GOLF
Taiwan’s Chien leads
Chien Pei-yun of Taiwan yesterday shot an eight-under 64 to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the LPGA Tour event in Thailand, the first of three tournaments on the LPGA’s Asian swing. The 33-year-old had an eagle, seven birdies and a bogey on the Siam Country Club Old Course at Chonburi southeast of Bangkok. Chien is winless on the LPGA Tour, but has had 10 career top-10 finishes. Kim Sei-young shot a 66 and was in second place.
Photo: AP
TENNIS
Teen Fonseca wins
Joao Fonseca on Wednesday became the first player born in 2006 to win an ATP Tour-level match when the 17-year-old Brazilian beat seventh-seeded Arthur Fils 6-0, 6-4 at the Rio Open. Fonseca defeated the No. 36-ranked Frenchman in front of raucous fans at the clay court tournament in Rio de Janeiro. He knelt on the court in tears to celebrate. “This is where I belong. I want to be in these huge stadiums,” he said. “Now it is all about focusing on the process.” His next opponent is Christian Garin of Chile.
SUMO
Hakuho faces demotion
Sumo’s greatest champion, Hakuho, is facing an embarrassing demotion in his new role as stablemaster after his protege was accused of physically abusing other wrestlers, local media reported. Hakuho, who won a record 45 tournaments before retiring in 2021, is set to be fined and downgraded to the lowest rank for sumo elders for failing to control the behavior of Hokuseiho, the reports said. After dismissal and a recommendation to retire, demotion in rank is seen as the most serious punishment for sumo elders. The 22-year-old Hokuseiho, who is 2.04m tall, is alleged to have punched his lower-ranked stablemates and stolen money from them. The reports said that the Japan Sumo Association at an emergency board meeting today would discuss a recommendation that Hokuseiho retires from the sport. The association is also expected to decide a punishment for Hakuho, who reportedly told sumo officials that he was not aware of Hokuseiho’s alleged actions.
MOTOCROSS
Jayden Archer dies
Freestyle motocross competitor Jayden Archer, the first rider to perform a triple backflip in competition, has died while practicing in Melbourne. He was 27. The accident occurred on Wednesday, but there were few details released. Victoria state police yesterday said that they would not comment on individuals or incidents due to privacy concerns. Archer had been a member of the Nitro Circus crew for more than a decade. The group confirmed his death in an Instagram post. “Jayo was the epitome of passion, hard work & determination,” Nitro Circus said. “He pushed what was possible on a dirt bike to heights never seen before. A positive influence to those around him. And above all else a great human being and friend to us all. We love you mate. Ride in peace.” Australian media reported that Archer, a two-time X Games medalist, was planning to attempt a world-first quadruple backflip later this year.
‘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