分类： sports

In a night of extraordinary UEFA Champions League drama, Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt delivered one of the competition’s greatest upsets by defeating last season’s finalists Inter Milan 3-1 in their playoff first leg. The Arctic Circle club, who previously bested Manchester City and Atletico Madrid in the group stage, demonstrated their European credentials with a commanding performance against the Serie A leaders.

The scoring opened in the 20th minute when Sondre Brunstad Fet capitalized on Bodo/Glimt’s aggressive start. Although Inter’s Francesco Pio Esposito leveled proceedings on the half-hour mark—a goal validated by VAR despite handball appeals—the Norwegian side reclaimed control after the break. Kasper Hogh provided a brilliant assist for Jens Petter Hauge’s 61st-minute strike before adding his own goal just three minutes later, establishing a formidable advantage ahead of next week’s return leg at San Siro.

Meanwhile, Newcastle United delivered a devastating attacking display in Azerbaijan as Anthony Gordon scored four goals in their 6-1 demolition of Qarabag. The English winger opened his account within three minutes, completed his hat-trick within 34 minutes, and added a penalty before halftime. Gordon’s remarkable quadruple brings his tournament tally to 10 goals, trailing only Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé in the scoring charts.

In other playoff action, Club Brugge and Atletico Madrid shared six goals in a thrilling 3-3 stalemate. The Belgian side twice came from behind, with Christos Tzolis netting an 89th-minute equalizer after Joel Ordonez’s own goal had seemingly handed Atletico victory. Bayer Leverkusen took control of their tie with Olympiacos, avenging last month’s defeat with a 2-0 victory in Piraeus courtesy of Patrik Schick’s quickfire double around the hour mark.

The West Indies cricket team completed a flawless group stage campaign at the T20 World Cup with a commanding 42-run victory against Italy in Kolkata on Thursday. The two-time champions demonstrated their championship pedigree by securing their spot in the Super Eight stage with an unblemished record.

Captain Shai Hope delivered a masterclass performance, scoring 75 runs from just 46 deliveries to register his 11th T20 International half-century. His commanding innings established a competitive target of 166 runs despite Italy’s determined bowling effort. Hope’s leadership proved instrumental in stabilizing the West Indies innings after early setbacks caused by Italian pacers Ali Hasan and Thomas Draca.

Italy’s chase began disastrously when Matthew Forde’s precision bowling dismantled Justin Mosca’s stumps early in the innings. Akeal Hosein’s strategic bowling later claimed the wicket of Anthony Mosca, who had briefly threatened with two sixes before being deceived by a slower delivery.

The Italian side showed resilience through JJ Smuts (24 off 27) and Ben Manenti (26 off 21), who mounted a temporary fightback. However, their efforts were curtailed by Gudakesh Motie’s spin expertise, which yielded figures of 2/24. West Indies pacer Shamar Joseph delivered a devastating performance with 4/30, while Forde complemented with 3/19, collectively bowling out Italy for 123 in 18 overs.

Despite disciplined bowling from Italy’s spinners Manenti (2/37) and Crishan Kalugamage (2/25) that restricted West Indies to 165-6, the target proved insurmountable for the associate nation. Italy concludes their tournament journey with a single victory against Nepal, while the West Indies advance with formidable momentum.

LIVIGNO, Italy — In a dramatic turn of events at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, 17-year-old South Korean snowboarder Gaon Choi transformed a potentially career-ending accident into a golden triumph. During her initial halfpipe run, Choi experienced a terrifying fall that left her momentarily believing her Olympic dreams had shattered.

“I genuinely thought my knee was broken,” Choi revealed to The Associated Press after returning to South Korea. “Having envisioned this moment since childhood, the thought of it ending so abruptly overwhelmed me with emotion.”

Despite the psychological and physical trauma, the young athlete demonstrated extraordinary resilience. Choi not only completed the competition but dethroned defending champion Chloe Kim to claim the Olympic gold medal in snowboarding’s premier event. Her victory marks a historic achievement as South Korea’s first gold-medal snowboarder.

The podium moment carried profound emotional complexity for Choi, who described Kim as both mentor and sister-like figure. “The experience evoked mixed feelings—some regret and apology, but overwhelming happiness that made the achievement particularly meaningful,” Choi reflected.

Choi’s snowboarding journey began unexpectedly at age seven when her father initially purchased skis for her, contrary to the snowboards he bought for her older siblings. Her insistence on equal treatment launched a decade-long path to Olympic glory.

Despite the significance of her accomplishment, the event wasn’t televised live in South Korea, where winter sports attention typically focuses on speedskating and curling. Nonetheless, Choi gained recognition unexpectedly when flight attendants identified her during her return journey.

The new champion believes her performance didn’t fully showcase her prepared routine due to the early injury. “I aim to train more intensively, perfect my execution, and ultimately present the run I’ve envisioned,” she stated.

Olympic observers also noted emerging talents who may dominate future competitions:

– Japan’s Taiga Hasegawa, 20, earned silver in slopestyle and emphasizes fundamental riding skills alongside technical tricks
– New Zealand’s Cam Melville Ives, 19, demonstrated exceptional triple cork maneuvers but encountered spatial limitations in the halfpipe
– American Ollie Martin, 17, made history as the youngest athlete to land a 2160-degree rotation and impressed with his fourth-place big air finish

These athletes represent snowboarding’s evolving landscape as the sport concludes its Livigno chapter and looks toward future competitions in Aspen and Laax.

The final chapter of women’s figure skating at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics unfolds Thursday night with an unprecedented potential podium sweep by Japanese athletes, while American champion Alysa Liu carries her nation’s golden aspirations against formidable competition.

Japan’s formidable trio—Ami Nakai (17), Kaori Sakamoto (25), and Mone Chiba—stand positioned to achieve what no nation has accomplished in Olympic history: a complete women’s figure skating podium domination. Nakai, inspired by legendary skater Mao Asada, leads the competition after delivering one of only two successful triple axels during Tuesday’s short program. Sakamoto, the 2022 Beijing bronze medalist, trails by a mere point in what she暗示 might be her Olympic finale.

Challenging the Japanese dominance is American skater Alysa Liu, who has positioned herself as the only non-Japanese contender within striking distance of the podium. The 20-year-old from California’s Bay Area has staged a remarkable comeback after a two-year retirement, during which she rediscovered her passion for skating. Her victory at last year’s World Championships—ending a 16-year American drought since Kimmie Meissner—preceded her current quest to become the first U.S. women’s Olympic champion since Sarah Hughes in 2002.

The competition’s unpredictable variable arrives in the form of Russian skater Adeliia Petrosian (18), who competes as a neutral athlete amid Russia’s ongoing exclusion from international events due to geopolitical circumstances. As the latest prodigy from controversial coach Eteri Tutberidze’s stable, Petrosian represents the only contender capable of executing quadruple jumps—a technical element that could dramatically alter the competition’s outcome. Despite limited international exposure and concerns about inflated domestic scores, her Milan performances have demonstrated medal-winning potential.

This showdown marks another chapter in Russia’s figure skating dominance, with no non-Russian athlete having claimed Olympic gold since South Korea’s Yuna Kim at the 2010 Vancouver Games. The evening promises not only technical excellence but compelling narratives of perseverance, national pride, and athletic legacy across generations of skaters.

CHONBURI, Thailand – The LPGA Tour’s Asian swing commenced with impressive performances at the Siam Country Club Old Course, where Japan’s Nasa Hataoka and local favorite Chanettee Wannasaen seized a joint lead after Thursday’s opening round of the LPGA Thailand tournament.

Hataoka, a five-time LPGA individual champion and 2021 U.S. Women’s Open runner-up, demonstrated exceptional precision throughout her bogey-free round. The 27-year-old golfer carded a 7-under 65, attributing her success to superior tee shots and iron play that created abundant birdie opportunities.

Thailand’s Chanettee Wannasaen matched Hataoka’s score, delighting home crowds with an equally impressive performance that positioned her atop the leaderboard alongside the Japanese standout.

Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh delivered the day’s most explosive start, opening her round with an eagle followed by three consecutive birdies. Dryburgh finished one stroke behind the leaders at 6-under 66, sharing third position with South Korea’s Hye-Jin Choi and Somi Lee.

The tournament features a tightly bunched leaderboard with world-class talent lurking close behind. Top-ranked Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand and former world number one Lydia Ko posted solid 67s, placing them among a ten-player group tied for sixth position just two strokes off the pace.

Defending champion Angel Yin opened her title defense with a respectable 3-under 69, remaining within striking distance of the leaders.

Notably absent from the Asian swing is world number two Nelly Korda, who won the season-opening Tournament of Champions in February under unusual circumstances when adverse weather conditions forced cancellation of the final round. Korda has opted to skip the three-tournament Asian segment for the third consecutive year, missing events in Thailand, Singapore, and China.