Taiwan's 2001 Asian X Tour event in front of Taipei's Warner Village came to a close yesterday with the inline skating, skateboarding and BMX biking finals, whittling down the competitors who will travel to Kuala Lumpur for the Asian X Games early next year.
The winners of the event in Malaysia will compete in the US Summer X Games in Philadelphia, joining competitors from around the world.
PHOTO: AP
Drawing a raucous, mid-afternoon crowd was the final in the main inline skating event.
Crowd favorite Chen Chi-chuan (
Other competitors had attempted the same trick only to end up splayed on the second ramp.
Each competitor was allowed two runs of two minutes each, during which judges evaluated the skaters, bikers or board riders for the complexity of their tricks, the use of the terrain and the number of tricks successfully completed.
The course was lined on two ends with various types of ramps of different heights between which were positioned several ramps, rails and platforms designed to test jumping skills and technical ability.
Many of the tricks performed drew gasps from the audience as skaters launched off ramps and slid down a specially installed 5m-long handrail.
Adding to the sense of danger was the presence behind the course of an ambulance, apparently ready to cart away injured skaters.
Indeed, many of the bike riders, skateboarders and inline skaters lingering in the stands were nursing scratches, bruises and the occasional cast.
Most competitors, however, were clearly in control of their bikes, boards or skates. "Everyone has improved a lot. The level is much higher now than at previous X Games," said Chen, reflecting on his previous appearances at such events.
Another of the extreme elements of events yesterday was the heat. But despite the stifling air crowds cheered enthusiastically and clapped mercifully when a competitor rose from a nasty spill.
The event also offered the chance for children to try out these extreme sports on a scaled-down course.
The New Taipei Kings claimed the inaugural Taiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL) championship on Sunday, defeating the Kaohsiung FamilyMart Aquas 108-89 in the final. Playing at home, the Kings pulled ahead with Jeremy Lin’s (林書豪) clutch three-pointers, securing their victory over the Aquas in the TPBL final. The Kings came out strong in the first quarter, dominating to build a 35-18 lead. By halftime, they had stretched their advantage to 61-38. In the third quarter, the Aquas narrowed the deficit to 12 points, but Lin stepped up, sinking several tough three- pointers to extend the lead. In the final quarter, the Kings pushed the
Spain are the favorites to win the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025, but star player Aitana Bonmati’s illness ahead of the tournament raises another question mark around a side which, despite their obvious quality, are not unstoppable. Having claimed the last two Ballon d’Or awards, Barcelona midfielder Bonmati is the game’s biggest star at present, so her absence in the final days before the start of Euro 2025 is a major setback. The 27-year-old came down with a fever in training last week, and was subsequently hospitalized and diagnosed with viral meningitis. Bonmati was discharged on Sunday and joined up with
SEMI-FINAL SWEEP: Taiwanese are to take up all four berths in the men’s doubles semi-finals, while three Taiwanese women’s doubles pairings secured spots Taiwan’s badminton ace Chou Tien-chen stayed hot as he secured a semi-final berth in the men’s singles at the US Open at Council Bluffs, Iowa, on Friday. Chou entered the Super 300 tournament as the top seed and breezed past Victor Lai of Canada 21-19, 21-8 in 37 minutes, advancing to the semi-finals for the second straight tournament. Earlier this month, the 35-year-old veteran finished runner-up at the Indonesia Open, becoming the oldest male shuttler to reach a Super 1000-level final. He was set to face Ayush Shetty of India last night after press time for a spot in the final. Meanwhile, 22-year-old Taiwanese
TAIWANESE WIN: Chan Hao-ching and Wu Fang-hsien and their partners won their first-round matches in the women’s doubles at the All England Lawn Tennis Club Late-night finishes and five-set matches are becoming a habit for Taylor Fritz at Wimbledon this year. On Wednesday, he wrapped up his win over Gabriel Diallo before the match was suspended — making sure the fifth-seeded American would not have to come back on court for a fourth straight day. Fritz overcame a bloodied elbow to win 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/0), 4-6, 6-3 on No. 1 Court a day after he finished off another five-set win over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in a match that was halted on Monday at about 10:15pm after Fritz forced a fifth set with Wimbledon’s 11pm curfew looming. He
RSS