Raelert, Watkinson win Phuket triathlon

Germany's Michael Raelert won the men's professional title at the Laguna Phuket Triathlon on Sunday, clocking 2hr 19min 13sec to retain the trophy he had won last year.

The women's professional category winner was New Zealand's Amelia Rose Watkinson, in 2:36:29. The event (1.8km swim, 50km bike and 12km run) saw around 1,100 athletes - including about 80 Singaporeans - taking part.

Ibrahimovic may head to US for conquest

STOCKHOLM • Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he can "see himself conquering the US as I have with Europe" in a wide-ranging interview to coincide with being named Sweden's top footballer for a 10th successive year.

The Manchester United forward told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet: "Lots of people stay in one place throughout their career, but I've travelled around like Napoleon, and conquered every new country where I've set foot. So perhaps I should do what Napoleon didn't and cross the Atlantic and conquer the States as well."

THE GUARDIAN

Diack to get a little help from his friends

DAKAR • Friends of former Senegalese International Association of Athletics Federations boss Lamine Diack, who faces charges of corruption and taking bribes to cover up doping cases in Russia, have stumped up a bail payment of €500,000 (S$756,250), his family said.

The payees include international athletes, diplomats, retired high-ranking civil servants as well as religious figures and businessmen from across Africa.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Jorgensen sorry for Malaysian shirt toss

HONG KONG • Jan O Jorgensen has apologised and insisted he wasn't being "disrespectful" after he tossed a shirt emblazoned with the Malaysian flag during badminton's China Open, prompting an angry reaction from fans.

The Dane, who went on to win the title in Fuzhou on Sunday, drew ire when he threw a discarded shirt belonging to Malaysia's Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin onto the court during a break in their semi-final.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE