BADMINTON
Taiwan’s Cheng eliminated
Taiwan’s Cheng I-ching yesterday exited in the quarter-finals at the International Table Tennis Federation Women’s World Cup in Chengdu, China, losing her women’s singles quarter-final to Liu Shiwen of China 4-0 at the Sichuan Province Gymnasium late on Saturday. Liu defeated compatriot Zhu Yuling 4-2 in yesterday’s final, while Singapore’s Feng Tianwei beat Lily Zhang of the US in the playoff for third and fourth.
GOLF
Justin Thomas wins
Justin Thomas staved off a challenge by Danny Lee to claim his second CJ Cup title in three years with a two-shot victory over the South Korean-born New Zealander at Nine Bridges yesterday. The overnight leaders were level for the first 13 holes before Thomas surged ahead with a birdie on the 14th, while Lee bogeyed the 15th and 16th to effectively drop out of contention. Taiwan’s C.T. Pan had a final-round 71 to finish in 56th.
GOLF
Kang holds off Korda
Danielle Kang capped her 27th birthday with a nailbiting win at the Buick LPGA Shanghai yesterday, fending off fellow American Jessica Korda for her second victory at the tournament. Both had finished the penultimate day six-under-par, but a bogey for Korda and a birdie for Kang flipped the lead on the first hole. Korda’s superior driving drew her level twice, but a narrow miss on the green of the 11th notched her third bogey and she trailed for the rest of the round. Taiwan’s Hsu Wei-ling shot a final-round 71 to finish in a share of 45th.
TENNIS
Murray reaches final
Andy Murray took a step closer to a first title in arguably the toughest year of his playing career, grinding out a 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 win over Ugo Humbert on Saturday to reach the final of the European Open in Antwerp. He was to play Stanislas Wawrinka, who swatted aside Italian teenager Jannik Sinner 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the title clash, which began just after press time last night.
? CYCLING
Mas claims fourth stage
Deceuninck Quick-Step’s Enric Mas yesterday won the fourth stage of the Tour of Guangxi with a time of 3 hours, 52 minutes, 53 seconds from Nanning to the Mashan Nongla Scenic Spot. EF Education First’s Daniel Martinez was second over the 161.4km route, while Diego Rosa of Team INEOS was third. Mas also had the overall lead.
CRICKET
Sharma dominates Day 2
Rohit Sharma struck his maiden double century in Test cricket to help India post 497-9 declared against South Africa on Day 2 yesterday. The opener reached the milestone with a six off paceman Lungi Ngidi in the third over after lunch to a standing ovation from the raucous home crowd in Ranchi. He hit another six off Ngidi before falling to paceman Kagiso Rabada for 212. Captain Virat Kohli declared, prompting tea, and was rewarded with two early wickets in the final session. South Africa opener Dean Elgar was caught behind off Mohammed Shami for 0 and opening partner Quinton de Kock fell to Umesh Yadav for 4 to leave the visitors on 9-2 at stumps.
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