Petanque: An amateur tournament of the traditional French sport petanque in New York on Sunday was so popular that some people were turned away, one organiser said. Hosted by the French consulate in New York, the event entitled “Rock ‘n’ Petanque” blocked off part of a city street in Manhattan, covering eight courses specially made for the occasion, with a ton of sand. Some 32 teams listened to rock music and played the traditional game, which like the Italian bocce, involves tossing hollow metal balls on the ground.
Golf: American Brittany Lang earned her first LPGA Tour victory on Sunday, winning the Manulife Financial Classic in Canada by making birdie on the par-five 18th hole three consecutive times in a play-off. Lang held off a wave of South Korean contenders in the play-off after shooting a four-under 67 in regulation to reach 16-under 268. She edged out South Koreans Seo Hee-kyung, Chella Choi and Inbee Park at the Grey Silo Golf Course.
Athletics: USA Track and Field announced a new dead-heat policy that could see a run-off within a week between Allyson Felix and Jeneba Tarmoh for the last US 100m berth at the London Olympics. The sprinters were still waiting more than 24 hours after their race just to learn what protocol would be used to break their deadlock for third place in Saturday’s final at the US Olympic Track and Field Trials. The new plan would allow either athlete to decline her spot on the Olympic team. If neither does, they could choose between a coin flip and run-off to decide the berth. If they agree on an option, that option would be used.
Rugby Union: South African police are investigating rape charges against members of New Zealand’s junior rugby team after they lost to South Africa in the Junior World Championship. “We are investigating a case of rape after a 22-year-old Cape Town wo-man alleged she was raped,” said national police spokesman Vish Naidoo. Four Baby Blacks players were involved in the incident, according to The New Age newspaper.
Cycling: Tour de France champion Cadel Evans leads a strong Australian road cycling team named yesterday for next month’s London Olympics. The men’s team also features sprint superstar Matt Goss, 2012 Milan-San Remo Classic winner Simon Gerrans, triple individual time trial world champion Michael Rogers and Stuart O’Grady, who will join an elite club of six-time Olympians. The men’s road race will be staged on the first day of Olympic com-petition on July 28 and will be followed by the women’s road race on July 29.