Rugby Union: Injured Wales head coach Warren Gatland is hoping to join up with Six Nations champions in time for their second Test against Australia in Melbourne next month. Gatland was ruled out of the tour earlier this year after a fall left him with fractures in both heels, paving the way for assistant Rob Howley to lead Wales in Australia. “I can assure you I am going to be right in a few weeks and be up and running around,” Gatland said.
Tennis: US number one Mardy Fish is eyeing a return to competition at Wimbledon after a procedure to address a frightening heart arrhythmia. “It felt like my heart was going to jump out of my chest,” Fish said in an interview. It was the first time Fish had spoken about the condition that had kept him off the ATP Tour, and which prompted to withdraw from the French Open, the second Grand Slam of the year now underway at Roland Garros.
Golf: Singapore Open organisers searched for a new financial backer yesterday after title sponsor Barclays pulled out, raising questions about the future of a tournament billed as “Asia’s major”. Officials, however, said this November’s US$6 million tournament, which is one of the region’s richest golf events, was not in doubt after the renowned British bank decided not to extend its current contract.
Boxing: Two-time welterweight world champion Paul Williams suffered spinal injuries that could end his career in a motorcycle crash in Atlanta at the weekend. Promoter Dan Goossen told reporters that Williams has no feeling below his waist and was scheduled to undergo surgery today. Goossen added that he had been told that Williams apparently swerved to avoid contact with a vehicle on Sunday and lost control of his motorcycle.
Diving: Gold medallist Matthew Mitcham will spearhead Australian diving hopes at the London Olympics after being named in a 10-person squad which includes Beijing Games team-mate Melissa Wu. Mitcham, who performed the highest scoring dive in Olympic history to come from behind and snatch gold in the 10m platform in Beijing, won the event at the Australian championships in April after a long stretch of injury.
Basket, NBA: LeBron James poured in 32 points and pulled down 13 rebounds as Miami Heat drew first blood in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals with a 93-79 victory over Boston Celtics. Dwyane Wade added 22 points and seven assists for the Heat, who never trailed and led by as many as 17. Miami host game two today, with the winners of the best-of-seven series advancing to the NBA Finals where they will play either Oklahoma City or San Antonio.