The Fiji Times

Cavallo becomes first active A-League player to come out as gay

Adelaide United midfielder Josh Cavallo is the first active A-League player to come out as gay. He said he was done with feeling ashamed about his sexuality and the exhaustion of trying to live a “double-life”. “I’m a footballer and I’m gay,” the 21-year-old said on a video posted on Adelaide’s social media, drawing support...

Enes Kanter calls out Nike for ‘silence’ over human rights abuses in China

NBA star Enes Kanter, currently of the Boston Celtics, is calling out Nike for what he deems the brand’s silence over ongoing injustices against minorities in China, namely the mostly Muslim Uyghur population. Kanter began taking a stance on the issue in recent days through messaging on custom footwear, choosing to double down during last night’s road...

Back in time! Top trainer for Ve

The boxing fraternity was abuzz with news that Fiji’s “Golden Boy” and boxing idol Sakaraia Ve was to be trained by one of Australia’s leading trainers, Jack Rennie. A report was published in The Fiji Times on December 17, 1981. According to the article, Rennie — who had already trained a world boxing title winner...

BSAF focuses on getting overseas exposure for its players.

The Billiards and Snooker Association of Fiji (BSAF) will focus on getting more overseas exposure for its players by participating in international tournaments from next year. BSAF has announced that it has received invitations to two major international amateur tournaments. These include the World Snooker Federation (WSF) Championship and the WSF Junior Championship which will...

Fiji Triathlon Association eyes Saipan 2022

Fiji Triathlon Association (FTA) hopes to increase its community engagement and awareness programme on the sport of Triathlon as they prepare for the upcoming Pacific Mini Games to be held in Saipan, Northern Marianas in 2022. FTA secretary Maryann Moss said they had 15 athletes who were vying to be selected in the final team to...

New Zealand pace bowler Lockie Ferguson out of Twenty20 World Cup with injury

New Zealand will be without key quick bowler Lockie Ferguson for the entire Twenty20 World Cup. Ferguson was ruled out of the tournament ahead of Wednesday morning’s (NZ time) opening game defeat by the Black Caps against Pakistan in Sharjah. The pace bowler suffered a calf tear during training and has been replaced in the squad by...

Serena Williams card fetches top dollar

An autographed Serena Williams rookie card printed in 2003 has become the most expensive women’s sports card after fetching $62,000 at auction. The previous record was $48,000 for a rookie card of former U.S. soccer player Mia Hamm sold in June. ESPN reported the Williams card was bought by alternative-asset trading platform Alt on behalf...

Black Caps beaten in World Cup opener

Pakistan underlined their credentials as early Twenty20 World Cup favourites when they held their nerve to beat New Zealand by five wickets in Sharjah and secure a second straight victory in the tournament. Chasing a modest 135 for victory after pace bowler Haris Rauf choked out New Zealand with four wickets, Pakistan were in trouble...

Beijing introduces rules for winter Olympians

Competitors in the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics will be subject to daily tests for COVID-19 and will be required to remain in a closed loop that includes transport between the various games venues. China, where measures to tackle COVID-19 are among the world’s strictest, has already said international spectators will not be allowed to enter...

Two new teams in IPL

The Indian Premier League has unveiled two new teams for the Twenty20 competition, with the Lucknow and Ahmedabad franchises sold for a combined $2.4 billion. The RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, which owned the now-defunct Pune franchise for two IPL campaigns, bid $1.3 billion for the Lucknow outfit while Irelia Company Pte. Ltd. (CVC Capital Partners) bid...

Former Saudi spymaster calls on Biden administration for help on his jailed kids

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A former top Saudi intelligence official who is living in exile accused Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday of targeting him, and made an unprecedented public plea to the Biden administration to help obtain the release of his children jailed in Saudi Arabia. Saad al-Jabri was a long-time aide to another...

ANOC warns of negative impact of FIFA World Cup proposal on other Olympic sports

CRETE, 26 OCTOBER 2021 (INSIDE THE GAMES) – The Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) has added its voice to the chorus of disapproval directed at FIFA for its controversial proposal to hold the men’s World Cup every two years, warning it could “pose a threat to the survival” of other Olympic sports. Acting ANOC...

Olympics-Beijing Games competitors to face daily COVID-19 tests, remain in closed loop

BEIJING (Reuters) – Competitors in the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics will be subject to daily tests for COVID-19 and will be required to remain in a closed loop that includes transport between the various games venues, organisers said in guidelines released on Monday. China, where measures to tackle COVID-19 are among the world’s strictest, has...

Cricket-‘Enjoyment’ is all that Windies need to bounce back – assistant coach

(Reuters) – West Indies players must find a way to enjoy their cricket to get their mood back after a terrible start to their Twenty20 World Cup title defence against England, assistant coach Rod Estwick said on Monday. The Caribbean side, who won the last edition of the tournament in 2016, folded for an embarrassing...

Cricket-Kumara, Das cop fine for altercation during World Cup match

(Reuters) – Sri Lanka fast bowler Lahiru Kumara and Bangladesh batter Liton Das have been fined over a standoff during their Super 12 match in the Twenty20 World Cup in Sharjah on Sunday, the International Cricket Council said. Kumara was fined 25% of his match fee while Das lost 15% for the incident, which occurred...

Cricket-Former players back India’s Shami after abuse following loss to Pakistan

(Reuters) – Former India players rallied around pace bowler Mohammed Shami on Monday, after the 31-year-old was targeted online following his team’s 10-wicket defeat by arch-rivals Pakistan in the Twenty20 World Cup a day earlier. Shami conceded 43 runs from his 3.5 overs in the Super 12 blockbuster meeting in Dubai, as Pakistan secured their...

FASANOC pledges support to Olympism 365 strategy through ACE programme

SUVA, 25 OCTOBER 2021 (INSIDE THE GAMES/FIJI TIMES) – The Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) has pledged its support to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Olympism‌ ‌365‌ ‌strategy. The four-year strategy was approved by the IOC Executive Board last week. The strategy is designed to use sport to support 17 United...

ONOC President Dr Mitchell to run for ANOC Presidency in 2022 election

CRETE, 25 OCTOBER 2021 (INSIDE THE GAMES) – Acting Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) President Robin Mitchell has announced he intends to stand for the role on a permanent basis when the organisation holds elections next year. The Fijian, a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board, has led the umbrella organisation...

Suva Cricket to begin 2021-2022 season next month

The Suva Cricket Association is expected to begin their 2021-2022 season next month after achieving the green light to resume competition. Association general secretary Sevuloni Baba said it was a long wait and they were eager to get things back on track. “We are about to have our weekly competition again, thanks to the Government...

Golf-Thrilled Matsuyama claims Zozo Championship with back nine charge

(Reuters) – A blistering back nine saw Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama hold off a determined challenge from Cameron Tringale to win the Zozo Championship by five shots in front of his adoring Japanese supporters on Sunday. With the gallery restricted to 5,000 fans, Matsuyama’s final round 65 earned him the title at the Narashino Country...

Cricket-Afghanistan hope World Cup success can bring joy back home

(Reuters) – Afghanistan’s Twenty20 World Cup preparation has been far from ideal in the aftermath of the country’s Taliban takeover in August but captain Mohammad Nabi hopes his team’s performance can bring about some joy back home. Afghanistan’s cricket board also underwent personnel changes and all-rounder Nabi was handed the captaincy after star spinner Rashid...

Cricket-India-Pakistan blockbuster set to light up Twenty20 World Cup

DUBAI (Reuters) – Former champions India and Pakistan will face off on Sunday in a Twenty20 World Cup blockbuster in Dubai and the buzz around the game underlines the enduring appeal of the matchup between the sub-continent’s feuding neighbours. India captain Virat Kohli and Pakistan counterpart Babar Azam have called it just another game, but...

Cricket-Asalanka, Rajapaksa lead Sri Lanka to comfortable win

(Reuters) – Charith Asalanka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa shared a partnership of 86 to give Sri Lanka a five-wicket win over Bangladesh in their opening Super 12 match in the Twenty20 World Cup in Sharjah on Sunday. Asalanka remained unbeaten on 80 from 49 balls and Rajapaksa, celebrating his 30th birthday, hit a 31-ball 53 to...

Athletics-World Championship bronze medallist Quinonez killed in Ecuador

(Reuters) -Sprinter Alex Quinonez, Ecuador’s World Championship bronze medallist, has been killed in his home city of Guayanquil on Friday, the country’s sports ministry said on Saturday. Guayaquil-based newspaper El Universo said Quinonez, who was 32, and another individual were fatally shot at around 9:20 p.m. on Friday in the northwest part of the city....

Athletics-Ethiopia’s Gidey breaks half marathon world record

(Reuters) – Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey smashed the women’s half marathon world record on Sunday, finishing in one hour, two minutes and 52 seconds at the Valencia Half Marathon Trinidad Alfonso EDP. The 23-year-old Gidey, who is also the world 5,000 metres (14:06.62) and 10,000 metres (29:01.03) record-holder, shaved more than a minute off the previous...

Cricket-Scotland eye test status with strong T20 World Cup show

(Reuters) – Scotland are brimming with confidence ahead of their Super 12 clash against Afghanistan and the side want to use the Twenty20 World Cup as a platform to push their case to become cricket’s next full member, batsman Calum MacLeod said on Sunday. The Scottish side won all three matches in the preliminary round,...

Teams battle in Newtown

Organisers of the Ouch Taonivou Volleyball Tournament are happy with the standard seen in the past two events as they buildup to their big tournament next month. Chief organiser Paula Nabuta said they had already organised two tournaments on their court in Newtown, Nasinu which had 32 teams participating and the target was to get...

Top four make semis

Four teams have confirmed their spots in the semi-finals of the Digicel Beach Soccer Championship to be held at the Fiji Sports Council Beach soccer pitch today. United Beach Soccer Club and Blue Demons have qualified from Pool B while United Brothers and Sand Sational have made it through from Group A. The opening of competition...

Cricket-Sri Lanka are a better side than Bangladesh, says captain Shanaka

(Reuters) – Sri Lanka have already made their mark in the Twenty20 World Cup with commanding wins in the preliminary round and will go into their Super 12 contest against Bangladesh with a slight edge, the team’s captain Dasun Shanaka said on Saturday. The island nation, who won the 2014 edition of the tournament, stamped...

Other Sports

Lautoka Golf Club is marking its return to sports with a charity drive