China marched on toward a record 15th continental title by beating Jordan 89-83 on Wednesday to progress unbeaten to the quarter-finals at the 25th Asian basketball championships in Tianjin, China.
New Jersey Nets forward Yi Jianlian grabbed 29 points and 18 rebounds as the hosts won for a sixth time in six games to top their second-round group and set up a tie against Taiwan today.
Defending champions Iran, who won two years ago when China fielded a second-string team, secured their place in the last eight with an 82-66 win over South Korea to top the other group, also unbeaten.
South Korea, Jordan, the Philippines, Qatar and Lebanon complete the quarter-final line-up.
In the other quarter-final match-ups today, Jordan will face the Philippines, while reigning champions Iran take on Qatar and South Korea meet Lebanon.
The semi-finals take place tomorrow, with the third-fourth place playoff and final taking center stage on Sunday.
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
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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
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