Digest

SNOOKER

Hendry hits century but loses comeback match

Stephen Hendry

Stephen Hendry, snooker's record seven-time world champion, has played his first match in nearly nine years after coming out of retirement－and he might have to change his Twitter handle.

The 52-year-old Scot lost 4-1 to Matt Selt in the first round of the Gibraltar Open in Milton Keynes, England on Tuesday.

It was Hendry's first appearance on the tour since he retired immediately after losing in the world championship in 2012. He has taken up an invitational card to play on the tour for the next two seasons.

The sole frame Hendry won against Selt came thanks to a break of 107. It was the 776th competitive century of his career, which leaves Hendry with a dilemma－his Twitter handle is@SHendry775.

Hendry is aiming to return to the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield to play in April's world championship.

"Qualifying for the Crucible is the goal, and making 800 centuries is another goal," he said. "I am just enjoying being back really."

TRACK AND FIELD

Jepkosgei banned for fake car crash claims

Leading 800-meter runner Nelly Jepkosgei has been banned for three years for faking a car accident as an excuse for missing a drug test.

The Athletics Integrity Unit, which oversees doping and misconduct cases, said in its ruling that Jepkosgei claimed her sister had been hospitalized after a "serious car accident" in Kenya and she had rushed to see her.

That was Jepkosgei's explanation for why she hadn't been at home when doping testers visited on March 18, 2020, at a time when the former Diamond League race winner had listed herself as available.

The AIU ruling said Jepkosgei admitted the deception after the Kenyan anti-doping agency investigated her claims.

Police told anti-doping staff they had no record of the crash and the hospital confirmed a document presented by Jepkosgei was "forged", the AIU said. Her admission earned her one year off the standard four-year sanction for a charge of "tampering" with the anti-doping process.

Jepkosgei hasn't competed since 2019, when she won the 800 in the Rabat and Lausanne rounds of the Diamond League. Jepkosgei is in the process of switching allegiance from Kenya to Bahrain. She was due to be cleared to represent the Asian country in August.

HORSE RACING

Irish jockey apologizes for sitting on dead horse

An amateur jockey from Ireland apologized on Tuesday after a video of him sitting on a dead horse was posted on social media, following one of the country's leading trainers being banned from entering runners in races because of similar conduct.

Rob James, a winner at the Cheltenham Festival last year, confirmed he was the person in the widely circulated video who was seen straddling the dead horse while others watched and laughed.

James said his actions were "wholly inappropriate and disrespectful" and he was "heartbroken by the damage" he has caused.

"I sincerely apologize to the owners of the mare, the staff who cared for her, the horse racing industry and all followers of horse racing for my actions," he told the Irish Field.

"To try defending my stupidity would add further insult and hurt to the many loyal people that have supported me during my career. I have caused embarrassment to my employers, my family and most importantly the sport I love."

On Monday, Irish trainer Gordon Elliott was temporarily banned from racing in Britain after a photograph of him sitting on a dead horse circulated online.

BASKETBALL

Christopoulos off to flier on Ducks return

Yannis Christopoulos

Yannis Christopoulos made a winning start to his second stint as Beijing Ducks head coach on Tuesday.

The Greek, who replaced Italian Simone Pianigiani during the Spring Festival break, oversaw a 93-83 victory over the Beijing Royal Fighters in their first game of the CBA regular season's third phase in Zhuji, Zhejiang province.

Both teams had bolstered their rosters last month by adding players from the now-defunct Bayi team, with the Ducks signing Lei Meng and the Royal Fighters recruiting Zou Yuchen.

Stephon Marbury's Royal Fighters led 20-17 after the first quarter, however the Ducks gradually asserted their authority over their local rivals thanks to strong defense and clinical counterattacking.

"We played tough and defensive basketball, and we stayed connected across the whole game. The guys they deserve a lot of credit because they fought hard every single moment," said Christopoulos, whose team is 12th in the standings, just inside the postseason positions.

Ducks veteran Jonathan Gibson scored a game-high 23 points and three rebounds, with Lei adding 17 points and six rebounds.

Joseph Young, who logged an average of 24.5 points and 6.4 assists last season, contributed a team-high 17 points and seven rebounds for the 11th-place Royal Fighters.

PANDEMIC

Pele gets COVID-19 shot, urges mask use

Pele

Pele received his first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday, calling it an "unforgettable day".

The 80-year-old Brazilian soccer great posted the news on his social media channels along with a picture of himself receiving the shot in his right arm.

Pele, a three-time World Cup champion, did not disclose where the dose was given, but he has been staying at his home in Guaruja, outside Sao Paulo, since the pandemic hit Brazil a year ago.

"Today is an unforgettable day－I received the vaccine!" Pele said. "The pandemic is not over yet. We must keep discipline to preserve lives until many people have taken the vaccine."

Pele also urged his followers to wash their hands and stay at home if possible.

"When you go out please don't forget your mask and maintain social distance. This will pass if we can think of others and help each other," he said.

Xinhua - Agencies