RUGBY SEVENS
Taiwan lose in final
Taiwan yesterday fell at the last hurdle at the Asia Rugby Men’s Sevens Trophy in Kathmandu, losing 27-14 against the Philippines in the final. Taiwan advanced to the Cup competition at the Dasharath Stadium by winning all of their matches in Group D on Friday. They topped the group with a 26-1 win against Afghanistan, a 33-7 victory over India and a 43-0 drubbing of Bangladesh. In yesterday’s Cup quarter-final, they eased past Jordan 27-7 and blanked Uzbekistan 24-0 in the semi. The Philippines also won the women’s final, beating India 7-5.
Photo courtesy of the Chinese-Taipei Rugby Football Union
BASKETBALL
Howard scammer convicted
A Georgia businessman on Friday was convicted of scamming former NBA star Dwight Howard out of millions of dollars in a bogus scheme to buy the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream. The jury returned its verdict against Calvin Darden Jr after a trial in New York City. Darden was also convicted of cheating former NBA forward Chandler Parsons in a separate ruse. Howard — who played for the Taiwan Mustangs at The Asian Tournament in July and August — testified during the trial that Darden fooled him into giving him US$7 million by convincing him that it was an investment toward the purchase of the Dream. In reality, a three-member investor group that included former player Renee Montgomery bought the team in 2021. When a prosecutor asked him if he got anything in return for his US$7 million, Howard testified that he got “a slap in the face.”
Photo courtesy of the Chinese-Taipei Rugby Football Union
CRICKET
India bemused at decision
India star Jemimah Rodrigues on Friday described a run-out decision that went against her team as “harsh” as the Asian giants slumped to a shock defeat to New Zealand at the Women’s T20 World Cup. The Black Ferns won by 58 runs after making 160-4 before bowling out India for 102 as they ended a 10-match losing streak. There was controversy in the 14th over of the New Zealand innings when India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur ran out Amelia Kerr with a throw from the deep to the wicketkeeper. However, the umpire called the batter back because the ball had been declared “dead” when the end of the over was called. Kaur remained unhappy and had a long discussion with the umpires before grudgingly getting back to the game, but Kerr was out for 13, caught, two balls later in the next over. “New Zealand were pretty sure that it was a double run and Amelia Kerr went out, which showed that the over was not called out yet and we all thought that: ‘Okay, I mean, we got that run out,’” Rodrigues said. “At the end, we respect the decision of the umpire and we were okay with that, but yeah, it’s a bit harsh when Amelia Kerr herself walked out, because she knew she was out.” Footage of the match indicated that square-leg umpire Jacqueline Williams had not seen the run out. She was on one knee, apparently tying a shoelace as the bails came off. In Friday’s other game, South Africa pasted the West Indies by 10 wickets.
Photo courtesy of the Chinese-Taipei Rugby Football Union
Photo courtesy of the Chinese-Taipei Rugby Football Union
Photo courtesy of the Chinese-Taipei Rugby Football Union
Photo courtesy of the Chinese-Taipei Rugby Football Union
Photo courtesy of the Chinese-Taipei Rugby Football Union
Japan’s Shohei Ohtani is the record-breaking baseball “superhuman” following in the footsteps of the legendary Babe Ruth who has also earned comparisons to US sporting greats Michael Jordan and Tom Brady. Not since Ruth a century ago has there been a baseball player capable of both pitching and hitting at the top level. The 30-year-old’s performances with the Los Angeles Dodgers have consolidated his position as a baseball legend in the making, and a national icon in his native Japan. He continues to find new ways to amaze, this year becoming the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases
Zhang Shuai yesterday said that she nearly quit after losing 24 matches in a row — now the world No. 595 is into the quarter-finals of her home China Open. The 35-year-old is to face Spain’s Paula Badosa as the lowest-ranked player to reach this stage in the history of the tournament after Badosa reeled off 11 of the last 12 games in a 6-4, 6-0 victory over US Open finalist Jessica Pegula. Zhang went into Beijing on a barren run lasting more than 600 days and her string of singles defeats was the second-longest on the WTA Tour Open era, which
Taiwan’s Tony Wu yesterday beat Mackenzie McDonald of the US to win the Nonthaburi Challenger IV in Thailand, his first challenger victory since 2022. The 26-year-old world No. 315, who won both his qualifiers to advance to the main draw, has been on a hot streak this month, winning his past nine matches, including two that ensured Taiwan’s victory in their Davis Cup World Group I tie. Wu took just more than two hours to top world No. 172 McDonald 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) to win his second challenger tournament since the Tallahassee Tennis Challenger in 2022. Wu’s Tallahassee win followed two years of
UP IN SMOKE: More than half a dozen riders crashed out of the race, with Marquez’s title chances in doubt after driving off the track with flames flickering from his bike Jorge Martin yesterday won a crash-filled Indonesia MotoGP to extend his championship lead, while closest rival Francesco Bagnaia limited the damage by claiming the final podium place. The win leaves the Pramac Racing rider 21 points ahead of his Italian Ducati rival, who finished third behind Spaniard Pedro Acosta in sweltering conditions at the Mandalika International Street Circuit on Lombok island. In front of a crowd of 60,000 in motorbike-mad Indonesia, the 26-year-old put his tumble in Saturday’s sprint behind him, canceling out the gains his title rival Bagnaia made after securing victory in that race. “Thank you Indonesia. I am very happy.