A Taiwanese baseball fan died of a heart attack as his side suffered what was widely considered a humiliating defeat to China in the Olympic baseball competition, local media reported yesterday.
The 74-year-old pensioner from Kaohsiung — identified only by his surname, Huang — had been a baseball fan all his life and never missed a game on TV, the Central News Agency (CNA) said.
Hopes had been high for a medal as baseball is Taiwan’s
national sport, while China began training players only five years ago, and Huang — like all Taiwanese — expected an easy win over China.
But in Friday’s game, China put up a strong defense and the game was tied 3-3 in the 10th inning, leading to extra innings which China went on to win 8-7 as the tension and frustration built up.
As the TV pictures showed the Chinese spectators jump and scream with joy at the Wukesong Baseball Field 2, Huang breathed his last, CNA said.
■USA 5, CANADA 4
AP, BEIJING
Terry Tiffee doubled in the go-ahead run and Brian Barden homered and hit a tying RBI double as the US rallied from a four-run deficit for a 5-4 Olympic baseball victory over Canada yesterday.
Brian Duensing retired 10 of the final 11 batters of the game for the win as the Americans turned a one-run result in their favor for a change. They lost their opener 8-7 to South Korea and then a demoralizing 5-4, 11-inning defeat to defending champion Cuba on Friday.
Their medal hopes seemed to be in serious jeopardy when trailing 4-0. The US team (2-2) must be among the top four clubs in the tournament to have a chance of reaching the medal stand.
“We’ve played a lot of tight ballgames,” said third base coach Rick Eckstein. “There’s no question we’ve been tested in so many ways so far this tournament. We’ve responded. I like what I’m seeing: their heart and character.”
After games against China and Taiwan on Monday and Tuesday, the US must face medal favorite and 2006 World Baseball Classic champion Japan on Wednesday night.
TIGHT FINISH: Napoli only needed to do the same as or better than Inter, who won their game against Como 2-0 on the same day, leaving Napoli with a one-point lead The two players who Antonio Conte wanted more than any others secured Napoli their second Serie A title in three years on Friday. Scott McTominay scored with an acrobatic bicycle kick before halftime and Romelu Lukaku doubled the lead with a solo goal after the break in the decisive 2-0 home win over Cagliari. Conte became the first coach to win the Italian championship with three different teams. “Everyone contributed to this — but the coach most of all,” Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo said. “Napoli needed him to get back on top. He’s phenomenal.” Comparing it to his three Serie A titles won
The journey of Taiwan’s badminton mixed doubles duo Ye Hong-wei and Nicole Chan at the Malaysia Masters in Kuala Lumpur came to an end in the semi-finals yesterday after they suffered a 2-0 loss to China’s Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping. Ye, 25, and Chan, 20, teamed up last year and are currently ranked No. 23 in the world. The Taiwanese shuttlers took on China’s second seeds in the mixed doubles event, but proved no match for Feng and Huang, losing the match 10-21, 7-21. In the first half of the first game, the pairings were neck and neck at 6-7 until Ye
SSC Napoli coach Antonio Conte has dragged the team back from disaster and restored them to the top of Italian Serie A, but his future at the Scudetto winners is in doubt even after a triumphant season. The fiery 55-year-old has exceeded preseason expectations and bolstered his reputation as a serial winner by guiding Napoli to their fourth Scudetto, and second in three seasons. However, he might well be on his way in the summer after just one season at the helm as his charged relationship with Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis has simmered throughout the campaign. Conte has said
RESILIENT NEW YORK: The Knicks have depended heavily on Jalen Brunson this season, but with his minutes restricted due to five fouls, they needed to show depth The New York Knicks on Sunday overturned a 20-point deficit as they fought back to beat the Indiana Pacers 106-100 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Knicks cut Indiana’s lead to 2-1 in the series and after losing both games at Madison Square Garden in New York they are now right back in the battle for a place in the NBA Finals. Karl-Anthony Towns starred for the Knicks with 24 points — 20 of them in an explosive fourth-quarter performance — and he contributed 15 rebounds as New York recorded their joint-largest comeback in a playoff game.
RSS