TENNIS
Taiwan’s Chan advances
Taiwan’s Chan Hao-ching on Tuesday advanced in the women’s doubles at the Charleston Open. Chan and partner Veronika Kudermetova of Russia defeated Russian pair Yana Sizikova and Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3, 6-4 in their round-of-16 match to set up a quarter-final against Japanese pair Makoto Ninomiya and Eri Hozumi. That match was to begin after press time last night. Taiwanese Wu Fang-hsien and Ulrikke Eikeri of Norway were eliminated, losing 6-3, 6-2 against Sloane Stephens and Ashlyn Krueger of the US. In the women’s singles at the Family Circle Tennis Center in South Carolina, top seed Jessica Pegula rallied from a set down to beat fellow American Amanda Anisimova 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) in their second-round match.
RUGBY UNION
Whitelock to retire
All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock is to retire from all rugby at the end of the current European season, aged 35 and after a record 153 Tests for New Zealand. Whitelock played his final Test for the All Blacks as a replacement in the Rugby World Cup final in Paris last year. He now plays for French club Pau, but yesterday said that he would quit all rugby when his commitments to the club are complete. “I’ve been having a few conversations with my wife, Hannah, and the kids around what the future looks like for us. And it’s time to finish the playing chapter of rugby,” Whitelock said in a statement. “I think if you talk to anyone who has played for a long time, that desire [to play] never leaves. It’s just that stage of life when you move on. It’s not a decision that we have come to lightly, but it’s the right thing for myself and it’s the right thing for my wife and our three kids, Fred, Iris and Penelope.” Whitelock made his Test debut in 2010 and played at four World Cups, winning in 2011 and 2015.
SOCCER
Indian official suspended
India’s governing body on Tuesday suspended a senior executive member after his arrest for allegedly hitting two female players. Deepak Sharma, executive committee member of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), was arrested and bailed by police over last week’s incident in Goa. “The AIFF executive committee has decided to suspend Mr Deepak Sharma from participating in any football-related activities until further notice,” it said in a statement. Indian media reported that Sharma barged into the room of the two players and assaulted them. He has denied the charges.
COMMONWEALTH
Singapore rules out hosting
Singapore yesterday joined Malaysia in ruling out hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games. The Commonwealth Games Federation has been scrambling to find a new host after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew last year because of soaring costs. Malaysia emerged as a possible replacement, but turned down the opportunity last month because of the cost. “Commonwealth Games Singapore and Sport Singapore have studied the feasibility of hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games and have decided not to make any bid to host the Games,” the two sports bodies said in a joint statement, giving no more detail. Victoria’s sudden pullout and the lack of an obvious alternative have raised doubts over the future of the Games, which take place every four years.
Rugby organizers in Taiwan hope that a tournament in Singapore next week would be the catalyst to boost the sport in the nation. However, with a team of mostly university students up against more experienced players from their two opponents, Taiwan face a stern challenge at the first edition of the Unions Cup. Taiwan coach Huang Chi-hsang at a training session at the University of Taipei yesterday said that the other two teams — Singapore and Thailand — can draw on a wider pool of players, including those with overseas experience. Taiwan captain Chien Tzu-fan is one of the older hands on the
Taiwanese badminton ace Tai Tzu-ying on Wednesday said that she wants to have children once she retires, and added that a trip throughout Taiwan was in her plans for when she lays down her racket. Tai, who turned 30 yesterday, has said she plans to retire at the end of this year. In an interview with the Central News Agency (CNA), she said that “there’s still a lot of places in Taiwan I haven’t visited,” adding that she also wants to rest and enjoy life without having to set an alarm. Tai first picked up a racket at age five and began training
Former NBA players Dwight Howard, DeMarcus Cousins and Quinn Cook are to play together for the Taiwan Mustangs at The Asian Tournament, a newly formed league, starting next month. Howard, who is now part owner of the Mustangs after playing with the Taoyuan Leopards in the T1 League during the 2022-2023 season, said during a videoconference on Wednesday that he would return to the court in Taiwan with the Mustangs, and his former teammates Cook and Cousins would join him. The eight-time NBA All-Star had previously said on social media that he has become one of many shareholders in the new league,
The New Taipei Kings on Thursday captured the 2023-2024 P.League+ title after defeating the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots 103-97 in overtime. The win gave the Kings a 4-1 victory in the best-of-seven series and their first championship in the league that began in the 2020-2021 season. The Kings made the P.League+ Finals last year, but lost 4-2 to the Taipei Fubon Braves, who won the league’s first three championship series. Facing an elimination game at home, the Pilots went for broke, including Treveon Graham in the starting five along with the league’s regular-season Most Valuable Player Lu Chun-hsiang and Import Player of the Year