Zhao Xuanmin, coach of Thailand women’s basketball team, watched his side mauled 93-55 by South Korea at the Asian Games, but didn’t have the heart to be too harsh.
Within the sport in Asia, Thailand are one of the have-nots, struggling to compete with the big four of Taiwan, China, Japan and South Korea.
“When I saw what they eat, I felt pity for them,” Zhao said of the first time he was introduced to his new charges. “It’s very hard for me to ask them to practice more. Their height is also a restriction. Although they practice hard, the results won’t come.”
“Also, they get 100 yuan a day [US$15]; the wages are low and it’s hard for them to get to practice,” he added.
His team are keen but raw and lose out in the increasingly physical nature of the sport.
Thailand’s problems are exacerbated by a thin talent pool.
“They are mostly university students,” Zhao said. “Two [Ruemonchanok Doksaiyad and Atchara Kaichaiyapoom] are still in high school. We only started training three months ago with just two hours a day.”
Thailand’s woes are shared by the likes of the Maldives who began their Asian Games campaign on the wrong end of a 127-23 demolition by Taiwan.
Coach Pujitha Wimal has the same problems as Zhao with his team making their Games debut, having been together only for three months.
“We only have two basketball courts in our country,” guard Shamama Najeeb added. “One is middle-sized and the floor is cement and the other is like this one here, but without such advanced equipment.”
Fellow minnows India started with a 107-39 loss to China, but their American coach Tamika Raymond sees it as part of a learning experience.
“Our players are young and through this game they can become more experienced,” she said. “China also made great pressure for us. It was a tremendous game and we got good things out of it.”
Santiago Castro on Tuesday had an immediate impact off the bench as he scored the goal to send Bologna into the Coppa Italia semi-finals for the first time in 26 years. Bologna won 1-0 against last year’s runners-up, Atalanta BC, and are to play either holders Juventus or Empoli in the final four. Juventus are to host Empoli in their quarter-final on Feb. 26. The last time Bologna reached the semi-finals was in 1999, when they lost 4-2 to ACF Fiorentina. There were chances for both sides in a high-tempo match in Bergamo, but it was Bologna who broke the deadlock 10 minutes from
After nearly six years away from the NBA, New Taipei Kings player Jeremy Lin (林書豪) is set to participate in the 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend’s Rising Stars mini-tournament as the coach of Team G League. The NBA announced Monday (U.S. time) that the Taiwanese-American player will join a trio of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers – Tim Hardaway Sr., Chris Mullin, and Mitch Richmond – as honorary coaches for four teams featuring 28 rising talents. "See you soon in the Bay," Lin wrote in an Instagram story sharing the news. As the All-Star Weekend will take place at
The former interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani on Thursday was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for bank and tax fraud after he stole nearly US$17 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers player’s bank account. Ippei Mizuhara, who was supposed to bridge the gap between the Japanese athlete and his English-speaking teammates and fans, was sentenced in federal court in Santa Ana to four years and nine months after pleading guilty last year. He was ordered to pay US$18 million in restitution, with nearly US$17 million going to Ohtani and the remainder to the US Internal Revenue Service. He was
The 40-year-old LeBron James on Thursday became the oldest player to score 40 points in an NBA game, putting up a season-high 42 in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 120-112 victory over the Golden State Warriors. James passed the record held by Michael Jordan, his idol and the only other NBA player to score 40 after his 40th birthday. “I’m old, that’s my take,” James said when asked about his latest achievement. “I need a glass of wine and some sleep, that’s what I think.” Jordan did it for the Washington Wizards just three days after turning 40 in February 2003. James is 38
RSS