Digest

SOCCER

Injury layoff has made Pogba 'more hungry'

Manchester United star Paul Pogba said he is eager to return from a lengthy spell on the sidelines when soccer resumes following the coronavirus pandemic.

Paul Pogba

The French World Cup winner has been limited to just eight appearances for United this season after battling a nagging ankle injury.

"I'm already training and touching the ball," said Pogba, who hasn't played since Dec 26.

"I've been frustrated, a long time ago. Now I'm almost there, so I'm just thinking about getting back and training fully with the team and everything.

"You think bad but I've never had something like this in my career, so I always take it in a good way. It makes me more hungry to come back and do well. And, yeah, it just shows me as well how much I love football."

Sociedad deal 'avoids traumatic measures'

La Liga club Real Sociedad said on Saturday it is cutting players' wages by up to 20 percent in an attempt to stabilize the club's budget during the coronavirus crisis.

"An agreement has been reached with the first team for the reduction of their wages by 20 percent in case the league does not resume this season, and by 5 percent in case the season can start again," said a Sociedad statement.

"This decision, taken with all of the parties concerned, helps us avoid traumatic measures for the rest of our employees and helps to balance the club's economic objectives in the face of a drop in income suffered after the suspension of competition."

Sociedad also announced a 20 percent refund on season tickets. The San Sebastian-based club is due to face Athletic Bilbao in a Basque derby Copa del Rey final in Seville on a date still to be decided. Real Madrid had already announced wage cuts, estimated by Spanish media to be 10 percent if the season resumes and 20 percent if the league is abandoned.

BASKETBALL

Booker beats teammate to win NBA 2K tourney

Devin Booker

Devin Booker swept fellow Phoenix Suns teammate Deandre Ayton on Saturday night to claim the title at the first-ever NBA 2K Players Tournament.

Booker won the first two games of a best-of-three Finals series, beating Ayton without playing as the Los Angeles Lakers, who are generally regarded as the best team in the game. Playing as the Houston Rockets, Booker took the first game 72-62 from Ayton, who used the Lakers. He won the second 74-62 while playing as the Denver Nuggets against Ayton's Milwaukee Bucks.

"Feels good, bro," Booker said afterward. "It was a talented field. I said from the beginning, it was going to be me and Deandre in the championship.

"We've played in the past, and he's definitely a gamer." Booker, the fifth seed in the 16-player video-game tournament, won $100,000 to donate to the coronavirus charity of his choice.

TENNIS

Rogers Cup postponed amid Quebec shutdown

The WTA has called off August's Rogers Cup in Montreal due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The tournament, a key warm-up event for the US Open, was originally scheduled for Aug 7-16. The Quebec government, however, announced on Friday that no sporting events can be held through Aug 31.

"As a result of the measures imposed by the Quebec government... the Rogers Cup in Montreal will postpone their event to 2021," read a WTA statement.

"Our priority in the management of this crisis has always been to ensure the safety and well-being of our players, fans, volunteers, partners and employees," Montreal tournament director Eugene Lapierre said. "It is thus with a heavy heart that we received this news, but we understand that this decision was necessary."

With the French Open moved to September, just a week after the conclusion of the US Open, and Wimbledon canceled, the earliest tennis can resume this year is July 13.

MOTOR SPORTS

Button rolls back years with Legends victory

Jenson Button

Jenson Button won a 'Legends Trophy' e-sports race on Saturday, with fellow retired Formula One world champion Jacques Villeneuve going from last to sixth on his virtual debut.

Button, racing in the Brawn GP colors with which he won the 2009 F1 championship, led from pole to flag on a virtual Sebring track.

Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, an Indianapolis 500 and Monaco Grand Prix winner, was second with British touring car racer Andy Priaulx finishing third. All were racing remotely from their homes due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Button's winnings of $10,000 will be donated to a charity of his choice.

"It's amazing how nervous you get," said the Briton. "I was more nervous on this in the race than I am in real life. I think it's because every corner you feel like you're going to end up in the tire barriers."

TRIATHLON

Olympic champ's home Ironman raises funds

Olympic gold medalist Jan Frodeno completed a full Ironman triathlon in his home on Saturday to raise more than 200,000 euros ($217,280) for charity.

The German, currently in coronavirus lockdown in Girona, Spain, swam 3.86 kilometers in his counter-current pool, cycled 180km on his roller trainer and ran a full 42.2km marathon on his treadmill in a time of eight hours, 33 minutes and 39 seconds.

"That was certainly different and great fun. I'm really pleased we were able to make this happen, and to raise money for such good and important causes," Frodeno, who is a three-time Ironman world champion, said.

"We've been subject to lockdown for almost four weeks now and there is strict monitoring of compliance with these rules, and rightly so."

Frodeno was raising money for healthcare institutions in Girona and Laureus Sport for Good.

Xinhua - Agencies