As the 14th Asian Games approaches, the Cabinet-level National Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (體委會) agreed this week to employ eight foreign coaches to enhance athletes' training, local media reported.
The Asian Games will be held from Sept. 29 to Oct. 14 in Busan, South Korea.
To help prepare for the Games, the sports council -- the nation's highest sports authority -- has approved requests from eight national sports associations to hire foreign coaches.
The eight sports that will benefit from foreign training methods are: Baseball, cycling, weightlifting, softball, soccer, table tennis, equestrian pursuits and volleyball.
According to Lin Te-chia (林德嘉), vice chairman of the sports council, over 600 athletes are training for 28 of the Asian Games events.
The final selection of athletes for extra coaching will be made sometime after training sessions at Kaohsiung's National Training Center (
Even so, a shortage of funds could torpedo the coaching initiative, local media reported, and a meeting to confirm or reject the training package will be held soon.
Since 1951, the quadrennial Asian Games has been considered the biggest sports event in Asia.
A total of 9,788 athletes from 41 countries in the region participated in the previous Games, held in Bangkok, Thailand, four years ago. Taiwan won 19 gold, 17 silver and 41 bronze medals in 1988, a record for the country.
Though the Games are only five months away, however, preparations have run into difficulties.
In swimming, for example, the only athletes who have qualified for the Games are Wu Nien-ping (
The Chinese Taipei Swimming Association (泳協) failed to provide enough assistance to other swimmers because of power struggles within the association over the past few months, local media said.
After letting another big lead slip with an error-strewn performance at the French Open on Wednesday, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka felt like getting as far away from the courts as possible. “Just want to quit tennis right now,” Sabalenka said after wasting a lead of a set and two breaks in a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 loss to Diana Shnaider in the women’s singles quarter-finals. “We’ll see in few days. Hopefully I’ll get back on track mentally.” Sabalenka’s wait for a first French Open title continues despite the four-time major winner leading 4-1 in the second set and being two points from victory while
BIG NAMES GONE: Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title, reaching semi-finals for the fifth time in six years and finishing second on three occasions Alexander Zverev on Tuesday breezed past Rafael Jodar to stay on course for an elusive Grand Slam title at the French Open, while Jakub Mensik halted Joao Fonseca’s scintillating run in the quarter-finals. Zverev, the highest-ranked player left in the men’s draw, put an end to Spanish teenager Jodar’s impressive Roland Garros debut, easing into the semi-finals with a 7-6, (7/3), 6-1, 6-3 win. The 29-year-old Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title. He has finished runner-up on three occasions, including at the 2024 French Open. “I want to win the matches that are ahead of
Liverpool are in advanced talks with former AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola as they seek a replacement for Arne Slot, reports said on Tuesday. Iraola has emerged as Liverpool’s top target to replace Slot, who was sacked on Saturday last week after a turbulent second season in charge. Liverpool have reportedly agreed a deal in principle to bring the Spaniard, who left Bournemouth at the end of this season, to Anfield. Sporting director Richard Hughes was heavily involved in hiring Iraola during his time at Bournemouth and is again spearheading the recruitment of the highly rated coach. The Reds are
US President Donald Trump said he would attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday at Madison Square Garden, but said he does not have much sympathy for ordinary basketball fans who cannot afford sky-high ticket prices to do the same. “They can watch it on television,” Trump said aboard Air Force One on Friday as he flew to Wisconsin for an event with farmers, after he was asked about tickets that have climbed as high as US$8,000 each when the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs square off in Manhattan for the first time in the series. “It’s sorta
RSS