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The Los Angeles Dodgers' formidable batting lineup, featuring Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, and Freddie Freeman, showcased their prowess in a spring training game against the Colorado Rockies. Betts and Ohtani each collected three hits, while Freeman drove in two runs. Betts has been impressive this spring, batting .412 with seven hits in 17 at-bats, while Ohtani has also been in fine form, hitting .714 with five hits in seven at-bats.Ohtani, who joined the Dodgers in December on a $700 million contract, displayed his versatility by singling, tripling, and driving in a run. Despite undergoing major elbow surgery and not pitching this season, Ohtani's offensive skills remain sharp.Meanwhile, Chris Sale, the veteran left-hander acquired by the Atlanta Braves in a trade with Boston, made a strong impression in his first spring training outing. Sale struck out five batters in 2 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing only three hits and walking two. The 34-year-old Sale has been plagued by injuries in recent years, but he appears to be regaining his form.Detroit Tigers pitchers Matt Manning and Casey Mize also made encouraging comebacks from injuries in a game against the New York Yankees. Manning, who suffered a broken foot last season, allowed only one hit in three innings, while Mize, who underwent Tommy John and back surgeries, gave up one hit and walked two in two scoreless innings.

Loic Meillard of Switzerland capped off a remarkable weekend in Aspen by claiming victory in the World Cup slalom, adding to his podium finishes in the giant slalom races.After finishing second in consecutive giant slalom events, Meillard overcame a first-run deficit to triumph on Sunday with a combined time of 1 minute, 42.73 seconds. He edged out Linus Strasser of Germany by 0.89 seconds, while Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen secured third place.France's Clement Noel, who led after the opening run, faltered on the challenging course in his final attempt and failed to finish. "A long weekend," Meillard remarked, "but very happy with how it went."Manuel Feller of Austria climbed to fifth position in the final run, solidifying his substantial lead in the season-long World Cup slalom standings. He holds a 169-point advantage over Strasser heading into the final two races in the discipline.Three Americans, including Jett Seymour in 25th place, qualified for the second run. Seymour finished four seconds behind Meillard's winning time.This marked Meillard's third career World Cup victory and his first in slalom. "It took some time in slalom. I was always there but never quite in front," Meillard said. "It's amazing to do it and definitely in a tough race."The Swiss team enjoyed a successful weekend, with Marco Odermatt winning both giant slalom races and holding off Meillard. Odermatt has already secured the season-long GS crown and a third consecutive overall World Cup title.Meillard joins an illustrious group of skiers who have triumphed in the slalom in Aspen during a men's World Cup event, including Billy Kidd, Ingemar Stenmark, and Andre Myhrer.Snowy conditions on Sunday presented a formidable challenge in the first run, with 25 competitors failing to complete the treacherous course and one being disqualified. Meillard was the only racer to finish within one second of Noel's opening run.The men's World Cup circuit now moves to Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, for giant slalom and slalom events next weekend.

The 2024 Candidates chess tournament, scheduled to take place in Toronto, Canada, from April 3 to 23, faces an uncertain future due to unresolved visa issues for players and participants. The tournament, which determines the challengers for the world champion title in both the open and women's categories, is at risk of being moved out of Canada if the visa problems are not resolved by Friday.Vladimir Drkulec, president of the Chess Federation of Canada, expressed concern over the situation, stating that "if we cannot resolve these issues by Friday, the tournament will be moved to Spain." He emphasized the need for "political will" to address the issue and expressed cautious optimism that a resolution could be reached before the deadline.The tournament faces uncertainty as many players, including India's teen sensation R Praggnanandhaa, have not received their visas. As many as 40 participants, including 16 players, are yet to secure visas. Vidit Gujrathi, Gukesh D, and Vaishali Rameshbabu, Praggnanandhaa's sister, are among those who have not been issued visas.The International Chess Federation (FIDE) made an urgent appeal last Friday, expressing concern about the lack of visa updates for players who submitted their applications months ago. The appeal, posted on social media, tagged Canada's Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Marc Miller, and his department.Drkulec stated that the federation has contacted multiple members of parliament and government ministers, receiving positive responses from their staff. FIDE director general Emil Sutovsky emphasized that the tournament will not be postponed or players replaced due to visa issues.This will be the first time the nearly 70-year-old tournament is being held in North America and will feature 16 of the world's best players. The tournament is a significant event in the chess world, and its relocation would be a major disappointment for the Canadian chess community and fans worldwide.

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa emerged victorious in the fifth round of the Prague Masters, defeating compatriot Vidit Gujrathi in a thrilling encounter. However, D Gukesh suffered a disappointing loss to Czech Republic's David Navara, despite holding a strong position.Uzbekistan's Nodirbek Abdusattarov continued his impressive run, crushing Mateusz Bartel of Poland to become the sole leader with four points. Parham Maghsoodloo of Iran trails closely with 3.5 points, while Richard Rapport of Romania sits in third with three points.Praggnanandhaa, known for his aggressive style, kept pushing for an advantage against Gujrathi, who initially held his own. However, Gujrathi's misstep allowed Praggnanandhaa to launch a devastating attack, securing the win in 52 moves.Gukesh, on the other hand, had a comfortable position with an extra pawn in the endgame. However, Navara managed to turn the tables, exploiting Gukesh's errors and converting his advantage into a victory.Abdusattarov displayed his dominance against Bartel, opting for the Sicilian Dragon opening and quickly gaining the upper hand. The Polish Grandmaster struggled to find a response, and Abdusattarov sealed the win in just 28 moves.In the Challengers section, Grandmaster R Vaishali suffered a setback against Erwin L'Ami of Holland, while Arjun Erigaisi impressed in the Shenzen Masters by defeating Anish Giri of Holland.With four rounds remaining in the Prague Masters, Abdusattarov holds a commanding lead. Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh, and Navara share fourth place with 2.5 points each, while Gujrathi and Keymer trail with two points.

India's Olympic boxing aspirations suffered a setback at the World Olympic Boxing Qualifier in Busto Arsizio, Italy, as Deepak Bhoria (51kg) succumbed to a 2-3 split verdict against Azerbaijan's Huseynov Nijat on the opening day.Bhoria, who had edged out 2019 World Championships silver medalist Amit Panghal for a spot in the Indian squad, faced a formidable opponent in Nijat. The Azerbaijani boxer's pace and agility proved too much for Bhoria in the first two rounds, which he lost by identical 2-3 scorelines.Undeterred, Bhoria rallied in the final round, delivering some impressive blows to secure a 4-1 victory. However, it was not enough to overcome the deficit from the earlier rounds.Despite Bhoria's defeat, India still has hopes of securing Olympic quotas through Asian Games bronze medalist Narender (92kg) and Commonwealth Games 2022 bronze medalist Jaismine (60kg), who will face Germany's Nelvie Tiafack and Japan's Ayaka Taguchi respectively later on Sunday.The World Olympic Boxing Qualifier offers 49 quotas for the Paris Olympics, including 28 for men and 21 for women. India has already secured four quotas for the Games.

Jos Verstappen, father of reigning Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen, has raised concerns about the future of the Red Bull team amidst allegations of inappropriate behavior against team boss Christian Horner.Verstappen Sr. expressed his belief that the team is on the brink of collapse if Horner remains in his position. "There is tension here while he (Horner) remains in position," he told the Daily Mail. "The team is in danger of being torn apart. It can't go on the way it is. It will explode."Verstappen rejected claims that he played any role in the allegations against Horner, which were initially reported by Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. "That wouldn't make sense. Why would I do that when Max is doing so well here?" he said.Red Bull announced on Wednesday that Horner had been cleared of the allegations following an internal investigation. However, the subsequent leak of anonymous emails containing alleged WhatsApp messages from Horner has reignited the controversy.Several teams have criticized the lack of transparency in the investigation. Horner, who was accompanied by his wife Geri Halliwell in Bahrain, maintained that the team was united after Red Bull's one-two finish in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix."A one-two finish like this is the optimum and you don't get that without being absolutely united, having a strong team and great support from partners and shareholders," he said.Horner expressed confidence in his support from the Red Bull owners, including majority shareholder Chalerm Yoovidhya. "Backing? Absolutely, yes. And I'll be there. Otherwise I wouldn't be here!" he said.Horner has led Red Bull to six constructors' championship wins and seven drivers' title triumphs since 2005. Last year's Red Bull car won a record 21 of 22 races, dominating the season.The allegations against Horner and the subsequent fallout have cast a shadow over Red Bull's start to the 2023 season. It remains to be seen whether the team can maintain its unity and success amidst the ongoing controversy.

Max Verstappen's dominance continued unabated as he cruised to a commanding victory in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, extending his winning streak to eight races. The reigning world champion started from pole position and never looked back, leading every lap to secure a one-two finish for Red Bull with teammate Sergio Perez.Despite the ongoing drama surrounding team principal Christian Horner, Red Bull remained unfazed, with Verstappen delivering a flawless performance. Horner's wife, Geri Halliwell, joined him before the race and celebrated on the podium, adding to the team's jubilation.Carlos Sainz Jr. finished third for Ferrari after a spirited battle with teammate Charles Leclerc. However, Ferrari's hopes of challenging Red Bull were dashed as they struggled to match the pace of the Austrian team.Verstappen's victory sets the tone for the longest-ever F1 season, with 24 races scheduled. The Dutchman's near-perfect record from 2023, where he won 19 of 22 races, suggests that he is poised to repeat his success.Horner, who has been embroiled in controversy, expressed relief at the team's focus on racing. "The result today demonstrates where the whole team's focus is," he said. "We move onwards."Perez's climb from fifth to second showcased Red Bull's superiority, while Sainz's podium finish was a welcome return to form for the Spaniard. Leclerc's challenge faded after a poor start, leaving him to settle for fourth.George Russell finished fifth for Mercedes, followed by Lando Norris for McLaren and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton. Oscar Piastri of McLaren and the Aston Martin duo of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll rounded out the top 10.

Gonzaga Bolsters NCAA Tournament Hopes with Victory over Saint Mary'sMORAGA, Calif. - No. 23 Gonzaga Bulldogs secured a crucial 70-57 victory over No. 17 Saint Mary's Gaels on Saturday night, bolstering their chances of an NCAA Tournament berth.Graham Ike led the Bulldogs with 24 points, continuing his impressive streak of scoring at least 20 points in seven consecutive games. Ryan Nembhard contributed 20 points and 10 assists, while Ben Gregg added 12 points.Saint Mary's, who had won 16 straight games, struggled to contain Gonzaga's offense. The Bulldogs shot 64% in the first half, building a 44-28 halftime lead. Aidan Mahaney led the Gaels with 16 points, while Mitchell Saxen added 13.Gonzaga's victory was particularly significant as they had lost to Saint Mary's at home earlier in the season. The Bulldogs have now won eight straight games since that defeat, including three Quad 1 victories.The win puts Gonzaga in a strong position heading into the WCC Tournament. The Bulldogs are now 24-6 overall and 14-2 in conference play. Saint Mary's, who clinched the WCC title on Thursday, will also participate in the tournament.Gonzaga's streak of 24 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances was in jeopardy before this recent surge. However, their impressive run has put them in a good position to receive an at-large bid if necessary.Saint Mary's, on the other hand, will need to rely on their defense and ball protection to continue their success in the WCC Tournament. They will face a tough challenge in the semifinals against either Gonzaga or BYU.

The Columbus Blue Jackets, the worst team in the Eastern Conference, stunned the Chicago Blackhawks, the worst team in the Western Conference, with a 5-2 victory on Saturday night. The win snapped the Blue Jackets' two-game losing streak and dropped Chicago to 0-4-2 in its last six games.Alexandre Texier opened the scoring for Columbus just 33 seconds into the game, taking advantage of a giveaway by Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones. Boone Jenner doubled the lead with a deflection of Zach Werenski's shot at 14:05 of the first period.The Blackhawks finally got on the board with 2:28 left in the first on Philipp Kurashev's goal, but the Blue Jackets responded with two more goals in the second period. Mathieu Olivier scored at 3:09, assisted by Werenski, and Cole Sillinger made it 4-1 midway through the period.Johnny Gaudreau added an empty-netter for Columbus in the final minute of the game. Elvis Merzlikins made 26 saves for the Blue Jackets, while Arvid Soderblom stopped 26 shots for the Blackhawks."I don't think there's any pressure on us now," said Merzlikins. "The last few games we're playing against teams and not even looking at where they're at in the standings, top or in the bottom."The Blackhawks have now lost six straight games and are 1-6-3 in their last 10 home games. They will start a three-game road trip on Monday in Colorado."It was a really sloppy game right from the start," said Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson. "We played really slow. They kept coming at us. It's a bad combination. We went down the wrong path."The Blue Jackets, meanwhile, will host Vegas on Monday.