Basket, NBA: Forward Michael Beasley’s career never panned out like he thought after he was drafted as the second overall pick in 2008 by Miami. On Thursday, his NBA career came to a halt when the 25-year-old Beasley was released by Memphis Grizzlies. But his playing career continues. Beasley has signed to play for Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association. The Sharks are owned by former Houston Rockets star Yao Ming. Beasley had been trying to earn a spot on the Memphis Grizzlies squad after spending last season with the Heat.
Gymnastics: American Simone Biles led from start to finish to retain the women’s all-around title at the Gymnastics World Championships in Nanning, southern China yesterday. Biles, a member of the US outfit that won the team title earlier this week, became the first female since Russian Svetlana Khorkina in 2003 to capture a second consecutive all-around crown. The 17-year-old’s celebrations were interrupted when the gold medal was placed around her neck and she spotted a bee in the bouquet of flowers she had been handed. The teenager, smiling broadly, jumped on and off the podium to try to avoid the insect before getting back on to pose for the waiting cameramen alongside second-placed Romanian Larisa Iordache (59.765 points) and American Kyla Ross who was third (58.232 points).
Rugby Union: Singapore is in discussions on staging a British and Irish Lions tour match, international tests and a leg of the rugby sevens series at its new $1 billion Sports Hub as part of efforts to become a ‘home away from home’ for the sport’s biggest names. IRB officials gathered in the wealthy Southeast Asian city-state this week for their annual meeting. The facility, which can host cricket, rugby, soccer and athletics events, is the centrepiece of a project which Singapore hopes can transform it into a sporting capital.
Tennis: Top seed Samantha Stosur stayed on course for a successful defence of her Japan Open title in Osaka as she eased into the semi-finals yesterday. The Australian broke Kazakh opponent Yulia Putintseva twice in each set to complete a 6-4 6-1 win over her world number 122-ranked opponent. Stosur will face Elina Svitolina in the last four after the third-seeded Ukrainian overcame American Lauren Davis 6-2 6-4.