分类： sports

MILAN — The Canadian women’s Olympic hockey team delivered a commanding performance on Thursday at the Milan Cortina Games, shutting out Finland 5-0 to secure second place in Group A. The victory sets up a quarterfinal matchup against Germany this Saturday.

Emily Clark emerged as the offensive standout with two goals, while goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens recorded a 17-save shutout in a game originally postponed due to Finland’s roster being depleted by a stomach virus.

The Canadian squad demonstrated resilience by bouncing back decisively from their previous 5-0 defeat against tournament favorites United States on Tuesday. That loss marked Canada’s first shutout defeat in Olympic competition history.

Team Canada continued to compete without captain Marie-Philip Poulin, who sustained a lower-body injury during Monday’s 5-1 victory over Czechia. Medical staff reported positive progress as Poulin returned to the ice for skating drills on Thursday, with expectations for her return during the knockout stage.

The outcome finalized all quarterfinal pairings, with Group A top-seeded United States set to face host nation Italy on Friday. Italy secured Group B’s final playoff seed with a 2-2 record.

Additional scoring contributions came from Kristin O’Neill (one goal, one assist), Jennifer Gardiner, and Daryl Watts. Finland, blanked in all three losses during preliminary rounds, will face Switzerland after finishing fourth in Group A.

In a bold strategic move, French national rugby head coach Fabien Galthié has selected 20-year-old Fabien Brau-Boirie for his international test debut at center against Wales in this Sunday’s Six Nations matchup. The rising star from Pau club will form a dynamic midfield partnership with his clubmate Émilien Gailleton, who earns his 12th cap for Les Bleus.

This unexpected selection comes as a direct response to France’s injury crisis following their commanding 36-14 victory over Ireland last Thursday. The defending champions lost three key centers—Nicolas Depoortère (calf), Kalvin Gourgues (ankle), and Yoram Moefana (knee)—forcing Galthié to tap into France’s deep talent pool.

Galthié expressed confidence in his young prospect, stating: “Brau-Boirie has been integrated within our system for over a year. His exceptional performances with the under-20 squad, combined with consistent weekend appearances for his club, have truly earned him this opportunity. He was originally slated to join our tour to New Zealand last July but unfortunately sustained an ankle injury.”

The selection marks a significant moment for Pau club, which currently sits second in the French Top 14 league, thanks in part to the contributions of both Brau-Boirie and Gailleton. Adding to the youthful injection, 21-year-old Stade Francais center Noah Nene has been named among the reserves, awaiting his potential debut.

France faces a Welsh squad reeling from a devastating 48-7 defeat against England at Twickenham last weekend. Despite Wales facing the prospect of a record-extending 13th consecutive Six Nations defeat, Galthié remains wary of the challenge awaiting in Cardiff.

The French coach acknowledged the unique atmosphere of the Welsh stadium, noting: “In my opinion, it represents the most magnificent stadium globally, with those relentless Welsh chants that create an extraordinary environment. This distinctive atmosphere effectively levels the competitive field and provides the Welsh team with additional motivation.”

Wales hasn’t secured a victory against France on home turf since 2018, adding historical context to this highly anticipated Six Nations confrontation.

The International Olympic Committee has ignited international controversy by excluding Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych from the Milan Cortina Games for wearing a helmet honoring athletes and coaches killed in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry, a former Olympic swimmer, acknowledged the power of Heraskevych’s message while defending the decision. “No one—especially me—is disagreeing with the messaging. The challenge we are facing is that we wanted to ask or come up with a solution for just the field of play,” stated Coventry.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered unequivocal support for the athlete, declaring: “I thank our athlete for his clear stance. His helmet, bearing the portraits of fallen Ukrainian athletes, is about honor and remembrance. It is a reminder to the whole world of what Russian aggression is and the cost of fighting for independence.”

The banned athlete expressed cautious optimism about his meeting with Coventry, noting: “I want to believe that the reason is that she really felt sorry as an athlete, as a former athlete, and that she really wants me to compete.”

Prominent voices across the sports and diplomatic world condemned the IOC’s decision. British skeleton Olympic champion Lizzy Yarnold conveyed her “real sense of sadness and real surprise” regarding the exclusion.

European Union Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova highlighted the stark contrast in the Committee’s approach, stating on Instagram: “He was excluded by the same Olympic Committee that allowed 20 Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under a neutral flag.”

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha delivered one of the strongest condemnations, asserting: “The IOC has banned not the Ukrainian athlete, but its own reputation. Future generations will recall this as a moment of shame.”

The athlete’s father and coach, Mykhailo Heraskevych, expressed the personal devastation caused by the decision: “The International Olympic Committee destroyed our dreams. It’s not fair.”

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — British skeleton racer Matt Weston demonstrated extraordinary focus at the Olympic track on Thursday, remaining completely unaware of a major controversy unfolding around him as he secured the lead in the men’s skeleton competition. The World Cup champion and Olympic favorite posted the fastest times in both heats, finishing the day with an impressive time of 1 minute, 52.09 seconds.

While Weston concentrated solely on his performance, Ukrainian slider Vladyslav Heraskevych was unexpectedly disqualified from the competition just before the event began. The dramatic development became the day’s biggest Olympic story, occurring trackside moments before the start. Weston remained oblivious to the situation until hours later when journalists confronted him with questions.

“I had someone shove a mic in my face saying, ‘What about this?’” Weston revealed. “And I’m like, ‘Well, I hadn’t heard of it.’”

Weston’s performance places him in a strong position for Friday’s final two runs, though his lead remains narrow. German competitors Axel Jungk, the reigning Olympic silver medalist, and defending champion Christopher Grotheer trail closely behind at 0.30 and 0.46 seconds respectively.

American slider Austin Florian, who recorded the best start in the field, acknowledged awareness of Heraskevych’s disqualification since the Ukrainian was scheduled to compete immediately before him. “We’re generally pretty focused on what we’re doing. We’re aware of it,” Florian commented. “Everyone’s aware of it, obviously. And we try not to let it affect us.”

Despite the competitive environment, Weston expressed genuine disappointment for Heraskevych, whom he considers both a friend and technical inspiration. The British slider studies the Ukrainian’s driving techniques as part of his own strategic preparation.

“I think he’s an insane slider. He’s really, really good, very technical, very smooth,” Weston praised. “I get him on the push, but he’s always one that I look at his lines to see what he’s doing because he’s always pretty consistent. I think he could have done very well here. Another reason why I’m a bit gutted for him as a person.”

PARIS — The French Ligue 1 championship landscape has undergone significant transformation as Marseille’s title aspirations have effectively dissolved following their devastating 5-0 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain. This crushing loss precipitated the immediate dismissal of manager Roberto De Zerbi and sparked visible fan discontent, with supporters confronting players at the airport to express their profound disappointment.

With Marseille now trailing by twelve points and dropping to fourth position, RC Lens has emerged as the only serious contender capable of challenging PSG’s dominance. Sitting merely two points behind the league leaders, Lens demonstrates remarkable consistency and determination as the season approaches its critical phase.

This weekend’s fixtures present compelling narratives: PSG travels to face a struggling Rennes side that has suffered four consecutive defeats while conceding twelve goals. Meanwhile, Marseille attempts to reconcile with their disillusioned fanbase during a home encounter against Strasbourg. Lens faces Paris FC, and Lyon continues their surprising ascent under coach Paulo Fonseca, seeking a thirteenth consecutive victory across all competitions against Nice.

Individual performances have captured attention, particularly Ousmane Dembélé’s exceptional display against Marseille—featuring two goals and an assist—signaling his return to peak form after injury setbacks. Lens winger Allan Saint-Maximin also impressed with a spectacular debut goal, promising to be a valuable asset in the title pursuit.

Beyond the pitch, PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi received recognition from FIFA’s Gianni Infantino for his instrumental role in opposing the controversial Super League project, highlighting the ongoing structural evolution within European football.

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Italian alpine skier Federica Brignone achieved a monumental career milestone Thursday by capturing her first Olympic gold medal in the women’s super-G event at the 2026 Winter Games. The 35-year-old champion completed a remarkable recovery journey less than a year after sustaining multiple fractures in her left leg that required two surgical procedures and extensive rehabilitation.

Brignone mastered the challenging Trofane course in foggy conditions with limited visibility, posting a winning time of 1:23.41. Her victory establishes her as the oldest female gold medalist in Olympic alpine skiing history and marks her fourth Olympic medal overall, matching Deborah Compagnoni’s record for most medals by an Italian women’s skier.

The technical course proved demanding for several top competitors. France’s Romane Miradoli secured silver while Austria’s Cornelia Huetter took bronze. Notable contenders including downhill specialist Breezy Johnson of the United States, who collided with a gate and ended in the safety fencing, and Italy’s Sofia Goggia, current World Cup super-G leader, failed to complete their runs successfully.

Brignone’s triumph held special significance as she served as one of Italy’s flag bearers during the opening ceremonies. Still experiencing discomfort from her previous injury, she had humorously requested curler Amos Mosaner to carry her on his shoulders during the procession. The victory sparked enthusiastic celebrations among Italian supporters and earned praise from skiing legend Lindsey Vonn, who tweeted congratulations acknowledging Brignone’s extraordinary comeback story.

In a remarkable display of cricketing prowess, Italy secured its first-ever victory at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with a stunning 10-wicket triumph over Nepal at Mumbai’s iconic Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. The Italian team, participating in only their second global cricket tournament, achieved this historic milestone through a dominant performance that saw them dismantle Nepal’s bowling attack in just 12.4 overs.

The foundation for Italy’s victory was laid by their bowling unit, particularly Sri Lanka-born wrist spinner Crishan Kalugamage, who delivered a decisive performance with figures of 3-18. Kalugamage’s crucial wickets included that of Nepal captain Rohit Paudel, helping restrict the Himalayan nation to a modest total of 123 runs, completed with three balls remaining in their innings.

The chase became a spectacular family affair as the Sydney-raised Mosca brothers, Anthony and Justin, orchestrated a flawless batting exhibition. Their unbeaten partnership of 124-0 marked only the eighth 10-wicket victory in the history of men’s T20 World Cup cricket. Anthony Mosca’s explosive 62 not out from 32 balls, complemented by Justin’s steady 60 not out from 44 deliveries, featured an impressive array of nine sixes and eight boundaries that systematically dismantled Nepal’s bowling attack.

This victory places Italy alongside the Netherlands as only the second non-British European nation to win a match in the T20 World Cup. The result comes as a particular disappointment for Nepal, who had previously demonstrated strong form by nearly defeating England at the same venue just days earlier.

In concurrent tournament action, Sri Lanka delivered a crushing 105-run victory over Oman in Pallekele. Captain Dasun Shanaka broke his own national record for the fastest Twenty20 half-century, reaching 50 runs in just 19 balls. Supported by Kusal Mendis (61) and Pavan Rathnayake (60), Sri Lanka posted a tournament-high 225-5 against Oman’s weakened bowling attack. Oman struggled in response, managing only 120-9, with off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana leading Sri Lanka’s bowling with figures of 2-11 from four overs.

Despite the lopsided result, Oman’s 43-year-old Mohammad Nadeem achieved personal distinction by becoming the oldest player to score a half-century in T20 World Cup history, finishing unbeaten on 53 from 56 balls.