Briefs | Boxing – Yamanaka beats Moreno to keep WBC bantamweight crown

Japanese champion Shinsuke Yamanaka, left, and Panama’s challenger Anselmo Moreno

Shinsuke Yamanaka of Japan won a split decision against Anselmo Moreno of Panama yesterday to successfully defend his WBC bantamweight title for the ninth time. Yamanaka scored points with a late flurry of punches and improved to 24-0-2 with 17 knockouts. Former WBA bantamweight champion Moreno dropped to 35-4-1 (12 KOs). Two judges scored the bout 115-113 in favor of Yamanaka while the third scored it 115-113 in favor of Moreno.

Cricket – Chances of Pak-India series look slim, says Shaharyar

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan says chances of a series against India in December looks slim as the Indian board is still waiting to get clearance from its government. Both the PCB and the Board of Control for Cricket in India last year signed a Memorandum of Understanding to play six series’ between 2015-2023 with Pakistan hosting India for tests, ODIs and Twenty20s in the United Arab Emirates in December. Khan says he doesn’t want to give India any ultimatum to confirm December’s tour, but thinks “chances are slim as they mix politics with sports.”

Volleyball – Poland beats Japan to stay 1st at World Cup

Poland rallied from one set down to beat Japan 24-26, 27-25, 25-21, 25-19 and maintain first place at the men’s volleyball World Cup yesterday. Bartosz Kurek scored 18 points as world champions Poland improved to 10-0 for 29 points, two points ahead of the United States which improved to 9-1 with a 25-23, 26-24, 25-17 win over defending champion Russia. Italy is in third place, one point behind the United States after a hard-fought 22-25, 25-20, 25-21, 20-25, 16-14 win over Argentina. Poland will face Italy on the final day of competition while the U.S. takes on Argentina.

Belgian theater drops Japan Olympic logo case

Belgian designer Olivier Debie displays the official emblem for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and his logo for the Theatre de Liege on a screen

A theater in Belgium has dropped a plagiarism legal case over the design of a logo for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The International Olympic Committee said in a statement yesterday that the Theatre de Liege “has decided to waive the pending procedure.” But the Belgian graphic artist who designed the emblem for the theater is vowing to fight on. The first Tokyo logo came under scrutiny because of its similarity to the theater’s emblem. The Japanese emblem’s designer, Kenjiro Sano, stood by his work but it was eventually withdrawn.