■ Basketball
Yao heads `Forbes' list
Houston Rockets star Yao Ming has topped Forbes Magazine's list of Chinese celebrities for the second year running. Yao, who last week signed a new five-year contract worth more than US$75 million, was judged on a combination of income, media exposure and endorsement deals with major international companies, the magazine's Chinese version reported on its Web site. The 2.29m center, who turns 25 this month, is a three-time NBA All-Star and was the No. 1 draft pick in 2002. He has one year left on his rookie contract, which will pay him more than US$5.5 million next season. Forbes put Yao's 2004 income at US$18.5 million, about 25 percent higher than last year. Second on the list was Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon actress Zhang Ziyi, followed by Olympic gold medal winning sprinter Liu Xiang. Other athletes listed included Olympic champion divers Tian Liang and Guo Jingjing, ranked 16th and 17th, Manchester City striker Sun Jihai, 34th, and Sheffield United player-youth coach Hao Hai-dong, 55th.
■ Football
Herrion died of heart disease
San Francisco 49ers lineman Thomas Herrion died from heart disease when he collapsed after a National Football League preseason game in Denver on Aug. 20, the Denver County coroner said Tuesday. Herrion had ischemic heart disease, with significant blockage in his right coronary artery that caused the death of heart muscle, the city health department said in a news release. Herrion's heart was slightly enlarged. Drug screens on Herrion's blood and urine found only atrophine, a drug given when medical personnel tried to revive him. Herrion, 23, was pronounced dead early on the morning of Aug. 21.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
Playing soccer and competing for trophies is the best way that many transplanted Hong Kongers and Macanese have found to stay in touch, and to interact with Taiwanese society, said officials at the Taiwan-Hong Kong-Macau Football Friendship Cup, which was held on April 13. Twelve clubs, mostly of players and coaches originally from Hong Kong and Macau, took part in the tournament in New Taipei City. The event is sponsored by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) and the Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Co-operation Council. Participating teams were from the wider Taipei area, Hsinchu, Taichung, Kaohsiung and other areas. They divided into two