■ AUTO RACING
Abu Dhabi wants best circuit
The Persian Gulf state of Abu Dhabi has set out to build the perfect Formula One circuit. The city is to host an F1 race in 2009 for the first time. "We will not only meet expectations, but exceed them without a doubt," said Ahmad Hussain, deputy director-general of Abu Dhabi's Tourism Authority. The US$40 billion project on Yas Island will have part of the circuit on the streets and lots of space for yachts to get a view of the action from the sea. Construction began in January on the 2,550-hectare site off the United Arab Emirates' east coast, and only 5 percent of the 5.5km track is complete. It is expected to seat 200,000 spectators.
■ HORSE RACING
Mare sets losing record
A Puerto Rican horse that can't win a race at least now has a claim to fame. Dona Chepa, a nine-year-old brown mare, finished last in a six-horse field at Camarero Racetrack in eastern Puerto Rico on Wednesday, a 125th consecutive loss that is believed to be the longest in history. Track spokesman Joe Bruno said Wednesday's loss surpasses an equine losing record of 0-124 set by Australian horse Ouroene, who raced from 1976 to 1983. There is no world governing body that tracks lack of success for horses. Dona Chepa, which comes from a distinguished line of champion racers, began her woeful ways on Valentine's Day in 2001. The closest she came to victory was in May 2003, when she finished second, Bruno said.
■ SOCCER
Seongnam Ilhwa gain edge
Kim Min-ho and Son Dae-ho scored 90 seconds apart midway through the second half and Seongnam Ilhwa beat Al Karama 2-1 in Seongnam, South Korea, on Wednesday in the first leg of the Asian Champions League quarter-finals. The victory gives the seven-time K-League champion the advantage heading into next week's second leg at Homs, Syria. Japan's Urawa Reds also won 2-1 at home, beating South Korean side and defending champion Jeonbuk Motors, while fellow Japanese side Kawasaki Frontale held Sepahan to a 0-0 draw in Esfahan, Iran. In the late quarter-final, two-time champion Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia held Al Wahda to a 0-0 draw in the United Arab Emirates.
■ CYCLING
Bennati wins second stage
Lampre rider Daniele Bennati won his second stage of the Spanish Vuelta on Wednesday, outracing Paolo Bettini and Alessandro Petacchi in the final meters. The Italian finished the 180km 17th stage to Talavera de la Reina, Spain, in three hours, 56 minutes, 58 seconds. Denis Menchov of Russia retains an overall 2:01 lead over fellow countryman Vladimir Efimkin.
Hong Kong-based cricket team Hung See this weekend found success in their matches in Taiwan, even if none of the results went their way. Hung See played the Chairman’s XI on Saturday morning, the Daredevils that afternoon and PCCT yesterday, with all three home teams winning. The team for Chinese players at the Happy Valley-based Craigengower Cricket Club sends teams on tour to “spread the game of cricket.” This weekend was Hung See’s second trip to Taiwan after visiting Tainan in 2016. “The club has been traveling to all parts of the world since 1982 and the annual tradition continues [with the Taiwan
Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei yesterday advanced to the semi-finals of the women’s doubles at the Australian Open, while Coco Gauff’s dreams of a first women’s singles title in Melbourne were crushed in the quarter-finals by Paula Badosa. World No. 2 Alexander Zverev was ruffled by a stray feather in his men’s singles quarter-final, but he refocused to beat 12th seed Tommy Paul and reach the semi-finals. Third seeds Hsieh and Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia defeated Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania and Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine 6-2, 5-7, 7-5 in 2 hours, 20 minutes to advance the semi-finals. Hsieh and Ostapenko converted eight of 14 break
The San Francisco Giants signed 18-year-old Taiwanese pitcher Yang Nien-hsi (陽念希) to a contract worth a total of US$500,000 (NT $16.39 million). At a press event in Taipei on Wednesday, Jan. 22, the Giants’ Pacific Rim Area scout Evan Hsueh (薛奕煌) presented Yang with a Giants jersey to celebrate the signing. The deal consisted of a contract worth US$450,000 plus a US$50,000 scholarship bonus. Yang, who stands at 188 centimeters tall and weighs 85 kilograms, is of Indigenous Amis descent. With his fastest pitch clocking in at 150 kilometers per hour, Yang had been on Hsueh’s radar since playing in the HuaNan Cup
HARD TO SAY GOODBYE: After Coco Gauff dispatched Belinda Bencic in the fourth round, she wrote ‘RIP TikTok USA’ and drew a broken heart on a television camera lens Defending champion Hsieh Su-wei of Taiwan yesterday advanced to the quarter-finals of the women’s doubles at the Australian Open, while compatriot Chan Hao-ching on Saturday dominated her opponents in the second round, as world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka swept into the quarter-finals. Third seeds Hsieh and Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia toppled Hungary’s Timea Babos and Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the US 6-4, 6-3, hitting 24 winners and converting three of seven break points in 1 hour, 18 minutes at 1573 Arena. Although rivals at last year’s Australian Open — where Hsieh and Belgium’s Elise Mertens beat Ostapenko and Ukraine’s Lyudmyla Kichenok 6-1, 7-5
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