BADMINTON
Lin secures Finals berth
Taiwan’s Lin Chun-yi yesterday defeated Li Shifeng of China in straight games at the China Masters in Shenzhen to clinch a spot in the BWF World Tour Finals. The opening round men’s singles match was make or break for Lin, who was ranked No. 9 on the World Tour, and Li, who is eighth. Both needed the victory in the Super 750 event, which is the last tournament for qualification for the Finals. Lin defeated last week’s Kumamoto Masters champion 21-14, 21-19 in 56 minutes. Meanwhile, World No. 9 Taiwanese shuttler Chou Tien-chen crashed out of his opener, losing 21-17, 18-21, 21-13 to Alex Lanier. However, Chou is second in the World Tour rankings and is already guaranteed a spot in December’s Finals in Hangzhou, China.
SOCCER
Report criticizes safety
Professional soccer is failing to apply required safety standards, contravening legal frameworks at both European and global levels, a report published yesterday said. The report by Belgian University Katholieke Universiteit Leuven was commissioned by global soccer players’ union FIFPRO. It is to be submitted as evidence to the joint complaint filed to European anti-trust regulators against FIFA by FIFPRO Europe, European Leagues and La Liga. Elite leagues accused soccer’s world governing body of abuse over the effects of the expanding soccer calendar on player well-being, including decisions around the expanded FIFA Club World Cup next year. The research looked at the job demands and resources in the professional game, particularly the stressors of a high-risk work environment, and examined the legal obligations around health and safety standards. It determined that Occupational Safety and Health standards should apply to the industry, as soccer players are recognized as workers under European and international labor laws.
FOOTBALL
Jets fire GM Douglas
Jets owner Woody Johnson is cleaning house for his woeful New York Jets in what has been a hugely disappointing season. On Tuesday, he fired Joe Douglas as general manager, the latest shakeup for a franchise that had Super Bowl aspirations with a healthy Aaron Rodgers as quarterback, but has limped to a 3-8 start and appears likely to miss the playoffs for a 14th consecutive year. The dismissal of Douglas, who was 30-64 and had no winning seasons in his tenure, came exactly six weeks after Johnson fired Robert Saleh as coach on Oct. 8 after the Jets were 2-3 to open the year.
BOXING
Paul, Tyson fight sets record
Jake Paul’s unanimous decision over Mike Tyson on Saturday was the highest-grossing combat sports event in Texas at US$18.1 million, the promotions company cofounded by Paul said on Tuesday. The eight-round fight at the home of the Dallas Cowboys drew about 72,000 fans and was part of a co-main event that featured Katie Taylor’s latest disputed decision in a super lightweight championship slugfest against Amanda Serrano. The event surpassed Texas’ previous sports combat high of US$9 million set by Canelo Alvarez when he faced Billy Joe Saunders at the 80,000-seat AT&T Stadium in 2021, Most Valuable Promotions said.
Manchester City have reached do-or-die territory in the UEFA Champions League earlier than expected ahead of what Pep Guardiola has described as a “final” against Club Brugge today. City have disproved the suggestion a new format to Europe’s top club competition would remove any jeopardy for the top clubs as Guardiola stares down the barrel of failing to make the Champions League knockout stages for the first time in his career. The English champions have endured a torrid season both in their English Premier League title defense and on the continent. A run of one win in 13 games, which included Champions League
Sumo is walking a “tightrope” as it prepares to stage events outside Japan for the first time in 20 years while also trying to preserve its ancient traditions, experts say. The sport is to hold exhibition tournaments in London in October and in Paris in June next year, the first time the Japan Sumo Association has been abroad since Las Vegas in 2005. Sports such as soccer, baseball and football play domestic games overseas in a bid to gain new fans in emerging markets. John Gunning, a former amateur sumo wrestler who commentates on the sport in English on Japanese television, says its
Oklahoma City star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Sunday poured in 35 points as the Thunder grabbed a bounce-back 118-108 victory in Portland to push their NBA-best record to 37-8. The Thunder, surprised by the short-handed Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, fended off a late surge from the Trail Blazers to snap their four-game winning streak. Jalen Williams scored 24 points and Isaiah Joe added 16 off the bench. Center Isaiah Hartenstein, back after a five-game absence with a calf injury, added 14 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and a big block. The Western Conference leaders were under pressure late as Portland, trailing by 15 heading
The Golden State Warriors on Wednesday withstood Oklahoma City star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 52-point outburst to beat the Western Conference leading Thunder 116-109. Andrew Wiggins scored 27 points and Warriors superstar Stephen Curry scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half as Golden State erased a double-digit deficit and pulled away late for the victory. “We just stayed solid,” said Curry, who entered the contest mired in a shooting slump and had just four points on one basket in the first half. “Just all-around effort.” The Thunder, fueled by 31 first-half points from Gilgeous-Alexander, led by as many as 14 in the
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