Auto Racing: British racing driver Dan Wheldon (picture), a two-time winner of the fabled Indianapolis 500, was killed when a fence pole speared through his car, causing massive head injuries, an investigation report concluded yesterday. Wheldon, 33, died on October 16 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in an horrific 15-car crash that catapulted his car into the air and into a fence at the IndyCar season finale. The Englishman perished in the fiery pile-up, in which several cars were sent flying while others careered down the track in flames to litter the track with smoking debris.
Badminton: Chinese second seed Chen Long sent former Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat tumbling out of the World Superseries Finals with a masterful display yesterday. Chen was on top from the end of the first game and he accelerated past the Indonesian veteran in the second, spraying 24 smash winners as he won 21-13, 21-7 in just 34 minutes in Liuzhou. The result leaves winless Hidayat bottom of Group B and out of today’s semi-finals.
Baseball: Major League Baseball owners unanimously approved a five-year collective bargaining agreement, ensuring labour peace for the league through the 2016 season. The owners voted to approve the deal during a conference call. The players’ union announced on December 1 that its executive board had ratified the agreement.
Figure skating: American Michelle Kwan, who won five world championship titles, was elected to the US Figure Skating Hall of Fame. Kwan is the most decorated figure skater in US history with nine American titles. Her brilliant career included winning 43 championships and eight consecutive national crowns. Kwan will be inducted into the hall during the US figure skating championships at the end of January.
Cricket: Shane Warne said yesterday he was fit to play in today’s Big Bash Twenty20 opening game for the Melbourne Stars after recovering from burning his bowling hand earlier this week. Warne suffered burns to his right hand while frying bacon at home on Monday, but said he had recovered enough to play against the Sydney Thunder at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.