BODYBUILDING
Taiwanese wins in China
Chen Hsueh-lin this week won a gold medal at Mr Universe China, emerging as the best-performing Taiwanese in the three-day tournament. Chen triumphed in the men’s masters category, which features competitors older than 40, while compatriot Wu Chin-lung placed third. Chen also won bronze in men’s bodybuilding, while Hsu Feng-shuo, who finished fourth in that category, was also the runner-up in men’s classic bodybuilding. The international championship, organized by the International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation, was held at the Western China International Expo City in Chengdu from Wednesday to Friday.
SOCCER
Acid attack victim discharged
A top Malaysian soccer player who sustained severe burns in an acid attack was discharged yesterday from a hospital where he had undergone multiple surgeries, the CEO of his club said. Selangor FC and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim sustained burns on the neck, shoulder, hands and chest in the assault at a shopping mall outside the capital, Kuala Lumpur, on May 5. Faisal’s case was the most high-profile of separate crimes committed against four top-flight Malaysian players this month, which are not believed to be linked but have nonetheless shocked and angered the nation.
BASKETBALL
Clark wins first WNBA game
Women’s basketball sensation Caitlin Clark on Friday drilled a dagger three-pointer to help the Indiana Fever notch their first win of her debut WNBA season, 78-73 over the Los Angeles Sparks. Clark, whose record-setting exploits in collegiate basketball brought unprecedented attention to the women’s game, has struggled since Indiana made her the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft. She endured another tough shooting night on Friday, but finished with her first WNBA double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
SOCCER
Barcelona fires Xavi
Barcelona on Friday sacked coach Xavi Hernandez after the Catalan giants failed to win a trophy this season, but just weeks after he and club president Joan Laporta agreed he would stay in the post. Xavi would take charge of the team’s final La Liga match today at Sevilla before departing. Former Bayern Munich and Germany coach Hansi Flick is heavily tipped to replace Xavi. “It’s never easy to leave the club of your life, but I am very proud,” Xavi wrote in an open letter published on social media. “From Sunday I will be just one more Barca fan, in the stands, whether it’s the Olympic Stadium or in a few months in the new Camp Nou. Because before being a player or a coach, I am a fan of Barcelona and I only want the best for the club, who will always have me at their disposal.”
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
Team Taiwan avoided missing the World Baseball Classic (WBC) for the first time by defeating Spain 6-3 in a do-or-die game in Taipei last night. After narrowly escaping a mercy-rule loss to Spain in the WBC Qualifiers opener on Friday last week, the home team — winner of last year's WBSC Premier12 title three months ago — got their revenge against the 2023 European champions at Taipei Dome. "It felt quite different from when we won the Premier12," Taiwan captain Chen Chieh-hsien (陳傑憲) said after the game, recalling the ups and downs the team has experienced over the past few days. Unlike in
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