BASKETBALL
Japan lead at William Jones
Haru Owaki yesterday scored 16 points as Japan beat the Taiwan women’s national basketball team B 94-42 on the second day of the William Jones Cup in Taipei, while Taiwan’s A team dominated Thailand 92-60. In the early game, the Philippines outplayed Malaysia 29-21. On Saturday, Chen Yu-chieh scored 13 points as Taiwan’s B team overpowered the Philippines 73-60, while Japan defeated Taiwan’s A team 97-46 to start their tournament campaign undefeated. In the opening game of the William Cup, Thailand beat Malaysia 62-59.
BADMINTON
Taiwan duo in Canada final
Taiwan’s Hsu yin-hui and Lin Jhih-yun on Saturday downed compatriots Hsieh Pei-shan and Hung En-tzu 21-13, 11-21, 21-19 to advance to the women’s doubles final at the Yonex Canada Open in Calgary. The women’s doubles world No. 45 duo were last night to play the world No. 10 pairing of Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi of Japan, who defeated Thailand’s Laksika Kanlaha and Phataimas Muenwong 18-21, 21-17, 21-8 to advance. In the mixed doubles semi-finals, Hsu and Chen Cheng-kuan fell 21-19, 21-14 to Denmark’s Jesper Toft and Amalie Magelund, while in the other mixed doubles semi-final, Hung and Ming Che-lu lost to Denmark’s Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra Boje 21-4, 21-15.
FOOTBALL
Vikings rookie killed in crash
Minnesota Vikings rookie cornerback Khyree Jackson and two others were killed in a car crash in suburban Washington, the Maryland State Police said on Saturday. He was 24. Jackson, selected by the Vikings in the fourth round of this year’s NFL Draft, was a front-seat passenger in a Dodge Charger and pronounced dead on the scene by emergency medical personnel in a three-car incident in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. “I’m absolutely crushed by this news,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said. “Khyree brought a contagious energy to our facility and our team. His confidence and engaging personality immediately drew his teammates to him.”
CYCLING
Rider dies after fall
Norwegian rider Andre Drege has died after injuries he sustained in a fall while racing downhill on the penultimate stage of the Tour of Austria, organizers said on Saturday. The 25-year-old Coop Repsol rider had joined the leading group on one of Austria’s highest roads in the Grossglockner region on the fourth and penultimate stage of the race, when he fell, the organizers said in a statement. The podium ceremony for Saturday’s stage was canceled.
CYCLING
Rider fined for kiss
French rider Julien Bernard was fined 200 Swiss francs (US$222.98) by the International Cycling Union (UCI) after he stopped to kiss his wife during the time-trial seventh stage of the Tour de France. Fifteen minutes into Friday’s time trial, the rider paused to kiss his wife and young son who were standing nearby. The UCI said in a statement that Bernard’s behavior had been inappropriate and damaged the image of the sport. “I’m sorry UCI for damaging the image of the sport,” Bernard wrote on X. “But I’m willing to pay 200 Swiss francs every day and experience this moment again.”
Taiwan won a back-and-forth match at the Unions Cup in Singapore yesterday, but the hosts claimed the trophy due to a better points differential over the tournament. Singapore’s players celebrated with the cup, despite losing a match in which they seized the lead three times, but ultimately fell to a 19-16 defeat. Their points advantage was due to their strong opening game against the other team in the competition, Thailand, who they beat 30-8 on Saturday last week. Taiwan narrowly lost to Thailand on Tuesday and went into yesterday’s match facing a steep challenge. They responded well, opening the game with sustained pressure
An “outstanding” 17-year-old Chinese badminton player died of cardiac arrest after collapsing on court during a tournament in Indonesia, officials said yesterday. Zhang Zhijie was playing a match late Sunday against Japan’s Kazuma Kawano at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The score was 11-11 in the first game when Zhang fell to the floor between points. The teenager received treatment at the venue and was rushed to hospital in an ambulance, but passed away later that night after repeated efforts to resuscitate him failed. “Medical conclusions ... indicated that the victim experienced sudden cardiac arrest,” Broto Happy, spokesman for
A buzz of excitement crackled through the hushed arena as the rider gripped the reins of her stuffed steed. Welcome to the strangely exacting world of hobby-horsing, the Finnish sport guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Immaculately coiffed equestrians leap athletically over fences just like in horse jumping, going as fast as they can against the clock straddling their stick steeds. Things are more stately in the dressage, with riders trotting their stick horses with intricately decorated stuffed heads before the discerning eyes of the judges. About 260 riders from 22 countries — most women and girls aged 10 to 20 —
Taiwan’s men’s national basketball team is set to upgrade its depth in the paint after signing Brandon Gilbeck of the P.League+’s Formosa Dreamers to a naturalized player’s contract. The 27-year-old big man from the US landed in Taoyuan early on Monday, where he was welcomed by Chinese Taipei Basketball Association deputy secretary-general Chang Cheng-chung. The two signed the deal, which still has to be approved by the Sports Administration and the Ministry of the Interior. Chang said he is confident that “the proceedings would go smoothly.” If approved, Gilbeck would become the third naturalized basketball player in Taiwan, following the New Taipei Kings’ Quincy