INJURIES HALT CHAMP
eight out of 10 on the opening day. Olympic bronze medallist Tang Yi also picked up her second gold, edging out compatriot Wang Haibing in the 50 free, while Olympic silver medallist Lu Ying took gold in the women’s 50 butterfly. Olympic all-around champion Kohei Uchimura of Japan has withdrawn from next month’s gymnastics World Cup event in Stuttgart, Germany, due to injuries to his right shoulder and right ankle. Uchimura has been receiving treatment for his injuries and decided to withdraw from the December 1-2 meet as it would require him to perform all six disciplines. The Japan Gymnastic Association announced Uchimura’s withdrawal yesterday and said a letter has been submitted to the International Gymnastics Federation on behalf of Uchimura. The 23-year-old Uchimura won his third consecutive all-around title at the world championships in Tokyo last year.
TWO FATALITIES AT MACAU
Organisers of the Macau Grand Prix have defended the annual event after a second fatality in two days claimed the life of Hong Kong driver Phillip Yau in the Macau Touring Car Cup yesterday. ‘‘Unfortunately it is not very pleasant to have two accidents in two days,’’ spokesman Joao Manuel Costa Antunes said. Portuguese motorcycle rider Luis Filipe de Sousa Carreira was killed in an accident during a qualifying session for the Macau Grand Prix on Friday. The Macau Grand Prix covers four days of events.
RACE TOLL GROWING
Two more skippers, including the only woman in the competition, abandoned the world’s most gruelling yacht race, the solo, round-the-world Vendee Globe, yesterday. French sailor Louis Burton, whose boat Bureau Vallee was hit by a trawler, pulled out after wind conditions made it impossible for him to return to Les Sables d’Olonne in western France for repairs. British sailor Samantha Davies, 38, was dismasted on Thursday evening in strong winds about 130 nautical miles northeast of Madeira. ‘‘I’m fine. I was inside the boat when it happened,’’ she said yesterday.