “not wasting too much emotional energy” during the long wait.
“We’re used to setbacks,” added Sean Waddilove of Ireland, which was placed second in the men’s start list.
Not so much the fans, who sweltered on a shadeless breakwater most of the afternoon. Among them were the families of France’s Sarah Steyaert and Charline Picon, who were first on the women’s start list.
“So exciting and so nervous and so anxious,” is how Steyaert’s father, Patrick Steyaert, summed up the wait, while Sarah’s 5-year-old daughter threw herself into her mother’s arms, weeping.
There’s no word on when the races might be rescheduled.
A lack of wind forces scuttles first Olympic sailing medal races, leaving sailors broiling
https://arab.news/vsrk5
A lack of wind forces scuttles first Olympic sailing medal races, leaving sailors broiling
- “It was an emotional roller coaster,” said Isaac McHardie of New Zealand
- The men’s team from Spain and the women’s team from France were in the lead after 12 regattas since Sunday
Pakistan claim Afghan spectators verbally abused their players in New Zealand
Khushdil Shah stepped in when anti-Pakistan slogans emerged from the stands
NEW ZEALAND: The Pakistan Cricket Board condemned the verbal abuse of its players allegedly by Afghan spectators during Pakistan’s third one-day international at New Zealand on Saturday.
“During the match today, foreign spectators hurled inappropriate remarks at (Pakistan) cricketers present on the field,” the PCB said in a statement after the 43-run loss to New Zealand at Mount Maunganui.
Khushdil Shah stepped in when anti-Pakistan slogans emerged from the stands, the PCB said.
“Afghan spectators escalated the situation by using further inappropriate language in Pashto,” the PCB said.
Stadium officials intervened and ejected the “two disruptive spectators,” the governing board added.
New Zealand swept the three-match series 3-0. The tourists lost the five-match T20 series 4-1.
Opening batter Imam-ul-Haq was retired hurt after sustaining mild facial injury, caused by an accidental throw from a New Zealand fielder in the third over of Pakistan’s run-chase.
Imam underwent a CT scan Tauranga Hospital and it “reported as normal.”
He was diagnosed with a mild concussion, the PCB said. He was declared fit to fly back home with the team.
Musiala hamstring tear compounds Bayern’s injury crisis
- The German giants did not provide a time-frame for Musiala’s recovery
- Domestic media reported he was set to miss six to eight weeks given the serious nature of the tear
MUNICH: Bayern Munich on Saturday confirmed midfielder Jamal Musiala was set for a stint on the sidelines after tearing his hamstring, as the injury-hit side’s troubles deepen.
Musiala, 22, was helped from the pitch in the second half of Bayern’s 3-1 win at Augsburg on Friday, having motioned to the bench while grabbing at the back of his left thigh.
Bayern on Saturday issued a statement saying the club would “be without Jamal Musiala for the time being” following an “examination from the club’s medical department.”
The German giants did not provide a time-frame for Musiala’s recovery, but domestic media reported he was set to miss six to eight weeks given the serious nature of the tear.
The upcoming period is crucial for Bayern in the Champions League and the Bundesliga.
Bayern host Inter Milan in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday, before the return match in Italy the following Wednesday.
The Bavarians also have six more Bundesliga fixtures to play, but hold a nine point advantage over second-placed Bayer Leverkusen, who have a game in hand.
To add further fuel to their fire, the Champions League final will take place on May 31 in Bayern’s own Allianz Arena.
After the European season ends, Bayern will take part in the expanded Club World Cup in the United States in July.
But the Bavarians are currently in the midst of an injury crisis, with several first team players sidelined for long periods.
Defenders Alphonso Davies, Dayot Upamecano and Hiroki Ito look set to miss the remainder of the season with various injuries.
Goalkeeper and captain Manuel Neuer, winger Kingsley Coman and midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic are also out with injury and have unclear timelines for a return.
Bayern striker Harry Kane left the arena in Augsburg on Friday with a heavily iced ankle, but the England captain said the injury was “just a minor one — I’m not worried.”
Musiala’s injury also puts him in doubt for Germany’s Nations League fixtures in June.
Germany will face Portugal in the Nations League semifinals in Munich on June 4, with a potential final at the same venue four days later.
Musiala has emerged as a key component of Julian Nagelsmann’s resurgent Germany.
Germany’s Mueller to leave Bayern Munich after 25 years
- Mueller said he did not like how the contract saga played out “back and forth in public” in recent months
- “The special connection to the club and our fantastic fans will always remain”
MUNICH: Bayern Munich legend Thomas Mueller confirmed on Saturday the club will not offer him a new contract bringing an end to his 25-year career with the Bundesliga giants at the end of the campaign.
The 35-year-old, whose contract was set to expire in the summer, said in a post on social media the decision was made by the club and “not what I would have wished.”
Mueller said he did not like how the contract saga played out “back and forth in public” in recent months but he “felt the appreciation from everyone involved after my long time with Bayern.”
“The special connection to the club and our fantastic fans will always remain,” he said.
Mueller came through the Bayern junior system and has won two Champions Leagues along with 12 Bundesliga titles.
His focus was now on “bringing the league title back to Munich” as well as reaching this season’s Champions League final, which will be held in Bayern’s Allianz Arena home.
Later on Saturday, Bayern issued a statement saying Mueller would be honored with a testimonial match and that the midfielder would play at the Club World Cup in July.
“Thomas Mueller had the definition of a Bavarian fairytale career,” club president Herbert Hainer said.
Mueller was born in the nearby Bavarian town of Weilheim and joined the club aged 10, making his debut under coach Jurgen Klinsmann in 2008 against a Hamburg side featuring current Bayern coach Vincent Kompany.
A one-club player, Mueller’s 743 matches for Bayern in all competitions is the most in the team’s history. He has registered 247 goals and 273 assists for the club in that time.
In recent seasons, Mueller has started from the bench more regularly, leading to growing speculation he could leave the club.
The midfielder did not reveal where he would play next season, although German media has speculated he could make a late-career move to the United States to play in the MLS.
Former teammate at Bayern Eric-Maxim Choupo Moting, who plays for the New York Red Bulls in the MLS, told Kicker that Mueller was “welcome here” in March.
“Thomas is a Bayern legend so I would be happy for him if he continues there. If he wants to take the step (to the US), we’ll see.
“Thomas, you already speak English... I’m watching you.”
Mueller has long been earmarked for a role in the club’s administration once his playing career ends.
A 2014 World Cup winner with Germany, Mueller retired from international duty just after Euro 2024.
He played for his country 131 times over a 14-year period, scoring 45 goals.
Bayern sporting director Max Eberl said in a statement the decision not to continue with Mueller was “anything but easy,” adding “we’re putting the focus on the future.”
Bayern’s next match is Tuesday’s home Champions League quarter-final first leg against Inter Milan, with the return game the following Wednesday.
An injury to Jamal Musiala in Friday’s 3-1 win at Augsburg could mean Mueller is in line for a rare start against the Italian champions.
In the league, Bayern sit nine points clear of defending champions Bayer Leverkusen, who have a game in hand at lowly Heidenheim on Saturday.
Patrick Reed leads by two, DeChambeau’s Crushers GC show way in team race at LIV Golf Miami
- In LIV Golf’s first US event of 2025, it was fitting that the top four players are all past major champions, three of them with at least one green jacket to their name with the Masters a week away
- DeChambeau’s team, Crushers GC, also holds a narrow two-shot lead in the team competition through one round
MIAMI: Despite a double bogey on his closing hole, Patrick Reed shot a 5-under par 67 and grabbed the first-round lead at LIV Golf Miami on Friday at Trump National Doral.
Reed began his round on the 10th hole and put seven birdies on his card, reaching 7 under with a tap-in at the par-5 eighth. But at the par-3 ninth, he missed the green wide left and compounded the mistake by putting his second shot into a bunker.
Reed came back to the pack a bit, but he still held a two-shot lead over Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson (3-under 69).
“I mean, the first 17 were great,” Reed said. “No, as a whole I played solid. I hit the ball pretty well off the tee, hit some quality iron shots and made some putts, and I think that’s what you have to do around this place.
.”.. Yeah, for the back tee with this kind of wind direction here on 9, I don’t know what to do. I don’t have a club for it that I feel like I can hit a straight shot, and it’s hard to start it over the water and get it turning back. It was just an unfortunate finish, but at the end of the day, it’s still a solid round of golf.”
In LIV Golf’s first US event of 2025, it was fitting that the top four players are all past major champions, three of them with at least one green jacket to their name with the Masters a week away.
Reed won the Masters in 2018, Mickelson has captured three green jackets and Dustin Johnson won the 2020 edition that was delayed to November.
“Obviously I was playing really good at the end of 2020,” Johnson said Friday. “But the game I feel like it’s getting pretty close to that. Obviously it’s a really fine line to being that good or just a little bit off, but yeah, I’ve got a lot of confidence in my game right now.”
Johnson had a three-birdie run at Nos. 14-16 late in his round to get to 3 under, while DeChambeau was steady with four birdies and just one bogey.
DeChambeau’s team, Crushers GC, also holds a narrow two-shot lead in the team competition through one round. The four-man team of DeChambeau, Charles Howell III, Englishman Paul Casey and India’s Anirban Lahiri combined to go 2 under par, with Johnson’s 4Aces GC sitting second at even par.
“There’s a reason we won here (at the LIV Team Championship) in 2023,” DeChambeau said. “They like this golf course. They like a tough, challenging golf course where you can strategically play and let everybody kind of mess up on their own, and we just plot along and make a couple birdies where we can and move along when it’s a really brutal hole.”
Verstappen takes pole for Japanese Grand Prix ahead of Norris
- Motor racing-Verstappen conjures up stunning pole lap at Suzuka
SUZUKA, JAPAN: Four-time world champion Max Verstappen smashed the track record to snatch pole position for Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris, as Yuki Tsunoda qualified a lowly 15th in his Red Bull debut.
Verstappen clocked a blistering lap of 1min 26.983sec in his Red Bull, 0.012sec ahead of championship leader Norris, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri third.
Verstappen set a new Suzuka track record with his final lap in Saturday’s qualifying, pipping Norris right at the death.
“Each session we kept making little improvements, then the last lap was flat out,” said Verstappen, who has won the Japanese GP for the last three years.
“In a Formula One car around here is insane. This is a proper highlight for us to be back on pole here.”
It was Verstappen’s first pole position of the season.
The Dutchman is still looking for his first grand prix win of the new campaign.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was fourth ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell, with Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli sixth and RB’s Isack Hadjar seventh.
Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton was eighth, followed by Williams’s Alex Albon and Haas’s Oliver Bearman.
Norris is looking for his second grand prix win of the season, after triumphing in the season opener in Australia.
He finished second behind Piastri in China a fortnight ago in a dominant start to the campaign for McLaren.
“I’m happy, congrats to Max, he did a good job,” said Norris.
“You have to credit something when it is a lap that good that he must have done. I got everything out of the car today, the gaps are tiny.
“Good but not enough.”
Tsunoda was eliminated in Q2 in a disappointing first qualifying drive for Red Bull after being promoted in place of Liam Lawson last week.
The Japanese driver finished one place behind Lawson, who returned to RB after just two races for Red Bull in a ruthless driver swap.
Verstappen has not looked comfortable this week and he again complained to his team over the radio in Q1.
“I still have the same problem, the tires are not gripping on the front,” the Dutchman said.
Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, Williams’s Carlos Sainz and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso were eliminated in Q2 along with Lawson and Tsunoda.
Sauber pair Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, Haas’s Esteban Ocon, Alpine’s Jack Doohan and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll were all eliminated in Q1.
Doohan’s practice on Friday ended when he crashed heavily into a barrier and mechanics had to work through the night to repair his badly damaged car.
Qualifying was suspended for about eight minutes in Q2 when a small trackside fire broke out as sparks from the cars ignited the grass in the dry conditions.
It was the fifth such incident of the weekend, with the second and third practice sessions also disrupted by fires.
Rain has been forecast for Sunday’s race.
