BASKETBALL
Lin promotes Taipei game
Houston Rockets point guard Jeremy Lin greeted his fans in Taiwan via video on Friday to promote an NBA exhibition game to be played in Taipei in October as part of the NBA Global Games series. “I’m excited to come back to Taiwan with my team this October for a game against the Indiana Pacers. You have the reputation of being some of the most enthusiastic NBA fans in the world. I’m personally looking forward to seeing you on Oct. 13 and bringing you an unforgettable game,” Lin said. The game will be held at the Taipei Arena and tickets for the contest were due to go on sale yesterday.
SOCCER
Hosts reach knockout phase
Turkey rallied to beat Australia 2-1 in their final Group C match at the Under-20 World Cup on Friday to join group winners Colombia in the knockout stage. The hosts will play France in the round of 16 on Tuesday. Australia failed to go beyond the group stage for a fourth straight time. Colombia won the group after defeating El Salvador 3-0. Earlier on Friday, Greece and Paraguay drew 1-1 in their final Group D match, which was enough for both teams to advance to the first knockout round. In the other Group D match, Mexico bounced back from losing their opening two matches and defeated Mali 4-1. Mexico finished third to leave themselves a chance of also reaching the last 16, while Mali were eliminated.
CRICKET
Butt admits spot-fixing
Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt admitted on Friday to cheating on his country’s tour of England in 2010 and said he would like to play domestic cricket once his ban for spot-fixing is completed. Butt and bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were banned by the International Cricket Council for spot-fixing in the Lord’s Test. Butt had previously denied the charges. “Today I want to apologize to all my countrymen and cricket followers all over the world for having done wrong,” he told reporters in Lahore. “I am sorry for having hurt the sentiments of the Pakistani people and cricket lovers. I am ready to undergo any rehabilitation program.” Butt, who received a 10-year ban, five years of which were suspended, added: “I just want to at least get the chance to play domestic cricket once my ban is completed.”
CRICKET
Watson denies Warner role
Shane Watson has denied any role in forcing Australia cricket chiefs to take action against David Warner for the opener’s attack on England’s Joe Root. Earlier this month, Warner was fined and suspended by Cricket Australia after punching Root in a Birmingham bar following Australia’s Champions Trophy loss to their arch-rivals. Following Warner’s suspension, there were reports in the Australian media that officials had only decided to discipline Warner after Watson had complained about double standards. Watson was one of four players dropped from the Test side in India earlier this year for failing to hand in a written feedback requested by team management. Watson told the Cricinfo Web site on Friday that he had not done anything to make officials suspend Warner. “Absolutely not,” Watson said when asked if he had informed former coach Mickey Arthur of the events in Birmingham. “In the end, the coaching staff and Mickey and the leadership group found out about Dave’s incident off their own bat. It had absolutely nothing to do with me in any way shape or form and I’m not sure why that was brought out in the media because it certainly wasn’t the truth.”
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
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care