Hungarian facing Algeria boxer at center of Olympic gender row says not fair

Hungarian facing Algeria boxer at center of Olympic gender row says not fair
Imane Khelif of Algeria during her fight with Angela Carini of Italy at Paris 2024 Olympics — Boxing — Women’s 66kg — Prelims — Round of 16 — North Paris Arena, Villepinte, on Aug. 01, 2024. (Reuters)
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Updated 02 August 2024
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Hungarian facing Algeria boxer at center of Olympic gender row says not fair

Hungarian facing Algeria boxer at center of Olympic gender row says not fair
  • “In my humble opinion I don’t think it’s fair that this contestant can compete in the women’s category,” the 23-year-old Hamori wrote on Facebook
  • “But I cannot concern myself with that now, I cannot change it, it’s life“

BUDAPEST: Hungarian boxer Anna Luca Hamori, who will fight the Algerian embroiled in a gender eligibility row at the Paris Olympics, said Friday that her opponent’s inclusion was unfair.
Imane Khelif failed a gender eligibility test last year but is in the women’s boxing competition in Paris and will face Hamori on Saturday in the quarter-finals of the 66kg category.
“In my humble opinion I don’t think it’s fair that this contestant can compete in the women’s category,” the 23-year-old Hamori wrote on Facebook.
“But I cannot concern myself with that now, I cannot change it, it’s life.”
Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting were disqualified from the 2023 world championships in New Delhi, run by the IBA, but both competed at the Tokyo Games in 2021 in the women’s competition and are also in Paris.
The boxing in the French capital is overseen by the International Olympic Committee, not the IBA.
The Algerian boxer’s inclusion sparked a furor after she scored a 46-second win against Italian rival Angela Carini on Thursday.
Neither Khelif nor Lin is known to identify as transgender.
The upcoming fight has caused outrage in Hungary.
Previously Hamori had defended Khelif’s participation, telling Hungary’s state news agency MTI that “if they let her compete here, they must know she’s a woman.”
Hamori is the Central European country’s first woman boxer at the Olympics.
The Hungarian Olympic Committee said it had reached out to the IOC over Khelif’s inclusion, saying it was a “fundamental requirement for equal opportunities for women that only competitors with just female biological characteristics... should be allowed to compete in the women’s field.”
“If the Olympic rules for participation in boxing do not fully guarantee this, the rules should be reviewed and, if necessary, amended,” it said.
The head of the Hungarian Olympic Committee has “initiated immediate consultations” with the IOC’s director of sport to “clarify the situation,” according to the statement.
IOC spokesman Mark Adams said the Olympic body’s eligibility criteria was based on the gender indicated on the boxers’ passports, but acknowledged that it’s “not a black and white issue.”
Earlier this week, the Bulgarian Olympic Committee expressed its indignation at the participation of Khelif and Lin at the Games and said it intended to lodge a formal complaint with the IOC.


Alyssa Thomas helps the Connecticut Sun force Game 5 with 92-82 win over the Minnesota Lynx

Alyssa Thomas helps the Connecticut Sun force Game 5 with 92-82 win over the Minnesota Lynx
Updated 07 October 2024
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Alyssa Thomas helps the Connecticut Sun force Game 5 with 92-82 win over the Minnesota Lynx

Alyssa Thomas helps the Connecticut Sun force Game 5 with 92-82 win over the Minnesota Lynx
  • Thomas had 18 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds to help the Sun stave off elimination and beat the Minnesota Lynx 92-82 on Sunday in their semifinal series

UNCASVILLE, Connecticut: With the season on the line, Alyssa Thomas and Ty Harris helped Connecticut force a decisive Game 5.
Thomas had 18 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds to help the Sun stave off elimination and beat the Minnesota Lynx 92-82 on Sunday in their semifinal series. The victory set up a winner-take-all fifth game Tuesday night in Minnesota.
“Both of these, franchises have been here, right? We have a lot of players on our roster that have been here that understand certainly what it takes and tonight’s effort is not going to be good enough,” Connecticut coach Stephanie White said.
“We expect them to make adjustments. We’ll make some tweaks and adjustments as well. ... It’s about players making plays. It’s about the extra efforts, the hustle plays. It’s about not being denied and finding something deep inside of you that just allows you to come out on top.”
The winner will face the Liberty in the WNBA Finals that start Thursday in New York. The Lynx and the Liberty already met for a championship this season with Minnesota beating New York for the Commissioner’s Cup title.
Harris was inserted back into the starting lineup for the first time since injuring her ankle in Game 1 in the opening round series against Indiana. She responded with 20 points to lead the Sun, who now will try to return to the Finals for the third time in six seasons. The Sun still are looking for the franchise’s first WNBA championship.
White said she let Harris know at shootaround in the morning. She only played about seven minutes in Games 2 and 3, but was able to play 30 on Sunday and was a difference maker.
“Stay composed, be poised and be ready when your number is called,” said Harris, who was scoreless in her limited minutes in Games 2 and 3.
Napheesa Collier did what she could to try to get Minnesota the win, finishing with 29 points and 13 rebounds.
“We’re not happy with, you know, how we came out the last two games. Our offense was able to lift us up last game, but if that’s not working, we have to rely on our defense,” Collier said. “It’s not been good last two games. So we have to go home and defend our home court. We’re both playing for our lives, so we have to play at that level of intensity.”
Minnesota is trying to get back to the Finals for the first time since the 2017 season. That year, the Lynx won their fourth championship in a span of seven years.
The Sun rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit behind Thomas and Harris. The game was tied at 61 before the Sun scored seven of the final nine points of the third quarter to go up 68-63 heading into the fourth.
Harris’ 3-pointer with 5:48 left made it a 10-point game and quashed any hopes the Lynx had of finishing off the series Sunday. Minnesota was only able to get within eight the rest of the way.
“Typical AT, she’s a stat stuffer, steps up in big moments,” White said. “Put the ball in her hands a lot. made plays for herself and others. We ask her to do a lot for us on both ends of the floor. We got a lot from her and continue to need to get a lot from everybody moving forward.”
Collier helped the Lynx build a seven-point lead after one quarter and Minnesota was up 47-41 when DiJonai Carrington stole the ball from Natisha Hiedeman and took it in for a layup. Hiedeman answered by hitting a 3-pointer from just inside halfcourt right before the buzzer to give the Lynx a 50-43 lead at the break. Collier finished the first half with 14 points and Hiedeman had 12 against her former team.


AC Milan fall at Fiorentina after De Gea’s penalty heroics

AC Milan fall at Fiorentina after De Gea’s penalty heroics
Updated 07 October 2024
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AC Milan fall at Fiorentina after De Gea’s penalty heroics

AC Milan fall at Fiorentina after De Gea’s penalty heroics
  • The 27-year-old’s winner was made possible by De Gea pulling off two incredible stops to deny Theo Hernandez and then Tammy Abraham from scoring penalties
  • Marin lashed home the 88th-minute penalty which gave Cagliari a point at the Allianz Stadium after Roberto Piccoli was clumsily brought down by Douglas Luiz

MILAN: AC Milan slumped to a 2-1 defeat at Fiorentina on Sunday after having two penalties saved by star man David De Gea, while Juventus fell further behind Serie A leaders Napoli on a day of spot-kick drama.

Albert Gudmundsson lashed home the decisive goal in the 73rd minute of a match in Florence which was packed with drama and featured three failed attempts from the penalty spot.

The 27-year-old’s winner was made possible by De Gea pulling off two incredible stops to deny Theo Hernandez and then Tammy Abraham from scoring penalties in a superb display from the former Spain goalkeeper.

Those saves contributed to Milan missing the chance to move second above champions Inter Milan and Juventus, with the latter held 1-1 by Cagliari due to Razvan Marin’s late penalty.

“We need to work out why we played the way we did because at times we did well but we couldn’t keep it up over the course of the match,” said Milan defender Matteo Gabbia, who received his first Italy call-up on Friday.

Instead Milan, who did level Yacine Aldi’s first-half opener for Fiorentina when Christian Pulisic deftly guided home Hernandez’s cross on the hour, sit sixth and five points behind Napoli.

Adli’s opener came in the 35th minute, after Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan made the first penalty save of the evening, easily keeping out Moise Kean’s weak effort after Hernandez was penalized for kicking Dodo.

Italy international Kean had a tough night, missing a series of chances, having two goals rightly ruled out for offside and thumping the crossbar with a rocket in stoppage time, but he did provide the knockdown from which Gudmundsson won a thrilling contest.

Marin lashed home the 88th-minute penalty which gave Cagliari a point at the Allianz Stadium after Roberto Piccoli was clumsily brought down by Douglas Luiz.

Romania midfielder Marin’s arrowed penalty levelled Dusan Vlahovic’s 15th-minute spot-kick and moved Cagliari a point above the relegation zone.

It was the first goal conceded by Juve in Serie A this season and left Thiago Motta’s third-placed side three points behind Napoli.

“We created a few opportunities but there was always the feeling that Cagliari could get back into the game,” said Motta.

“What happened today is all our own fault.”

Cagliari could have even snatched a last-gasp win as Adam Obert thumped the post in the fifth minute of stoppage time, with Juve down to 10 men following Francisco Conceicao’s sending off almost immediately after Marin’s equalizer for trying to win a penalty by simulating a foul.

Juventus would have almost certainly had the full three points had Vlahovic not wasted a huge chance in the 78th minute in front of Paul Pogba, who was in the stands after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decided on Friday to cut his doping ban from four years to 18 months.

France midfielder Pogba can return to action in March but sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli gave the impression that the 31-year-old has no future at Juve.

“We’ll make our decision once the CAS decision has been made official. He was a great footballer but he hasn’t played for a long time,” Giuntoli said pre-match.

Juve have been joined on 13 points by their next opponents Lazio, who are fourth after winning their fourth straight match in all competitions, 2-1 over Empoli.

Roma’s sporting director Florent Ghisolfi meanwhile demanded “respect” for his team after the capital club were denied a late penalty during their 1-1 draw at Monza.

Georgios Kyriakopoulos’ 87th-minute challenge on Tommaso Baldanzi, which was if anything worse than Douglas Luiz’s on Piccoli, sparked a furious reaction from Roma’s players on the pitch and Ghisolfi later vented his frustration to Sky.

“What happened today was unacceptable, it was a clear penalty. Why did VAR not intervene?” said the Frenchman.

“There is a huge amount of frustration in the dressing room. We demand respect.”

Bologna’s difficult start to life under Vincenzo Italiano continued with a goalless draw against 10-man Parma.


Lewandowski treble for leaders Barca as Atletico held

Lewandowski treble for leaders Barca as Atletico held
Updated 07 October 2024
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Lewandowski treble for leaders Barca as Atletico held

Lewandowski treble for leaders Barca as Atletico held
  • Lewandowski reached 10 goals for the season in nine league games, stretching his lead as the division’s top goalscorer with a first-half treble

BARCELONA: Robert Lewandowski’s 26-minute hat-trick steered La Liga leaders Barcelona three points clear of Real Madrid with an emphatic 3-0 win at Alaves on Sunday.
Atletico Madrid’s bid to bounce back from a heavy Champions League defeat fell short as Real Sociedad rescued a 1-1 draw thanks to Luka Sucic’s brilliant late strike.
Lewandowski reached 10 goals for the season in nine league games, stretching his lead as the division’s top goalscorer with a first-half treble.
Champions Madrid beat Villarreal on Saturday to pull level with Barcelona but the Catalans strolled to a comfortable triumph at Alaves’ Mendizorroza stadium to continue a strong start to the campaign under new coach Hansi Flick.
“I get a lot of good passes and so it’s easier for me to score goals,” Lewandowski told DAZN.
“Today in the first half we played well from the first minute, we wanted to attack and score goals.
“If you score three goals in the first half then in the second you can play with everything under control.”
Barca secured their eighth victory in nine La Liga matches by taking control from the start.
Lewandowski and winger Raphinha, in superb form this season, were Barcelona’s key players in a match they largely dominated.
The Brazil international had a goal disallowed for offside before setting up Lewandowski for the opener with an inviting free-kick, which the striker headed home.
Raphinha burst down the left wing for Barcelona’s second, crossing for the veteran Polish forward to knock in.
Lewandowski completed his hat-trick with a clinical finish across Sivera after collecting Eric Garcia’s pass.
The 36-year-old hitman looks far sharper than last season and has 12 goals in 11 games across all competitions.
“In front of goal (Lewandowski) is the best player, for me,” Flick told reporters.
“It’s amazing to score so many goals over such a period... I’m really happy with him and you can see he’s 100 percent fit, it’s perfect at the moment.
“I’m happy for Lewy but also the other team-mates are really supporting him very (well).”
Alaves had goals from Toni Martinez and Santiago Mourino ruled out for offside as they battled well in the second half but Barca held firm.
Diego Simeone’s Atletico were thrashed 4-0 by Benfica on Wednesday but took a first-minute lead in San Sebastian against Real Sociedad.
Former Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez drilled home after Antoine Griezmann’s cute backheel into his path.
The Rojiblancos battled hard defensively to keep their advantage but Sucic looped a long-range effort over Jan Oblak in the 84th minute to secure the home side a point.
Atletico’s point took them third, level with Villarreal, but they trail leaders Barcelona by seven, while Real Sociedad are 15th.
“We scored the goal, the team worked well defensively, we didn’t allow a team that plays well (to create) much danger,” Simeone told DAZN.
“Look at their goal, a great strike, and that’s about it, I think a draw was fair.”
Sevilla shaded a derby clash against Real Betis 1-0 while Girona snatched a late 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao.
Dodi Lukebakio’s penalty was enough to pull Sevilla up to 12th, level on points with derby rivals Betis.
The winger converted from the spot in the 50th minute after a handball by Diego Llorente, who was furious with the decision.
“I just ask for respect, we work like mad every week and there are referees who lie to our faces,” said Llorente, who said the referee had claimed the defender’s arm was in a raised position.
Veteran Sevilla winger Jesus Navas, 38, played in his 28th and final Seville derby, becoming the player with the most appearances in the fixture — one more than Betis great Joaquin.
Earlier Girona snatched a late win over sixth-placed Athletic Bilbao in an entertaining clash.
Cristhian Stuani converted a late penalty to earn three points for last season’s surprise package, who are currently 11th after a difficult start this season.
Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga saved two penalties, denying Alex Berenguer and then Ander Herrera.


Celine Boutier clinches Aramco Team Series title with 19-under-par finish in China

Celine Boutier clinches Aramco Team Series title with 19-under-par finish in China
Updated 06 October 2024
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Celine Boutier clinches Aramco Team Series title with 19-under-par finish in China

Celine Boutier clinches Aramco Team Series title with 19-under-par finish in China
  • French golfer secures her first title of the year

LONDON: France’s Celine Boutier secured her first title of the year, delivering a 19-under-par performance to win the Aramco Team Series event at Mission Hills, China.

Boutier, who began the final day tied for the lead with home favorite Xiyu Lin, carded a bogey-free round for the second consecutive day to claim victory.

She said: “It was a great round. I definitely feel like we started really hot with (Lin), so it was fun to be able to battle it out. I’m very happy with my round (but) I wish a few putts had dropped. I was honestly super happy with how I handled today.”

Boutier acknowledged the intensity of the competition, adding: “It was close the whole day. One or two shots can swing pretty fast after one hole or two, so you definitely have to be on your toes until the end. I’m super happy with the way I played the last few holes.”

She also expressed her enthusiasm for China, saying: “I feel pretty good. I like China, so hopefully I can win some more tournaments here.”

Lin had a huge following while playing in front of her home crowd for the first time since winning bronze in Paris. (Supplied/Aramco Team Series)

Lin, playing in front of her home crowd for the first time since winning bronze in Paris, finished just two strokes behind Boutier at 17-under-par.

Despite the loss, Lin praised Boutier’s performance, saying: “Celine played unbelievably; a 7-under round and bogey-free is hard to beat, especially when my putter is not on. When I got to 18, I was two shots behind, so I knew I had a very slim chance.”

However, she remained optimistic, and added: “I had to give it 100 percent. I hit a good drive and probably one of the best 3-woods I made all week. It’s nice; I came up just short, but hearing the crowds cheering for me was pretty unbelievable.”

The battle for third place saw Shenzhen’s winning team captain, Chiara Tamburlini, and three-time winner Pauline Roussin-Bouchard finish tied, both recording the lowest rounds of the tournament at 65.

Roussin-Bouchard made a late charge with an eagle on the 16th hole, while Tamburlini fell just three strokes short of becoming the first player to win both the team and individual titles in the same event.

Noah Alireza, CEO of Golf Saudi, said: “What an incredible show of golf we experienced this weekend at the Aramco Team Series’ first visit to Shenzhen.

“On behalf of the Golf Saudi team, we extend a heartfelt congratulations to our exceptional winners, who continue to raise the standard of excellence in golf, inspiring players and fans worldwide.”


Ten Hag future up in the air after Manchester United draw at Villa

Ten Hag future up in the air after Manchester United draw at Villa
Updated 06 October 2024
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Ten Hag future up in the air after Manchester United draw at Villa

Ten Hag future up in the air after Manchester United draw at Villa
  • Lions mostly dominated, 4 days after beating Bayern Munich in the Champions League

LONDON: Manchester United’s winless run in all competitions extended to five games after a 0-0 draw at Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday, leaving manager Erik ten Hag’s position uncertain heading into a two-week international break.

Ten Hag arrived at Villa Park under huge pressure with United having lost three of its six league games and the club’s minority owner, Jim Ratcliffe, failing to say he had faith in the Dutch coach when asked specifically on Friday.

However creditable gaining a point at Villa is, it might still not be enough for Ten Hag — especially with United’s new leadership having two weeks to weigh up his future before the team’s next game. United is in 14th place in the 20-team league.

Playing in front of Ratcliffe and the rest of United’s hierarchy, the visitors came closest to scoring when Bruno Fernandes struck a free kick against the crossbar in the 68th.

Villa mostly dominated, four days after beating Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Since a chastening 3-0 loss to Tottenham last weekend, United has earned draws at Porto in the Europa League and now at a revitalized Villa.

Chelsea drew 1-1 with Nottingham Forest thanks to Noni Madueke’s equalizer in the 57th minute at Stamford Bridge.

Forest took the lead eight minutes earlier through Chris Wood and had to play with 10 men from the 78th after James Ward-Prowse’s sending-off after a second yellow card for diving on the ball with his hands to stop Nicolas Jackson launching a breakaway.

Elsewhere, in Italian football, Juventus were held to a surprise 1-1 home draw by Cagliari after a late penalty which led to the Turin giants conceding second place in Serie A to Inter Milan.

Razvan Marin lashed home the 88th-minute equalizer to give Cagliari a point at the Allianz Stadium after Roberto Piccoli was clumsily brought down by Douglas Luiz, who also gave a penalty away in Wednesday’s thrilling Champions League win at Leipzig.

Romania midfielder Marin’s arrowed penalty levelled Dusan Vlahovic’s 15th-minute spot-kick and moved Cagliari a point above the relegation zone.

It was the first goal conceded by Juve in Serie A this season and left Thiago Motta’s third-placed side three points behind league leaders Napoli after seven fixtures.

“We took our foot off the pedal after our goal, and we can’t do that. We need to keep attacking, and attack well,” said Motta.

“We created a few opportunities but there was always the feeling that Cagliari could get back into the game. What happened today is all our own fault.”

Cagliari could have even snatched a last-gasp win as Adam Obert thumped the post in the fifth minute of stoppage time, with Juve down to 10 men following Francisco Conceicao’s sending off almost immediately after Marin’s equalizer.

Conceicao picked up a second booking after trying to win Juve’s second penalty of the game in a frantic finish to a match which had largely been a drab affair before Luiz was penalized for his challenge following a VAR check.

“I’m pleased to get a point at Juve, it was hard because I had the whole stadium whistling me but I managed to keep my concentration,” said Marin.

Juventus, who were missing Nico Gonzalez, Arkadiusz Milik, Timothy Weah and Gleison Bremer, who suffered a serious knee injury at Leipzig, would have almost certainly had the full three points had Vlahovic not wasted a huge chance in the 78th minute.

Serbia striker Vlahovic, who is on five Serie A goals for the season, somehow shot wide on the rebound after Douglas Luiz’s shot was parried by Simone Scuffet.

His opener was controversial too as the penalty was awarded for Cagliari defender Sebastiano Luperto’s fingers grazing the ball as he engaged in an aerial tussle with Federico Gatti.

The spot-kick was given after a VAR check as Luperto’s arm was high in the air when he touched the ball, but he was landing from his jump and had Gatti leaning on his shoulder while two other players also battled for the ball.