11 Oct 2021

Today's sports news: What you need to know

1:32 pm on 11 October 2021

Latest - Female representation on the board's of sports organisations is on the rise with the majority of sports achieving the gender equity target set by the government.

Raelene Castle Sport NZ Chief Executive.

Raelene Castle Sport NZ Chief Executive. Photo: Photosport

Of the 64 organisations 58 have met the target of 40% female representation on their boards, with the target applied to organisations who receive more than $50,000 of government funding.

The remaining six boards have until the end of the year to become compliants otherwise they could face funding cuts.

It marks a significant improvement over the space of three years with just over half having 40% female representation in 2018 and the figure has now risen to 91%.

"This initiative has proven that if targets are introduced in the right way, and the right support is given to organisations to achieve them, they can be incredibly successful," said Sport NZ chief executive Raelene Castle.

"It is so important that all boards right throughout our sector reflect the community they serve. Better decisions are made when there are more diverse voices in the room."

Fleming's Super Kings into IPL final

The Stephen Fleming coached Chennai Super Kings breezed into the final of the Indian Premier League after skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's brisk cameo secured their thrilling four-wicket victory against Delhi Capitals in the qualifier in Dubai.

Stephen Fleming, coach of Chennai Superkings.

Stephen Fleming, coach of Chennai Superkings. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Chasing 173 for victory, three-time champions Chennai needed 13 off the last over from Tom Curran and Dhoni smacked three boundaries to seal win with two balls to spare.

Dhoni hit 18 off 6 balls.

Delhi can still make Friday's final if they can beat the winner of tonight's eliminator between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders in the second qualifier on Wednesday.

Kyle Jamieson plays for Bangalore, while former Black Caps coach Mike Hesson on the staff.

Lockie Ferguson plays for the Brendon McCullum coached Kolkata.

-Reuters

Lawson pipped for DTM title

New Zealand driver Liam Lawson has finished second in the German Touring Car Championship after failing to pick up any points in the final race in Norisring.

Liam Lawson in action at the season-opening DTM at Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Italy on June 19, 2021

Photo: Julian Kroehl

Lawson, who went into the final race with an 18 point lead, was hit at the start and eventually had to pull out of the race.

The Ferrari driver still appeared to have enough points to clinch the title, until Mercedes enforced team orders and asked two other drivers to allow Maximilian Gotz through to the lead.

Gotz took the win and the title by three points from Lawson.

19 year old Lawson was set to become the competitions youngest ever champion.

Australia on top in SailGP

The New Zealand Sail GP team has finished fifth in the latest round in Spain.

Peter Burling's team finished first and sixth in today's two races.

Australia won the final and lead the series overall, while New Zealand is fifth.

The Aussies, who have now won three events this season, beat the United States and Great Britain in the winner-takes-all Final, aided in part by the Brits' early capsize which ended their race just seconds after it began.

The next round is in Australia in December.

Fury the best

Tyson Fury has declared himself the "greatest heavyweight of my era" after retaining his WBC title with a knockout win over Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas.

WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury of Great Britain (L) lands a punch on US challenger Deontay Wilder (R) during a fight for the WBC/Lineal Heavyweight title at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, October 9, 2021. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP)

Photo: AFP or licensors

Britain's Fury weathered the early storm and knocked Wilder down in the third round with a short uppercut but the American responded in the fourth, knocking Fury down twice with shots to the head.

But Fury absorbed the punishment and outboxed his American rival, landing the decisive blow in the 11th round to remain the undefeated lineal champion.

"I can only beat whoever's in my era and I've done that all my life. I can only beat the best of my day and I've done that. I'm the greatest heavyweight of my era, without a doubt," Fury told reporters.

"I've had three fights with the biggest puncher in the history of my sport, in my division. And he caught me twice in the fourth round. But I was never thinking, 'This is over.' I was thinking, 'OK, good shot, but I will get you back in a minute.' And I did."

Fury (31-0-1) has now won two of the three fights between the two men after the first ended in a draw and the Briton dominated the second.

-Reuters

England name squad for Ashes

England named their strongest available squad for the Ashes tour to Australia as all-rounders Ben Stokes and Sam Curran missed out but seamer Stuart Broad was included despite the calf injury he picked up in the test series against India.

Joe Root (capt) of England high fives Dominic Bess of England.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Stokes was unavailable as he continues his indefinite break from cricket to focus on his mental health, while also recovering from a second operation on a broken finger. Curran was omitted due to a stress fracture in his lower back.

There were no uncapped players in the 17-member squad that included recalls for batsman Zak Crawley and spinner Dom Bess.

Fast bowler Jofra Archer was also unavailable after he suffered a recurrence of a stress fracture in his elbow and Olly Stone was ruled out with a back injury.

The first test is due to begin in Brisbane on Dec. 8, followed by a day-night match in Adelaide from Dec. 16 before the traditional Boxing Day test in Melbourne.

Sydney will host the fourth match and the final test will be in Perth starting on Jan. 14.

Australia retained the Ashes when the teams last met in 2019 in England after a 2-2 series draw.

Squad: Joe Root (captain), James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

-Reuters

Fox in top 25

Auckland golfer Ryan Fox has finished in a tie for 24th at the Spanish Open in Madrid.

Fox was eight shots behind the winner Rafa Cabrera Bello of Spain.

Fox will play two more events in Spain before returning home.

He is 93rd in the European season standings

Chepngetich cleans up in Chicago

Kenya's Ruth Chepngetich obliterated the field to win the women's Chicago Marathon in 2:22:31, as Ethiopia's Seifu Tura claimed victory in the men's race.

Chepngetich, who won gold at the 2019 world championships, went out fast, securing a 27-second lead through the first 10 kilometres and never let up, finishing a minute and 49 seconds ahead of second-placed American Emma Bates.

It was the first major title for Tura, who held off 2017 champion Galen Rupp through the final stretch to finish 23 seconds ahead of the American in 2:06:12.

Tura's compatriot Shifera Tamru got the men's race off to an aggressive start, leading by a 15-second margin through the first 15 kilometres but he faded to finish fifth.

The Chicago marathon returned this year after being cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is part of a tight autumn racing schedule, with two other world marathon majors - in London and Boston - pushed back from their usual April dates to Oct. 3 and Oct. 11 respectively.

-Reuters