The Malaysian Insider :: Sports

Hirscher wins slalom, takes World Cup lead

Posted: 19 Dec 2011 06:52 AM PST

Marcel Hirscher clears a gate on his way to a win. — Reuters pic

ALTA BADIA, Italy, Dec 19 — Austria's Marcel Hirscher today won his second race of the season in a slalom in Alta Badia to take the lead in the World Cup overall standings.

Fastest in the first leg, the Austrian attacked in the second to set a combined time of one minute 47.16 seconds.

Hirscher celebrates on the podium. — Reuters pic

Hirscher, who also won a giant slalom in Beaver Creek earlier this month, said he had been determined to stay aggressive after some too conservative second runs had cost him some recent victories.

"I took things differently this time. I did not take notice of what was going on around, I just focused on my ski and being aggressive," said Hirscher, who won by 0.56 of a second from Olympic champion Giuliano Razzoli.

The 22-year-old technical events specialist dislodged Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway at the top of the standings by nine points ahead of the next leg of the men's World Cup, a floodlit slalom in Flachau on Wednesday.

"Things are going much better than I thought. It's really exciting," said Hirscher, who broke his ankle last season shortly before the world championships in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Razzoli has struggled with health problems in the early season and also crashed in training in November, hurting his shoulder, but was delighted to claim a first World Cup podium in his native Italy.

"I was inspired by Max Blardone's victory yesterday. I skied the way he did, go for it and don't think much," he said.

"It's my first podium in Italy; it's Alberto Tomba's birthday. It's going to be a perfect party," he added.

It was a day for the injured as Felix Neureuther was third, 0.04 behind Razzoli. The German also suffered from shoulder problems and shunned the beginning of the season. — Reuters

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Italy police arrest 17 over football match fixing

Posted: 19 Dec 2011 03:38 AM PST

Cristiano Doni (right) in his Serie A heyday with Atalanta. — Reuters pic

ROME, Dec 19 — Seventeen people, including former Atalanta captain and Italy midfielder Cristiano Doni, were arrested today in connection with a match fixing and betting scandal, police said.

Operation "Last Bet" was carried out in several cities in Italy following an investigation by magistrates in the northern city of Cremona.

Those arrested and accused of match fixing had contacts with criminal groups in Singapore and Eastern Europe, a police statement said.

The investigation was a follow-up to a previous one earlier this year by sporting authorities, which led to suspensions and bans for several players, including Doni.

They were accused of fixing at least two Atalanta matches last year when the team was in the second division.

A number of other players and former players from the second division were also arrested, as well as the manager of a seaside club and a former trainer for fourth division Ravenna. — Reuters

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Isnin, 19 Disember 2011

The Malaysian Insider :: Sports

The Malaysian Insider :: Sports

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