BASEBALL
Taiwan take Pony title
Taiwan on Thursday won their 10th Pony League World Series championship, defeating a US team 9-1 in Pennsylvania. Starting pitcher Sun Yi-lei was dominant over 6-1/3 innings, striking out six and allowing only four hits and a run to a team from Michigan’s Bay County in the seven-inning game. The game remained hitless and scoreless after three innings, but Sun got his team’s first hit in the fourth, sparking a three-run rally that put Taiwan in front to stay. In earning their 10th championship, Taiwan extended their record for the most titles by a country other than the US. It also marked the nation’s third youth championship this year, after their Pony Bronco World Series and Palomino League World Series title wins.
SOFTBALL
Taiwan crush Puerto Rico
Taiwan on Wednesday cruised past higher-ranked Puerto Rico 9-1 in the super round of the under-19 Women’s Softball World Cup, putting them on track for a spot in the medal round. Sixth seeds Taiwan recovered from a 0-9 defeat by Japan a day earlier to beat fourth seeds Puerto Rico in a six-inning game called short by the mercy rule. The team, comprised mostly of players from Shilin High School of Commerce in Taipei, Chung Cheng Industrial High School in Kaohsiung and Puli Industrial Vocational Senior High School in Nantou County, are next to face the top-ranked US, who have won all their matches in the tournament so far.
TENNIS
Kyrgios fined over tirade
The ATP on Thursday fined Nick Kyrgios for expletive-filled outbursts in which he smashed two rackets, insulted the chair umpire and refused to get ready to return serve in his second-round exit at the Western & Southern Open. The tour said it is “looking further into what happened during and immediately after the match” to determine whether additional fines or a suspension is warranted. During a change-over in the second set, he yelled from his chair: “The worst ref in the game, hands down.” He then said that the umpire does “some stupid shit” every time he plays. Early in the third set, he took two rackets to the tunnel that leads to the locker room, smashed them on the ground and returned to the court. Warned that he needed to get ready to return serve, he took a new racket to the baseline and stood taping the handle instead of getting in position.
SOCCER
Adrian sustains freak injury
Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian is doubtful for today’s English Premier League trip to Southampton after sustaining a freak injury while celebrating their UEFA Super Cup victory over Chelsea on Wednesday, manager Juergen Klopp said yesterday. Adrian only came into the side to fill in for ’keeper Alisson Becker, who sustained a calf injury last week. Adrian was left with a swollen ankle after a supporter who invaded the pitch to join in their celebrations slipped and kicked his foot. “He will not go for a scan. We wait for the swelling to go down. It went down already,” Klopp said. The setback leaves Liverpool short of their two main ’keepers, but Klopp said that backups Andrew Lonergan and Caoimhin Kelleher were ready if needed.
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