YOUTH OLYMPICS
Lin Yun-ju misses medal
Taiwan’s Lin Yun-ju missed out on a medal at the Summer Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Wednesday, losing 4-3 to Tomokazu Harimoto of Japan in his table tennis semi-final and then missing out by the same scoreline against Kanak Jha of the US. Lin took the first game against Harimoto and lost the next three to be on the verge of elimination, but rallied in games 5 and 6 to set up a decider, which the Japanese took 11-6. Lin still had a shot at bronze, but repeated the pattern against Jha by taking the first game, falling behind, rallying and losing in the decider. Wang Chuqin of China won the gold medal. Meanwhile, tennis player Tseng Chun-hsin of Taiwan exited in the men’s singles, beaten in straight sets by Facundo Diaz Acosta. The Argentine won 6-2, 6-4 in 67 minutes. It was a similarly poor result in the doubles, with Tseng and partner Ray Ho ousted by Diaz Acosta and partner Sebastian Baez 7-5, 6-2.
GOLF
Hataoka leads in S Korea
Nasa Hataoka of Japan yesterday fired a seven-under 65 to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the KEB Hana Bank Championship in South Korea. Hataoka had eight birdies through 16 holes to reach eight-under, but then dropped a shot at 17. Danielle Kang and Charley Hull were two shots back on a chilly, windy day at the Sky 72 Ocean Course. Minjee Lee trailed by three. Two Taiwanese were further back, with Hsu Wei-ling in a share of 38th with a round of 74 ans Chien Pei-yun in a share of 54th after a 76.
GOLF
Taiwan’s Pan third on day 1
Pan Cheng-tsung’s eight birdies yesterday helped the Taiwanese to a share of third at the the CIMB Classic, with Bronson Burgoon of the US leading after a nine-under-par 63. At the revamped TPC Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the 31-year-old Burgoon chipped in for an eagle on the 18th hole, his ninth after starting from the 10th tee, and then added five birdies on his back nine. That gave him a one-shot lead over compatriot Austin Cook on a low-scoring first day, with Billy Horschel also in third at seven-under par with Pan and Scott Piercy. Pan sank five birdies on the front nine, but only three on the back nine and a bogey on 11 hampered his charge.
RUGBY UNION
Australia backs revamp
Australia has thrown its weight behind a radical revamp of the international calendar that would have the world’s top 12 nations all playing each other once every year in a bid to improve revenue. World Rugby chief executive officer Brett Gosper on Wednesday told Sydney newspaper the Daily Telegraph that the game’s global governing body was studying the feasibility of the proposal, which was revealed by vice chairman Agustin Pichot last month. “Certainly the southern hemisphere are keen to make sure that we’re working more closely with our northern hemisphere colleagues and it’s not an us-and-them scenario, it’s actually how can we work together to make sure we maximize the opportunities for the game of rugby as a whole,” Rugby Australia head Raelene Castle told broadcaster Fox Sports. “Yeah absolutely, Rugby Australia’s onboard and we’re very open to the conversations that are happening at a World Rugby level.”
‘AWFUL PERFORMANCE’: Golden State were always chasing the game after failing to threaten from long range, making just eight of 33 three-point attempts Aaron Gordon on Monday scored 38 points as the Denver Nuggets shrugged off the absence of Nikola Jokic to halt the Golden State Warriors’ seven-game winning streak with a 114-105 victory over their Western Conference rivals. A dazzling display from Gordon inspired what was ultimately a comfortable win for Denver, who were missing regular starters Jokic and Jamal Murray from their lineup. The absentees were barely felt by Denver, who startled the Warriors early at San Francisco’s Chase Center and led for most of the game. The Warriors threatened to stage a late rally after slashing the Nuggets’ fourth-quarter lead from 15 points
The US’ bid for a fourth consecutive CONCACAF Nations League title came to a stunning end as they fell 1-0 to Panama after a stoppage-time goal from Cecilio Waterman on Thursday in Inglewood, California. Despite dominating possession, the US struggled to break down a resilient Panama side for long periods. Panama spent the bulk of the match defending, but pounced on a giveaway by the US before substitute forward Waterman sent a shot from the right side of the area to the bottom left corner late in stoppage time. Up next for Panama in tomorrow’s final is to be Mexico, who beat
DOMINATION: McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris took the first two spots as Mercedes’ George Russell and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen followed them Australian Oscar Piastri yesterday roared back from season-opening disappointment in his home race by winning the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix from pole position in a McLaren one-two with championship-leading teammate Lando Norris. George Russell finished third for Mercedes, ahead of Red Bull’s reigning champion Max Verstappen with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Saturday’s sprint winner Lewis Hamilton fifth and sixth respectively. Piastri’s win denied Norris a third victory in a row, including last year’s Abu Dhabi season-ender, but left champions McLaren unbeaten in two races so far this year. “Mega job guys. The car was very, very lovely,” Piastri said
TO FINAL FOUR: France had 22 chances and scored two goals, while Croatia could not manage a single shot on target in 120 minutes. Les Bleus won 5-4 on penalties France on Sunday overturned a two-goal deficit to qualify for the UEFA Nations League Final Four by eliminating Croatia 5-4 on penalties after a 2-0 victory in their quarter-final second leg at the Stade de France. Dayot Upamecano scored the winning spot kick in a nail-biting shootout in which France keeper Mike Maignan made two saves, sending Les Bleus into the semi-finals against Spain. Michael Olise opened the scoring and Ousmane Dembele doubled their lead 10 minutes from time to send the tie into extra time after their 2-0 loss in Split, Croatia, on Thursday. France had a total of
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