Taiwanese taekwondo athlete Tseng Li-cheng defeated the world’s top-ranked player from China on Sunday to win a London Olympics qualifier, earning her a berth at the Games next year.
Tseng, the world No. 2, trounced China’s Hou Yuzhuo 3-0 in the final of the under-57kg tournament.
Her triumph made her the second Taiwanese athlete to earn a trip to London next year. A day earlier, Yang Shu-chun finished third in the women’s under-49kg category to qualify for the Olympic Games.
Photo: Yeh Shih-hung, Taipei Times
Tseng won five straight bouts at the tournament, cruising past Deborah Louz of the Netherlands 5-1 in the quarter-finals, Mayu Hamada of Japan 11-2 in the semi-finals and Hou in the final.
Afterwards, the victor attributed her success to a decision to wear traditional protective gear, which fits her body better.
In the face of strong maneuvers from Hou, Tseng said she was not afraid of her opponent because she had defeated Hou at the Asian Taekwondo Championships last year.
The top three finishers in each weight category in the Azerbaijan qualifying tournament get to compete at the London Olympics, according to the World Taekwondo Federation.
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