■BADMINTON
Taiwanese players crash out
It was a bad day for Taiwanese players at the Asia Championships in Suwon, South Korea, yesterday. The three remaining Taiwanese in the mens’ singles — Hsueh Hsuan-yi, Chou Tien-chen and Liao Sheng-shiun — all lost their second round matches. Hong Kong’s Chan Yan Kit, the No. 6 seed, also bowed out, losing to Lee Cheol-ho of South Korea. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Chen Hsiao-huan and Chiang Pei-hsin fared no better than their male counterparts in the second round of the women’s singles. Chinese fifth seed Xie Xingfang beat Chiang 21-16, 19-21, 21-14, while China’s Jiang Yanjiao beat Chen Hsiao Huan 21-17, 21-10. Top-seed Zhou Mi of Hong Kong beat Zhu Jingjing of China 21-19, 21-16 and second-seeded Lu Lan of China breezed past Bae Seung-hee of South Korea 21-12, 21-12.
■CYCLING
Armstrong in trouble
France’s anti-doping agency says seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong violated its rules and that it could punish him. French doctors say they tested Armstrong’s hair, urine and blood in a March 17 test. They say they found no traces of drugs. However, the agency, known as AFLD, said in a statement yesterday that a doctor charged with testing Armstrong last month claimed the US rider “did not respect the obligation to remain under the direct and permanent observation” of the tester. The AFLD says it can impose sanctions Armstrong, but did not indicate what they would be. Armstrong is set to ride in this year’s Tour.
■BOXING
Champ, uncle ‘trade blows’
Puerto Rican police say they are investigating an alleged fight between WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto and his trainer, who have had a sometimes combative relationship in the past. A statement issued by the police says the boxer and Evangelista Cotto, the fighter’s uncle, exchanged blows on Wednesday after a heated argument about training at a gym in the champ’s hometown of Caguas. After the bruising scrap, Evangelista Cotto allegedly threw a cement block at his nephew’s 2009 Jaguar, shattering a right-side window. Puerto Rican detectives are investigating the incident even though neither of the men has filed a complaint.
■AUSTRALIAN RULES
Pair in chicken sex shocker
Two leading players have been fined A$5,000 (US$3,550) each for their part in making an offensive video showing a rubber chicken simulating sex with a chicken carcass. North Melbourne’s Adam Simpson and Daniel Pratt were each fined by their club after admitting they were among eight players who made the video last year. The video, which was posted on the internet this week but subsequently removed, has been described as tasteless and offensive to women and drew strong criticism from the sport’s governing body the AFL. The North Melbourne club decided not to suspend the players but instead fined them for breaching the team’s code of conduct. “It was a foolish, misguided prank that is clearly offensive. We’re embarrassed and apologetic for that as a football club,” North Melbourne chief executive Eugene Arocca told reporters. “We’re going to take the opportunity to move forward, educate our players further about their responsibilities as players and as members of the community.”
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Roger Federer on Wednesday said that staying involved with tennis in retirement helped him avoid feeling “like an alien” ahead of this week’s Laver Cup in Berlin. Federer, who helped create the tournament, retired at the Laver Cup in London two years ago and has since stayed involved with the competition as an ambassador. “I’m happy I went back right away to some tournaments,” the 43-year-old told reporters. “I feel I ripped the Band-Aid off quite quickly and when I walk around the tennis sites I still feel I belong there,” he said. “I don’t feel like an alien, which is a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two