TABLE TENNIS
Taiwan win bronze
Taiwan took third place in the men’s team division of the World Team Table Tennis Championships yesterday in Tokyo — the best they have ever done in the tournament — after losing three games in a row to their Chinese rivals in the semi-finals. Taiwan’s Chen Chien-an was the first to be routed, when Chinese rival Xu Xin beat him 3-0 in the men’s championship division final earlier in the day. Chuang Chih-yuan, Taiwan’s top-ranked table tennis player, was then defeated by Chinese player Ma Long 3-0, before Huang Sheng-sheng lost to Chinese player Zhang Jike 3-1. Despite their defeat, the Taiwanese players will come home with a bronze medal for the division. Taiwan entered the semi-finals after beating South Korea 3-2 on Saturday in a shootout that lasted more than three hours.
BASKETBALL
NBA to appoint Clippers CEO
The NBA says it will appoint a chief executive officer to supervise the Los Angeles Clippers’ operations. On Tuesday, NBA commissioner Adam Silver banned Clippers owner Donald Sterling for life for racist comments made on an audio recording, fined him US$2.5 million and urged league owners to force him to sell the team. NBA executive vice president of communications Mike Bass released a statement on Saturday saying: “The best way to ensure the stability of the team during this difficult situation is to move quickly and install a CEO to oversee the Clippers organization. The process of identifying that individual is underway.”
BOXING
Abraham retains title
Arthur Abraham retained his WBO super middleweight belt by defeating Nikola Sjekloca of Montenegro by unanimous decision on Saturday. The judges awarded it 117-113, 116-112, 119-110 to the defending champion, who relied primarily on his left jab after suggesting during the bout that he broke his right hand. “I don’t want to make excuses, but I had to box the fight with my left,” Abraham said. “The fingers were already broken from the last fight. I had to do a lot with the left in training. That’s why it was so close, though he’s also a good fighter.” The Armenian-born German improved to 40-4 (28 KOs) after defending the title he won back from Robert Stieglitz by split decision on March 1. Abraham relied increasingly on his left jab as the bout went on. He indicated his right hand was broken, only to be told by Ulli Wegner, his trainer, to carry on. “It’s all the same to me if your hand is sore,” the veteran trainer said. “It’s about staying the champion. You’ve enough time afterward to heal it.” Abraham did enough to hang on. Sjekloca, who dropped to 26-2 (8 KOs), suggested he was not fully focused as he is about to become a father to twins.
GOLF
Holmes leads Wells Fargo
J.B. Holmes shot a six-under 66 on Saturday to take the outright lead at the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina, putting him a strong position to claim a richly deserved title after coming back from serious injuries. Holmes overtook Martin Flores for the lead on the final hole at Quail Hollow, sinking a 20-foot birdie putt from the fringe of the green, while Flores put his tee shot into an adjoining stream and then missed a putt of the same distance in attempting to save par. Flores had a 69 to be a shot behind Holmes on 13-under 203. A stroke further back was Phil Mickelson, who roared into contention with a 63.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely