TABLE TENNIS
Taiwan’s Lin wins U21
Taiwanese player Lin Yun-ju on Wednesday beat China’s Xu Haidong 3-0 to win the under-21 men’s singles title at the Asarel Bulgaria Open. Lin won the match 11-7, 12-10, 11-7, clinching the third U21 men’s singles title of his career, after winning the Hungarian Open in January and Hong Kong Open in May. The victory was an early birthday present for Lin, who celebrated his 17th birthday yesterday. He is now heading to Indonesia to compete in the Asian Games.
ASIAN GAMES
Kuwait suspension lifted
Athletes from Kuwait are to be able to compete under their own flag after the International Olympic Committee provisionally lifted the nation’s suspension, which had been in place for nearly three years. The suspension was imposed after the committee accused Kuwait’s government of interfering in Olympic sport in the country. It said that Kuwait’s government has promised “fresh elections” for sports organization boards and were also given a “clear undertaking ... not to obstruct the work” of the Kuwait Olympic Committee. The suspension can be reimposed in October if the committee’s board is not satisfied with the changes.
CRICKET
Jamshed banned for decade
The Pakistan Cricket Board yesterday banned former Test opener Nasir Jamshed for 10 years on multiple charges of spot fixing, wrapping up a 16-month investigation into a wide-ranging scandal that rocked the Pakistan Super League. Jamshed, 28, is the sixth player to be banned following the scandal that tainted the Twenty20 tournament in only its second year. “Today’s decision against Jamshed wraps up the fixing saga and the tribunal has banned him for 10 years on multiple charges,” board legal adviser Taffazul Rizvi said in footage shared on Twitter. Opener Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Nawaz and Nasir Jamshed have also been given bans of varying lengths. Jamshed would not be allowed to hold any office even after the ban expires, Rizvi added.
RUGBY
Cipriani fined for assault
A court has fined England player Danny Cipriani £2,000 (US$2,543) after he pleaded guilty to assault and resisting arrest following an incident at a nightclub on an island in the English Channel. He was also ordered to pay £250 in compensation to a female police officer who bruised her neck. Hours after his appearance in court, Cipriani released a statement expressing his remorse. “I want to start with a heartfelt apology. To my club, teammates, supporters and most importantly the police,” Cipriani said. “I would also like to put on record the words of the magistrate Sarah Fitz who publicly stated that ‘it was a minor incident’ and ‘a fine is more than sufficient.’”
SOCCER
Matias Messi sentenced
Matias Messi, brother of Lionel Messi, has been sentenced for illegally possessing a firearm. Matias Messi on Thursday received a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence, but will instead perform community service. La Capital reported that the decision was reached under a deal with prosecutors. The weapon was found late last year inside a blood-stained boat that Matias Messi crashed in the Parana River.
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
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was