■TENNIS
Davenport pulls out
Former Olympic tennis champion Lindsay Davenport has pulled out of the Beijing singles tournament with a knee injury, a US official said yesterday. The 1996 gold medalist has been struggling with the problem since it forced her to withdraw from Wimbledon. “It’s still complications from the knee injury that forced her to pull out of Wimbledon,” a team spokesman said. “There’s concern about being able to play potentially 11 matches on it.” Davenport remains in the doubles competition, where she will partner Liezel Huber.
■BASKETBALL
Aussie Bogut fit and ready
Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut declared himself fit yesterday to play for Australia in their Olympic opener, reveling in being the underdog against a US team stuffed with NBA superstars. “My ankle is 70 percent. Rest was the best thing. I’m feeling pretty good,” said Bogut, who last month signed a contract extension with the Bucks in a new deal reportedly worth US$72.5 million over five years. He injured his ankle last week during a warm-up game in Nanjing and his recovery is welcome news for the “Boomers” as they prepare to face Croatia tomorrow. The soreness put him out of their game against the US in Shanghai this week, which the Americans won 87-76 with Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade scoring nine points in the fourth quarter to hold off the surging Aussies.
■SAILING
Regatta set for light winds
The Olympic sailing regatta will start in light winds today with the breeze picking up early next week, US team meteorologist Jennifer Lilly said yesterday. Strong tides and light winds are a feature of this stretch of coastline in August and Olympic sailors having long been preparing for such conditions. “What we have been seeing is normal climatic conditions this month,” Lilly said. “Hot, hazy, humid days with weak sea breeze conditions.” Practice racing was abandoned at the Olympic Sailing Center on Thursday on a calm day in Qingdao following several days of moderate breeze. Lilly said Monday and Tuesday could be “more interesting.” “There is an area of low pressure to the south and we may get a stronger breeze,” she said.
■ATHLETICS
Fukushima to make history
Chisato Fukushima will become the first Japanese woman to run in the Olympic 100m for 56 years when she races in Beijing. Fukushima, who follows Ayako Yoshikawa’s appearance in the 1952 Helsinki Games, equaled the national record of 11.36 seconds in April to achieve the “B” qualifying standard and was selected last month. “I’ve been given this chance, so if I can I want to help in the advancement of women’s sprinting by breaking the Japanese record and making it out of the first round,” the 20-year-old said. “I’m suddenly in this situation, so it’s tough to get used to. I didn’t think I would be chosen, but I set a goal of making the Beijing Olympics.” The athletics competition starts on Friday.
■BOXING
Russell dropped from team
US bantamweight Gary Russell Jr will miss the Beijing Olympics after collapsing while struggling to make his weight, US team coach Dan Campbell told reporters yesterday. The 20-year-old Russell was removed from the US team’s list of competitors before yesterday’s draw for the tournament starting today. “Medically, he’s been cleared, he’s now resting,” Campbell said. “He’s extremely depressed.”
Taiwan kept their hopes of advancing to next year’s World Baseball Classic (WBC) alive with a 9-1 victory over South Africa in a qualifier at the Taipei Dome on Saturday, backed by solid pitching. Taiwan last night played against Nicaragua. As of press time, Nicaragua was leading 6-0. Bouncing back from Friday’s struggles on the mound, when Taiwanese pitchers surrendered 15 runs to Spain, Team Taiwan on Saturday kept the visiting team in check, allowing just one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Starting pitcher Sha Tzu-chen struck out one and allowed no hits, except for a hit-by-pitch over
Taiwan kept its hopes of advancing to the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) alive with a 9-1 victory over South Africa in a qualifier at the Taipei Dome last night, backed by solid pitching. Bouncing back from Friday’s struggles on the mound, when Taiwanese pitchers surrendered 15 runs to Spain, Team Taiwan kept the visiting team in check, allowing just one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. The win was crucial for Taiwan, as a loss would have eliminated the team from contention for the next WBC. Starting pitcher Sha Tzu-chen (沙子宸) struck out one and allowed no hits, except for
Team Taiwan are set to face Spain in a win-or-go-home match tonight for the final berth at the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), despite losing to Nicaragua 6-0 in the WBC qualifier at the Taipei Dome on Sunday. The home team’s loss on Sunday means Nicaragua finish first in the qualifier round in Taipei with a perfect 3-0 record and advances to next year’s finals. After crushing South Africa 9-1 earlier on Sunday, Spain took second place in the four-team qualifier with a 2-1 record. With a 1-2 record, Taiwan finished third while South Africa placed at the bottom with
The Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) is considering reducing its pitch clock by two seconds to help players better adjust to the rules applied at the World Baseball Classic (WBC). The proposal aims to shorten the pitch timer from 25 seconds to 23 seconds with the bases empty, and from 20 seconds to 18 seconds with runners on base. Currently, the WBC mandates that pitchers deliver a pitch every 18 seconds with the bases empty and 15 seconds with runners on base. The issue was raised during a pre-season CPBL managers’ meeting on Tuesday by Rakuten Monkeys bench and batting
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