Floodlight installed at Fu Jen University-Hang Yuan’s artificial turf pitch for the Universiade in August failed on Friday during a match between the Royal Blues and National Sports Training Center (NSTC) due to a power outage in the 52nd minute of the second half, CTFA officials said.
The pitch remained in darkness for more than an hour while work crews repaired electrical circuitry, before the match could resume.
However, eight minutes after play resumed, the lights went out again and needed further repairs before the Royal Blues took a 4-2 victory.
PHOTO: CTFA
“It is good that we tested out the floodlights and found the problem. Hopefully all the shortcomings can be fixed before the Universiade. However, the lights are not bright enough, so this has to be improved,” Taipower coach and former national team manager Chen Kuei-jen said.
“We can get the lighting to work, but the spectator stands were not finished. This is a half-done job.... Supporters cheering the action can spur teams to play better. I hope the stands are finished so people can watch the games in relative comfort,” Chen said.
Taiwan’s top soccer league tightened up this weekend when Taipei-based Tatung blanked Tainan City 3-0 to move within three points of leaders Kaohsiung-based Taipower, who were held to a scoreless draw by Fu Jen University-Hang Yuan.
Taipower is on 46 points after Friday’s 0-0 tie, with Tatung in close pursue after 18 games played in the second half of the season of the semi-professional Taiwan Football Premier League (TFPL).
Fu Jen University yesterday enjoyed a home-field advantage to beat Tainan City 7-2.
NSTC remained in third place on 34 points after fighting to a 1-1 draw against Ming Chuan University, while the expatriate team Royal Blues won for their third game in a row, defeating the Taichung-based Taiwan Sports University 2-0.
The Royal Blues on Friday doubled up on NSTC 4-2, and in the previous round in final week of May prevailed over Ming Chuan University 1-0, consolidate their No. 5 position with 24 points, behind NSTC on 31 points.
NSTC powered to a 3-0 triumph, while the second match saw Tatung shut out Tainan City 3-0.
Meanwhile, Brazilian football clothing brand Athleta on Saturday opened its flagship store in Taipei, with national team players and CTFA officials at the ceremony.
“It’s great to see Athleta making inroads into Taiwan, which they see as a growing market for soccer. Our national team’s win over Singapore in the recent AFC Cup qualifier match shows we are making progress. This victory is very important for Taiwanese fans and it has boosted the confidence of the players,” CTFA secretary-general Chen Wei-jen said.
“Athleta believes in Taiwan’s potential for soccer development and they can also bring in Brazil’s samba soccer and the stylish sportswear of Brazilian soccer stars to our nation,” he added.
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