The Fiji Times

Lewis stumbles late in Memphis but gains confidence for PGA Championship

(Reuters) – England’s Tom Lewis was three clean holes away from staking a claim for an unlikely victory at the WGC-FedEx St Jude Classic in Memphis on Sunday but ultimately fell agonisingly short. The 29-year-old, who had produced a course record-equalling nine-under-par 61 at TPC Southwind on Saturday, jumped into contention after carding five birdies...

Lee reigns at Maciu Malo memorial golf tournament

Fiji’s newest annual golf tournament organised by Lautoka Golf Club was a big hit on the weekend. It recorded a big turnout with one of Fiji’s best golfers, Sam Lee winning the one-day event which was to help the family of the late The Fiji Times journalist, Maciu malo. Lee won the professional division during...

Lakeba wins Battle of the Vanua Championship

The Lakeba Cricket Association team was crowned the Battle of the Vanua Championship winner after beating Ono during their Cricket Fiji T10 face-off over the weekend at Albert Park in Suva. Lakeba overcame Ono’s 53 runs in 10 overs taking the win with a score of 56 runs in seven overs with three wickets. “It...

Commonwealth Games Wales chief executive confident of success at Birmingham 2022

BIRMIMGHAM, 03 AUGUST 2020 (INSIDE THE GAMES)—Commonwealth Games Wales chief executive Chris Jenkins revealed he was confident the country would be successful at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. The next edition of the Commonwealth Games is now two years away, but preparations for the multi-sport competition have been hindered by the coronavirus pandemic. Athletes...

Gymnasts laid complaints about alleged abuse

Gymnastics New Zealand prevented Olympic hopefuls from competing for months after the athletes raised concerns about an allegedly abusive coach at a 2018 training camp. Multiple gymnasts and coaches individually laid complaints with Gymnastics New Zealand (GNZ) about the actions of a coach brought in from the USA for an international training camp, RNZ understands....

Pacers rally to defeat 76ers behind Warren’s career-high 53

T.J. Warren scored a career-high 53 points to lead the Indiana Pacers past the visiting Philadelphia 76ers 127-121 on Saturday near Orlando. Warren was 20-of-29 from the field, including 9-of-12 from beyond the 3-point arc. Warren’s previous career-high was 40. Aaron Holiday had 15 points and 10 assists and Victor Oladipo added 15 points for...

Todd hangs on to lead headed into final round in Memphis

(Reuters) – Brendon Todd held on to the lead at the WGC FedEx St. Jude Invitational on Saturday, despite an uneven third round that saw him hit four bogeys and five birdies to finish the day at a one-under par 69. Todd, who sunk a 22-foot putt for a birdie on eight, said he was...

Players focus on scoring and fighting not protests as NHL returns

TORONTO (Reuters) – There were goals and fights but no spectators or protests as the Carolina Hurricanes beat the New York Rangers 3-2 on Saturday and the National Hockey League delivered a businesslike relaunch of its coronavirus-hit season. The first game since the COVID-19 pandemic halted play on March 11 got off to an explosive...

Coronavirus rattling league as possible cases force more delays

(Reuters) – Major League Baseball (MLB) postponed Saturday’s game and Sunday’s double-header between the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers after initial rapid tests showed another player and “multiple” staff on the Cardinals may have COVID-19. MLB is scrambling to keep its coronavirus-shortened season on track after numerous games were postponed due to positive test...

Fournier helps Magic cruise past Nets

The Orlando Magic turned a close game into a rout by scoring nine unanswered points late in the second quarter Friday afternoon, and went on to beat the Brooklyn Nets 128-118 in the first game of the NBA’s restart for both teams near Orlando. Evan Fournier had 24 points while Aaron Gordon posted a double-double...

Tennis: Kenin ready for career restart after COVID-19 disruption

MUMBAI (Reuters) – The COVID-19 shutdown could not have come at a worse time for Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin but the American says she has made full use of the mini off-season and is raring to go when the professional circuit restarts next month. The 21-year-old lifted her first Grand Slam trophy in Melbourne...

Murray predicts more U.S. Open withdrawals after Barty

(Reuters) – Britain’s Andy Murray expects some of the top male players to follow women’s world number one Ash Barty in skipping next month’s U.S. Open in New York due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. Australian Barty said on Thursday she was not comfortable travelling to the United States amid the pandemic for the...

Murray calls for more mixed-gender events on main tours

(Reuters) – Tennis is “missing a trick” by not including more team events involving both men and women on the main tours, three-times Grand Slam winner Andy Murray has said. Mixed doubles is currently played only at the four Grand Slams on the professional tennis circuit. “I think sports miss a bit of a trick...

League ready to launch postseason unlike any in NHL history

(Reuters) – When the National Hockey League (NHL) resumes its virus-hit season on Saturday it will be a postseason unlike any other in league history with teams competing in two Canadian cities in a bid to limit travel and minimize COVID-19 risk. While some of the changes, including regular testing of all players, will not...

NBA players protest racial injustice as league returns to action

(Reuters) – NBA teams bowed their heads and knelt during the playing of the U.S. national anthem while wearing Black Lives Matter T-shirts on Thursday as the league returned for the first time since the coronavirus halted play in March. Coaches and game officials joined players from the Utah Jazz, New Orleans Pelicans and Los...

Squash reps ready

Expectations for the first squash tournament under the COVID-19 guidelines is on a high note with 55 confirmed entries from around the country to compete across four open grades (mixed men and women). Squash Fiji vice-president Edward Roxburgh has a good feeling the first round will be an interesting one with unexpected results. “Top seed...

Sal’s NBL Showdown: Secret behind Otago Nuggets’ golden run — Bats, banter and brotherhood

The Otago Nuggets have a pre-game ritual they’ve established during the Sal’s NBL Showdown which they believe is a key part of why they’ve been able to hit their opponents for a six during this six-week hybrid league. The Nuggets are through to their first ever NBL grand final – albeit one with an asterisk...

Ryan Fox makes steady start, as Garcia Rodriguez shoots course record 62 to lead Hero Open

Sebastian Garcia Rodriguez led a Spanish charge in the European Tour’s latest stop in England, shooting a course-record 10-under 62 in the opening round of the Hero Open on Thursday. Garcia Rodriguez set the pace at the Forest of Arden Marriott Hotel and Country Club course with a round that included two eagles and eight...

Nationals down Blue Jays, halt three-game slide

Adam Eaton hit an infield single to score the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th inning and Asdrubal Cabrera followed with a three-run triple as the Washington Nationals defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 4-0 on Wednesday night. The game was played at Nationals Park but with Toronto designated as the home team as...

Osaka will play in U.S. Open, says management team

TOKYO (Reuters) – Naomi Osaka will play in next month’s U.S. Open in New York, the 2018 champion’s management team has told Reuters. Several media reports had said she had not registered for the tournament and had decided to skip the event, which kicks off on Aug. 31 and will be played under strict bio-security...

Golf tourney for late journalist

The Lautoka Golf Club is all geared up to stage the deferred Long Run (Fiji)-sponsored Late Maciu Malo Memorial tournament at the golf links on Saturday. The 18 hole individual stroke event has been generously sponsored by businessman and avid golfer, Ram Reddy. Club executive Raymond Singh commended Long Run (Fiji). He said proceeds raised...

Sian Scott: The karate kid who stood up to her bullies sets sights on Tokyo Olympics

When seven-year-old Sian Scott first came to live in New Zealand, she found herself at the mercy of bullies. Simply for being different. “I was small, we moved around a lot, and I looked different,” says Scott, who’s mother is Filipino and birth father English. “I was the subject of a lot of bullying. I...

Lydia Ko’s latest coach drawing on the past ahead of LPGA opener

Lydia Ko’s latest coach is going down memory lane with the former World No.1 to try to get her game back. The Kiwi golfer will resume her pandemic-interrupted LPGA season on Friday morning (NZ time) in Toleldo when she contests the Drive On Championship. She’ll do so with her sixth coach in the past four...

Indians edge White Sox in opener of doubleheader

Aaron Civale recorded a career-high nine strikeouts and Francisco Lindor belted a two-run homer to lift the host Cleveland Indians to a 4-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday in the opener of a doubleheader. Bradley Zimmer joined Lindor in going deep and driving in a pair of runs for the Indians, who...

Marathon and race walk Olympic qualification can begin in September

(Reuters) – Olympic qualification for the marathon and road race walk events can re-start from Sept. 1, three months earlier than previously announced, the sport’s governing body World Athletics ruled on Tuesday. However, qualifying for all other track and field events at next year’s Tokyo Games would remain suspended until Nov. 30 as originally planned,...

MLB shuts Marlins down for a week in bid to contain virus

(Reuters) – Major League Baseball has postponed all Miami Marlins games through Sunday in a bid to contain a COVID-19 outbreak among its players that could potentially endanger the 2020 season. Miami, who opened their season last Friday in Philadelphia, have reportedly had 17 confirmed cases – 15 players and two coaches – over the...

Rockies dump A’s to pick up third straight win

Sam Hilliard homered and finished with two hits, Raimel Tapia, Ryan McMahon and Charlie Blackmon had two hits apiece, and the visiting Colorado Rockies beat the Oakland A’s 8-3 on Tuesday night. David Dahl doubled and drove in two runs and Tony Wolters also doubled for Colorado, which won its third straight. Ramon Laureano and...

Bio-secure bubble presents unprecedented challenges for NBA

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – An NBA season like no other resumes inside a bio-secure bubble in Orlando this week, following a four-and-a-half month break, in what will probably be the most uniquely challenging title run in the 74-year history of the league. Bringing home the Larry O’Brien trophy in October will require a level of...

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