MARATHONS
Taipei to cap running events
The number of marathons or massive running events in Taipei is to be capped at two per month to ensure all citizens’ rights to smooth traffic flow, the city’s Department of Sports said earlier this week. Under the new rule, the number of running events that involve more than 10,000 participants is to be capped at 12 per year, the department said. Events at that level usually take course on main roads such as Renai Road and Ketagalan Boulevard, requiring cars to reroute and affecting traffic to a certain extent, the department said. The issue was raised following a Nike women’s half-marathon last Sunday, when 18,000 women ran across downtown Taipei from Taipei City Hall to the Dajia Riverside Park.
TENNIS
Svitolina to face Babos
Fourth-seeded Elina Svitolina of Ukraine is to face unseeded Timea Babos of Hungary in the Grand Prix SAR final after both players won their semi-finals in straight sets on Friday. The 20-year-old Svitolina, who now bids for her third career title, dominated throughout against seventh-seeded Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, breaking the Slovakian player’s serve six times in a 6-0, 6-3 win. Babos, who is one year older and is bidding for her second title, broke unseeded Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic — her friend and doubles partner — twice in each set in a 6-4, 6-4 win. Babos wobbled slightly, missing two match points and then double-faulting to give Mladenovic a break-point chance to get back into the game. However, her nerve held and she sealed victory on her third match point.
TABLE TENNIS
Xu, Yang win mixed doubles
China’s Xu Xin and Yang Ha-eun of South Korea have teamed up to become the first cross-border partnership to win the world mixed doubles table tennis championship in 61 years. The pair beat Japan’s Kasumi Ishikawa and Maharu Yoshimura 4-0 at the world championships on Friday, becoming the first mixed nationality winners of the title since Czechoslovakia’s Ivan Andreadis and Hungarian Gizella Gervai at Wembley in 1954. Xu played through a shoulder injury he sustained in his men’s singles match earlier in the day, but was quick to deflect Yang’s assertion that his performance had been heroic. “The injury definitely affected my play,” the 25-year-old lefthander said. “I am glad that our partnership worked out well despite my injury… I am neither a hero, nor a warrior, but I made sure that I give my best. As long as that is the case, I think the outcome matters less compared to the process and efforts.” The world championships in Suzhou, China, conclude today.
SOCCER
Big club visits good: Soosay
Visits by big European clubs to Asia are good for soccer in the region, a senior Asian official has insisted, dismissing concerns over the trips. European clubs are welcomed by thousands of star-struck fans, but critics say their popularity comes at the expense of local leagues, many of which are struggling. However, Asian Football Confederation secretary-general Alex Soosay said complaints about the money-spinning tours were wide of the mark. Real Madrid, Liverpool and Arsenal are among the teams headed to Asia in the coming months, in visits that boost their fan base and merchandise sales. Soosay said the visiting clubs raise soccer’s profile and help development through their coaching clinics and by funding facilities like new pitches.
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