BADMINTON
Tai advances at China Open
Taiwanese star Tai Tzu-ying yesterday beat compatriot Pai Yu-po 21-13, 21-17 to advance to the second round of the Victor China Open in Changzhou. World No. 4 Tai is next to play world No. 19 Zhan Yi Man of China, who beat Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan 21-18, 21-14. In the men’s doubles, Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan yesterday upset compatriots Lu Ching-yao and Yang Po-han 22-20, 21-13. Taiwanese men’s singles star Chou Tien-chen starts his campaign today when he faces world No. 7 Li Shi Feng of China.
BASEBALL
Dodgers’ Urias arrested
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias was arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence, Los Angeles police said on Monday after the second such incident of his MLB career. The 27-year-old Mexican left-hander was apprehended on Sunday and released on Monday on a US$50,000 bond, police said. Urias was involved in a May 2019 incident at a mall parking lot in Beverly Hills where he was accused of shoving a woman to the ground. While he was not prosecuted, Urias was suspended for 20 games for contravening the MLB’s domestic violence policy. Urias helped the Dodgers win the 2020 World Series. “While we attempt to learn all the facts, he will not be traveling with the team. The organization has no further comment at this time,” the Dodgers wrote on social media.
SOCCER
Brazil drop Antony
Manchester United winger Antony was dropped from Brazil’s squad for upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifying games on Monday following allegations of assault made by an ex-girlfriend against him. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said in a statement that Antony had been stood down to “preserve the alleged victim, the player, the Brazil team and the CBF.” Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus is to replace Antony in the squad for the games against Bolivia on Friday and Peru on Tuesday next week. Antony, 23, on Monday denied physically assaulting ex-girlfriend Gabriela Cavallin in a statement on Instagram, writing that he was the “victim of false accusations.” The denial came after Brazilian press reports published WhatsApp messages reputedly between Antony and Cavallin in which the player allegedly threatens his ex-partner. In one of the conversations cited by local media, Cavallin says he must apologize for “kicks and assaults.” Antony then appears to reply “sorry” in response. Cavallin is also shown in one photo with an apparent head wound. Antony said in his Instagram post that his relationship with Cavallin was “tumultuous, with verbal abuse on both sides.”
CYCLING
Kooij wins again in Britain
Dutch rider Olav Kooij on Monday made it back-to-back wins at the start of the Tour of Britain by edging a dramatic sprint finish on stage two in Wrexham. Kooij, who triumphed in the opener in Manchester on Sunday, was led home at the end of a winding, undulating final few kilometers by Team Jumbo-Visma teammate Wout van Aert, who finished third behind Danny van Poppel. However, the 110km ride was marred by Tobias Lund Andresen’s heavy fall as the leaders wound it up for the finish. The Danish rider crashed to the ground as he tried to get on the outside of Kooij, who held his line and went on to win.
The next generation of running talent takes center stage at today’s Berlin Marathon, in the absence of stars including Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge and Ethiopian world record holder Tigist Assefa. With most of the major marathon stars skipping the event in the wake of the Paris Olympics just more than a month ago, the field is wide open in the men’s and women’s races. Since 2015, Kipchoge has won five times in Berlin, Kenenisa Bekele has won twice and Guye Adola once — with all three missing today. Kenyan Kibiwott Kandie and Ethiopian Tadese Takele are among the favourites for the men, while
Taiwan’s Tony Wu yesterday beat Mackenzie McDonald of the US to win the Nonthaburi Challenger IV in Thailand, his first challenger victory since 2022. The 26-year-old world No. 315, who won both his qualifiers to advance to the main draw, has been on a hot streak this month, winning his past nine matches, including two that ensured Taiwan’s victory in their Davis Cup World Group I tie. Wu took just more than two hours to top world No. 172 McDonald 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) to win his second challenger tournament since the Tallahassee Tennis Challenger in 2022. Wu’s Tallahassee win followed two years of
Zhang Shuai yesterday said that she nearly quit after losing 24 matches in a row — now the world No. 595 is into the quarter-finals of her home China Open. The 35-year-old is to face Spain’s Paula Badosa as the lowest-ranked player to reach this stage in the history of the tournament after Badosa reeled off 11 of the last 12 games in a 6-4, 6-0 victory over US Open finalist Jessica Pegula. Zhang went into Beijing on a barren run lasting more than 600 days and her string of singles defeats was the second-longest on the WTA Tour Open era, which
Nick Castellanos, Trea Turner and Kody Clemens homered on Wednesday as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Chicago Cubs 9-6 and clinched a first-round bye in the playoffs. Castellanos had three hits and scored three times. Bryson Stott also had three hits and Brandon Marsh drove in three runs for the Phillies, who on Monday claimed their first National League East title in 13 years. Coupled with the Milwaukee Brewers’ 2-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia secured the bye and home-field advantage in the NL Division Series. The Phillies owned the tiebreaker with the Brewers after winning the season series against the
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