BADMINTON
Taiwan’s Wang exits Madrid
Taiwanese shuttler Wang Tzu-wei on Saturday crashed out of the men’s singles semi-finals at the Madrid Spain Masters, losing to Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew 21-13, 8-21, 21-13. World No. 24 Wang was flying high early last month when he defeated world No. 1 Viktor Axelsen of Denmark in the French Open. His loss on Saturday came shortly after Taiwan’s top player Chou Tien-chen fell to France’s Toma Junior Popov 21-15, 20-22, 21-18. The world No. 39 Taiwanese duo of Chang Ching-hui and Yang Ching-tun were dominated 21-11, 21-9 to Japan’s Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakaishi in the women’s doubles. Compatriots Lee Chia-hsin and Teng Chun-hsun suffered a similar defeat, losing 21-12, 21-7 to Indonesia’s Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma and Amallia Cahaya Pratiwi.
HORSE RACING
Macau holds final race
After more than 40 years, Macau on Saturday hosted its final races, bringing an end to the sport in the territory famous for its massive casinos. In January, the government said it would terminate its contract with the Macau Jockey Club this month. Gamblers congregated in the half-full stands and placed their final bets. Some tourists also visited the track. Mai Wan-zun, a student from mainland China in Macao, said she wanted to get a taste of the atmosphere. “We could come to see horse racing here in Macau, but not in mainland China,” she said. Helena Chong, a Macao resident, decided to visit the race course for the first and last time to see what it was all about. “It’s a pity to see the end of all this gambling and entertainment,” she said.
OLYMPICS
Russians not welcome: mayor
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo on Saturday said that Russian and Belarusian athletes “were not welcome” at the Olympics being staged in the French capital this year. “I want to tell Russian and Belarusian athletes that they are not welcome in Paris and to tell Ukrainian athletes and all the Ukrainian people that we support them very strongly,” Hidalgo said in a video posted by Ukrainian YouTube channel, United News. Hidalgo made her comments on a trip to Kyiv where she visited a training center for Ukrainian athletes. Russian athletes can compete in the Paris Olympics, which run from July 26 until Aug. 11, but only as neutrals.
BOXING
Fundora unifies world titles
American southpaw Sebastian Fundora on Saturday stunned previously unbeaten Australian Tim Tszyu to unify the WBO junior middleweight title and the vacant WBC crown in a bout that became a bloody spectacle. After a strong start, Tszyu struck his head accidentally on the left elbow of the 1.97m challenger in the second round, sustaining a deep bleeding gash above his forehand. Judges scored the fight 116-112 and 115-113 for Fundora and 116-112 for Tszyu, giving the US fighter a split decision victory. “I’m just happy Tim Tszyu gave me the opportunity and I made it a dream come true,” Fundora said. Tszyu said the blood affected his effort. “I couldn’t see,” Tszyu said. “But all credit belongs to the man who won. These things happen. The momentum was rolling. I was swinging hard. Then boom, you’re blinded.”
‘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