BADMINTON
Taiwan’s Lu wins gold
Taiwanese badminton player Lu Chia-hung beat India’s Siril Verma in three sets yesterday to become the country’s first to win gold in men’s singles at the World Junior Championships. Competing in the Yonex Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Junior Badminton Championships in Lima, Peru, the 18-year-old rebounded from a game down to snatch the honors 17-21, 21-10, 21-7. Having vowed to be the World Junior Champion in his final year at that level, the sixth-seeded Lu said he started slow in the finals with fatigued muscles and nervousness following many intense games at the tournament. However, Lu said he recovered soon and committed almost no errors in the second and third sets, taking advantage of his Indian opponent’s failing strength and impatience to win the match. Lu said that he endured his most hard-won victory at the quarter-finals of the tournament, holding off Lin Guipu of China after a 19-21, 21-10, 21-18 struggle in 66 minutes. Prior to Lu’s gold medal, the best finish by a Taiwanese player in men’s singles at the BWF World Junior Championships was recorded by Wang Tzu-wei, the runner-up in 2013. In women’s doubles, Taiwanese duo Lee Chia-hsin and Chen Wan-ting defeated Japan’s Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida to win bronze.
OLYMPICS
Attacks will not derail bid
International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach on Sunday said that the Paris terror attacks, which left 129 people dead, “will absolutely” not affect the French capital’s bid to host the 2024 Olympics. Bach listed three reasons why Paris can remain optimistic over their campaign in an interview with French television program Stade 2. “We are talking about an Olympic Games which is taking place in nine years time,” Bach said. “Lots of things can happen in the world between now and then and I hope that the politicians meeting at the G20 [in Antalya in Turkey] will approve measures which will allow us to beat terrorism and barbarism.” The second reason is that “it’s not just Paris and France which are affected, but the entire international community. Thirdly, it’s not just sport, but all events of a certain stature.”
RUGBY UNION
Packer receives support
New Zealand’s Russell Packer on Monday received support from fellow National Rugby League (NRL) players and supporters as he battled possible deportation from Australia over an assault conviction. An online petition supporting Packer surfaced two days ago and has attracted more than 1,700 signatures, including Konrad Hurrell and Jacob Lillyman. Manu Ma’u also put his name to the petition. Packer is training with St George Illawarra after being handed a lifeline by the club following his release from jail in January, but he is facing an uncertain future. Australian Minister of Immigration Peter Dutton cast doubt on Packer’s NRL return last month when he said he was considering canceling the New Zealand-born prop’s visa. Packer spent a year in prison after being found guilty of assault occasioning bodily harm for a street fight in which he stamped on the victim’s head.
SOCCER
Nepal, Laos officials banned
The ethics committee at world soccer body FIFA has banned two officials from Nepal and Laos for taking cash during elections, it said yesterday. Ganesh Thapa, president of the All-Nepal Football Association, was banned for 10 years and fined 20,000 Swiss francs (US$19,870), while Viphet Sihachakr, president of the Laotian Football Federation, got a two-year ban and a SF40,000 fine.
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
For some, Cristiano Ronaldo remains the essential spearhead for Portugal’s FIFA World Cup bid, while others believe his presence would prevent Roberto Martinez’s strong side from flourishing. The debate around the five-time Ballon d’Or winner rages on, as it did at UEFA Euro 2024 and four years ago in Qatar — yet Ronaldo endures, ready to play in a record sixth World Cup. The 41-year-old remains a global superstar despite swapping the European elite for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr, and is the leading men’s international goalscorer with 143 strikes. With 25 of those coming in 30 games under Martinez, the coach
Taiwanese sprinter Chen Yi-cen on Friday won the silver medal in the women’s 400m final at the Asian U20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong, with a time of 53.16 seconds. Chen, 15, was the youngest among the eight finalists, and her performance also met the qualifying standard of 53.50 seconds for the Nagoya Asian Games in Japan in September and October. Chen first made her mark at the National Games in Tainan in 2023, at the age of 13, winning the women’s 400m final in 55.55 seconds to become the youngest gold medalist in the history of the event. Meanwhile,
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
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