SOCCER
Chinese women get boost
The women’s game in China yesterday received a major financial boost after Ant Financial’s Alipay said it would provide 1 billion yuan (US$145.4 million) in funding for a 10-year project. The initiative was being funded primarily by charitable organization the Alipay Foundation and would look to make the sport more accessible to girls and women, Alipay said in a statement. The funds would be allocated to improve the national team setup, youth development, coaching education and the welfare of retired professionals. The women’s team have traditionally been more competitive on the international stage than the men’s side, finishing runners-up at the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup and fourth at the 1995 tournament. At the ongoing World Cup in France, China reached the last 16, where they lost 2-0 to Italy. The men’s team have qualified for the World Cup only once, in 2002 when they lost all three games.
OLYMPICS
Second round for tickets
Tokyo organizers are putting “a few hundred thousand” tickets into a lottery next month for Japan residents who were shut out when results of the first lottery were announced last month. The new “second-chance” lottery is being organized on short notice because of unprecedented demand, which is believed to be at least 10 times over supply. Organizing committee spokesman Masa Takaya yesterday said that 3.22 million tickets were sold to residents in the first lottery. More than 90 percent of applicants bought the tickets that they were awarded, he said, adding that only the unsold tickets would be those offered in the next round. Japan residents might get fewer than half of the 7.8 million tickets that organizers say are available for all events. It is a reversal from recent Olympics when tickets were unsold and many events were poorly attended.
FOOTBALL
Dolphins’ Norton loses arm
Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Kendrick Norton has had his arm amputated after a car crash in the early hours of Thursday. Florida police said that the 22-year-old’s Ford F250 overturned after hitting a concrete barrier. His injuries are not considered life-threatening, but his agent said the player had his arm amputated. Norton was drafted by the Carolina Panthers last year after starring for the University of Miami. He joined the Dolphins in December and was competing for a roster spot this off-season.
SOCCER
FIFA rejects criticism
Criticism of FIFA president Gianni Infantino over the handling of sexual abuse investigations was “ill-informed and unjustified,” the governing body said on Thursday after Afghanistan women’s team coach Kelly Lindsey said she was “disgusted” with him. Lindsey had demanded Infantino’s departure, claiming FIFA is not being rigorous enough in pursuing Afghanistan Football Federation officials. FIFA has so far only sanctioned Keramuudin Karim, who was banned for life last month for repeated sexual abuse of female players while president of the federation. FIFA has now disclosed that it is “carefully looking into allegations leveled against additional persons and will not hesitate to take appropriate measures and impose sanctions if justified.”
Inter on Sunday were given a letoff when they snatched a late 1-1 derby draw with AC Milan, while league leaders SSC Napoli were held by a late goal at AS Roma. Reigning champions Inter remain three points behind Napoli, who looked to be heading five clear as they led in Rome until Angelino volleyed in a stunning leveler in the first minute of stoppage-time. Angelino’s strike gave even more significance to Stefan de Vrij’s last-gasp equalizer at the San Siro. The defender forced home Nicola Zalewski’s knockdown just as it looked like Tijjani Reijnders’ opener would be enough for Milan. “I can
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
The Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets on Saturday did not disappoint in a thrilling midseason matchup in front of a fired-up sellout crowd of more than 18,500 fans. The top two teams in the NHL delivered with a combined nine goals, including the 877th of Alex Ovechkin’s career to put him 18 back of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record. That tied the score, the Jets pulled it out in overtime and just about everyone involved got their money’s worth out of the 5-4 game. “We knew how we were both sitting in the standings and both having real good years,” Winnipeg coach Scott
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