BADMINTON
Taiwan’s Tai ousted
Taiwan’s Tai Tzu-ying yesterday exited the China Open in Changzhou, beaten 21-18, 21-14 in the semi-finals by South Korea’s An Se-young. Tai had a 9-3 lead in the first game, but her accuracy fell away, with shots going wide on both sides of the court. In the second game, An claimed a 9-8 lead, from which she scored six unanswered points to set up an easy finish. At the Indonesia Masters in Medan, Taiwan’s Chiu Pin-chian reached today’s women’s singles final by beating Tomoka Miyazaki of Japan 21-19, 21-18. The other Taiwanese to make a final were the women’s doubles pair of Chang Ching-hui and Yang Ching-tun, who beat compatriots Sung Yu-hsuan and Wang Szu-min 21-14, 21-18.
Photo: AFP
GOLF
Chien Pei-yun leads
Taiwan’s Chien Pei-yun on Friday shot a superb eight-under 64 to grab a four-stroke lead after the second round of the LPGA’s Queen City Championship in Cincinnati, Ohio. Chien caught fire after she holed out to make eagle on the par-four sixth and then made five birdies on the back nine. “I just putted very well these two days,” the 32-year-old said after her lowest round of the year. “The eagle is amazing. I was thinking maybe it would go in because I have had a lot of shots that almost went in [over the] last couple of weeks, but was still waiting for an eagle, but it just happened, so I’m very happy.” Chien had a four-shot lead over China’s Yin Ruoning, Switzerland’s Morgane Metraux and overnight leader Liu Ruixin of China.
Photo: AFP
CRICKET
Jaishiva stars in Taipei
The Taipei Indians yesterday won the Janhong Annual Cup, emerging on top after a roller-coaster final over. The Hsinchu Titans scored 92-5 in their 12 overs batting first, with Yeshwant Raj’s 31 from 14 giving them great momentum. However, the Indians’ Jaishiva Ganesamurthi (1-9) bowled the 12th over for one run and then opened the batting, guiding his side to 86-3 after 11 overs — just seven runs from victory. The final over was topsy-turvy, with Pramod Kumar Mandal allowing three runs in his first five deliveries and dismissing Jaishiva, but his control faltered and two wides gave Rajeshkumar A.R. one delivery with two required. Rajeshkumar pumped a drive straight down the ground to seal the victory.
Photo courtesy of Taiwan Cricket
SOCCER
Neymar eclipses Pele
Neymar on Friday eclipsed Pele as the top goal scorer for Brazil after overtaking the three-time World Cup winner’s career total. The goal that put the 31-year-old Neymar on the top of Brazil’s scoring record with 78 came in the 61st minute in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Bolivia in Belem. It was Brazil’s fourth goal of the match in a 5-1 win, with the last goal of the game also being scored by Neymar. Neymar’s record-breaking goal came after a low cross into the penalty box, which the striker finished from close range. He celebrated with a punch in the air, as Pele usually did. “I am very happy, no words for this,” Neymar told reporters. “I never thought I would reach this record.” Brazil’s soccer confederation considers Pele its top goal scorer with 95 goals in 114 matches. FIFA does not count goals that Pele scored for Brazil against clubs.
Jonas Vingegaard on Tuesday claimed the overall Vuelta a Espana lead while Jay Vine earned the stage 10 victory for his second triumph of the race. Two-time Tour de France winner Vingegaard overhauled Torstein Traen’s lead to head the general classification by 26 seconds from the Norwegian, with Joao Almeida third and trailing the Dane by 38 seconds. Vine put in an unmatchable performance on the final climb to finish ahead of Spanish Movistar riders Pablo Castrillo and Javier Romo. “Back in red, I’m happy with it, it’s a beautiful jersey,” Vingegaard said. “I’m happy with how the day went,
The Kansas City Chiefs wrapped up a brief visit to Brazil on Friday with a season-opening loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, but despite the defeat, the team outshone their divisional rivals in the fight for the hearts and minds of Brazilian fans. In Sao Paulo for just the second-ever NFL game in the city, Chiefs players — especially quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce — were treated as major celebrities throughout their stay, turning Corinthians Arena into a scene reminiscent of the Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium. Before kickoff, crowds of fans gathered around the Chiefs’ tunnel, eager to catch a
RIVALRY: Carlos Alcaraz lost his previous two matches against Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, in the Australian Open quarter-finals this year and Paris Olympics final last year Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday dazzled at the US Open to make the semi-finals before Novak Djokovic of Serbia danced his way through to book a New York showdown with the Spaniard that would mark the latest chapter in their generational rivalry. Former champion Alcaraz produced yet another entertaining display at Flushing Meadows to dismantle 20th seed Jiri Lehecka 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 at a sunbathed Arthur Ashe Stadium, securing his place in the last four without dropping a set this year. “Sometimes I play a shot that I should not play in that moment, but it’s the way I love
New Zealand stayed firm at their Eden Park fortress to claim an attritional 24-17 win over South Africa in a heavyweight clash between the world’s top two rugby sides yesterday. Under pressure after conceding a first-ever defeat on Argentine soil against the Pumas two weeks ago, the All Blacks responded with a performance of grit and discipline to stretch their unbeaten run at their Auckland stronghold to 51 matches. Two well-taken tries by Emoni Narawa and Will Jordan set up a 14-3 lead at halftime before Quinn Tupaea grabbed a third five-pointer for the hosts 13 minutes from time. Well-held for most of
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