The Fiji Times

Spain beat Argentina 95-75 to win FIBA World Cup

BEIJING (Reuters) – Spain beat Argentina 95-75 to win the FIBA Basketball World Cup for the first time since 2006 on Sunday, completing a stunning campaign for a squad considered by many to be among the outsiders when the 32-team tournament began. The Spaniards scored first and never relinquished the lead, relying on swarming interior...

Fiji surfers target Olympics

Surfing Fiji coach Ian Portingale has highlighted that the focus is still on the Olympics as team Fiji puts on a brave performance as Fiji improves its ranking at the ISA World Surfng Games in Japan. “The Fijian Open team improved their international ranking from 34th out of 44 down to 28th out of 55,”...

A warning to Singh

SEASIDE Boxing Club’s Ritesh Gounder has sent out a stern warning to amateur boxing champion Nathan Singh ahead of their bout next month. Gounder, currently in Melbourne Australia, fought Australian gold medallist Caleb Kozab last Saturday losing by points taking the Australian the full four rounds. “Come prepared,” Gounder warned. Although losing by mere points,...

Athletics- Kenyan trials too hot for Kipruto

NAIROBI (Reuters) – Olympic and world champion Conseslus Kipruto dropped out of the 3,000m steeplechase at Kenya’s world championship trials on Friday after the race began at a fierce pace. Kipruto, who already had a place in the team for the world championships in Doha by virtue of being the defending champion, dropped out after...

Pliskova wins twice in a day to reach Zhengzhou semis, Svitolina out

(Reuters) – Top seed Karolina Pliskova started Friday in the last-16 at the inaugural Zhengzhou Open and ended the day in the semi-finals after defeating Polona Hercog and Sofia Kenin in succession. Pliskova’s match against Slovenian Hercog was suspended on Wednesday due to rain with the score at 6-3 2-5 and she only returned to...

Europe take one-point Solheim Cup lead into day two

(Reuters) – Team Europe took a one-point advantage over the U.S. into the second day of the Solheim Cup with a 4-1/2 to 3-1/2 lead after Friday’s foursomes and fourballs at Gleneagles. After Team Europe moved ahead by 2-1/2 to 1-1/2 in the morning foursomes on the PGA Centenary Course, Americans Ally McDonald and Angel...

Nand savours win

JACK Akbar Trophy Nett champion Ishwar Nand did not expect to win the Jack Akbar Shied after the one-day competition at the Fiji Golf Club course in Suva on Thursday. Nand was caught by surprise when his name was announced as the nett winner at the closing ceremony. “This is an unexpected win and I...

Johnson’s playoff streak comes to end

Jimmie Johnson emerged from a required check-up in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s infield care center fine physically but obviously disappointed to have his amazing run of NASCAR playoff contention end with a crash on lap 105 of Sunday’s 160-lap Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard — the regular-season finale and his last shot at...

Briton Shinkwin takes one-shot lead in KLM Open first round

(Reuters) – England’s Callum Shinkwin fired a six-under par 66 to carve out a one-stroke lead after the first round of the 100th edition of the KLM Open in Amsterdam on Thursday. The 26-year-old struck three birdies and an eagle on the par-five third, offset by a single bogey, to turn in 32 and added...

WTA roundup: Top seed retires at Jiangxi Open

Top-seeded Zhang Shuai of China retired due to illness while trailing compatriot Zhu Lin 6-0, 1-0 in the second round of the Jiangxi Open on Thursday in Nanchang, China. Zhu reached the quarterfinals after converting four of her five break chances. She never faced a break point during the abbreviated 39-minute contest. China’s Peng Shuai...

Rookie Solak provides clout as Rangers edge Rays

Nick Solak homered off Peter Fairbanks, the pitcher he was traded for two months ago, helping the Texas Rangers to a 6-4 win against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday night in Arlington, Texas. Solak went 2-for-3 in his 22nd major league game, raising his batting average to .360. Delino DeShields had two hits...

Report: Grizzlies refusing to buyout F Iguodala

The Memphis Grizzlies are not engaging forward Andre Iguodala in buyout discussions and expect the 15-year veteran to report to training camp, according to The Athletic’s and Stadium’s Shams Charania. Iguodala, 35, was acquired in a trade with the Golden State Warriors in July. In order to entice the Grizzlies to pick up Iguodala’s contract,...

Ishwar Nand wins Shield

JACK Akbar Trophy champion Ishwar Nand did not expect to win the Jack Akbar Shield yesterday after the one day competition at the Fiji Golf Course in Suva. Nand was caught by surprise when his name was announced as the Nett winner at the closing ceremony. “I love this sport and even though I am...

Fifth year for annual golf event

GOLFERS from around the Suva area and a few from Australia gathered at the Fiji Golf Club course yesterday for the annual Jack Akbar Trophy tournament which is organised for the Fiji Senior Golfers Association in the country. The golf tournament which is held every year is organised in memory of veteran golfer Mohammed Razak...

Fijians perform well

THE women’s grade has concluded with team Fiji surfers putting in strong performances at the 2019 ISA World Surfing Games in Miyazaki, Japan. “The women’s draw has concluded with Hannah Bennett finishing 54th, Kim Bennett finished 80th and Kayla Wakeham finished 95th in a field of 115 female surfers,” said Surfing Fiji coach Ian Portingale....

Magpies rule 3×3 b’ball

MAGPIES came out victorious in the 3×3 Zodiac Challenge after defeating Onyx 12-9 in the open men’s final at the Yat Sen Secondary School hall in Flagstaff, Suva on Monday night. In the women’s division, Crossroads defeated Valkyries 10-4 while in the U19 boys division; Young Bulls defeated Bulls 8-5. Twenty-eight teams were part of...

Andreescu ‘not done yet’ after Grand Slam breakthrough

(Reuters) – Canadian teenager Bianca Andreescu, who upstaged tennis great Serena Williams in the U.S. Open final to win her maiden Grand Slam title, said she was not done yet during a whirlwind media tour on Monday. Since claiming the title in her U.S. Open main draw debut, Andreescu has had a trophy photoshoot atop...

Athletics: World champion Gatlin OK after hamstring scare

(Reuters) – Reigning world 100 meters champion Justin Gatlin should be back training within the week after tests were negative for a possible hamstring injury, his manager told Reuters on Wednesday. The American sprinter slowed noticeably about 65 meters into a race he was leading and began grabbing his left hamstring before finishing fourth in...

Games’ next move

“THE 2019 Rotuma Games ended on a high note.” These were the words of Fiji Rotuman Sports council vice-president Rupeni Fonmanu at the final day of the two-day event. The tournament ended yesterday with team Mairo from Lautoka walking away as overall winners with three gold, one silver and four bronze medals. Sarafui came in...

Mairo rules Rotuma Games

TEAM Mairo dominated the 2019 Rotuma Games scooping three gold, one silver and four bronze medals to be crowned overall champion at the Suva Grammar School grounds yesterday. manager Pene Penjueli said unity had always been a strong part of the team in their preparation towards the games. “We did not expect to get the...

Other Sports

Surfing – Brazil fires warning shot in Olympic qualifier