BADMINTON
Tai advances at China Open
Taiwanese star Tai Tzu-ying yesterday beat compatriot Pai Yu-po 21-13, 21-17 to advance to the second round of the Victor China Open in Changzhou. World No. 4 Tai is next to play world No. 19 Zhan Yi Man of China, who beat Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan 21-18, 21-14. In the men’s doubles, Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan yesterday upset compatriots Lu Ching-yao and Yang Po-han 22-20, 21-13. Taiwanese men’s singles star Chou Tien-chen starts his campaign today when he faces world No. 7 Li Shi Feng of China.
BASEBALL
Dodgers’ Urias arrested
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias was arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence, Los Angeles police said on Monday after the second such incident of his MLB career. The 27-year-old Mexican left-hander was apprehended on Sunday and released on Monday on a US$50,000 bond, police said. Urias was involved in a May 2019 incident at a mall parking lot in Beverly Hills where he was accused of shoving a woman to the ground. While he was not prosecuted, Urias was suspended for 20 games for contravening the MLB’s domestic violence policy. Urias helped the Dodgers win the 2020 World Series. “While we attempt to learn all the facts, he will not be traveling with the team. The organization has no further comment at this time,” the Dodgers wrote on social media.
SOCCER
Brazil drop Antony
Manchester United winger Antony was dropped from Brazil’s squad for upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifying games on Monday following allegations of assault made by an ex-girlfriend against him. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said in a statement that Antony had been stood down to “preserve the alleged victim, the player, the Brazil team and the CBF.” Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus is to replace Antony in the squad for the games against Bolivia on Friday and Peru on Tuesday next week. Antony, 23, on Monday denied physically assaulting ex-girlfriend Gabriela Cavallin in a statement on Instagram, writing that he was the “victim of false accusations.” The denial came after Brazilian press reports published WhatsApp messages reputedly between Antony and Cavallin in which the player allegedly threatens his ex-partner. In one of the conversations cited by local media, Cavallin says he must apologize for “kicks and assaults.” Antony then appears to reply “sorry” in response. Cavallin is also shown in one photo with an apparent head wound. Antony said in his Instagram post that his relationship with Cavallin was “tumultuous, with verbal abuse on both sides.”
CYCLING
Kooij wins again in Britain
Dutch rider Olav Kooij on Monday made it back-to-back wins at the start of the Tour of Britain by edging a dramatic sprint finish on stage two in Wrexham. Kooij, who triumphed in the opener in Manchester on Sunday, was led home at the end of a winding, undulating final few kilometers by Team Jumbo-Visma teammate Wout van Aert, who finished third behind Danny van Poppel. However, the 110km ride was marred by Tobias Lund Andresen’s heavy fall as the leaders wound it up for the finish. The Danish rider crashed to the ground as he tried to get on the outside of Kooij, who held his line and went on to win.
‘SOURCE OF PRIDE’: Newspapers rushed out special editions and the government sent their congratulations as Shohei Ohtani became the first player to enter the 50-50 club Japan reacted with incredulity and pride yesterday after Shohei Ohtani became the first player in Major League Baseball to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season. The Los Angeles Dodgers star from Japan made history with a seventh-inning homer in a 20-4 victory over the Marlins in Miami. “We would like to congratulate him from the bottom of our heart,” top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters in Tokyo. “We sincerely hope Mr Ohtani, who has already accomplished feat after feat and carved out a new era, will thrive further,” he added. The landmark achievement dominated Japanese morning news
When Wang Tao ran away from home aged 17 to become a professional wrestler, he knew it would be a hard slog to succeed in China’s passionate but underdeveloped scene. Years later, he has endured family disapproval, countless side gigs and thousands of hours of brutal training to become China’s “Belt and Road Champion” — but the struggle is far from over. Despite a promising potential domestic market, the Chinese pro wrestling community has been battling for recognition and financial stability for decades. “I have done all kinds of jobs [on the side]... Because in the end, it is very
No team in the CPBL can surpass the Taipei Dome attendance record set by the CTBC Brothers, except when the Brothers team up with Taiwanese rock band Mayday. A record-high 40,000 fans turned out at the indoor baseball venue on Saturday for Brothers veteran Chou Szu-chi’s first farewell game, which was followed by a mini post-game concert featuring Mayday. This broke the previous CPBL record of 34,506 set by the Brothers in early last month, when K-pop singer Hyuna performed after the game, and the dome’s overall record of 37,890 set in early March, which featured the Brothers and the
With a quivering finger, England Subbuteo veteran Rudi Peterschinigg conceded the free-kick that sent his country’s World Cup quarter-final into extra-time before smashing his plastic goalkeeper on the floor in frustration. In the genteel southern English town of Tunbridge Wells, 300 elite players have gathered to play the game they love. “I won’t say this is the best weekend I’ve ever had in my life, but it’s certainly in the top two,” said Hughie Best, 58, who flew in from Perth, Australia, to compete and commentate at the event. Tunbridge Wells is the “spiritual home” of Subbuteo, which was invented there in 1946