■ HORSE RACING
China may legalize betting
China may legalize gambling on horse races for the first time since the Communist Party took power in 1949, the official Xinhua news agency said on Thursday. The government in Beijing has approved the start of regular horse racing in the central city of Wuhan, and is considering the introduction of betting on those races on a trial basis next year, Xinhua reported. The experiment is seen as heralding the return of nationwide betting on horses in China, Xinhua said. Wuhan was a center for horse racing in the early 1900s, but the sport and gambling in general were among a string of vices banned when the Communists won the Chinese civil war.
■ Figure skating
`Showman' dies aged 40
Former figure skating world medalist Christopher Bowman, called "Bowman the Showman" for his flair on the ice, died on Thursday of a possible drug overdose, authorities said. He was 40. Bowman's body was found at a motel in North Hills, California, and an autopsy is planned for this weekend. Bowman, a former child actor, won US men's figure skating titles in 1989 and 1992, and was a two-time medalist at the world championships. Bowman also competed in the 1988 and 1992 Winter Olympics, finishing seventh and fourth, respectively. Bowman had a part in the TV series Little House on the Prairie for one season and appeared in dozens of commercials. Recently, Bowman had returned to acting. He plays an assistant coach in the upcoming Brian De Palma-directed movie Down and Distance.
■ Tennis
Hsieh Su-wei wins again
Taiwan's Hsieh Su-wei beat Barbara Zahalova Strycova of the Czech Republic in straight sets in the second round of the women's qualifying tournament for the Australian Open in Melbourne yesterday. Hsieh's 6-0, 7-6 win followed her 6-4, 6-1, defeat of No. 2 seed Asha Rolle of the US on Thursday. Another Taiwanese Hwang I-hsuan lost to Arina Rodionova of Russia 6-2, 6-2, yesterday. It was a disappointing loss following her three sets victory over No. 7 seed Greta Arn of Germany in the first round. Meanwhile Australia's former world No. 4 Jelena Dokic lost yesterday and so will miss out on playing in next week's opening Grand Slam of the year. Dokic, bidding to return to the Open for the first time in four years, lost 6-2, 6-1 to Thailand's experienced Tamarine Tanasugarn in the second round of qualifying.
■ Olympics
Counterfeits to prove costly
A crackdown on fans returning from the Beijing Olympics with unofficial merchandise or counterfeit goods will be launched ahead of this year's Games, a top customs official said on Thursday. Christophe Zimmermann, head of the World Customs Organization's counterfeiting and piracy unit said the offensive would not only target fans as they left China but when they arrived at ports or airports in their home countries. He warned that fans caught with any counterfeit products on their return -- particularly in Europe -- would face heavy fines and possibly imprisonment if found guilty. "Even if you are found with the smallest item, even just one item, you will face at least a fine," Zimmermann said. "My message to fans that buy these fakes, is to take care when you come back because there is a very good chance you will be caught," he said.
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