GOLF
Taiwanese slip down field
At the Yeangder Heritage tournament in Miaoli, local players slipped down the leaderboard, with Chan Yih-shin the best-placed Taiwanese in a share of 18th. South Korea’s Chang Yi-keun led alongside Natipong Srithong and Danthai Boonma on six-under. Elsewhere, M.J. Hur had a bogey-free 65 on a blustery, sunny day at Las Colinas Country Club to lead the North Texas LPGA Shootout. Ariya Jutanugarn and Michelle Wie were a stroke back along with Katherine Kirk, Jennifer Song, Park Sung-hyun, Sandra Changkija and Marina Alex. Candie Kung was the best-placed among Taiwanese, shooting a 69 to claim a share of 18th. The rest were over-par, with Hsu Wei-ling shooting a 72, Min Lee and Cheng Ssu-chia 78s and Yani Tseng a 79. Meanwhile, at the Volvo China Open, Taiwan’s Lien Lu-sen was below the projected cut after a four-over 76 left him on 151 overall, well adrift of leader Pablo Larrazabal of Spain on 130 overall.
SOCCER
France probes Cups
French financial prosecutors are investigating the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups. A person with direct knowledge of the investigation on Thursday told reporters that France’s financial prosecutor services opened the investigation on grounds of private corruption, criminal association, influence peddling, and benefiting from influence peddling relating to the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, which were awarded to Russia and Qatar respectively. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the case.
CRICKET
Union rejects offer
Australia’s players’ union yesterday rejected a Cricket Australia pay and conditions proposal, saying it was unfair and disrespectful. The governing body put forward an improved offer, but the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) called it a “win” for administrators, but a “loss” for cricket. Cricket Australia offered total potential pay for all players, including guaranteed and performance elements, of A$419 million (US$313 million) over the next five years, an increase of 35 percent. It also plans to more than double elite women players’ pay, giving them the opportunity to pursue a fully professional career at both international and domestic levels. However, the association said the offer compromised Cricket Australia’s “otherwise positive response to the ACA’s calls for gender equity.”
RUGBY UNION
Otago thrash Stormers
The red-hot Otago Highlanders ran in nine tries in a record 57-14 thumping of the South Africa-based Stormers in Dunedin yesterday to secure their fifth straight Super Rugby victory. Winger Patrick Osborne scored two tries and created another for centre Rob Thompson as the home side crossed five times in a first-half blitz. Waisake Naholo and No. 8 Liam Squire also crossed before the break, with winger Naholo adding his second and flanker Dillon Hunt, Greg Pleasants-Tate and his fellow replacement Matt Faddes also scoring in the second half. Highlanders flyhalf Marty Banks missed two conversions, but still contributed 10 points from the boot.
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