Xavier lands Chinese Taipei bowling title
KAOHSIUNG• National youth bowler Xavier Teo won the youth open division at the Chinese Taipei International Open Bowling Championships for the second straight year yesterday.
The 17-year-old clinched the title with a total of 1,401 pinfalls over six games, 112 pins ahead of Chinese Taipei's Shen Ying-te in second.
Compatriots Zachery Wong, Eugene Yeo and Brandon Ong finished fifth, sixth and eighth respectively.
Nishino to step aside for new Japan boss
SAMARA • Japan coach Akira Nishino will not be asked to continue in the role when his contract expires at the end of this month, the Japanese Football Association (JFA) said yesterday.
Speaking as the squad returned to Tokyo following their World Cup last-16 defeat by Belgium, Nishino also said this had always been the plan. The JFA added that it will decide on Nishino's successor by the end of the month.
REUTERS
Bayern set to clinch €35m Pavard signing
BERLIN • Bayern Munich have secured France defender Benjamin Pavard from the start of the 2019-2020 season, German football magazine Kicker reported yesterday.
Bayern reportedly agreed the deal with Stuttgart before the World Cup. The 22-year-old, who has been playing at right-back for France, scored a spectacular goal in the 4-3 last-16 victory over Argentina.
Kicker reported that the deal is worth €35 million (S$55 million), which it said, was the value of the buy-out clause in his contract.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Australia-Philippines brawl was out of line
MANILA • Australia and the Philippines apologised yesterday for bringing basketball into "disrepute" with a massive on-court melee between players, fans and officials during a World Cup qualifier.
The violence on Monday in Manila, which made international headlines, left the Australian team fearing for their safety, and they sought embassy help to fast-track their departure from the Philippines.
Both nations said in a joint statement that they wanted to say sorry to the entire basketball community worldwide.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
