RUGBY UNION
Taiwan lose opener
Taiwan yesterday lost against Thailand 18-12 in their first game of two at the Unions Cup in Singapore. Taiwan led 12-7 at halftime, but could not add to their lead after scoring two tries in the first 40 minutes to prop Yeh Tai-ting, with flyhalf Yao Chih-yao converting, and wing Wang Chia-hsien. Wang crossed after Taiwan were held up over the line and Thailand dropped out from under their posts. The kick was gathered about 30m out by fullback Shih Chia-jung, who jinked his way inside the 22. From the ruck, the ball went right and Wang dived over after two clever offloads. Thailand had a converted try in the first half and a score from a maul to add to their two penalties. Taiwan on Friday face hosts Singapore, who beat Thailand on Saturday last week.
CRICKET
Afghan women seek support
A group of Afghan women’s cricketers has again approached the International Cricket Council (ICC) asking for backing to reform as a refugee team based in Australia. The women sent a letter to the ICC in the wake of the Afghanistan men’s historic run to the semi-finals of the Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean last week. More than two dozen women who had been in the Afghanistan Cricket Board system sought refuge in Australia in 2021 after the Taliban took over and enforced bans on women’s sports. The group first approached the ICC last year, but did not get the outcome they needed. Many have continued playing in domestic competitions in Australia, but have not had access to international cricket, despite ICC regulations requiring all test-playing members to support men’s and women’s national teams. “A profound sadness remains that we, as women, cannot represent our country like the male cricketers,” the women wrote in a letter to ICC chairman Greg Barclay, the Australian Associated Press reported yesterday.
SOCCER
US crashes out of Copa
The US on Monday crashed out of the Copa America after a 1-0 defeat to Uruguay, as Panama sealed their place in the quarter-finals with a 3-1 win over Bolivia. The tournament hosts suffered an upset 2-1 defeat to Panama last week and went into Monday’s final Group C game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, needing to match or better Panama’s result against Bolivia to advance. However, US coach Gregg Berhalter’s side never looked like doing enough to seriously threaten a well-drilled Uruguay who advance to the last eight as group winners. The embarrassing exit was the first time in Copa America history that the host nation has failed to advance from the group stage and reignited debate about Berhalter’s future, with the US due to host the World Cup with Canada and Mexico in two years’ time.
BASKETBALL
Tatum joins US$300m club
Jayson Tatum has become the newest member of the NBA’s US$300 million club, after the Boston Celtics star agreed to a five-year, US$314 million contract extension to remain with the reigning NBA champions, a person with knowledge of the situation said on Monday. The new pact would begin with the 2025-2026 season and keep the five-time All-Star in Boston through the 2029-2030 season.
College basketballer Kaitlyn Chen has become the first female player of Taiwanese descent to be drafted by a WNBA team, after the Golden State Valkyries selected her in the third and final round of the league’s draft on Monday. Chen, a point guard who played her first three seasons in college for Princeton University, transferred to the University of Connecticut (UConn) for her final season, which culminated in a national championship earlier this month. While at Princeton, Chen was named the Ivy League tournament’s most outstanding player three times from 2022 to last year. Prior to the draft, ESPN described Chen as
College basketballer Kaitlyn Chen (陳凱玲) has become the first player of Taiwanese descent to be drafted by a WNBA team, after being selected by the Golden State Valkyries in the third and final round of the league's draft yesterday. Chen, a point guard who played her first three seasons in college for Princeton University, transferred to the University of Connecticut (UConn) for her final season, which culminated in a national championship on April 6. While at Princeton, Chen was named the Ivy League tournament's most outstanding player three times from 2022 to last year. Prior to the draft, ESPN described Chen as a
Kumar Rocker, a first-round pick in both the 2021 and 2022 drafts, on Thursday won for the first time in the major leagues. Rocker struck out a career-best eight in a career-best seven innings as the Texas Rangers beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-3 to complete a three-game sweep. Rocker (1-2) threw a career-high 78 pitches and allowed three runs on five hits without a walk. The 25-year-old right-hander was drafted third overall by Texas in 2022, a year after concerns over a physical led to him going unsigned by the New York Mets as the 10th overall pick. He made his major
Japan yesterday secured a second consecutive Billie Jean King Cup finals appearance with a 2-1 win over 2023 champions Canada, thanks to Ena Shibahara and Shuko Aoyama’s 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 win over Kayla Cross and Rebecca Marino in the qualifying doubles decider. Shibahara and Aoyama powered through the opening set 6-3, breaking twice for a quick 3-0 lead. Cross and Marino hit back in the second, edging it 7-5 to level the match, before the Japanese pair regained control in the third. Canada’s 18-year-old Victoria Mboko edged Shibahara 6-4, 6-7 (8/10), 7-5 in a marathon opening clash. Mboko fired eight aces to
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