Latest - There's been more podium drama at the world swimming championships in South Korea as British bronze medallist Duncan Scott refused to shake hands with Sun Yang after the Chinese swimmer's victory in the 200 metres freestyle.
Chinese swimmer Sun Yang has words with Briton Duncan Scott after extraordinary scenes following the 200m freestyle final at the world champs in Gwangju. Photo: ABC
Sun, who is swimming under a cloud with the Court of Arbitration for Sport set to hear a doping case against him in September, came home second in the 200m but got the win when Lithuanian Danas Rapsys was disqualified for a false start.
At the medal ceremony, Scott shook hands with fellow bronze medallist Martin Malyutin of Russia, who finished with the same time as the Briton, but then completely cold shouldered Sun, refusing to make eye contact and not offering a handshake.
Sun was livid, yelling and gesturing at the 22-year-old Scott, and later confronting him as the medallists walked off the podium towards the stairs leading to the pool deck.
The incident comes after Australian Mack Horton refused to share the podium with Sun after the Chinese swimmer won the 400m freestyle on Sunday.
-Reuters
Nike shoes sold for record price
A pair of 1972 running shoes, one of the first pairs made by Nike Inc, sold for $653,000, shattering the record for a pair of sneakers at public auction.
Nike Moon Shoes Photo: Sotheby's
The so-called Nike "Moon Shoe," designed by Nike co-founder and track coach Bill Bowerman for runners at the 1972 Olympics trials, was the top lot in the first-ever auction dedicated to sneakers at Sotheby's auction house in New York.
Sotheby's said the price was a world auction record for a pair of sneakers.
The highest previous price fetched at public auction for sneakers was $284,000 in California in 2017 for a pair of signed Converse shoes said to have been worn by Michael Jordan in the 1984 Olympic basketball final, Sotheby's said.
Sotheby's, better known for selling art works fetching tens of millions of dollars, teamed up with streetwear marketplace Stadium Goods to auction 100 pairs of the rarest sneakers ever produced in a venture that reflects their fast-growing status as collectibles.
The handmade "Moon Shoe," with a waffle sole pattern, was one of only 12 pairs ever made, Sotheby's said.
-Reuters
NZ Rugby on the lookout for more sevens players
New Zealand Rugby will again run a programme to identify sevens players.
Black Ferns Sevens Photo: PHOTOSPORT
NZR first held the initiative last year and wings Montessa Tairakena and Mahina Paul both secured contracts with the Black Ferns Sevens for the 2019 season, while sevens newcomers William Warbrick and Jacob Kneepkens made the All Blacks Sevens Development squad.
The Ignite7 programme is inviting New Zealand athletes aged between 16 and 20 to register.
A total of 48 male and 48 female athletes will be selected to take part in a tournament in Waitakere in November, where they will compete for six places at the 2020 New Zealand Sevens Development Camps.
Warriors welcome back Maumalo
Winger Ken Maumalo returns to the Warriors lineup for Saturday's NRL game against the eels in Parramatta.
Warriors winger Ken Maumalo. Photo: Photosport
The team's top try scorer slots back into the line-up on the left wing after missing the 19-18 win over Cronulla last Friday following a head knock in the draw with Brisbane the week before.
He replaces last week's debutant Adam Pompey in a line-up otherwise unchanged from the one which prevailed for the club's seventh win of the season.
Kodi Nikorima picked up an ankle injury scoring his 62nd-minute try against the Sharks but has been named for his 96th NRL appearance.
Gerard Beale, who made 126 metres from 15 runs last week, again starts on the right wing for the injured David Fusitu'a while veteran Blake Ayshford remains as his centre partner in his 47th outing for the Vodafone Warriors and the 171st of his career.
Another stage win for Ewan
Australia's Caleb Ewan claimed his second victory in this year's Tour de France when he prevailed in a bunch sprint at the end of a crash-hit 16th stage.
Jason Roy. Photo: Photosport
The Lotto Soudal rider beat Italian Elia Viviani and Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen, who took second and third place, respectively at the end of a 177-km ride around Nimes as temperatures reached 40 degrees.
Defending champion Geraint Thomas took yet another tumble but escaped unhurt to stay 1:35 behind the overall leader, Julian Alaphilippe of France.
Today's stage was the sprinters' last chance to shine before Sunday's final stage in Paris as the race now heads to the Alps.
New Zealand's George Bennett is 20th overall, 30 minutes behind the leader.
Tonight's 17th stage is a hilly 200km ride from the Pont du Gard to Gap.
-Reuters
Rory and Stone make test debuts
Opening batsman Jason Roy and fast bowler Olly Stone will make their England test debuts in a one-off match against Ireland starting at Lord's tonight.
Photo: AFP
Surrey batsman Roy becomes the latest player to have a crack at England's problem position of opener in the longest format, having racked up an impressive 443 runs in his country's triumphant 50-overs World Cup campaign.
Roy is poised to bat at the top of the order with Surrey team mate Rory Burns in a four-day match against Ireland and will have an opportunity to impress the selectors ahead of the Ashes series against Australia starting on August 1.
Warwickshire paceman Stone will make his debut having recovered from a back injury that forced him to return home from England's tour of West Indies earlier this year.
The 25-year-old edged out Somerset's Lewis Gregory in the battle to deputise for the experienced James Anderson, who failed to recover from a calf injury.
Having been awarded test status in 2017, Ireland are chasing their first win in the longest format after losses to Pakistan and Afghanistan.
-Reuters
No loan deal for Bale
Gareth Bale's agent has ruled out any loan deal for the Real Madrid forward as the Spanish side seek to offload the Wales international.
Gareth Bale Photo: Photosport
The 30-year-old is out of favour with Real and manager Zinedine Zidane has said the club are "working on his departure".
"There will be no makeshift deals to get him out of the club," agent Jonathan Barnett told Sky Sports.
"Gareth is one of the best players on the planet. I can guarantee you he will not be going on loan to any club."
Bale has won four Champions League titles since joining Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013 for a then world record transfer fee of €100 million($NZC166 million) but struggled to hold down a starting spot last season.
The interest of European clubs in a permanent deal for Bale is likely to depend on his willingness to accept a salary cut.
Chinese Super League clubs Jiangsu Suning and Beijing Guoan have been linked to the player in media reports.
-Reuters
Dadashev dies in boxing accident
Russian boxer Maxim Dadashev has died after suffering head injuries during a fight last week.
The 28-year-old sustained the injuries in an IBF light-welterweight fight against Subriel Matias fight in the United States against Subriel Matias, Russia's TASS news agency has reported.
"It's very sad. There are no words," Russian Boxing Federation President Umar Kremlev told Sport Express media outlet, adding it the federation would probe the circumstances surrounding Dadashev's death.
The Russian Boxing Federation has said it would pay for Dadashev's funeral and compensate his family.
-Reuters
