■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.”
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